Melissa Lou, a Senior Venture Architect at Boston Consulting Group X (X.Ventures), shares her journey from hospitality school to successful entrepreneurship.  After graduating from EHL Hospitality Business School, she co-founded Delegate, an events startup.  Lou credits EHL with providing her with the skills and confidence she needed to succeed in her ventures.  She highlights the importance of adaptability, confidence, and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, skills she honed at EHL.  Lou believes that these skills are crucial for success in today's unpredictable world, particularly in technology and entrepreneurship.  She also emphasizes the value of the EHL alumni network and the importance of giving back to the community that helped her succeed.

Melissa Lou is a woman with many interests, and is unafraid of pursuing them. Currently a Senior Venture Architect at Boston Consulting Group X (X.Ventures) which invents, builds, scales and invests in startups with the globally established companies; she had previously co-founded Delegate, an events startup that provides technological tools to create offline, virtual, and hybrid event environments.

From Hospitality School to Startup Success: Melissa Lou's Journey

### A New Unicorn in the Tech Space

Statsig, a startup founded by a former Facebook engineering leader, has successfully **raised $100 million** in Series C funding, achieving a **$1.1 billion valuation**. This funding will accelerate its mission to unify product development tools in an era where **AI is reshaping** software creation.

![Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji](https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/vijaye-cropped.png)
*Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji at the company’s Bellevue headquarters.*

### The Vision for Statsig

Based in Bellevue, Statsig provides essential tools that allow product teams to **test new features**, measure their impact, and decide on rollouts—essentially building on A/B testing practices. **Vijaye Raji**, the founder and CEO, envisions Statsig as a **“one-stop product-building platform”** that spans from conception to launch and performance observation.

### Series C Funding Details

The Series C round was led by **Iconiq Growth**, known for backing successful companies like Datadog and Snowflake, alongside existing investors **Sequoia** and **Madrona**. With this new funding, Statsig aims to expand its product lineup and its team of 140 employees, reinforcing its position as a unicorn in the Seattle tech scene.

### Financial Performance

Statsig reports **$40 million in annual recurring revenue**, although it has not disclosed its profitability status. The company ranks #9 on the **GeekWire 200**, indicating its prominence among Pacific Northwest tech startups.

### The Impact of AI on Product Development

As AI accelerates software development, the need for **experimentation and observation** becomes critical. Raji emphasizes that AI-generated features introduce unpredictability, making continuous validation essential post-launch. The recent acquisition of competitor Eppo by Datadog highlights a trend of consolidation in the field, which Statsig views as an opportunity to position itself as a comprehensive platform.

### Growth Plans

Statsig plans to grow its staff to between **175 and 190 employees** by early 2026, with roles in engineering, product management, data science, and sales and marketing. Raji believes the new valuation and investor support will aid in attracting top-tier talent, particularly experienced engineers and product leaders.

The company is also known for its **five-day in-office work policy**, which promotes collaboration and may influence the local job market positively. As Statsig outgrows its current space, plans for a larger office near its current location are underway.

### Investor Relations

**Murali Joshi**, a partner at Iconiq Growth, will join Statsig’s board, bringing valuable experience and a long-standing relationship with the company. With over **$153 million raised to date**, Statsig is set to expand its offerings, which already include experimentation, analytics, visualization, session replay, web analytics, and feature flagging tools. Raji mentions that there are **three to four additional products** currently in development, signaling robust growth ahead.

Statsig has raised $100M in Series C funding at a $1.1B valuation to expand its platform for A/B testing, analytics, and feature management as AI transforms product development.

Statsig Secures $100M to Revolutionize Product Development Amidst AI Disruption

### Exciting News in the AI Startup Scene

**StackOne**, a London-based startup specializing in **AI agents** and **SaaS integration**, has successfully raised **$20 million** in its latest funding round. This impressive financial backing comes from notable **investors**, including **Angels from OpenAI** and **Google DeepMind**.

The funding will further enhance StackOne's capabilities in developing innovative AI solutions that streamline business processes and improve customer engagement. With such strong support from industry giants, StackOne is poised to make significant strides in the competitive AI landscape.

### Why This Matters

The involvement of high-profile investors not only validates StackOne's business model but also signals a growing confidence in the **AI sector**. As startups continue to emerge in this space, the potential for **cutting-edge technologies** and solutions is expanding rapidly. StackOne's achievements highlight the increasing importance of **AI integration** in various industries, paving the way for future advancements.

Stay tuned as StackOne continues to develop its offerings and make waves in the tech world.

