CB Insights - 60-pg global CVC report

Hi there,

CVCs are going big. 

In 2020, corporate VC groups participated in a record 182 mega-rounds ($100M+ deals) — a 48% increase compared to 2019. 

This activity drove CVC-backed funding to a whopping $73.1B, despite a slight decline in overall deals. 

Corporate investors turned their attention to digital health and cybersecurity, notching new funding records to companies in both areas.

But who got the cold shoulder?

• AI and fintech — CVC-backed deals and funding to both sectors fell YoY. 

• Silicon Valley — the tech hotbed snagged just 35% of CVC-backed US deal share, its lowest level in 5 years. 

It doesn’t end there. In our 2020 Global CVC Report, we break down CVC activity across geographies, sectors, and more. Check it out here. 

Segueing into the metaverse

Metaverses — persistent, shared virtual worlds — are stepping in to fulfill the social and entertainment functions of malls. 

From shopping to gaming, see how these shared virtual spaces will redefine how we interact with people and businesses here.

We're psyched to reveal the first 5 (out of 25) curated company demos that we’re featuring at CB Insights Tech Market: Digitizing P&C Insurance (May 13-14).
 

Out of hundreds of submissions, the 5 presenting companies in Predictive Analytics are:

In the coming weeks, we’ll reveal the remaining 20 companies from our 5 other major tech categories advancing automation and digitization in insurance.
 

When you attend the event, you'll hear demos from each company and have a chance to meet with select companies after the presentation.
 

Reserve your ticket here and save $50 with code PA50.

Reeling in consumers

Brands and retailers are grappling with reaching, engaging with, and converting shoppers across a variety of channels. 

We map out 8 platforms helping optimize customer engagement in our client-only ESP Vendor Assessment Matrix here.

Reaching new heights

While the construction industry suffered from pandemic-related project delays, deals to construction tech startups rose to an annual high in 2020.

Clients can see global construction tech investment trends, notable exits, and more in our interactive report here. 

Fortune. Lucinda Shen (@ShenLucinda) digs into the CB Insights 2020 Global CVC Report in the Term Sheet newsletter.

FinLedger. Rebecca Ayers (@rebeccaayers234) discusses Stripe’s business model with CB Insights fintech analyst Anisha Kothapa (@AnishaKothapa).

MarketWatch. Jeremy C. Owens (@jowens510) and Tomi Kilgore (@TomiKilgore) cover EV funding trends using the CB Insights State Of Mobility Report.

P.S. We’re hiring an associate editor. Check out the job here.

Tycoons. Elon Musk has found a growing fan base among tech workers in China who are disillusioned by their tech leaders.

NYT

Off balance. A roller skate maker is scrambling to fulfill orders as it contends with supply chain disruptions and demand not seen since the 1980s.

WSJ

New tricks. More older people have ventured online amid the pandemic and are discovering the possibilities of the internet.

The Guardian

Microbial astronauts. NASA is mapping all of the microbes on the ISS in an effort to better understand and prevent outbreaks in space. 

Scientific American

Inclusive design. Some video game players are setting up voice controls so they can play hands-free.

The Verge