50 Future Unicorns - CB Insights Research

CB Insights put together a list of 50 future unicorns (companies that they think will eventually be valued at $1B or more). 

The key takeaways from the data presented:-

Enterprise/big data tools dominate: 30% of companies on this year’s list work on enterprise or big data tools. DevOps and developer tools comprise almost half of this category, with companies covering enterprise search (Algolia), distributed databases (Cockroach Labs), continuous delivery (Harness), chat features (Sendbird), and customer data protection (BigID).

20% of future unicorns operate in the fintech space: International markets are broadly propelling the fintech space, with 6 of the 10 featured fintech future unicorns located outside the US. Argentina (Ualá) and India (CRED) represent emerging markets where fintech is gaining momentum. The next most-featured categories after enterprise/big data tools and fintech are healthcare and hardware, with 8% representation each.

Several international geographies represented: Of the 50 future unicorns on the list, Germany and the UK are each home to 3, while India and Australia each claim 2. Also represented are Argentina, China, France, Singapore, and Sweden, each with 1 future unicorn. The US accounts for 35 picks, or 70%. 

The median company on our list has $125M in total funding and last raised a Series C round. This is a higher median funding amount than seen on our 2019 list, where the median was $111M. This reflects the reality of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, where there is a premium on having financial runway. 

North America hosts the most future unicorns: More than two-thirds of the companies on our list are from North America (70%), with all of them based in the US. Other geographies with a substantial presence are Europe (16%) and Asia (8%).

The most represented US states are California (24) and New York (9). Other states represented include Illinois and Utah — each home to 1 future unicorn on the list.

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50 Future Unicorns - CB Insights Research

CB Insights and Fast Company team up to analyze high-momentum startups. CB Insights put together a list of 50 future unicorns (companies that we think will eventually be valued at $1B or more), which Fast Company wrote about here. Clients can view our Expert Collection of 2020's future unicorns here.

Mergers & Acquisitions: Facebook acquires Swedish mapping firm Mapillary for an undisclosed sum

In a major development, Facebook Inc acquired Mapillary, a Swedish mapping technology firm. The mapping firm collects images from tens of thousands of contributors to build immersive and up-to-date maps.

Mapillary crowd sources the images, ingesting pictures contributed from smart phones and other types of cameras, and uses computer vision technology to stitch them together into a three-dimensional map.

Many consider that information key for self-driving car technology, although a social media giant spokesman said it would also underpin Facebook products under development like augmented reality glasses and virtual reality headsets.

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Facebook acquires Swedish mapping firm - Elets CIO

🔊 Listen to this Article In a major development, Facebook Inc acquired Mapillary, a Swedish mapping technology firm. The mapping firm collects images from tens of thousands of contributors to build immersive and up-to-date maps. Mapillary Chief Executive Officer Jan Erik Solem said Mapillary's technology would be used to power products like Facebook Marketplace and supply data to humanitarian organizations.

Startup Ideas: 24 Industries & Technologies That Will Shape The Post-Virus World - CB Insights Research

CB Insights gives us insightful article on the 24 areas where there will be tailwinds due to #coronavirus outbreak. So, anybody does have any question regarding whether his or her venture will succeed or not, he or she can look out whether their product, service or process belongs to any one or more of these areas.

All the best!

These are:-

1. Telehealth technology

2. Continuous & remote diagnostics

3. Teletherapy

4. Virtual fitness & gyms

5. Senior care & aging in place

6. Telecommuting tech

7. Enterprise virtual reality

8. Remote learning technology

9. Online courses & content

10. 3D printing

11. Industrial automation & robotics

12. Online grocery

13. Enhanced e-commerce

14. Conversational AI/chatbots

15. Cloud call centers

16. Contactless payments

17. Branchless banking

18. Parametric insurance

19. Personal surveillance technology

20. Distributed cybersecurity

21. Social online gaming

22. Virtual events

23. Restaurant & grocery delivery

24. Cloud kitchens

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24 Industries & Technologies That Will Shape The Post-Virus World - CB Insights Research

In industries from healthcare to education to finance to manufacturing, quarantine is forcing companies to use technology to reimagine nearly every facet of their operations. As reopening begins in fits and starts, we analyze the industries poised to thrive in a post-Covid world.

