500 Global

The internet is a wild place. Over the last decade, 2.5B people came online. What happens when the next billion internet users come online? We believe that a lot of value may be created. But how? And more importantly, how can you be a part of it? The answers may surprise you. Explore the #RiseReport now. #500strong https://500.co/risereport

Sayantan Das, Co-Founder of healthy beverages company being juice, started in February 2024 and has expanded into both Malaysia and the Philippines within a year with a US$1 million seed round in January, jointly led by multi-stage venture capital firms 500 Global and BEENEXT. Inspired by LUCKIN COFFEE (SGP) PTE LTD, learn how he's building a digital-first brand with ambitious plans to enter the FMCG and ready-to-eat meal markets: https://lnkd.in/g7Mr4cbv #Entrepreneurship #Finance

We, Airbus Ventures, proudly invested in Featherless AI's Seed round. As reflected in my quotes across various media, I deeply believe in their ability to unlock new paradigms, democratizing AI through multilingual intelligence, #GPU utilization, and ultra-fast, cost-efficient serverless AI inference platforms, which have been growing so FAST! When I first reached out to Eugene Cheah, instinct spoke before reason—within five seconds, I felt it: "Something is here." The deeper I explored, the more I was drawn in, until fascination turned to conviction. Their core team has been instrumental in the #RWKV open-source project, the first of its kind backed by the #Linux Foundation. As a steadfast believer in open-source as a force for global progress, I hold one truth dear: in a world of over eight billion minds, the future of AI must not rest in the hands of a select few. With great joy and anticipation, we embark on this journey alongside the Featherless AI team and a community of visionary investors (Oakseed Ventures, Kickstart Ventures, 500 Global, Panache Ventures, HF0 Residency). The road ahead is vast, and the possibilities—boundless. Please follow them! #AI #Generativeai #LLM #Linux #RWKV #Venturecapital

“The biggest hurdle to scaling AI is compute cost. Featherless AI tackles this head-on by providing the trifecta of efficient, effective and affordable AI deployment to businesses globally,” shared Vishal Harnal, Managing Partner at 500 Global. With 4,000+ open-source models (DeepSeek, LLama & more), support for 100+ languages, and hot-swapping tech that slashes model switching time from 30 min to 5 sec, 500-backed Featherless.ai is lowering barriers to AI adoption and decentralizing it from major tech giants. “I don't want a future where AI is controlled by the few. I want to empower individuals globally.” — Eugene Cheah, Co-founder & CEO. Read the full story on e27: https://bit.ly/3DMDYOd Harrison Vanderbyl | Wesley George #500Global #500SoutheastAsia #500Strong #startups #technology #innovation #venturecapital #sanfrancisco #unitedstates #artificialintelligence #largelanguagemodel Photo credit: Featherless.ai

If you are a rising VC, APPLY to VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley 2025. They've recently opened their application! This was by far, one of the most memorable and impactful two-weeks as a VC in 2024. This will be a life-changing program and I'd highly recommend, if you are: A. planning to raise your first fund as a GP on debut B. an uprising VC that wants to learn from the industry's best practices C. looking to access Silicon Valley's VC network D. a doer not a thinker (being in Silicon Valley and doing lots of case studies) This program - run by 500 Global and Stanford University School of Engineering, - has empowered over 1,400 investors from 85 countries around the world to launch their VC careers - boasts heaps of insights from the people who built the legacy behind Silicon Valley - Arvind Gupta(Mayfield) Edith Yeung(Race Capital) Gus Tai(Trinity Ventures) Joanna Lichter(Emerson Collective) Mar Hershenson(Pear VC) Mike Maples, Jr(Floodgate), Nikunj Jinsi(Wilderness Capital) Spencer Greene(TSVC) Tess Hatch(Bessemer Venture) Mike Lepech(Stanford) Trevor Loy If you'd like a nomination from a graduate of this program (myself), please reach out! ____ ·?Program Dates: August 4th - August 15th, 2025 ·?Location: Stanford University ·?Learn more:?https://lnkd.in/gc24Z5hC ·?Early & Diversity Scholarship Applications close TODAY: https://lnkd.in/gushJGmq

