Hi there,

Here’s a weird thing that’s suddenly sexy in our Covid reality: HVAC systems. 

Take a look at our platform. Deals involving HVAC startups have more than doubled since 2015, and we’ve already seen a new high in deal count so far in 2020. 

News coverage has also skyrocketed lately. Everyone is talking about reopening schools and businesses in the heat of August and ventilation is becoming a big topic in that conversation.
 

Execs are chattering too. Cinemark's CEO emphasized the importance of fresh air in theaters in an earnings call, highlighting their efforts to improve their HVAC systems by adding purge cycles and using supply fans.

We were ahead of the curve in 2018 when we published this market map of 30+ startups revamping the HVAC industry for clients.  

For more, catch up on the tech and the startups that are helping indoor spaces reopen in our latest report here.

Not so rare

There are 488 unicorns in the world worth a cumulative $1.5T. Here are the world’s most valuable unicorns across countries and categories.

The apple of my eye
 

Apple was the first US company to see its market cap hit $2T briefly today. 

To see how Apple’s evolved its focus over the years, take a look at its biggest acquisitions in this graphic.

More, more, more
 

We've added even more speakers from the Digital Health 150 to the lineup for the Future of Health (September 23-25). Here are 8 more companies presenting on our dedicated Digital Health 150 stream:

• US president and CMO, Nuvo Group
• CEO & co-founder, Happify Health
• CEO & founder, LeanTaaS
• Co-founder & CEO, Mahmee
• Chief customer officer, SonarMD
• CEO & founder, Eko
• CEO & co-founder, BrightInsight
• CEO & founder, Heartbeat Health

Check out the full list of speakers here and save $300 off your ticket with code DH150LOVE.

I am once again asking for health insurance

Covid-19 left millions unemployed and uninsured.

Clients can see where our healthcare Smart Money VCs are investing to help Americans navigate health insurance here.

Financial Times. Ortenca Aliaj (@OrtencaAl), Sujeet Indap (@sindap), and Miles Kruppa (@MilesKruppa) look at the history of SPACs and cite CB Insights unicorn data.

Fortune. Jonathan Vanian (@JonathanVanian) reports on automation tech adoption and quotes CB Insights senior healthcare analyst He Wang.

Business Insider. Sanchita Dash (@SanchDash) covers the CB Insights Digital Health 150 and the 2 India-based companies featured on the list.

P.S. We’re looking for a lead test engineer. Apply here. 

Beige gold. Cardboard trafficking gangs are making millions stealing and selling cardboard intended for recycling.

BBC

Long haulers. People who haven't fully recovered from Covid-19 are organizing to study themselves. 

MIT Technology Review

Maiden voyages. Cruise lines battered by the pandemic are running ships again — to nowhere.

WIRED

Pawsitive. A group of researchers is training dogs to detect Covid-19 in humans.

Washington Post