The only real consistency about the asset class is it's reliably volatile. Sectors in vogue one year are out a few quarters later. Angel syndicates must increasingly compete with venture big shots. And founders who secure the biggest rounds can't assume more capital is en route. For 2025, the seed investment environment exhibited its typical quirkiness, with a few trends standing out. In particular, it was a huge year for huge rounds. Predictably, it was also a banner period for AI dealmaking. And in geographic trends, we saw the U.S. pull in a bigger-than-usual share of total investment. The concept of a seed round being very small is rather retro. Today, both eight- and nine-figure rounds are reasonably common, especially for a startup with highly regarded founders, expertise in a hot sector, and an early technological advantage. However, keep in mind: most of the rise was due to a single round. This was the $2 billion seed financing for Thinking Machines Lab, the AI startup co-founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. This month, another giant deal also boosted the totals, a $475 million financing for Unconventional AI, which is designing a computer to optimize energy efficiency for AI....
Owais Hammam was walking near his home in Khirbet Bani Harith in the West Bank on Dec. 3, 2025, when, according to media reports, he was kidnapped by Jewish settlers. Over several hours at a nearby settlement, the 18-year-old Palestinian is alleged to have endured repeated beatings, humiliation and harassment. Israel military soldiers were reportedly involved in the incident, before they eventually released him the next morning. Hamman was hospitalized with multiple injuries and severe psychological trauma. The alleged attack is far from isolated. The post-Oct. 7, 2023, environment has seen an escalation in settler violence, which has gone from primarily involving vandalism and property destruction to now being marked by kidnapping, prolonged abuse and apparent military complicity. In the two years to October 2025, more than 3,200 Palestinians were 'forcibly displaced by settler violence and movement restrictions,' according to United Nations figures. As a scholar who has studied Israeli extremist groups for over two decades, I contend that the dramatic escalation of settler violence in the West Bank reveals a profound transformation within Israel's state institutions. Rather than serving as purported neutral enforcers of law and order, the military, Israeli police and the broader governmental apparatus have become increasingly aligned with ' and at times directly complicit in ' violent settler actions against Palestinians....
A conversation the CPG leader Poul Weihrauch about sustainability and profitability....
If you go to a pro sports event today, there's a good chance the stadium or arena will be powered at least in part by renewable energy. The team likely takes steps to reduce energy and waste. Some even claim to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, meaning any emissions they still do produce they offset by paying for projects, such as tree-planting, that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere. The venue upgrades have been impressive ' Seattle's hockey and basketball arena runs on 100% renewable energy, makes its rink ice from captured rainwater, and offers free public transit for ticket holders. The cost of carbon offsetting in sports varies by organization, with no industry standard for who pays. Some teams and leagues absorb costs through their operational budgets, treating carbon neutrality as a core responsibility. Others pass costs to consumers: Some teams add sustainability fees to ticket prices to offset each attendee's carbon footprint. The payment model ultimately reflects whether an organization views offsetting as an institutional obligation or a shared responsibility with fans....
