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  • 📈 Arāya’s $25M Founder Boost

📈 Arāya’s $25M Founder Boost

Nvidia’s Sales Soar, Shares Take a Tumble

This is Cliff Equity, the UK’s business newsletter that keeps you informed on what’s important in tech, business and finance in less than 5 minutes

In today’s stories:

  • Arāya’s $25M Founder Boost

  • Nvidia’s Sales Soar, Shares Take a Tumble

  • London's Rich Face Tax Shake-Up Shock

The summary: Arāya Ventures is on a mission to supercharge early-stage startups with a blend of investment, diverse expertise, and top-tier mentorship, all while building a vibrant, community-powered network of founders and investors.

The details:

  • London’s Arāya Ventures just wrapped the first close of its Super Angel Fund with a rather sprightly $10.9 million, roping in Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran and other notable names, with grand plans to pump $25 million into early-stage ventures over the next four years.

  • Founder Rupa Popat has devised a community-powered approach to backing up to 60 startups in fintech, health tech, and more, with cheques from $200k to $550k—talk about personalised service beyond the pocketbook!

  • The fund boasts an eclectic investor mix, including family offices, current and exited founders, and top-notch professionals, with a strong representation from ethnic minorities. So diversity isn't just a buzzword here, it’s in the DNA.

  • Besides cash, founders get a hearty helping of expertise in AI, fundraising, and growth, plus access to Arāya’s elite scout network and their Angel Academy—essentially a startup support buffet!

Why it matters: Arāya Ventures is assembling a star-studded squad of investors and entrepreneurs to shake up the startup scene with more than just money—think personalised mentorship on steroids. With a diverse investor base and a hybrid investment structure, they're making sure no founder is left wanting, whether it's capital, connections, or expertise. In short, it's not just about writing cheques; it's about rewriting the playbook for early-stage investment.

The summary: Despite Nvidia smashing sales records, Wall Street’s high expectations and production delays have cast a slight cloud over the AI giant’s otherwise glowing reign.

The details:

  • Nvidia smashes forecasts with a cool $30bn in quarterly revenue, yet Wall Street reacts like it's seen a lukewarm cup of tea – shares tumble 6% after-hours.

  • AI chip dominance? Absolutely. But concerns loom as growth slows and whispers of production delays for its next-gen Blackwell chip ruffle feathers.

  • CEO Jensen Huang, the leather jacket-wearing "Taylor Swift of tech," keeps promising AI will revolutionise everything, though Wall Street remains cautiously sceptical.

  • Rivals like Intel may be eyeing Nvidia’s crown, but it’ll take more than wishful thinking to knock the AI chip titan off its throne... for now.

Why it matters: Nvidia’s AI reign is dazzling, but even a tech titan isn’t immune to a stock market slap when growth slows and expectations soar. Wall Street, like a finicky dinner guest, is unimpressed by a record feast if it’s not served with fireworks. With rivals sharpening their knives and production hiccups on the horizon, Nvidia’s once invincible aura might just have a hairline crack.

The summary: If Rachel Reeves takes the IPPR’s advice, London’s wealthy might face a hefty tax hike, helping to balance out the financial scales and give the North a bit more cheer.

The details:

  • Rich Southerners Brace for a Tax Tsunami: Rachel Reeves is being nudged to launch an ÂŁ18bn tax raid aimed squarely at the wealthy elite of London and the South East.

  • Capital Gains Tax Makeover: The IPPR suggests bumping up capital gains tax rates to match income tax, effectively doubling the current haul and sticking it to those who make a fortune on their investments.

  • North-South Wealth Gap Widens: London’s capital gains are a whopping five times higher per person than those in Wales, and the wealth gap between the South East and North East is set to grow even wider.

  • Pension Pots and Property Power: With 42% of household wealth stashed in pensions and 36% in property, the IPPR’s proposed tax shake-up could see a hefty boost in Treasury receipts—if landlords and investors don't start cashing out first.

Why it matters: The rich folks in London and the South East might soon find their pockets lighter, as the proposed tax shake-up aims to spread some of their glittering wealth northward. Meanwhile, the widening gap between South East and North East wealth is poised to make Northern folks even grumpier about their financial lot. In short, if Rachel Reeves listens to the IPPR, the rich might start feeling a bit less smug, and the Treasury could see a rather lovely boost.