Hi there,

D2C companies like Casper, Warby Parker, Soylent, and Glossier are no longer novelty businesses — they're taking on some of the biggest retail brands in mattresses, food, makeup, and more. 

To propel themselves to success, these companies have focused on nontraditional growth strategies, such as pushing software-like “updates” to meal replacements, selling products only by text, and doubling down on the niche “bro” market.

We examine how these once tiny startups have made it big and the secrets to their growth. Read more about them here.

In AI we trust

Investors have bet on US-based AI, but deals aren’t limited to traditional tech hubs like SF and NYC.

From deploying driverless delivery vehicles to improving crop yield, we map the top AI tech company in every US state here.

Skills to pay the bills
 

As the manufacturing industry becomes more technologically advanced, its workforce needs to skill up. 

We profile 3 tech trends — AR, cobots, and no-code solutions — that are helping upskill manufacturing workers in this client-only report.

But is there life on Mars?

Elon Musk has reiterated his dream to die on Mars over the years — and it just might happen.

Here’s how Elon Musk is taking on the aerospace industry — and 7 other major industries — with SpaceX and his other ventures.

Yes, no, maybe so

Credit card disruptor Affirm faces distinct headwinds and tailwinds as it prepares to go public. For instance, its revenue is growing at a rate of over 90%, but nearly a third of that revenue comes from just one merchant partner.

Dig into the company’s S-1 filing — and what it means for the future of consumer credit — in this client-only brief.

BetaKit. Isabelle Kirkwood (@isabelle_kirk) covers the CB Insights Retail Tech 100 and the 4 Canada-based startups featured.

Modern Healthcare. Jessica Kim Cohen (@JessicaKimCohen) uses CB Insights data and quotes CBI senior intelligence analyst Marissa Schlueter (@mschlueter13) in looking ahead at Q4’20 medtech funding.

Commercial Carrier Journal. Aaron Huff (@AaronHuffCCJ) discusses freight tech startups and cites CB Insights data.

P.S. Last chance to sign up for our reinsurance webinar tomorrow. If you can’t make it, register anyways and we’ll send over all the juicy stuff after.

Big tech’s projection. Silicon Valley is in a race to create 3D maps of the world — and our phones are helping to build them.

Financial Times

Need for sleep. Some AI networks may require periods of rest like humans do to avoid hallucinating.

Scientific American

Mount up. Mount Everest is 2 feet taller than previously measured, according to new parallel surveys by China and Nepal. 

National Geographic

Xmas cheer. Proposed regulations would curb holiday light displays in Amsterdam, limiting the majority of lights to “warm white.” 

Bloomberg

Star dust. Rock samples collected from the asteroid Ryugu have landed safely on Earth following a 180M-mile journey.  

MIT Technology Review