Angels from OpenAI and Google DeepMind among those backing London-based AI agents and SaaS integration startup.

AI Startup StackOne Secures $20M Funding with Backing from OpenAI and Google DeepMind

# Blinq: The Future of Networking

It’s **2025**, and business cards are still prevalent. If you've ever attended a conference, you know the struggle of collecting a **pile of cards** that often end up discarded. Enter **Blinq**, a Melbourne-based startup that aims to **make paper business cards obsolete** with its innovative digital business card app.

## A Growing Trend
Blinq started as a **hobby project in 2017**, capitalizing on the growing trend of digital alternatives to traditional business cards. With over **2.5 million users** spanning 500,000 companies across the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia, the startup has gained significant traction.

## Major Funding Round
Recently, Blinq secured a **$25 million Series A funding round**, led by **Touring Capital**, alongside returning investors **Blackbird Ventures** and **Square Peg Capital**, and new investor **HubSpot Ventures**.

## How It Works
Blinq's app allows users to create multiple **customized digital business cards** tailored for various situations. With features like **QR codes, email signatures, NFCs**, and integration with CRM systems such as **HubSpot** and **Salesforce**, networking has never been easier.

## Expanding User Base
The company's user base is predominantly located in the U.S., comprising **80%** of its customers. Blinq's team has grown from just **5 employees** to **67**, with offices in major cities like **Sydney, Melbourne, New York,** and **San Francisco**.

## Built-in Virality
According to CEO **Jarrod Webb**, every time someone uses Blinq, they introduce it to a new potential user, creating a **virality** that drives organic growth and keeps **customer acquisition costs low**. Companies pay per seat, encouraging expansion as more employees adopt the platform.

## Competing in a Crowded Market
Blinq faces competition from other digital business card services like **Mobilo**, **Popl**, and **Wix**, as well as social platforms like **LinkedIn**. However, Webb believes Blinq’s focus on building **relationships** sets it apart, providing users with tools to engage with new contacts effectively.

## The Vision Ahead
Webb envisions digital business cards as a **gateway** to deeper connections. By being the trusted tool at the start of a relationship, Blinq aims to facilitate **momentum** in networking, expanding into new markets and evolving how people connect in a rapidly changing world.

It's 2025, but business cards are still in vogue — just visit any conference or industry expo and you'll end up with a pile that's likely to be discarded

Blinq Raises $25M to Revolutionize Networking with Digital Business Cards

## Quantum Systems Achieves Unicorn Status

Autonomous drones startup **Quantum Systems** has successfully raised **€160 million** in its Series C funding round, led by British VC **Balderton Capital**. This milestone positions Quantum Systems as one of the few unicorns in the **European defense tech** sector.

### Notable Investors

This funding round saw participation from prominent investors such as **Hensoldt**, **Airbus Defense and Space**, **Bullhound Capital**, **HV Capital**, **Project A**, and **Peter Thiel** among others. 

### Dual-Use Drones

Founded a decade ago in Munich, Quantum Systems specializes in **dual-use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)**, which are designed for both military and commercial purposes. These drones are capable of **spying on enemy locations** and delivering critical information without engaging in direct combat. Notably, their commercial applications extend to **agriculture**, **mining**, and **infrastructure**.

### Government Contracts and Revenue Growth

The startup has secured numerous government contracts with countries including the **US**, **Colombia**, **Ukraine**, **Australia**, **Germany**, and **Spain**. Co-founder and co-CEO **Florian Seibel** reported a revenue of **€115 million** in 2024, boasting over **100% year-over-year growth** for several years. Seibel emphasized, "The need for sovereign, aerial intelligence has never been more pressing."

### Expansion Plans

With the new funding, Quantum Systems aims to enhance its global production capabilities to meet rising demand and expand its market presence worldwide. The company has been actively pursuing acquisitions, including the purchase of **AirRobot** and expanding into the **UK market** through its acquisition of **Nordic Unmanned UK**.

## A Competitive Landscape

The autonomous drone sector is becoming increasingly crowded, with competitors like **Helsing**, which raised funds at a valuation of around **€5 billion**, and **Tekever**, which recently announced a funding round valuing it at over **£1 billion**. Tekever also secured a significant contract with the **UK's Royal Air Force (RAF)**, pledging to invest **£400 million** in the UK.

### Growing Investor Interest

The surge in funding reflects a growing interest from VCs in defense technology, particularly since the start of the year, as geopolitical tensions rise. Data indicates that **$5.2 billion** was invested in the **defense, security, and resilience sector** in 2024 alone, marking a record influx of capital.

