Silicon Valley

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is reportedly set to be transferred from prison to a halfway house next year, according to a Guardian report. Holmes is serving an eleven-year sentence for fraud over the failed blood-testing startup, and an early move to community confinement would mark a notable step in her eventual release.

Y Combinator, the startup accelerator behind Airbnb and Stripe, has launched a political action committee that has contributed to 66 campaign committees. The move marks a new level of political engagement for the firm, which has traditionally focused on funding early-stage companies rather than elections. Its PAC is directing money toward candidates and committees, signalling that Silicon Valley's most influential startup incubator now wants a say in policy-making.

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has launched Cosign, a curated professional network aimed at the startup community. The platform is designed to connect founders, investors and operators through invitation-style, vetted membership rather than open networking. It marks another step by a major Silicon Valley investor into building community and software products alongside its investment business.

Data analytics company Databricks has agreed to pay $22.8 million for naming rights to the University of California, Berkeley's football field. The deal is being framed as more than a college sports sponsorship: Databricks was founded by Berkeley alumni, and the agreement signals how tech companies are deepening ties with university programs amid intense competition for AI talent and brand visibility.

Venture investors Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen are funding a new academy designed as an alternative to traditional college, according to the Wall Street Journal. The project reflects growing skepticism among Silicon Valley leaders about the value and cost of four-year degrees, and raises questions about whether elite-backed programs can replace established higher education paths.