Great Opportunity - Social platform or messaging applications for businesses, ventures and startups

Used by everybody for social communication - Facebook, WhatsApp

Used by professionals and employees - LinkedIn 

Used by businesses or ventures or startups - ? (LinkedIn is used by these only for recruitment and recently WhatsApp is trying to bring e-commerce onto the platform with WhatsApp Pay, which takes care of only financial aspect of communication)

Great opportunity!

I am very much disappointed with Linkedin, may be not suitable for what I intended to do - helping Indian startup ecosystem. My observations, based on my experience so far on the platform, are:-

1. It is useful only for professionals, employees and for those looking for employment. It is very inconvenient for businesses / startups.

2. There is no mechanism for email subscriptions of posts done by somebody, except that you have to follow them and come to the site to view.

3. There is no monetization mechanism, like blogging, for users. (Though I am not interested in monetization now, as I am a government servant)

4. There is no cross communication along the verticals. For example, a tax professional is bogged down by his career in taxation or clients and nothing else. A person employed in power sector limits his interest and interaction only those who are connected to the sector.

5. There is no mechanism to link the promoters with the ventures or founders with their startups

6. There is no mechanism to create separate links for each of the products dealt with by the businesses or ventures.

7. There is no mechanism to transact business on the platform

8. There are so many other drawbacks which limits business communication on the platform.

In view of the same, there are two biggest opportunities in India right now to try for:-

1. A social platform exclusively to communicate between business ventures / startups / promoters / founders / investors with features which are unique to businesses' and promoters' communication.

2. A platform for knowing companies and their key personnel and employees, with their organisation structure and inter-linkages.

All the best!

No-touch pay: These 11 fintech startups raised funding amid COVID-19 pandemic

Source: YourStory Media

Author: Trisha Medhi

Amid the pandemic, with the practice of social distancing and zero-touch policy, digital payments and transactions recorded remarkable growth and lured investors.

These 11 fintech startups raised funding amid COVID-19 pandemic ->

1. Jai Kisan - Rs 30 Cr

2. Setu - $15 mn

3. NIRA - $2.1 mn

4. YAP - $4.5 mn

5. Khatabook - $60 mn

6. Lendingkart - Rs 319 cr

7. NIUM - Undiclosed

8. HomeCapital - Undisclosed

9. Aye Finance Pvt. Ltd - Rs 180 cr

10. Mera Cashier (Digital Udhaar Khata App) - $ 0.15 mn

11. Recko Inc. - $6 mn

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No-touch pay: These 11 fintech startups raised funding amid COVID-19 pandemic

The fast-spreading coronavirus has emerged as one of the biggest threats to the global economy. And, the impact can significantly be seen in the startup ecosystem. A month-long e-survey conducted by NASSCOM in May to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indian startups showed that 70 percent of startups have less than three months of cash runway.

Funding Galore [Inc42 Media]: Indian Startup Funding Of The Week [June 15-20, 2020]

Inc42 Media's Funding Galore: Indian Startup Funding Of The Week [June 15-20, 2020]

The following startups have raised funding during the week [June 15-20, 2020] ->

1. Milk Mantra Dairy Pvt Ltd ($10 Mn)

2. Jai Kisan ($3.9 Mn)

3. Medikabazaar ($3.3 Mn)

4. FabAlley ($2.72 Mn)

5. LetsTransport ($1.3 Mn)

6. Leap ($1.1 Mn)

7. Netmeds.com ($877K)

8. Stellapps Technologies Private Limited ($656K)

9. GoldenPi Technologies ($459K)

10. Crimson Healthcare Pvt Ltd ($223K)

11. Edvizo ($150K)

12. Lattu kids (Undisclosed)

13. GoMechanic.in (Undisclosed)

14. GabbarDeals.com (Undisclosed)

15. Agro2o® (Undisclosed)

16. SARVA - Yoga, Mindfulness & Beyond (Undisclosed)

17. Peppermint Robots (Undisclosed)

18. DROR (Undisclosed)

19. Sai Estate Management and Skills Institute (Undisclosed)

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Funding Galore: Indian Startup Funding Of The Week [July 15-20]

Fintech startup Jai Kisan has raised INr 30 Cr from Arkam Ventures, NABVENTURES Fund I FabAlley has raised INR 20.75 Cr from SAIF Partners, India Quotient Opportunities Fund and others InCred acquired Qberato to expand its portfolio of consumer loan offerings We bring to you the latest edition of Funding Galore: Indian Startup Funding Of The Week!

