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Lightspeed $9B Raise: $4.5B Flagship, AI Focus

Analysis of Lightspeed Venture Partners' 2026 close of three funds totalling nine billion dollars, its backer base, AI allocation, portfolio outcomes and comparisons with other big venture firms.

Pointless add: Telstra is looking to get out of venture capital

Telstra Ventures has rebranded as Titanium Ventures, and the telco is exploring selling its stakes in the VC's funds as it tightens capital management. The firm has backed 99 startups since 2011.

Neural Notes: Ovum AI wants to close the gender data gap in healthcare

SmartCompany's AI column profiles Ovum AI, a Melbourne women's health startup preparing its pilot, which has backing from Wollemi Capital and Nakatomi and plans a crowdfunding round; briefs on other AI news follow.

Linktree is now letting users add Threads on their profile

Linktree launches a feature letting creators embed their Threads profile and posts on their Linktree pages, following its recent Snap partnership and Threads' rapid user growth.

Linktree builds out its C-suite with former Snap, Headspace and Netflix execs

Melbourne-based Linktree has hired three US executives: Farnaz Azmoodeh as CTO, Sam Rogoway as its first CPO, and Monica Austin as CMO, drawing on backgrounds at Snap, Google, Headspace, Calm, Netflix and Meta.

Telstra Ventures banks $500 million for Fund III focused on 'c'

Telstra Ventures has completed a third fund worth half a billion dollars, drawing on dozens of new and existing backers, with early cheques already written into fifteen companies including FTX and Forage.

Also Startup Daily·Techboard

Ignition Lane's Weekly Wrap: Venture capital is down, but a long way from out

Ignition Lane's weekly wrap reports falling Australian venture funding, lists several startup raises and fund raises, covers Chargefox's acquisition, Volt's closure, the Zip-Sezzle merger termination, and global tech news.

Also Startup Daily·Techboard

Ignition Lane's Weekly Wrap: The Great Reengagement, backing Web3, riding the markets & the big local raises

Ignition Lane's weekly tech roundup: AirTree raises $700m across three new funds, dozens of Australian startups announce rounds, a wave of acquisitions including Block completing its Afterpay buy, plus Web3 commentary and US market moves.

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