The new round, led by British VC Balderton Capital, bolsters the startup in a highly competitive space

Quantum Systems Soars to Unicorn Status with €160M Series C Funding in Competitive Drone Market

Let me be blunt: **Vietnam should be the perfect place** to build a lean, high-margin business. The cost of living is low. Talent is abundant. The energy? **Electric**. You can feel it walking the streets of Saigon—everyone’s hustling, moving, building. It’s the kind of raw growth that startup junkies like me drool over.

So when I landed in Vietnam with a playbook full of wins, I was sure I’d hit the jackpot. I’d built SaaS ventures in the U.S., helped launch fintech tools in Latin America, and advised founders across Asia. Vietnam felt like the next frontier.

But six months in? My business was in **shambles**. My team was fractured. And I was bleeding cash and confidence.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about trying to build in Vietnam as a foreigner—and why, despite the hype, it didn’t work out for me.

### You’re always an outsider (no matter how friendly people are)
Vietnamese people are warm, welcoming, and incredibly open—on the surface. But business? That’s a different game. There’s an **inner circle** that you don’t see at first. Family ties, school networks, and decades-old relationships run the show behind closed doors.

I naively thought being “Western” gave me some kind of advantage. It didn’t. If anything, it made people polite—but distant. I was tolerated, not trusted. And in a **relationship-first business culture**, that meant I was always ten steps behind.

### The rules aren’t the rules
Every expat entrepreneur in Vietnam has a story about how the “official” rules and the “real” rules are two different things.

Want to hire local staff? Technically easy. In reality? You’ll run into labor laws that shift depending on who’s asking. Want to rent an office space? Sure, but your landlord might demand six months’ rent upfront and then ghost you when something breaks.

I tried to play it clean. Register the business. Follow the rules. Pay the taxes. But local competitors could do things I couldn’t—because they knew how to **work** the system, not just play in it.

### Your foreign bank account becomes a chokehold
I made the rookie mistake of trying to operate with a **foreign bank account** while waiting for my Vietnamese business license to process (which, by the way, took **forever**). It seemed harmless—until I tried to pay freelancers or receive funds from clients.

Vietnam’s banking system isn’t built for digital nomads. International transfers are slow. Paperwork is painful. And good luck explaining Stripe or Wise to your local accountant.

In the end, my cash flow got strangled by **red tape**—and there’s nothing that kills momentum faster than not being able to pay your team on time.

### Your “cost advantage” is a mirage
At first, I was blown away by how cheap things were: $2 banh mi, $30 co-working spaces, $300/month staff.

But what I didn’t realize is that low cost often means **low reliability**. That $300 staffer might ghost you mid-project. That developer quoting half the market rate? Probably copy-pasting code from StackOverflow. I spent more time cleaning up messes than shipping product.

And when I **did** find top talent? They wanted international rates. So the dream of ultra-cheap scaling? Gone. The actual costs of quality were just hidden in the churn.

### There’s no safety net when things go wrong
In more mature ecosystems, when you hit a wall, you pivot. You find mentors. You get bridge funding. You join an accelerator. There’s **infrastructure**.

In Vietnam? You’re on your own.
When my main revenue source dried up—thanks to a global client pulling out—I had nowhere to turn. No local investor network. No legal safety net. No community of fellow founders to lean on.

It’s easy to feel invincible when things are working. But when they aren’t? You realize how **vulnerable** you really are.

### What I wish I knew
If I could do it over, I’d do three things differently:
1. **Partner with a local** – not just for legal setup, but as an equal. Someone who knows the system and can navigate it from the inside.
2. **Start as a freelancer, not a founder** – build your network, test the waters, **then** go all in.
3. **Keep your burn rate stupidly low** – assume your setup will take twice as long and cost three times as much.

Vietnam has so much promise. But it’s not Silicon Valley with scooters. It’s a different beast—and if you treat it like a shortcut, it’ll eat you alive.

Let me be blunt: Vietnam should be the perfect place to build a lean, high-margin business. The cost of living is low. Talent is abundant. The energy? Electric. You can feel it walking the streets of Saigon—everyone’s hustling, moving, building. It’s the kind of raw growth that startup junkies like me drool over. So when […]

Why Building a Startup in Vietnam as a Foreigner Can Lead to Disaster: My Cautionary Tale

## Employer.com Acquires MainStreet.com

**Employer.com** has made headlines by acquiring **MainStreet.com** for an undisclosed amount, marking another significant move in the fintech sector. According to **Employer.com Chairman and co-founder Jesse Tinsley**, this merger aims to **simplify business back-office solutions** into a single, powerful platform.

