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Q1'25: General Market Update

  • Writer: Tania Tugonon
    Tania Tugonon
  • Mar 19
  • 4 min read

Image by Unsplash
Image by Unsplash

At  Axis Group Ventures, we specialize in strategic debt placements across venture growth, the lower middle market, and special situations. Additionally, we focus on late-stage private market secondaries through our partnership with Rainmaker Securities.


Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do—identifying and supporting up-and-coming breakthroughs that have the potential to make it big in their respective fields. We have a track record of working with companies in the tech sector, ranging from SaaS to fintech and emerging AI applications.


As we get close to the end of Q1, we wanted to share some key updates on secondaries and private markets. From emerging trends to notable transactions, here’s a quick look at what’s been shaping the landscape this quarter.


Let’s dive in.


Starting in 2025, fresh innovations were already making headlines.—CES 2025 unveiled some interesting tech, while the VC landscape continues to evolve rapidly after a big year for AI in 2024. Here’s a look at the standout CES breakthroughs shaping venture capital today.


Image by PSYONIC
Image by PSYONIC

The CES 2025 had a number of late-stage venture companies attend, including notable names like Waymo, Helm.ai, and Hailo. Other groundbreaking tech innovations included Realbotix Corp., a leader in humanoid robots and companionship AL, made its CES 2025 debut, allowing the public to interact with its robots for the first time. The company also shared its robotic vision system and showcased its new modular robot, Melody.  PSYONIC's Ability Hand demonstrated next-level bionic technology, offering advanced sensory feedback and giving both users and robots unmatched control and dexterity. The Mudra Neural Wristband takes things even further by turning your hand into a controller through electromyography sensors, paving the way for new possibilities in AR/VR control, accessibility, and productivity tools.


Image by Unsplash
Image by Unsplash

Major industry players were also present. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang introduced innovations such as AI-powered digital agents, "Physical AI," and the Cosmos platform for building physics-aware simulations. He also highlighted how Omniverse and Cosmos can generate synthetic data for AI training. Additionally, NVIDIA launched Project DIGITS, bringing AI supercomputers to desktops, and revealed that Toyota will use its DRIVE AGX platform for future vehicles.


Moreover, Delta Air Lines unveiled a generative AI assistant aimed at streamlining every aspect of travel, further emphasizing AI’s growing influence across various sectors. Hyundai’s focus on humanoid robots and automated solutions points to broader trends amplified by global events like labor shortages and supply chain disruptions. Razer wowed the crowd with a next-gen lineup of high-performance gaming solutions and forward-thinking technological concepts, pushing the limits of gaming technology.


On the VC front, Pitchbook reports that artificial intelligence startups captured 35.7% of global VC dollars in 2024, with North America leading the way. Funding for AI and ML (machine learning) surged 50%, reaching $131.5B. But some VCs are cautious about overvaluation and shifting focus toward application layers rather than foundational models.



According to Crunchbase data, the number of new unicorn companies grew in 2024, driven primarily by U.S.-based AI startups. The Crunchbase Unicorn Board recorded 110 new unicorns, an increase from 100 in 2023, with the U.S. rising from 42 to 65, reflecting its dominance in AI. Notable U.S. AI unicorns include xAI ($50B), Infinite Reality ($12B), and Perplexity ($9B).


With the first quarter wrapping up, what innovations might emerge in the months ahead? Will AI continue to dominate 2025? We’re excited to see up-and-coming breakthroughs this year!


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Secondary Market Highlights


Private Credit Highlights


If you'd like to chat more about private credit or secondary market opportunities, feel free to reach Tim Barnes at tbarnes@axisgroupventures.com.


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DISCLOSURE: Rainmaker Securities, LLC (“RMS”) is a FINRA registered broker-dealer and SIPC member. Find this broker-dealer and its agents on BrokerCheck. Our relationship summary can be found on the RMS website.


RMS is engaged by its clients to make referrals to buyers or sellers of private securities (“Securities”). If such client closes a Securities transaction with a buyer or seller so referred, RMS is entitled to a success fee from the client. Such success fee may be in the form of cash or in warrants to purchase securities of the client or client’s affiliate. RMS or RMS representatives may hold equity in its issuer clients or in the issuers of securities purchased or sold by the parties to a transaction.


This communication is confidential and is addressed only to its intended recipient. This communication does not represent an offer or solicitation to buy or sell Securities. Such an offer must be made via definitive legal documentation by the seller of securities.

Investments in the Securities are speculative and involve a high degree of risk. An investor in the Securities should have little to no need for liquidity in the foreseeable future and have sufficient finances to withstand the loss of the entire investment.


 RMS does not recommend the purchase or sale of Securities. Potential buyers or sellers of the Securities should seek professional counsel prior to entering into any transaction.



 
 
 

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