For the past decade, VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley has helped investors sharpen their strategies, expand their networks, and make a lasting impact on their ecosystems. Through this program, we’ve equipped hundreds of investors with a comprehensive global investment playbook and built a powerful community driving change in markets around the world. This August, we’re welcoming our 12th cohort at Stanford University! If you or someone you know is ready to take their investing to the next level, now’s the time to apply. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gx83A6NJ? I can't wait to get into action with 500 Global Stanford Center For Education And Professional Development Ronie Shilo Mike Lepech Mike Lyons Trevor Loy Paulina Szyrmer Kristen Cooper Sara Hill, Ed.D. Christopher R. Ferguson Christine Tsai Robert Neivert Amjad Ahmad Leonard Lee Clayton Bryan Tony Wang

Are you preparing for your Pre-Series A or Series A round? Our newly launched Alberta Innovates Growth Program powered by 500 Global is here to help Alberta-based startups looking to scale. Over the 5 weeks of the program, you’ll dive into a structured curriculum, work 1:1 with mentors, and leverage proven, growth-focused frameworks to refine your business strategy. You’ll also gain exclusive access to 500 Global's network of venture community members, partners, and industry leaders, to help you obtain?the connections you may need to secure your next round and lead your company through its next phase of growth. Swipe to see what you can expect from the program ?? Don’t miss out—apply now: https://bit.ly/415UCQk Prairies Economic Development Canada I Développement économique Canada pour les Prairies Katrin Zlobina Rosa Cai, PMP Fatima Mohamed Shaheel Hooda Carolina Mello Graham Kennedy ????♂?Jonathan T.

?? "Early traction is important, but retention is what makes a business truly investable." At recent EntreConnect event, Iris Sun (500 Global) shared how investors evaluate startups, the role of AI in GTM strategies, and how early-stage founders should think about sales, retention, and scalability. ?? “Growth isn’t just about how many customers you acquire—it’s about how many you keep.” ?? 1?? For Early-Stage Startups: Sales = Research ? Your first sales calls should validate the problem, not just push the product. ? Discovery-based selling helps refine your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile). ? Your pricing model should evolve based on early customer conversations. ?? "Your first customers help you refine your pitch, your product, and your positioning." ?? Best early-stage sales strategies: ?? Don’t aim for perfect—aim for feedback. ?? Find “design partners” (early adopters) willing to collaborate. ?? Treat every early sale as a learning experience. ?? 2?? Enterprise Sales: The Power of Champions ?? "Startups don’t sell to enterprises—champions inside those enterprises sell for them." ? Find an internal champion – someone who will push for your product inside the company. ? Industry networks matter – CISOs, CFOs, and CTOs trust their peers. ? Referrals are your strongest enterprise sales channel. ?? "If you can get one well-respected industry leader to champion your product, doors will open faster than any cold outreach." ?? 3?? AI’s Role in Startup Scalability & Investor Decisions ?? "AI isn’t just automation—it’s about making businesses fundamentally more scalable." ? Investors look for startups using AI to improve decision-making. ? AI-driven customer insights drive retention, not just acquisition. ? The best AI startups use data to create entirely new business models. ?? “The strongest AI companies don’t just optimize processes—they change how industries work.” ?? 4?? The Shift from Acquisition to Retention-Driven Growth ?? "At scale, retention compounds—investors look for sustainable, long-term growth." ?? Early-stage startups focus on proving demand. ?? Growth-stage companies must show strong retention & expansion. ?? AI helps track user behavior & optimize engagement to keep customers longer. ?? "If your retention is weak, your acquisition spend is just a leaky bucket." ?? Check out the full recap: https://lnkd.in/dD4YgbrA #AI #VentureCapital #StartupGrowth #Retention #GTM #Investing #EnterpriseSales #EntreConnect

Felix and I first met 23 years ago and had the opportunity to partner (yes, this makes me feel old). We reconnected when he was in a 500 Global batch. Team Felix and Gloria is amazing, Finally is rocking and this recognition as a HC Fellow is awesome. Congrats Felix Rodriguez

Calling all #Founders: Venture Capital Association of Alberta (VCAA)’s Deal Flow Calls represent a great opportunity for #PreSeed to #SeriesA companies to gain exposure to some of the countries most active Venture Capital #investors. If your company is raising equity capital, I strongly encourage you to check out the link below!