I’ve spent most of my adult life building businesses, meeting extraordinary people, making mistakes and asking questions that occasionally get me into trouble. I’m interested in almost everything. Business, history, politics, science, philosophy, human behaviour and why otherwise intelligent people do extraordinarily stupid things. I like people who disagree with me, particularly when they can explain why. I will always change my mind when you’re convincing. I find certainty rather boring and curiosity endlessly entertaining. I’m a husband, father of three, deal maker, occasional golfer, amateur writer and occasional enthusiast for things I know absolutely nothing about. This account is where I’ll put whatever happens to be occupying my mind. Some of it might be interesting. Some of it will be nonsense. I’ll leave you to decide which is which. Either way come along for the ride 🙏

DeepSeek is closing in on one of China's largest ever private funding rounds. The Hangzhou AI startup is reported to be wrapping up a raise of about 100bn yuan ($15bn), double its original target, with CATL and Tencent among the biggest backers (via Bloomberg)

Legora is now worth $8.8bn, up from $5.6bn at its last round. The Stockholm legal AI startup has raised a $550m Series E led by Atreides, with Fidelity and JPMorgan among the new investors, as annual recurring revenue tops $200m (via Bloomberg)

Bob McGrew's new startup is already working with Anduril. Arda, founded by OpenAI's former research chief, has raised a $160m Series A at a $1.5bn valuation, co-led by Altimeter, Accel and Khosla, for AI that turns product designs into assembly lines (via CNBC)

Aliko Dangote has bought 24.76% of Kenya Pipeline Company for KSh42.5bn ($327m), just under the 25% mark that would trigger a takeover offer. He's also pledging $1.5bn to expand the network. (via FT)

Thank You one and all. Been a whirlwind 11 days back on X and already at 1,000 followers! Appreciate you all being here and supporting my account 🙏🙏 Say hello on my posts, comment and engage. It's great to speak to people. And obvs, drop me a follow if you aren't already 😎😎

Chester Carlson spent five years being turned down by more than 20 companies, IBM, GE and Kodak among them, before anyone would back the photocopier. He has company. Kodak's own engineer built a digital camera in 1975 and was told it was cute but to keep quiet about it. Blockbuster was offered Netflix for $50 million in 2000 and, by the founders' account, tried not to laugh. I'm collecting the best examples of a company saying no to the thing that would have made it. Extra credit if the person who said no went on to have a perfectly happy career anyway.

Tonight may well be peak internet. It’s been emotional 🫡

Us Brits do say “I’m knackered” when we’re tired yes. We also say “I’m spent” for tired as well. We say “They’ve gone” when describing someone who is laughing hysterically.

Instant follow. Yes absolutely it is.

Dude reverse engineered Tindr. Fascinating. Instant follow 👇

🇺🇸 🇶🇦 US military aircraft are being evacuated from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, per initial reports. Another indicator that strikes may be imminent 👀👀

ASI, the AI company behind the FAA's $875m airspace modernisation programme, is now valued at $3bn. The Boston startup has raised a $325m Series C led by Spark Capital, after winning a $99m US Army command-and-control contract this month (via Bloomberg)

I was today years old when I realised how many websites still run PHP and how wildly unprepared we are for the AI powered cyber attacks that are coming our way!

Any accounts on X people recommend I follow?

The PHP issue explained to us idiots very well by @MrNiceTry 👇