Startups

In October and November, Global Corporate Venturing asked ‘What will be the biggest investment opportunities in 2021?’ The response was so overwhelming, we have given about half the answers below.

The payment tech space saw a flurry of activity in mid-January with two series D rounds and an aborted acquisition at corporate-backed companies.

Business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce marketplace Udaan extended its series D round with a $280m tranche, featuring Tencent. The company is one of the comparatively few B2B e-commerce deals we have reported, despite the relative size and importance of the B2B in it.

This is a draft of a speech I'll be making at the www.GCVDigitalForum.com on 27 January - feedback much appreciated in comments or email jmawson@mawsonia.com 

Battery producer Sila Nanotechnologies, previously backed by a number of corporates, raised its latest multimillion dollar round, tripling its valuation.

Micromobility, AI-equipped drug discovery, home fitness and cloud kitchens are among the sectors that look promising in 2021.

In the second half of out 2020 roundup we look at growth areas including digital health and health insurance, online education platforms and financial technology.

The IPO boom was helped by the emergence of Shanghai's Star market and the trend for reverse mergers, while corporate venturers were increasingly looking outwards.

Ride-hailing service Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) subsidiary agreed to merge with self-driving technology developer Aurora with Uber investing $400m in the latter.

The UK moves to second phase of quantum initiative, programme links universities to industries at tech hubs, ‘Ion traps’ alternative to superconductors are a key focus

China is benefiting from its government’s focus on artificial intelligence (AI) with unlisted companies having raised RMB203.7m ($30bn) in venture capital since 2016, according to Nikkei Asia Tech and 36kr.