Unicorns are rare, but what about real?

Hello, and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines.

This week Mary An , Natasha and Alex enjoyed the warming climate and the fact that there are some positive vibes in the venture market as well. Hell, we even had a nine-figure round to chew on!

Here’s the show rundown:

• Alex wanted to discuss the latest FTX docs and the recent X.com (formally known as Twitter) news.
• Natasha brought a new edtech venture fund to the table.
• Mary Ann wanted to talk about Clear Street’s impressive fundraise.
• From there, we discussed that while the pace at which unicorns are being funded is in freefall, there are still some mega-IPOs coming from select late-stage startups. We will relish the return of S-1 season when it comes.
• From there it was time to chat AI. Natasha recently went to an AI event in San Francisco, helping us grok the on-the-ground dynamics at play. That, when crossed with different regulatory postures around the world made for a pretty darn interesting segment.
• And we closed with the opportunity that opportunity funds may afford venture firms. While Lux is still pursing a multistage approach, other firms are taking a more focused tack.

Lastly, there are just a couple days left to place your Webby Awards votes for our friends at Found and Chain Reactio .

We are back Monday morning, see you all at Early Stage!

Unicorns are rare, but what about real? by Natasha Mascarenhas originally published on TechCrunch