The new reality. FarFetch's $5B IPO. Blockchain spreads the data love.
Europe — sad trombone sound
Hi there,
A while back, we asked you to vote on where the biggest startup tech companies will come from in the next decade.
Here are the results, which are not all that surprising.
Some notes:
Yes — we realize the US vs. Asia is not an apples-to-apples comparison
Europe getting just 8% of the vote is in line with expectations
There were some votes for Africa and South America added to the poll. Both are undoubtedly large markets and will generate some big winners, but thinking that the biggest technology companies of the next decade will come from either is wishful thinking
Democratizing data
Accessing the massive datasets necessary to develop AI applications — like Facebook’s facial recognition algorithm that auto-tags new photos — can be a huge challenge for companies.
Blockchain startups want to make the process easier. We take a look at 7 cryptonetworks exploring ways to match users offering data with projects that need it. Check them out here.
Clouds in Uber’s coffee
Uber’s dream of autonomous vehicles made sense when the company was young, private, and trying to make the case for this future massive market to investors. But that’s not the case anymore.
In yesterday’s client note, we talked about why it’s time for Uber to put its autonomy dreams to rest. Clients can read it here.
This was sent in by a newsletter subscriber who wanted to remain anonymous, likely for fear of people wondering what he was Googling that made him stumble upon this.
Shop from home
Walmart wants to bring its stores to you. The company’s new patent filings describe a virtual reality headset paired with sensor-laden gloves that would allow customers to shop in a virtual store.
Thanks to Joe Mahavuthivanij for sending this one in.
That is so fetch
Yesterday, luxury e-commerce marketplace FarFetch filed to go public. The company is shooting for an IPO that would value it at $5B. Is this a stretch?
Companies across nearly every industry are collecting and monetizing users’ personal data. In return, they have to protect that data and make sure only authorized users can access it.
It’s a big challenge, so startups are cropping up to help out. We take a look at 6 young companies using AI and advanced encryption tech to keep your data safe. Clients can check them out here.
Life after smart phones
As people look for more immersive data experiences, the modern day smartphone won’t quite cut it.
Enter mixed reality.
This technology merges the real and virtual worlds, and isn’t confined to handheld mobile screens. It’s already becoming a mainstream concept, having seen a huge increase in media attention since last year.
Rizal Hamdallah, head of Tyson Innovation Lab, took the company’s Yappah healthy snack idea from concept to minimal viable product in 6 months. In the food biz, that’s lightspeed.
Clouds in Uber’s coffee
Crack the code
