Hi there, 

Last week, I asked you which big tech co (FAMGA) had the least fun CEO gig. There wasn’t much debate.

But more on that later. 

Let's talk about the $52B clinical trials market.

Clinical trials are expensive (drug trials cost ~$1B) and take too long (nearly a decade). 

As Covid-19 has shown, faster is possible — over the past year, more than 5,000 coronavirus-related clinical trials have been launched, leading to the development of several life-saving vaccines in under 1 year. 

Now, big tech companies and startups, using a little technology called AI, are developing solutions to make clinical trials more efficient.

These include: 

• Using natural language processing to analyze medical records to better match patients with clinical trials

• Deploying wearables and AI to monitor and track changes in patients while they’re at home

• Creating platforms that span across the clinical trial process, providing researchers with more patient health data

Get an eye into the future of clinical trials, and how Covid-19 has affected clinical trial tech adoption, in our report. 

Auto tech MVPs

The auto industry is increasingly being shaped by technologies like computer vision, vehicle connectivity, and autonomous driving.

From SenseTime ($12B valuation) to TuSimple ($1.1B), we visualize the most valuable private auto tech cos in the world here.

Leaving on a jet plane

Funding to travel tech startups plunged 33% between 2019 and 2020, as the Covid-19 outbreak put a damper on global tourism.

We look at the latest trends in the global travel tech space in this client-only interactive deck.

C-suite digs

The results are in: Facebook has the least fun CEO gig. 

Not surprising IMO. Twitter also agreed.

Microsoft coming in #2, however, seems off. Don’t get it.

No data left behind

Health data is locked in silos, creating workflow inefficiencies and hindering digital transformation.

Clients can see our analysis of vendors in the data retrieval & integration software market in this ESP Vendor Assessment Matrix.

Enhance, enhance again

At CB Insights Tech Market: Digitizing P&C Insurance (May 13-14), we'll share 25 automation and digitization companies that will help modernize your firm now and quickly drive speed, cost savings, and customer satisfaction.
 

In the data enhancement category, we’ll showcase demos of software ingesting semi-structured and unstructured data. We're psyched to reveal the 4 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.
 

TechTarget. Terry Sweeny discusses Amazon’s moves in SMB lending with CB Insights fintech analyst Anisha Kothapa (@AnishaKothapa) and references CBI research.
 

Bloomberg. Olga Kharif (@olgakharif) looks at funding to blockchain companies using CB Insights data.

Quartz. Marc Bain (@marcbain_) and John Detrixhe (@johndetrixhe) report on Klarna’s rise and cite the CB Insights “Buy Now, Pay Later” report.
 

P.S. Join us April 8 for our webinar on the tech bringing behavioral underwriting to P&C insurance. Even if you can't make it, sign up anyways and we’ll send you the slides and recording after. Register here.

Need for speed. New satellite networks could give high-frequency trading firms an edge by speeding up data transmission times.

WSJ

Roadtrip. As gas station operators have struggled amid the drop in demand for gas, gas station listings have jumped 124% and buyer interest 167%.

Fast Company

WFH. LinkedIn has introduced new job titles like “stay-at-home mom” for workers who are not part of the paid labor force.

Fortune

Mirror, mirror. Augmented-reality face filters — especially “beauty” filters — are affecting young women’s sense of self.

MIT Technology Review