My top stories of 2024

There's never been a better time to be a tech reporter.

I’ve never felt luckier to be a tech reporter. 2024 was full of fascinating twists, turns, drama and hype — making the job all the more exciting and busy. Over the past 12 months, we were in the middle of a downturn, and then an AI boom that brought an optimism that has only recently begun to trickle to other sectors. At the same time, venture capitalists were busy shifting their business models, firing tenured investors & raising smaller funds — as well as trying to land allocation in hot, overpriced AI rounds while ignoring the Zombies leftover from ‘21.

And that’s just the high level. To continue last year’s tradition, here are my favorite stories and scoops from 2024, always in collaboration with my brilliant colleagues at The Information.

Microsoft-backed Inflection Arranges Unusual Payout for Startup’s Investors

(And relatedly, Microsoft Agreed to Pay Inflection $650 Million While Hiring Its Staff)

A $100 Billion Middle East AI Fund Plots Its U.S. Expansion

The Rise of Founders Fund’s Faithful Warrior

Musk’s xAI Is Close to Raising $6 Billion from Sequoia, Others

Stability AI Gets New CEO and a Bailout From Investor Group Led By Sean Parker

Ex-CEO of Failed Fintech Synapse Nabs $10 Million for New Robotics Startup

Musk’s xAI Has Considered Buying Character.AI

Bolt, Once Worth $11 Billion, Slashes Share Price 97% in Buyback

Behind OpenAI Meltdown, Valley Heavyweight Reid Hoffman Calmed Microsoft Nerves

Anduril Nears $12.5 Billion-Valuation Round Led by Founders Fund, Sands Capital

OpenAI Board Has Discussed Seats With Scale AI’s Wang, Investor Friedman

And that’s just a few of the highlights! May 2025 be as eventful and you can always help by sending tips to me on Signal at 925 271 0912. Also, I now have a weekly column at The Information, Dealmaker, so subscribe there for more regular commentary!

Thanks for reading & reaching out always.

Thank you Philz for fueling my deadline energy!