KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Q1 2026 broke every VC record. Crunchbase reports $300 billion deployed globally, a 150% jump year-over-year, nearly 70% of all VC deployed in all of 2025.
- AI captured 80% of venture dollars. $242 billion went to AI startups. Four
The Louis Lehot Medium Blog, published by Louis Lehot, focuses on corporate governance, capital markets, and emerging legal issues in technology and finance. It covers topics such as board evaluations and effectiveness, IPO readiness, SPAC transactions, venture capital trends, and the impact of artificial intelligence on legal and business strategies. The blog also discusses compliance culture, exit strategies, and regulatory considerations for startups and established companies navigating complex market environments. It features insights from industry events and expert panels, emphasizing practical guidance for legal and business professionals involved in corporate finance and governance.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we highlighted how startup‑on‑startup mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is accelerating heading into 2026, driven by artificial intelligence (AI)‑fueled competition, tighter fundraising conditions, and a rising initial public offering (IPO) bar that is pushing founders to…
Well, Christina Bui of Robert Half has done it again! For the third year in a row, she’s put together a 🌠 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿-𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 that includes Louis Lehot of Foley & Lardner LLP, Eric Benhamou of BGV, Avneet Kaur…
By Louis LehotKey Takeaways
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Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we highlighted how private equity accelerated exits amid rising liquidity pressure and how venture-backed startups leaned into record levels of founder-led mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to compete in an artificial intelligence (AI)‑intensified market. Both trends…
The digital asset revolution is no longer a distant possibility. It’s here, reshaping the way companies manage money and transact globally, interacting with customers and vendors. Until now, legal departments could afford to wait and see as the regulatory environment…
Foley & Lardner LLP partner Louis Lehot co-authored The Legal Intelligencer article, “State of Tech M&A: A 2026 Playbook for Founders Who Want to Win,” providing a practical guide for founders of emerging companies considering mergers and acquisitions.Lehot…
(January 08, 2026) — Louis Lehot and Kelly S. Boyd of Foley & Lardner LLP discuss how to turn board evaluations from a compliance exercise into a system for self-correction, strategic alignment and improved performance, moving beyond process to achieve outcomes.Boards today…
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we examined how strong venture capital (VC) momentum and artificial intelligence’s (AI) dominance collided with extended liquidity timelines to reshape exit strategies. While funding and deal activity surged, delayed initial public offering (IPO) windows fueled…
(January 05, 2026) — Louis Lehot of Foley & Lardner LLP discusses the INVEST Act, outlining how the bipartisan bill expands flexibility for fund managers, broadens investor access, and modernizes rules for startups and venture funds.For years, I’ve been saying that the U.S.…