AI

What analysts came to call the “SaaSpocalypse,” a months-long compression of software valuations driven by existential fears about artificial intelligence, shook the confidence of executives and investors who had long treated the dominance of enterprise software as a given.

By: Ron Eliasek Jefferies Chairman of TMT, Head of Software Fifteen years ago, Marc Andreessen famously said, “Software is eating the world.” But on February 3, public software companies lost $300 billion in market value amid fears that new tools like Anthropic’s Claude Cowork will eat their business models. At one point, the IGV iShares

In a recent edition of Greed & Fear, Chris Wood argues that the multi-year AI investment cycle has entered a new phase, with pricing power moving from hyperscaler cloud providers to memory producers. SK Hynix and Micron have been key beneficiaries, with market capitalizations rising alongside contract prices for advanced memory.

It is difficult to overstate the significance of the rise of artificial intelligence for capital markets. The massive scale of current AI investments and the rapid pace of technological progress raise questions and increase stakes for nearly all investors, companies, and countries as they try to anticipate what the future holds.

After two years of muted dealmaking by private equity sponsors, we have seen a healthy pickup in M&A and IPO activity and expect more momentum through next year. 

Explore Ravi Mhatre’s insights on AI-driven growth and venture capital’s pivotal role. Discover how AI reshapes enterprise and innovation!

The serial entrepreneur — best known for founding and selling Diapers.com and Jet.com — shared insights on his latest venture: a food service platform that’s redefining restaurant economics.

Both sponsors and strategics are eager to transact, and with the right conditions, many expect activity to pick up. The question is whether recent volatility will get in the way.

At Jefferies’ Private Growth Conference, sector leaders discussed the trajectory of AI adoption and how it’s shaping dealmaking in 2025.