• Fish farm monitoring
• Guided ultrasound imaging
• Ethical mineral sourcing

VC party in the USA

2020’s momentum has carried into 2021, with VC funding to US-based companies up 117% year-over-year in Q1’21.

Here’s our map of the most active VC firm in each US state.

Under lock and key

Within the last 2 years, assets under management (AUM) in digital asset custodial solutions have increased more than 10x.

In partnership with Blockdata, we map out vendors in the digital asset custody space for clients here.

All-seeing eyes

Today's CB Insights Tech Market: Digitizing P&C Insurance (May 13-14) event update: computer vision. We’ll showcase demos of photo- and video-scanning tech assisting with underwriting selection and claims settlements. The 5 presenting companies are:

Prior to the company demos, CB Insights analysts will provide an overview on the tech category. After the demos, you’ll have a chance to join all of the presenting co-founders/CEOs for a small group Q&A. Check out more of the 25 demo companies here.
 

Save $50 with code vision and register here.

46%: Two more of our 2020 Future Unicorn predictions — companies we think will eventually hit $1B+ valuations — have come true, giving us a 46% hit rate (including exits) so far. Chat platform  Sendbird raised a $100M Series C mega-round at a $1.1B valuation, while fintech rewards company Cred raised a $215M Series D at a $2.2B valuation.

27%: US retail sales of plant-based foods grew by 27% year-over-year in 2020, outpacing growth of total US retail food sales by nearly 2x, according to a study from the Plant Based Foods Association and the Good Food Institute. The study exclusively looked at plant-based alternatives to animal-derived products like meat and dairy. Learn about the reasons behind the meatless trend — and the technologies accelerating it — here.

$250M: The FCC has approved an additional $250M in funding — after an initial $200M in 2020 — to help telehealth programs in the US cover expenses. Funds will be prioritized for programs aiming to serve low-income communities. Telehealth has the potential to improve patient outcomes, but the tech faces barriers like high upfront costs. We dig into 16 ways telehealth could transform healthcare here.

13M entrepreneurs: India-based resale platform Meesho, which claims to represent over 13M entrepreneurs, raised a $300M Series E at a $2.1B valuation. Facebook, which invested in Meesho in 2019, participated in the round. Big tech players are increasingly using investments to reach into the global commerce space. Clients can see where Facebook, Amazon, and Google are investing in retail here.

145%: Singapore-based super app Grab is expected to go public via a SPAC deal with Altimeter Capital. The merger would reportedly value the company at around $35B — a 145% increase from its 2019 valuation — making it one of the largest SPAC deals on record. The SPAC model continues to boom in popularity, but it’s not without potential downsides. Take a look at the pros and cons of SPACs here.

For people who love trains, there’s now a place to find human love, too.

On NUMTinder, a Facebook dating group for public transit lovers, couples have come together over their shared interest in urban planning, subways, and lack of driver’s licenses. 

“There’s this want to have these magic public-transit moments with someone you really care about,” says Morgan Godrey, an administrator of the 8,000-member group.

Have a great rest of the week.

Marcelo

P.S. We're looking for a director of revenue operations. Apply here.