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Dimon’s Take on Apple Card, Trump’s Greenland Play, VC Winter Deepens | Josh Wolfe, Delian Asparouhov, Arun Gupta, Julie Bush, Winston Weinberg, Yotam Segev

16 snips
Jan 9, 2026
Delian Asparouhov, a dynamic partner at Founders Fund and co-founder of Varda Space Industries, shares insights on the K-shaped dynamics of venture capital, revealing how funding is increasingly concentrated among fewer companies. Arun Gupta, co-founder of Hapiko, introduces Stickerbox, an innovative AI product that transforms children's spoken ideas into custom stickers, emphasizing creativity and empowerment. Julie Busch discusses Valinor Enterprises' unique operational model in the defense sector, while Josh Wolfe announces a significant $1.5B fund, focusing on cutting-edge technologies.
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INSIGHT

Brand-First Card Clashed With Credit Economics

  • Apple positioned the Apple Card as premium customer experience, but design choices (no fees, low credit cutoff) created financial strain.
  • The brand-first product conflicted with underwriting economics, forcing Goldman to sell the portfolio at a discount.
INSIGHT

Venture Funding Has Become K-Shaped

  • Venture capital is K-shaped: capital concentrates into top firms and mega-rounds while smaller funds struggle.
  • Mega funds and sovereign wealth back big AI rounds, thinning capital available to emerging managers.
INSIGHT

SPVs Act As Outsourced IR For Mega-Rounds

  • Fee-less, carry-less SPVs are growing as late-stage capital vehicles, effectively outsourcing IR for big fundraises.
  • GPs use SPVs to build relationships and access mega rounds, despite altered economics and optics.
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