Weekly funding roundup [YourStory Media] - Investments into startups remain muted at $31 million during the week [June 15-20, 2020]

YourStory Media - [Weekly funding roundup - June 15-20, 2020 ] Investments into startups remain muted at $31M

During the week [June 15-20, 2020], the following startups have raised funds as per the report published by YourStory Media

1. Pushp Brand Spices - Rs 125 cr

2. MyGlamm - Rs 33 cr

3. Jai Kisan - Rs 30 cr

4. Hoi Foods - $2 mn

5. LetsTransport - Rs 10 cr

6. GoldenPi Technologies - Rs 3.5 cr

7. Radiohead Brands - Jimmy's Cocktails - $ 0.35 mn

8. Crimson Healthcare Pvt Ltd - Rs 1.75 cr

9. Edvizo - $0.15 mn

10. SARVA - Yoga, Mindfulness & Beyond - Undisclosed

11. Peppermint Robots - Undisclosed

12. Lattu Media Pvt Ltd. - Undisclosed

13. GoMechanic.in - Undisclosed

14. GabbarDeals.com - Undisclosed

15. Biomoneta Research - Undisclosed

16. Concinnity Agro2o® - Undisclosed

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[Weekly funding roundup] Investments into startups remain muted at $31 million

The funding into the Indian startup ecosystem continues to remain depressed as just $31 million was added in the third week of June and it has almost been at similar level when compared to previous week. In the second week of June, the total investments into startups stood at $27 million.

Startup Ideas: Low salary earners need innovative FinTech solutions for their financial needs

The salaries/wages the average Indian regular employee is earning could look like pittance to the urban eye. The earnings of as many as 45 per cent of regular workers in India were below Rs 10,000 per month during the survey period (2017-18), the PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey - https://lnkd.in/gUi8sW6) data showed. Around 12% of workers were paid less than Rs 5,000 a month.

So, there are many millions of regular employees who are in the pay bracket of Rs 5000 to Rs 25000 per month in India. These employees, though require money every week for their day to day expenses, have to wait get till the end of the month or first week of next month for their salaries / wages.

This situation gives a scope for startups to start "pay as you earn" concept, wherein these employees are paid every week in advance by a fintech startup with nominal interest arbitrage and startup is paid directly by the employer after the end of month. Here, the scope for bad debts is very low. Think over it guys and girls out there.

All the best!

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How much do the salaried really earn? Here are the most detailed findings yet

The issue of jobs - or rather the lack of them - has dominated India's economic discourse for quite a while. But while the headline employment/unemployment numbers routinely grab the headlines, there is another equally important set of numbers - who gets paid how much - that doesn't usually draw similar attention.

Indian Central Government’s Covid Cawach plan to support start-ups tackling Covid-19 challenges yielding results

Source: The Times Of India, The Indian Express

The Rs 56 crore CAWACH (Centre for Augmenting WAR with Covid-19 Health Crisis) programme of the Central Government, which seeks to identify and support start-ups and technologies tackling Covid-19 challenges, has received 826 applications from innovators in its first round of call.

54 startups have been shortlisted after a comprehensive evaluation by Department of Science and Technology (DST). The CAWACH (https://lnkd.in/gDfGxT9) initiative being implemented by the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a DST-supported technology business incubator at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

The startup DINGG was short listed so far. However, the media report covers the follwoing startups as well:-

1. Park+ - Smart parking automated solutions for malls

2. Staqu Technologies - Video analytics platform, can be used for tracing and PPE monitoring

3. Magneto CleanTech - Air filtration and purification technologies

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Tech start-ups bet on post COVID-19 innovation boom to spur business growth

CHENNAI: Start-ups expect to benefit from innovative products in a post-pandemic world. With social distancing and personal hygiene becoming the new normal, the new-age companies are coming up with solutions keeping in view the needs of customers in these unprecedented times.

The Turning Point [YourStory Media] - Why this entrepreneur decided to launch an EV startup?

Source: YourStory Media

Author: Apurva P.

