After eight years, Macro Polo has ceased operations as the Paulson Institute will focus its independent research on supporting its programs as it continues to diversify its scope.
We appreciate the community that has grown around Macro Polo and the fruitful engagement we’ve had with our legion of smart and sharp audience. You’ve pushed us to deliver even more original work and innovative products. Our body of work speaks for itself, and we hope it will have a long shelf life – that was the intent from MP’s inception.
MP’s website is now archived and no new work will be published henceforth on this site. Please visit www.paulsoninstitute.org for future research and policy work on a range of global issues.
Thank you all for the support over the years, it has been a privilege to have had a home at the Paulson Institute and to have built it the way we did.
- Team Macro Polo
Leveraged buyouts, growth capital, angel investments, and seed funding—these private transactions take place, largely out of the public’s eye, not only in Connecticut or Silicon Valley, but also in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.
In 2016, China’s private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) firms raised over $70 billion, more than 20% of total such funding globally. At the same time, these firms also deployed capital to the tune of $223 billion, accounting for more than 70% of global PE/VC investments.
As late comers, these Chinese firms have rapidly grown into formidable financiers. Most Chinese PE firms are particularly interested in products and services that can be commercialized and scaled up quickly in China. They tend to invest in areas that align with China’s shift to a more consumer-driven economy. Meanwhile, Chinese VCs have been active players globally, particularly in Silicon Valley. They have focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and electric vehicles.
Linear Venture
Company Overview
Linear Venture is a Shanghai-based early-stage venture capital firm with a special focus on applied data intelligence. It has $100 million assets under management and has invested in over 30 startups in China, Silicon Valley, and Southeast Asia.
Global Presence
In recent years, Linear Venture has invested in Trustlook, the San Jose, CA- based mobile security provider for the Android platform. In April 2014, Linear Venture, along with Cisco, the International Finance Corporation, SAIF Partners, SJF Ventures, Crosslink Capital, and Voyager Capital, provided $15 million in Series C funding to Ayla Networks, the Sunnyvale, CA-based Internet of Things platform provider.
In recent years, Linear Venture has invested in Wigwag, an Austin, TX-based Internet of Things platform provider.