**MainStreet**, based in San Jose, California, was founded in 2019 and specialized in helping startups uncover **research and development tax credits**. The startup achieved notable success, crossing the **$1 million ARR** threshold and helping clients save an average of **$51,000**. By 2021, MainStreet's revenue surged past **$15 million**. However, signs of trouble emerged in 2022 when the company laid off **30% of its staff** due to a challenging market. At its peak, MainStreet was valued at **$500 million**, but faced a downturn in valuation to **$200 million** in 2022.

While Tinsley confirmed that MainStreet was profitable prior to the acquisition, the exact details of its financial status remain unclear. MainStreet raised approximately **$75 million** in venture capital from notable investors including **SignalFire** and **Tusk Ventures**. As part of the acquisition, MainStreet's **15-person team** will join the ranks of Employer.com, which currently employs around **500 individuals**.

With this acquisition, Employer.com is now valued at just over **$700 million**. The company has been on a buying spree, having previously announced the acquisition of **Bench**, an accounting startup that faced significant operational challenges.

Tinsley emphasized that the overarching goal of these acquisitions is to automate an end-to-end platform for business back-office operations. Additionally, there have been reports of Tinsley collaborating with **YouTuber MrBeast** on a bid to acquire **TikTok**, although the outcome of that attempt remains uncertain.

*This story was updated post-publication to reflect MainStreet’s accurate funding amount.*

Employer.com has acquired MainStreet.com for an undisclosed amount, the latest fintech startup to get snapped up by the workforce management company. In a

Employer.com Expands Its Empire: MainStreet.com Acquisition Unveiled!

### OpenAI's Major Acquisition

OpenAI has reached an agreement to acquire **Windsurf**, formerly known as **Codeium**, for approximately **$3 billion**. This acquisition marks OpenAI's largest purchase to date, positioning the company to confront rising competition in the **AI-driven coding assistant** market.

### Details of the Deal

While the deal has not officially closed, sources familiar with the discussions indicate that both OpenAI and Windsurf have chosen not to comment publicly. This acquisition could significantly enhance OpenAI's capabilities in providing tools that generate code from natural language prompts, a growing area of interest in the tech industry.

### Windsurf's Background

Windsurf, or **Exafunction Inc.**, had recently been in discussions with investors such as **Kleiner Perkins** and **General Catalyst** to secure funding at a valuation of **$3 billion**. Notably, the company was valued at **$1.25 billion** in a previous funding round led by General Catalyst last year.

### Competitive Landscape

OpenAI faces stiff competition from companies like **Anthropic** and **Microsoft's Github**, both of which offer AI tools for programmers. Additionally, a new wave of startups, including **Anysphere**, is entering the field with similar offerings.

### OpenAI's Financial Backing

Recently, OpenAI secured a **$40 billion financing** deal led by **SoftBank Group Corp.**, which values the company at an impressive **$300 billion**. Interestingly, OpenAI has also reconsidered its plans to shift towards a more conventional for-profit structure following public feedback.

OpenAI has agreed to buy Windsurf, an artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool formerly known as Codeium, for about $3 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, marking the ChatGPT maker’s largest acquisition to date.

From Hospitality School to Startup Success: Melissa Lou's Journey

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Other Latest News

Statsig Secures $100M to Revolutionize Product Development Amidst AI Disruption

AI Startup StackOne Secures $20M Funding with Backing from OpenAI and Google DeepMind

Blinq Raises $25M to Revolutionize Networking with Digital Business Cards

Quantum Systems Soars to Unicorn Status with €160M Series C Funding in Competitive Drone Market

Why Building a Startup in Vietnam as a Foreigner Can Lead to Disaster: My Cautionary Tale

Employer.com Expands Its Empire: MainStreet.com Acquisition Unveiled!

OpenAI's Bold Move: Acquiring Windsurf for $3 Billion to Dominate AI Coding Tools

Other Latest News

Statsig Secures $100M to Revolutionize Product Development Amidst AI Disruption

AI Startup StackOne Secures $20M Funding with Backing from OpenAI and Google DeepMind

Blinq Raises $25M to Revolutionize Networking with Digital Business Cards

Quantum Systems Soars to Unicorn Status with €160M Series C Funding in Competitive Drone Market

Why Building a Startup in Vietnam as a Foreigner Can Lead to Disaster: My Cautionary Tale

Employer.com Expands Its Empire: MainStreet.com Acquisition Unveiled!

OpenAI's Bold Move: Acquiring Windsurf for $3 Billion to Dominate AI Coding Tools