The truth is far more foundational: AI is not a standalone sector. It is an infrastructure layer, just like the internet once was, and it's being embedded across every industry, from healthcare to agriculture, from fintech to entertainment. Much like we no longer classify 'internet companies' as a separate category, AI will soon follow suit. Every industry is already integrating AI into its core operations. So when we see that more than 50% of venture investments are going into AI, it is not a crowding-out effect. It is a signal that AI is a layer within adtech, cybersecurity, education, traditional manufacturing and more. The excitement has attracted significant capital, but not all startups justify their valuations. Some pre-seed companies with little more than a slide deck have raised at $100 million-plus valuations. While these terms might look impressive on paper, they are often setting founders up for future funding challenges. As the market corrects and ties valuations more closely to actual commercial traction, companies with no product-market fit may struggle....

Arcadia has built a portfolio of over-the-counter medicines and wellness brands, including Nizoral, Colace, Senokot, CloSYS, Betadine, and Kaopectate. During Mubadala's investment period, the company's revenue tripled and profitability improved materially. 'It has been a privilege to partner with Bansk, Mike DeBiasi and the Arcadia team over the past four years,' Philip Yifei Bao, director of private equity at Mubadala, said in a statement. 'We are incredibly proud to have supported the transformation of Arcadia into the leading North American consumer health and wellness platform.' Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....

Salon will assume the role next month, succeeding Jim Pittman, who is leaving the pension manager after nearly a decade at the helm of the private equity unit. Salon joined BCI in 2024 from Evernorth Health Services, the healthcare services arm of Cigna Group, where he served as chief executive. Earlier in his career, Salon spent about 15 years at Bedford Funding, a buyout firm where he was a founding partner. He will be based in New York as he takes charge of BCI's global private equity activities. BCI invests on behalf of British Columbia's public sector pension plans and reported C$251.6bn in net assets as of March 31. The appointment comes as large pension funds continue to refine leadership and strategy amid a more selective private equity environment. Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rishi Kapoor, co-chief executive and chief investment officer of Investcorp, said the firm is instead targeting domestic services businesses that offer better risk-return profiles and greater insulation from geopolitical volatility. 'Ironically, we are not really going big and deep into data centres mainly because too much capital has gone into it,' Kapoor told Reuters. 'Returns have gotten compressed to levels where arguably, you can get a better risk-return trade-off in other areas.' Investcorp is focusing on professional, commercial, healthcare, IT, and transportation services, with geographic priorities including the US, the Gulf region, and India. The firm manages around $60bn in assets. Kapoor said concerns about inflated valuations and a potential AI bubble are emerging, even as investment into artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to surge. He added that Investcorp sees a strong IPO pipeline across its core markets and has several portfolio companies that could list this year....