Where SoftBank has invested its $100 billion Vision FundSoftBank’s Vision Fund is continuing its aggressive dealmaking spree with plans to lead a $150 million investment round into a clinical trial startup called Science 37, Recode has learned. The Vision Fund is in late talks to give new cash to the telemedicine company that helps researchers find participants for medical trials, according to people familiar with the deal. The transaction would value the company at about $300 million, not including the new money, the people said. [ Re/Code ] Musical theatre taught Randi Zuckerberg how to succeed in Silicon ValleyRandi Zuckerberg never thought she’d have a last name to live up to—though she admits that Zucker’s Bagels, a New York staple, also set a high bar. That all changed when her younger brother, Mark, founded a social media company in his dorm room. Then a senior at Harvard, Randi didn’t think much of her sophomore brother’s pet project. Things escalated quickly. Soon after graduating, she found herself leaving a marketing gig in New York City to spend a few months helping Mark in Silicon Valley. He needed someone who understood digital marketing, and that was Randi’s expertise. A few months turned into a decade, largely spent at Facebook, where Randi says she was almost always the only woman in the room. [ QZ ] Meet the unicorn class of 2018Another year, another herd of unicorns. We've been tracking all the companies that passed the $1 billion mark so far this year, and we'll update the list throughout 2018. Click the logos to access the company's free profile and click elsewhere to view select investors. [ Pitchbook ] SoftBank is in talks to lead a $150 million investment in clinical trial startup Science 37SoftBank’s Vision Fund is continuing its aggressive dealmaking spree with plans to lead a $150 million investment round into a clinical trial startup called Science 37, Recode has learned. The Vision Fund is in late talks to give new cash to the telemedicine company that helps researchers find participants for medical trials, according to people familiar with the deal. The transaction would value the company at about $300 million, not including the new money, the people said. [ Re/Code ] These ex-Ant Financial execs are building a Google for the blockchain worldWith a bachelor’s degree from one of China’s most prestigious architecture schools, Wang Guan’s career was on a roll. After stints at a few prominent Chinese property firms, he landed contracts to build properties in the Middle East. [ Tech in Asia ] Huckletree: meet the woman who brought co-working to LondonIf you had asked Gabriela Hersham about technology back in 2010, she probably would’ve thought you were talking about Gameboys. Fast forward eight years, and Hersham is founder and CEO of Huckletree, one of London’s original co-working spaces. [ standard.co.uk ] Marcus, Oscar, Casper: Why Startups Are Obsessed With Human Names“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Though Dale Carnegie was talking about nurturing relationships, a lot of startups these days are incorporating his observation into branding strategy. They are naming themselves after people. Over the past few years, a crowd of new companies has emerged across tech, finance and health—all sporting a first-name brand. “Oscar,” “Alfred,” “Lola” —they have the look and feel of a friend, a colleague, maybe even your cat. And that’s the point: Make a connection with consumers that even Carnegie would appreciate. [ bloomberg ] Tech Scenes Boulder with Brad Feld - Founders, Venture Capital, SciFi, and Startup Communities Welcome to Tech Scenes where we explore what makes tech founders and the cities they live in thrive. Our next stop in Boulder we take a walk with Brad Feld of the Foundry Group and Co Founder of Techstars. Brad is a well known serial entrepreneur, investor and author of a variety of books from ‘Startup Communities’ to ‘Venture Deals.’ Arlan Hamilton’s Backstage Capital has invested in 100 startups with underrepresented foundersFounder University @ WSGR 6/5/187 Founder University @ WSGR 6/5/18Uber is bringing its Jump e-bikes to EuropeA look at Kevin Durant's search for slam dunks in VCSkift’s Top Travel Startups to Watch 2018Biotech Startups: Dreams, Risk, Failure And — Sometimes — SuccessE826: Stanford Prof Jeffrey Pfeffer: "Dying for a Paycheck" modern work toxicity & solutions8"Dying for a Paycheck": Stanford Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer shares the dire consequences of toxicity in the modern workplace & solutions for improving employee health. German loyalty card wallet startup Stocard raises $20 million from Macquarie CapitalSCNY '18 Panel: VC: Investing in the FutureMicah Kotch, Managing Director, URBAN-X Paul Asel, Managing Partner, NGP Capital Nathalie Molina Niño, CEO and Founder, BRAVA Investments Gayle Jennings-O’Byrne, Founder and CEO, iNTENT Manifesto Bloomberg Cornell Tech Series: The New York Venture Capital Landscape - Full Interview On Monday, May 21, 2018, Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg featured New York-based venture capital investors Eric Hippeau of Lerer Hippeau, Naveen Selvadurai of Expa and Catherine 'Kit' Ulrich of FirstMark Capital talking with Bloomberg Television's Scarlet Fu about the state of venture investing in New York City. Bridging the gender gap in Silicon Valley and beyondfunding to offer a fully digital mortgage Caroobi, a marketplace for automotive mechanics, raises $20M led by Nokia’s NGP CapitalWomen in NYC Tech: Gabby Slome of OllieVenture Capital, Pithia, Makes Historical Move By Filing For 13D SECOrder-ahead app Ritual picks up $70M to rethink the social office lunch break10 Investors Authentically Committed To Funding Female Founders, Part 3 |