Record Highs, Record Lows: Tracking the Shifting VC landscape
I’m a firm believer that, in business and in life, before looking at the road ahead it is essential to look in the rear-view mirror, assessing the relevant landscape of challenges and opportunities.
As we approach the time of year for predictions, resolutions and strategizing for the year ahead, for this edition of Venture Legal, let’s assess the challenges and opportunities VCs have encountered in 2025.
In this week’s feature story, I examine some key challenges including:
⭐The steep decline in fund manager cash, reflecting the ongoing LP liquidity crisis.
⭐Persistent down rounds that have been part of a necessary compromise to achieve liquidity.
⭐Billions of dollars sitting “trapped in startups.”
Opportunities were also abundant, including:
⭐The rise of solo-led funds, which accounted for more than half of emerging funds last year.
⭐Total merger value hitting its highest total since 2021.
⭐Enterprise AI becoming the fastest-growing software category in history – with LegalTech setting record highs.
➡️Read the full feature story here: Venture Capital in 2025 – Assessing Challenges and Strategic Opportunities
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Record Highs, Record Lows: Tracking the Shifting VC Landscape
For venture capital, 2025 was remarkable for highs and lows. Among the highs: Two of the three biggest quarters ever for venture funding took place last year. And, the lows: Overall, firms closed a record-low number of funds. This dichotomy inspires this edition of Venture Legal, exploring some of the ways in which the VC…
