Venture’s Presidential Agenda; Sarah Guo’s Next Fund

Silicon Valley venture capitalists are at odds over who they want to win this presidential race, but there is growing consensus on the need for the next president to replace Lina Khan as head of the Federal Trade Commission. Such a change, venture capitalists hope, could lead to more acquisitions and reinvigorate venture capital investments.

“What is hurting the industry the most right now is lack of exits and lack of liquidity,” said Bobby Franklin, president and CEO of the trade group National Venture Capital Association. 

The VC industry is also sweating over potential sweeping changes to tax policy expected in 2025, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is set to expire, Franklin said in an interview. Such changes, like imposing taxes on unrealized gains—as President Joe Biden had proposed—could have a chilling effect on the VC industry.