CB Insights - the cybersecurity threat

Hi there, 

Yesterday, I wrote about Google charging small businesses for email and other apps and argued that Google now charging is totally fair. I got some thoughtful responses disagreeing with me (and some ones that called me names, too).

The most cogent argument made by several folks about why Google’s move was unethical was as follows:

1. Google offered free email services 10+ years ago cuz it could (lots of cash)

2. By doing so, it killed a lot of smaller email providers

3. Now that it's obtained market dominance, it's charging small businesses

4. This is ultimately anti-competitive

I have no idea if Google's email services ultimately killed lots of email providers (point 2 above) as this premise does hinge at least largely on that point, but amongst all the emails I received, this idea was the most cogent and thoughtful.

For those that wrote in sharing your perspectives, thank you.

Famous people like food

Tech downturn, crypto winter, inflation, blah, blah, blah. 

What’s the really important question we haven’t discussed in 2022?

A: The cool and sometimes weird food & bev startups that celebrity angel investors are piling into.

So we mined the CB Insights deal database to find some. Here’s a sampling:

• Breakfast of champions: Everyone from Shakira to Odell Beckham Jr. to The Chainsmokers joined an $85M round to this high-protein, zero-sugar cereal.

• Where to, Miss? Leonardo DiCaprio has got his eyes on cultured salmon and vegan fast food.

• When life gives you lemons… Beyoncé participated in a $31M Series A to a startup that makes “cold-pressed lemon water” in April.

• Milk it: LeBron James, Emily Ratajkowski, John Legend, and others backed this carbon-neutral food company’s line of milk products.

• Smell test: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher invested in a Germany-based startup which has created a water bottle with a scent ring that gives the illusion of flavor when drinking water.

• Prebiotic soda? This healthier soda has garnered the backing of Gwyneth Paltrow, Camila Cabello, and the Jonas Brothers, among others. 

Honorable mention: Kutcher and DiCaprio recently bet on a Styrofoam substitute made from shrimp shell waste.

Code red

“Cybersecurity is the number one threat facing businesses today.”  — Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, October 2021

Microsoft has backed up that statement with plans to spend $20B on cybersecurity over the next 5 years. 

It’s also made the most cybersecurity acquisitions of any other big tech player (among FAMGA) since 2016, including most recently foreign cyber threat intelligence provider Miburo. 

From defending the cloud to expanding IoT device security, we analyze Microsoft’s cybersecurity strategy in this report.

Catwalk of the future 

Tech is not just touching every aspect of the fashion supply chain — it’s also being integrated into clothing features. 

The era of “connected apparel” is already here and moving out of the novelty realm:

• Fashion leaders are merging form and function to make wearables more stylish and functional.

• Startups and fashion incumbents alike have begun experimenting with new virtual lines, whether it be for real people or digital avatars.

• Digital twins — virtual replicas of physical objects, places, and processes — are helping fashion labels reduce textile waste, speed up production, and increase item transparency.

For more, check out our report on what’s next for the future of fashion.

Crypto withdrawal

“Crypto banks” like Celsius Network, BlockFi, and Nexo aim to bridge the gap between traditional banking and crypto, offering services like borrowing and lending. 
 

But recent events around embattled crypto lender Celsius — which paused withdrawals mid-June — highlight the tensions at play in the crypto space, where centralized companies like Celsius provide on-ramps to a decentralized ecosystem.

Our friends at Blockdata previously dug into the rise of crypto banking and the intersection of traditional finance and DeFi here.

Let’s talk about claims coding (and other fun stuff)

Healthcare providers face a dual mandate of improving the bottom line while providing a better patient experience.

They need a new toolkit.

From claims management tools to autonomous coding solutions, we map out 150+ companies helping healthcare providers manage their revenue cycle here.

Bloomberg. Saritha Rai (@SarithaRai) covers BYJU’S’ offer to purchase 2U and cites CB Insights valuation data.  

Fierce Biotech. Max Bayer (@maxonwifi) reports on a new biotech fund and references CB Insights research.

TechCrunch. Alex Wilhelm (@alex) discusses fintech valuations and mentions CB Insights research.
 

P.S. Get the inside scoop on corporate venture in our webinar tomorrow (Thursday, June 30). Sign up here.