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Topic #1

Thermal Batteries (trends)

Thermal Batteries convert electricity into heat and store that heat until the electricity is needed.

Thermal batteries transform electricity into heat in a way similar to a space heater. The heat is then used to warm bricks, salt, or sand to store the heat until it is needed.  

For example, one type of thermal battery is able to maintain a temperature of 1,800 degrees Celsius for as long as a few days.

Right now, the main use for thermal batteries is in heat-intensive industrial processes. However, in the coming years, thermal batteries could be used on the main power grid.

In the past year, VC funding for thermal battery startups has totaled more than $309M. That’s more than a 100% increase in the past year.

Search volume for thermal battery startup “Antora Energy” has more than doubled in the past two years.

What's Next

Thermal Batteries are part of the Renewable Energy Storage meta trend.

Because renewable power is inconsistent, storage systems are required for widespread, dependable deployment of sustainable energy.

In Q1 of 2024, there were 993 MW of grid-scale storage solutions installed (an 84% increase over the previous year).

Energy leaders say there will be 98 GW of large-scale battery storage by 2030. In 2019, that number was just 1 GW.

Today, most of the stored renewable energy is kept in lithium-ion batteries.

But concerns about the sustainability and safety of those batteries are leading to the development of new solutions like liquified green hydrogen, iron ion batteries, and sodium ion batteries.

Topic #2

Shield AI (trends)

Shield AI is an aerospace startup focused on AI tools for military applications.

The company has developed a combat-ready, fully autonomous pilot that can control aircraft without GPS or human communications.

According to the startup, their AI system can pilot fighter jets, unmanned aircraft systems, and indoor drones.

The U.S. Coast Guard recently signed a $198M contract with Shield AI to utilize the company’s VTOL system.

The startup’s most recent funding round brought in $300M, bringing total funding to $500M and the company’s valuation up to $2.8B.

Shield AI says they’ll have their AI pilot working in nine types of aircraft in the near future.

Company officials also have hopes of working with original equipment manufacturers to deploy the technology in the future.

What's Next

Shield AI is part of the AI Military Pilots meta trend.

Search volume for “AI pilots” has grown more than 300% in the past two years.

The United States Air Force is already planning to launch a fleet of 1,000 AI-powered unmanned aircraft. Officials say they’ll deploy in 2028.

As of mid-2024, VC funding in defense tech totaled more than $9B.

Here are a few startups working on AI pilots for military applications:

Anduril supplies autonomous weapons to 10 countries, including the U.S. and Ukraine. Their technology includes AI-powered VTOLs, autonomous air vehicles, and autonomous underwater vehicles.

Applied Intuition, a company known for autonomous vehicle software, is focused on developing, training, and testing AI-based aerospace software.

Scale AI is a data-focused AI company that provides technology for autonomous vehicles as well as AI tools for military surveillance and intelligence.

Beacon AI offers an AI copilot that uses insights to improve operations, safety, and route selection for aircraft.

Topic #3

Collagen Mask (trends)

A Collagen Mask is a gel-based face mask that’s meant to tighten the skin and reduce the look of wrinkles.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and plays a critical role in keeping skin firm. But levels decline up to 1.5% per year due to age, environmental pollutants, and sun exposure.

Collagen masks are formulated with specialized forms of collagen that are readily absorbed by the skin. They often contain other beneficial ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

This trend is being driven by a viral TikTok product: the Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask.

There are 2831 videos tagged with #biodancecollagenmask on the platform.

The Biodance collagen mask brings in approximately $1M per month on Amazon.

What's Next

Collagen Masks are part of the Overnight Beauty Treatments meta trend.

There are millions of social media videos tagged with beauty products that can be left on the hair and skin overnight.

And TikTok has turned several overnight beauty products into viral must-haves:

Wrinkle patches are adhesive or silicone-based patches that are worn on the face at night to prevent the formation of wrinkles.

Overnight exfoliating treatments are formulated with AHAs to remove dead skin cells and improve the skin’s texture.

Heatless curlers are silk-covered foam rods that sit on the head like a headband. The user wraps the hair around the rod and unwraps the curled hair in the morning.

Topic #4

Fervo Energy (trends)

Fervo Energy is a geothermal energy startup that specializes in directional drilling technology.

Borrowing from oil and gas technology, Fervo Energy is able to drill horizontally to create multiple geothermal wells in a single location.

Each well costs approximately $4.8M to drill. And the company plans to sell the energy for $100 per megawatt hour.

Fervo Energy raised $244M in VC funding in early 2024.

What's Next

Fervo Energy is part of the Geothermal Energy Systems meta trend.

Geothermal stations pump cold water underground where it’s heated up by the Earth’s temperature. The resulting steam turns turbines and produces electricity.

The Department of Energy says geothermal energy has the potential to power more than 65 million homes in America.

Currently, geothermal energy is produced in eight states.

The DOE predicts the cost of geothermal energy will drop to about $60 per megawatt hour by 2030, making it comparable to solar and wind power.

They forecast a twentyfold increase in geothermal energy production by 2050.

Geothermal energy is already a significant source of clean energy in Iceland, New Zealand, Kenya, and other countries.

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