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In Case You Missed It: Launch Links - Week of December 13, 2015

  • 12.18.2015

Some interesting links we found across the web for this week:

The Fed's Rate Hike Will Force a Unicorn Reckoning
Leading national news this week included the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates for the first time in seven years, prompting no shortage of doomsday predictions for the market. Is an era of easy money ending, and how will the next generation of standout respond?

How Questions About Terrorism Challenge Bitcoin Startups
The world is far from ready to truly adopt virtual currency, but global security concerns are already prompting bitcoin regulation in Europe. Will it be done carefully enough not to threaten in the space?

U. of Calif. Opens 250 Million Dollar Fund for Venture Capital Investments
Universities across the country are increasingly backing student-run companies through their own venture capital funds, and the University of California joined in this week. For first-time founders who are still in school, this alternative source of funding could bear greater fruit than a private VC.

In a Self-Serve World, Startups Find Value in Human Helpers
From The New York Times this week, a thought-provoking piece on the dangers of automation for attempting to compete with in-person service.

Milestone-Based Vesting for Startup Founders
We recently shared a piece by WilmerHale former Counsel John Demeter on extended exercise periods for employees' …but what about their boss's equity? Although founders are generally subject to three- to four-year vesting schedules for their shares, at least one veteran CEO suggests an alternative formulation based on company milestones.

Startup Investing and Entrepreneurship in 2016: Top 3 Trends
This is our last post of 2015, so let's look to the year ahead. Keep these big ideas in mind as you follow the market with us, and we'll see you in 2016!

Links compiled by Jared Brenner.