|
|
 |
| (Adriana Hansen/PitchBook News) |
|
|
A year ago, Demis Hassabis, founder of Google's AI drug discovery startup Isomorphic Labs, predicted at Davos that he would have an AI-designed drug in trials by the end of 2025.
Today, neither Isomorphic nor any of its competitors has reached that stage yet, despite the more than $17 billion of capital invested in the endeavor since 2019. Isomorphic alone raised $579 million last year in a round led by Thrive Capital.
So, why is it taking so long? Why haven't the breakthroughs in generative models and robotics we've seen over the last couple of years translated into the biomedical sciences?
I'm Rosie Bradbury, and this is The Weekend Pitch. You can reach me at rosie.bradbury@pitchbook.com or on X @_RosieBradbury.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| A message from Goldman Sachs Investment Banking |
|
|
| Goldman Sachs 2026 Global M&A Outlook |
|
The M&A landscape is primed for a new wave of strategic transformation this year.
Companies are thinking beyond scale to reposition their portfolios for the next era of growth. The Global M&A Outlook explores the key catalysts driving transformation in 2026:
- An innovation supercycle fueling strategic growth
- Private markets at the epicenter of M&A dealmaking
- Complex deals demanding flexible capital solutions
- Proactive measures against public activist campaigns
Download the Goldman Sachs 2026 Global M&A Outlook to explore more. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
| (Patrick T. Fallon/Getty Images) |
|
|
The AI chipmaker Nvidia has been on an M&A spree over the last two years, spending billions to maintain its edge in computing. Several investors are benefiting from the acquisition streak, sometimes seeing multiple portfolio companies bought by Nvidia. Which firm has seen four of its portfolio companies purchased by Nvidia?
A) Tiger Global
B) Blackstone
C) Insight Partners
D) Radical Ventures
Find your answer at the bottom of The Weekend Pitch! |
|
|
|
|
|
A selection from our most-read articles of the past few days.
• xAI has raised a $20 billion Series E, intensifying the fundraising competition between the three largest US-based language model makers and jumping into second place in the race. Full story
• The capture and arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro seem unlikely to have a significant impact on private equity investment in the country—at least for now. Read more
• IPO watchlist: As Europe’s listings window reopens, these private companies have the strongest likelihood of floating on stock exchanges. Check out the list |
|
|
|
|
|
“We were as busy as ever in 2025 on the venture side, and I see no reason the momentum isn’t going to continue fully in 2026.”
—Hoolie Tejwani, head of Coinbase Ventures, speaking to PitchBook's Michael Bodley on how stablecoins have propelled the crypto landscape toward a surge in deal value. You can learn more about what’s in store for crypto in 2026 by reading here. |
|
|
|
|
|
Keep an eye out for these insights and research reports coming out this week:
- Q4 2025 PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor
- 2025 Annual US PE Breakdown
- Q3 2025 PitchBook Private Capital Indexes
- Allocator Solutions: Does VC Improve Portfolio Outcomes—or Complicate Them?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Answer: A
Four of Tiger Global’s portfolio companies have been acquired by Nvidia. You can read more about which startups those were and what other investors are benefiting by reading Jacob Robbins’ latest here. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sign up for our newsletter
|
|
This edition of The Weekend Pitch was written by Rosie Bradbury and Jacob Robbins. It was edited by Kia Kokalitcheva and Ron Prichard.
Were you forwarded The Weekend Pitch? Sign up at pitchbook.com/subscribe. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Since yesterday, the PitchBook Platform added: |
|
17
Deals
|
60
People
|
49
Companies
|
1
Funds
|
|
|
| | | | |
