The following are some of the news items mentioned in the last few days:

  • Chinese are pumping money in Elon Musk’s private companies through SPV. These SPVs do not require the investor disclosure. Chinese in search of high quality yields are pouring money in to Musk ventures factoring in the trump proximity card will yield them insane profits in a short amount of time. Some of the investors are being courted with as little as 200k USD investment tranche
  • After a two year slump US fundraising leapt to about 80B USD in the final quarter this year. However 6 deals have accounted for 40 percent of the deal amount disbursed. I guess the game now is that VCs are hunting for big companies that have already gotten big. No longer are they hunting for small companies that might be profitable at exit. Most of the investment is flowing in to big private companies
  • Ireland despite it being favorite destination for many of the world’s top tech companies in risking losing its popularity, thanks to its woeful infrastructure. They are many infrastructure projects that have not taken off or not have been completed yet. With Trump’s threat of sanctions, Ireland might lose it luster as the tech mecca of EU
    • Ireland has long been a favored destination for major U.S. tech companies due to its business-friendly policies, including low corporate taxes (12.5%, now moving to 15% under OECD rules), a skilled workforce, and its position as an English-speaking gateway to the EU. However, if Trump were to return to office and impose sanctions or other economic measures targeting Ireland, it could impact its appeal as a tech hub. Here’s why:
    • Potential U.S. Tax and Trade Policies: Trump has previously criticized U.S. companies for offshoring profits to low-tax jurisdictions, and Ireland has been a key location for this. He could introduce tax policies that penalize American firms for booking revenues there or push for repatriation of profits to the U.S., making Ireland less attractive for tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta.
    • Pressure Over Global Tax Reform: The Biden administration played a key role in securing a global corporate tax agreement (15% minimum tax). Trump might reverse U.S. support for this, leading to global uncertainty. If he targets Ireland as an example, it could deter investment.
    • Sanctions and Political Tensions: Trump has a history of using sanctions and trade barriers against countries he sees as economically unfair to the U.S. If he were to accuse Ireland of being a tax haven or a hub for European regulation of U.S. tech firms, he could take measures that hurt its economy.
    • Impact on Big Tech’s EU Operations: Many U.S. tech firms use Ireland as their EU headquarters due to its regulatory and tax advantages. If Trump pushes policies that make it harder for companies to justify staying in Ireland (such as tariffs or restrictions on U.S. investment abroad), firms might rethink their European footprint.
    • Brexit and Ireland’s Role: Post-Brexit, Ireland became even more strategically important as an English-speaking hub in the EU. If Trump supports UK trade policies that compete with or sideline Ireland, it could shift economic dynamics.
    • While Ireland has structural advantages that won’t disappear overnight, if Trump were to impose economic measures against it—whether through taxation, trade, or diplomatic pressure—it could make Ireland less attractive as the EU’s premier tech hub. However, the extent of the impact would depend on what specific policies he pursues.
  • Pension funds are now questioning the long term stability of US equities and bond markets as Trump’s second term has began with a set of erratic and self-serving acts