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And now, here is this week in charts.

Slam the brakes. US IPO activity slowed considerably in the first quarter of the year. Just 18 IPOs raised $2.1B — a 6-year low. Private equity firm TPG’s IPO accounted for nearly half of proceeds. After last year’s IPO explosion, disappointing post-IPO performance, recent tech stock declines, and rising interest rates — as well as geopolitical concerns — have put a damper on public debuts in 2022. But private companies eyeing exits will likely give fodder to the IPO market once conditions improve.

Uppers and downers. Digital health startups have made it easier to access ADHD drugs like Adderall. TBH, it’s unclear if this is a good thing, but it’s a thing. Rules relaxed during the pandemic have made it possible for telehealth platforms in the US to prescribe stimulants to patients without an in-person visit — coinciding with an over 10% rise in Adderall prescriptions YoY in 2021, according to Iqvia data. Companies focusing on mental health services have seen a boom in VC investment amid consumer demand for digital tools that address mental health.

The nuclear option. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Japan decommissioned its 50 nuclear reactors in favor of coal and gas power. Now, public opinion may be turning. According to a recent Nikkei survey, just over half of people in Japan support restarting idled nuclear reactors in the country. The change comes amid increasing energy prices and power shortages. As governments face pressure to transition to cleaner energy sources, we analyze the outlook for climate tech in this report.

Feeling chipper. Demand for chips used in electronics sent the revenue of top semiconductor companies soaring in 2021. In total, the top 10 integrated circuit design companies saw a 48% jump in revenue in 2021 compared to 2020. In the same timeframe, the semiconductor industry overall saw sales grow 26%. Alongside incumbents, startups are emerging to reshape semiconductor design and production across areas ranging from AI to robotics to quantum computing.

Closing the gap. In 22 US metros, young women earn as much as or more than young men. In the New York and Washington DC metro areas, young women actually out-earn young men by 2% (based on median annual earnings among full-time, year-round workers). This diverges from the national trend, where women on average earn less than men. 

Email inbox wizard. While not our typical +1 content, this (aka the unofficial rules of email) deserved a mention.
 

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