10 Predictions for 2025
Venture Capital, Startups, Data & AI
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Reviewing my 2024 predictionsā®ļø
I split my annual predictions into 50/50 into general VC industry predictions and AI & data in VC predictions. Before we dive into the 2025 outlook, letās look at the scorecard for last yearās predictions. Hereās the quick review:
#1 Natural selection: VCs cut headcount, close shop & pursue M&Ašµš¤
Right, many VCs failed to raise their next vintage and/or closed
#2 Exit window will open end 2024 / early 2025š
End 2024 = wrong. Early 2025 too early to tell.
#3 Boutiques, Mega funds, barbells, and the VOIDšļø
Too early to tell
#4 āPreferredā access to deals becomes keyšµļøāāļø
Right, competition for the top 1% deals continues to become more and more competitive, and investors increasingly more creative
#5 2024 will be the year of pre-emptionsšāāļø
Right, most pre-emptions weāve ever seen
#6 Massive disruption through data & AIš¤
Right, data & AI in VC starts to become mainstream. More data on this in the upcoming DDVC Landscape 2025
#7 Build: Relative share of internal (data) engineers increasesš©š½āš»
Right, at least according to preliminary DDVC Landscape 2025 data, the number of engineers continues to grow, whereas the number of investors remains unchanged
#8 Buy: āInvestment Techā on the riseāļø
Right, Iāve never seen so many new cool tools for VCs within one year
#9 Fewer investors get more donešŖš¼
Too early to tell
#10 Reputation & brand become keyš
Too early to tell, but many VCs invested heavily into firm brand and personal brand initiatives. Rebrandings from Redpoint, GC, Seedcamp, Cherry, and many more
š In Summary, 60% right, 5% wrong, 35% too early to tell. Not bad 2024, not bad
My 2025 predictionsš®
As for last year, Iāll split my predictions 50/50 into general VC and AI & Data in VC. Letās dive in.