How do house flipping and dating apps fit into fundamental businesses concepts? In this episode of Some Personal News, Natasha Mascarenhas asks Sophia Kunthara to answer that question as well as explain the difference between private equity and venture capital.

If there are any scary business questions you have, but are too afraid to ask, let us know.

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We’ll be back next week for our final episode of the mini-series.

We’re back this week with a new episode of Some Personal News. This week, Natasha Mascarenhas asks senior data reporter about a long-standing tradition of the News team: the quarterly reports. Earlier this week, Jason wrote “The Q3 2019 Global Venture Capital Report: Seed Stage Deals Increase While Broader Funding Environment Shows Signs Of Erosion.”

In this episode, Rowley chats about how the quarterly reports came to be, if shaky IPO woes are impacting the numbers, and data-fueled projections for Q4.

As always, we want this podcast to serve you all. Tell us if there are any ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ News stories you want to learn more about, what headlines we can better explain, or how we can shine a brighter light on our reporting process.

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We’re back this week with a new episode of Some Personal News. This week, Sophia Kunthara asks Natasha Mascarenhas to unpack the story behind Mascarenhas’ latest: How A Government Request Is Denying Startups’ Access To Immigrant Talent.

, Natasha chats about how immigration issues can impact the Valley’s workforce, the way we think about sourcing these stories, and what it’s like to get emotional with a source.

As always, we want this podcast to serve you all. Tell us if there are any ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ News stories you want to learn more about, what headlines we can better explain or how we can shine a brighter light on our reporting process.

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Ever wonder what’s the first section we scroll to when an S-1 filing drops? Or where we find inspiration for the stories we write? What about the detail that didn’t make the story but is brewing in our minds?

Once a week, we—that is and —will unpack the story behind ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ News stories in a six-episode podcast series: Some Personal News. We’ll share notes from our reporter’s notebooks, explain what the week’s headlines mean to us, and laugh a little bit, too.

, and we would love if you gave it a listen. And after you do, take some time to tell us about the stories or questions you want us to focus on.

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It was a week of scooters, startups born out of the failures of others, and Softbank. Whatever summer slowdown the venture world used to entertain now seems firmly passé. This late in the unicorn era, there are no reins.

Want this email every weekend? Subscribe here to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ News emails! 

Given the pace of news that’s coming out, we wind up covering many positive market indicators (new rounds and the like). But piggy-backing off an earlier column this week, it’s important to keep an eye on what could go wrong. Tap here to find out what has us worried.

In funding news, we pored over several nine-figure rounds, including insurance unicorn Hippo scoring $100 million (it’s now a unicorn) and China-based ride-hailing company Didi raising six times as much. Gusto, formerly ZenPayroll, also raised $200 million to help power SMB HR.

Fintech, one of our favorite sectors, raised frugal and lavish rounds this week. Stackin’ picked up $4 million to text users advice on how to be better with their money. In contrast, MoneyLion raised $100 million in a Series C, and Robinhood raised a huge $323 million Series E.

In news that could help all of us: Tile,Ìýwhich helps users track items like their phone and keys, raised $45 million. In news that could’ve helped Anki a few months ago: Freedom Robotics raised $6.6 million to make it easier and cheaper to be a robot startup.

Looking ahead, the funding landscape, especially for late-stage firms, is very bright given that Vision Fund 2 is a go. (What’s up with the Microsoft money?) Threshold also has new money to invest, and WeWork’s IPO is coming sooner than expected.

´¡±ô²õ´Ç,Ìýa growing share of global VC funding is going to the United States at the expense of China. Reminder, China’s share of the worlds supergiant rounds—venture rounds of $100 million or more—has fallen from its leading position to third place.

All that and here’s a scooter story concerning a retreat, and one more that’s a bit more positive.

Ending on a note beyond the numbers: We chatted with Elizabeth Ashford for Proust Goes Tech this week. Just wait until you get to the part about how an anesthesiologist with pennies taped to his shoes inspired her.

Until next week,

Natasha (,Ìý) and Alex (,Ìý)

±Ê.³§.Ìý.

Actual conversation I had today:

Me: what are you in SF for?

Friend from DC: work, but also going to see [friend] and help him build a deck

Me: oh, I didn’t know [friend] started a company!

FfDC: WTF you’re the second person today who thought that…….He’s building a porch.

— Austin Petersmith (@awwstn)

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