First, San Diego-based Qualcomm announced its acquisition of Modular, a Palo Alto, California-based software startup focused on making it easier for developers to run AI models across different types of computer chips. At the same time, reports emerged that chip startup SambaNova is finalizing an $800 million funding round led by General Atlantic, valuing the company at $10 billion. Together, the two deals underscore a growing reality in tech: As hardware remains scarce and expensive, the software layers that connect these chips are becoming just as valuable as the silicon itself. Munichiello brings a pragmatic operational background to tech investing, having served as a captain and paratrooper in the U.S. military before transitioning to the private sector. He later worked as an early executive at Kiva Systems, helping scale the warehouse automation company through its $775 million acquisition by Amazon. With a background in mathematics and computer science from Emory University...
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