This is you Silicon Valley Tech Watch: Startup & Innovation News podcast.
Silicon Valley's funding engine showed no signs of slowing down on October 16th, with nearly one billion dollars deployed across a diverse range of startups spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, biotech, and private cellular networks. The day's activity underscores a critical shift in how venture capital is being allocated in 2025, with investors placing high-conviction bets on established growth-stage companies while maintaining steady support for early-stage innovation.
The standout deal came from Deel, which raised 300 million dollars in Series E funding at a valuation of 17.3 billion dollars. The global payroll infrastructure company's massive round signals continued investor appetite for fintech platforms that solve complex cross-border challenges. Close behind, Zepto secured 400 million dollars led by CalPERS to expand its quick-commerce operations in India, demonstrating that Silicon Valley capital is increasingly flowing toward international markets with proven business models.
On the same day, healthtech startup Brook AI announced a 28 million dollar Series B round co-led by UMass Memorial Health and Morningside Ventures. The company reported 204 percent patient growth year-over-year, using artificial intelligence and data analytics to manage chronic diseases like heart failure from home. OneLayer, a Boston-based startup securing private LTE and 5G networks, raised 28 million dollars in Series A funding led by Maor Investments, bringing its total funding to over 43 million dollars as enterprises increasingly deploy private cellular networks in industrial settings.
The talent landscape tells an equally compelling story. According to SignalFire's latest State of Tech Talent Report, new graduate hiring has plummeted 50 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, with new grads now accounting for just 7 percent of hires at Big Tech companies. This represents a fundamental reset in hiring strategies, as companies prioritize experienced talent capable of immediate contribution over entry-level workers. Meanwhile, elite AI labs like Anthropic are achieving 80 percent retention rates, demonstrating their ability to lock in top-tier talent in an intensely competitive market.
San Jose's tech job market is experiencing 15.9 percent growth in computer and math roles, with median tech salaries hitting 142,931 dollars and average salaries for specialized positions reaching 206,000 dollars. The demand centers on Python, AWS, machine learning, and AI engineering skills, with emerging fields like quantum computing creating entirely new career paths.
For entrepreneurs and job seekers, the practical takeaway is clear: focus on specialized skills in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing while building portfolios that demonstrate measurable impact. Investors continue to write large checks for companies with proven traction and clear paths to profitability, even as the broader market remains cautious.
Thank you for tuning in to Silicon Valley Tech Watch. Come back next week for more insider coverage of the innovations shaping our technological future. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please dot AI.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Silicon Valley's funding engine showed no signs of slowing down on October 16th, with nearly one billion dollars deployed across a diverse range of startups spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, biotech, and private cellular networks. The day's activity underscores a critical shift in how venture capital is being allocated in 2025, with investors placing high-conviction bets on established growth-stage companies while maintaining steady support for early-stage innovation.
The standout deal came from Deel, which raised 300 million dollars in Series E funding at a valuation of 17.3 billion dollars. The global payroll infrastructure company's massive round signals continued investor appetite for fintech platforms that solve complex cross-border challenges. Close behind, Zepto secured 400 million dollars led by CalPERS to expand its quick-commerce operations in India, demonstrating that Silicon Valley capital is increasingly flowing toward international markets with proven business models.
On the same day, healthtech startup Brook AI announced a 28 million dollar Series B round co-led by UMass Memorial Health and Morningside Ventures. The company reported 204 percent patient growth year-over-year, using artificial intelligence and data analytics to manage chronic diseases like heart failure from home. OneLayer, a Boston-based startup securing private LTE and 5G networks, raised 28 million dollars in Series A funding led by Maor Investments, bringing its total funding to over 43 million dollars as enterprises increasingly deploy private cellular networks in industrial settings.
The talent landscape tells an equally compelling story. According to SignalFire's latest State of Tech Talent Report, new graduate hiring has plummeted 50 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, with new grads now accounting for just 7 percent of hires at Big Tech companies. This represents a fundamental reset in hiring strategies, as companies prioritize experienced talent capable of immediate contribution over entry-level workers. Meanwhile, elite AI labs like Anthropic are achieving 80 percent retention rates, demonstrating their ability to lock in top-tier talent in an intensely competitive market.
San Jose's tech job market is experiencing 15.9 percent growth in computer and math roles, with median tech salaries hitting 142,931 dollars and average salaries for specialized positions reaching 206,000 dollars. The demand centers on Python, AWS, machine learning, and AI engineering skills, with emerging fields like quantum computing creating entirely new career paths.
For entrepreneurs and job seekers, the practical takeaway is clear: focus on specialized skills in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing while building portfolios that demonstrate measurable impact. Investors continue to write large checks for companies with proven traction and clear paths to profitability, even as the broader market remains cautious.
Thank you for tuning in to Silicon Valley Tech Watch. Come back next week for more insider coverage of the innovations shaping our technological future. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please dot AI.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Silicon Valley's funding engine showed no signs of slowing down
on October sixteenth, with nearly one billion dollars deployed across
a diverse range of startups spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, biotech,
and private cellular networks. The day's activity underscores a critical
shift in how venture capital is being allocated in twenty
(00:20):
twenty five, with investors placing high conviction bets on established
growth state companies while maintaining study support for early stage innovation.