The thought of providing affordable mobility for middle-class families led Harsh Vardhan Didwania to start up in the electric vehicles space. In January 2018, he launched Bhubhaneswar-based EV startup EeVe along with his father, JP Didwania.

“Since then we have already onboarded 52 dealers across the Eastern part of the country, in Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. We have sold more than 1,300 vehicles in these cities,” the founder says.

The #EV startup now offers four products: Xeniaa, 4U, Wind, and Your. Of this, two are in the Li-ion and two is in the lead-acid battery segment, Harsh Vardhan says.

The #EV startup plans to inaugurate a fully automated production unit with the capacity to produce 2.5 lakh vehicles per year by the end of FY21. It is also planning to expand sales and service to 250 cities across India by December 2020.

Read on

[The Turning Point] Why this entrepreneur decided to launch an EV startup

Harsh Vardhan Didwania was always concerned about rising pollution, the depletion of non-renewable resources, and increase in the prices of fuel. The thought of providing affordable mobility for middle-class families led him to start up in the electric vehicles space. In January 2018, he launched Bhubaneswar-based EV startup EeVe along with his father, JP Didwania.

Startup Ideas:- The gig economy of street vendors and hawkers throws opportunities for FinTech startups for a win-win situation

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, there are 10 million street vendors in India, with Mumbai accounting for 250,000, Delhi has 450,000, Kolkata, more than 150,000, and Ahmedabad, 100,000. Most of them are immigrants or laid-off workers, work for an average 10–12 hours a day, and remain impoverished. In India, street vending makes up 14% of total (non-agricultural) urban informal employment.

These street vendors or hawkers require daily finance, which is now provided by nearby private money lenders at at an exorbitantly high interest rates as high as 10% daily. For example, a hawker requires Rs 1000 for the day, he gets Rs 900 in the morning after deducting that day’s interest. In the evening, he has to deposit Rs 1000 with the lender. This routine repeats everyday. There is also a rent for trolly used for business as well.

Covid times impacted these communities very hard. Govt announced a package where these small vendors will get a working capital loan of Rs 10000 with a moratorium of 1 yr.

So, there is a tremendous scope and market opportunity for startups to provide FinTech solutions to these micro retailers so that it is a win-win situation for both.

All the best!

Funding Alert: o9 Solutions startup raises an amount of $100 million from KKR, valuing it over $1 billion

Integrated business planning software startup o9 Solutions, Inc. recently stated that it has raised an amount of $100 million (around Rs 761 crore) from global investment firm KKR. KKR has chose a minority stake in o9 Solutions, valuing it over $1 billion.

The #startup aims to hire India-based talent in emerging technologies like #artificialintelligence, #machinelearning and other key technologies in the digital transformation space as well as expand its customer base in Asia.

o9 was put to use by Sanjiv Sidhu and Chakri Gottemukkala, both Indian Americans from Hyderabad.

Furthermore o9 has upto 500 employees globally, of which more than 350 are based in India. Its clients in India include different divisions of Aditya Birla group, Tata Group, and leading paint firms.

Read on

o9 Solutions startup raises an amount of $100 M from KKR

Integrated business planning software startup o9 Solutions recently stated that it has raised an amount of $100 million (around Rs 761 crore) from global investment firm KKR. KKR has chose a minority stake in o9 Solutions, valuing it over $1 billion. The startup aims to hire India-based talent in emerging tech like artificial intelligence, machine...

EV Technology: AI breakthrough slashes EV battery testing time by 98 percent

Source:- Siliconrepublic.com

In the race to bring EVs to the masses, researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm that could supercharge battery development.

A collaboration between Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Toyota Research Institute has led to the development of a new machine learning method that aims to overcome one of the biggest issues in the development of electric vehicles (EVs).

This bottleneck involved the evaluation time of EV batteries, where new technologies must be tested for months – or even years – to see how long they will last. However, in a paper published to Nature, the research team said its new #AI slashes the amount of time it takes to test #EV batteries by 98pc. While the focus of the study was on battery charge speed, it can be applied to other parts of battery development and even to non-energy technologies.

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AI breakthrough slashes EV battery testing time by 98pc

In the race to bring EVs to the masses, researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm that could supercharge battery development. A collaboration between Stanford University, MIT and the Toyota Research Institute has led to the development of a new machine learning method that aims to overcome one of the biggest issues in the development of electric vehicles (EVs).