The standout deal came from Deal, which raised three hundred
million dollars in Series E funding at evaluation of seventeen
point three billion dollars. The global payroll infrastructure company's massive
(00:41):
round signals continued investor appetite for fintech platforms that solve
complex cross border challenges. Close behind, Zepto secured four hundred
million dollars led by Kalpers to expand its quick commerce
operations in India, demonstrating that Silicon Valley capital is increasingly
flowing toward international markets with proven business models. On the
(01:04):
same day, health tech startup broke Ai announced a twenty
eight million dollars Series B round co led by UMass,
Memorial Health and Morningside Ventures. The company reported two hundred
four percent patient growth year over year, using artificial intelligence
and data analytics to manage chronic diseases like heart failure
(01:24):
from home. One Layer, a Boston based startup securing private
LTE and five G networks, raised twenty eight million dollars
in Series A funding led by Mayor Investments, bringing its
total funding to over forty three million dollars. As enterprises
increasingly deploy private cellular networks in industrial settings, the talent
(01:46):
landscape tells an equally compelling story. According to signal Fire's
latest State of Tech Talent report, new graduate hiring has
plummeted fifty percent compared to pre pandemic levels, with new
grads now counting for just seven two percent of hires
at big tech companies. This represents a fundamental reset in
hiring strategies as companies prioritize experience talent capable of immediate
(02:10):
contribution over entry level workers. Meanwhile, elite AI labs like
Anthropic are achieving eighty percent retention rates, demonstrating their ability
to lock in top tier talent in an intensely competitive market.
San Jose's tech job market is experiencing fifteen point nine
percent growth in computer and math roles, with median tech
(02:31):
salaries hitting one hundred and forty two thousand, nineteen hundred
and thirty one dollars and average salaries for specialized positions
reaching two hundred and six thousand dollars. The demand centers
on Python, AWS, machine learning, and AI engineering skills, with
emerging fields like quantum computing creating entirely new career paths
(02:55):
for entrepreneurs and job seekers. The practical takeaway is clear
focus on specialized skills in AI, cyber security, and cloud
computing while building portfolios that demonstrate measurable impact. Investors continue
to write large checks for companies with proven traction and
(03:15):
clear paths to profitability, even as the broader market remains cautious.
Thank you for tuning in to Silicon Valley Tech Watch.
Come back next week for more insider coverage of the
innovations shaping our technological future. This has been a quiet
please production. For more check out Quiet Please dot ai
Silicon Valley's funding engine showed no signs of slowing down
on October sixteenth, with nearly one billion dollars deployed across
a diverse range of startups spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, biotech,
and private cellular networks. The day's activity underscores a critical
shift in how venture capital is being allocated in twenty
(00:20):
twenty five, with investors placing high conviction bets on established
growth state companies while maintaining study support for early stage innovation.
The standout deal came from Deal, which raised three hundred
million dollars in Series E funding at evaluation of seventeen
point three billion dollars. The global payroll infrastructure company's massive
(00:41):
round signals continued investor appetite for fintech platforms that solve
complex cross border challenges. Close behind, Zepto secured four hundred
million dollars led by Kalpers to expand its quick commerce
operations in India, demonstrating that Silicon Valley capital is increasingly
flowing toward international markets with proven business models. On the
(01:04):
same day, health tech startup broke Ai announced a twenty
eight million dollars Series B round co led by UMass,
Memorial Health and Morningside Ventures. The company reported two hundred
four percent patient growth year over year, using artificial intelligence
and data analytics to manage chronic diseases like heart failure
(01:24):
from home. One Layer, a Boston based startup securing private
LTE and five G networks, raised twenty eight million dollars
in Series A funding led by Mayor Investments, bringing its
total funding to over forty three million dollars. As enterprises
increasingly deploy private cellular networks in industrial settings, the talent
(01:46):
landscape tells an equally compelling story. According to signal Fire's
latest State of Tech Talent report, new graduate hiring has
plummeted fifty percent compared to pre pandemic levels, with new
grads now counting for just seven two percent of hires
at big tech companies. This represents a fundamental reset in
hiring strategies as companies prioritize experience talent capable of immediate
(02:10):
contribution over entry level workers. Meanwhile, elite AI labs like
Anthropic are achieving eighty percent retention rates, demonstrating their ability
to lock in top tier talent in an intensely competitive market.
San Jose's tech job market is experiencing fifteen point nine
percent growth in computer and math roles, with median tech
(02:31):
salaries hitting one hundred and forty two thousand, nineteen hundred
and thirty one dollars and average salaries for specialized positions
reaching two hundred and six thousand dollars. The demand centers
on Python, AWS, machine learning, and AI engineering skills, with
emerging fields like quantum computing creating entirely new career paths
(02:55):
for entrepreneurs and job seekers. The practical takeaway is clear
focus on specialized skills in AI, cyber security, and cloud
computing while building portfolios that demonstrate measurable impact. Investors continue
to write large checks for companies with proven traction and
(03:15):
clear paths to profitability, even as the broader market remains cautious.
Thank you for tuning in to Silicon Valley Tech Watch.
Come back next week for more insider coverage of the
innovations shaping our technological future. This has been a quiet
please production. For more check out Quiet Please dot ai
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