Comcast Ventures

More important now than ever, telehealth will long outlast the pandemic that drove its growth.

Telehealth

Miami-based HealthSnap provides a remote patient monitoring and chronic care management platform for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure. The company's platform offers a turnkey solution to healthcare providers by offering pre-configured health tracking devices, clinical and nonclinical patient support, along with alert and risk triaging services. The company's platform also supports AI-based care coordination and includes functions to carry out virtual primary care consultations. Healthsnap's solution also integrates with over 80 electronic health record solutions and offers a patent-pending solution for automated remote patient monitoring-related billing called 'Eligibility Reports'.The company offers its platform to healthcare providers on a subscription basis, where healthcare providers would utilize the technology, connected devices, and care platform to provide remote patient monitoring services to patients. The company's platform is HIPPA-compliant and HITRUST-certified.As of <a href="https://medcitynews.com/2024/02/healthcare-remote-patient-monitoring/">February 2024</a>, the company notes that it has three patents for its remote patient monitoring-specific revenue cycle automation, and its platform has the capabilities to integrate itself with more than 80 EHRs.Key customers and partnershipsThe company has enterprise partnerships with healthcare systems including Montefiore Health System, UnityPointHealth, Prisma Health, Mayo Clinic, and Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists.

K Health is a telehealth provider that allows users to get personalized health information based on the experiences of other patients. Users can check how people with the same symptoms have been diagnosed and treated by doctors free of charge, allowing them to make informed decisions about the next steps in the treatment. K claims that its service is better than Google as K considers personalized information such as age, gender, and medical history in presenting results. The app also allows users to consult a doctor’s opinion at a fee. For unlimited chats with a doctor, K charges USD 9 per month (or USD 19 for a one-off chat). Users can share their free K evaluations with a board-certified doctor, who will pick up after automated results. The doctor will diagnose, prescribe medicine, and advise users. &nbsp;As of <a href="https://khealth.com/primary-care/">July 2024</a>, the company charged users USD 49 per month for access to its healthcare services.The company acquired teletherapy platform Trusst in <a href="https://www.khealth.com/blog/about-k/k-health-acquires-trusst/">August 2021</a> to expand its mental health solutions, allowing K Health users to access on-demand text-based therapy and receive their medication at home, without the need for insurance or scheduling appointments.As of July 2024, the company noted that its platform’s database contains the data of about 2,000 patients, and is available across 48 states.Key customers and partnershipsMost recently, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33651">September 2024</a>, K Health partnered with Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey's largest health network, to launch an AI-driven primary care service. HMH 24/7 began offering patients 24/7 access to Hackensack Meridian Health clinicians for primary care needs through their smartphones. The service integrated virtual and in-person care, using K Health's AI technology to streamline clinical processes and provide clinicians with comprehensive patient health profiles.The company partnered with medical and research center Mayo Clinic in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25160">January 2024</a> to build an AI solution aimed at preventing premature deaths caused by heart disease and stroke. Through the partnership, K Health's proprietary algorithms will be used to create an advanced AI-ECG (AI-enhanced electrocardiography) technology for risk assessment and remote patient monitoring. Mayo Clinic will provide de-identified patient data to refine the AI model used with the AI-ECG. This model will take into account factors such as age, gender, and health history to optimize treatment and predict risks.Prior to this, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22600">July 2023</a>, K Health partnered with California-based primary care provider Cedars-Sinai, to incorporate K Health’s technology for virtual and urgent care services into Cedars-Sinai’s operations. Through the partnership, K Health and Cedars-Sinai began developing an app that helps patients connect with K Health’s AI and chat with doctors and nurses. The app, called Cedars-Sinai Connect, was launched in October 2023 for patients in California. Through the app, patients could access Cedars-Sinai experts for sick, chronic, and preventive care with 24/7 availability. The app uses AI technology developed by K Health and patients can pay per session or opt for a subscription fee for unlimited follow-up and remote visits.

Nurx is a digital healthcare company that provides accessible healthcare services directly to consumers, especially women, in sensitive health areas like sexual health, reproductive health, and general wellness. The company offers a wide array of services including birth control, PrEP for HIV prevention, STI testing, and treatment for conditions such as migraines and skin care issues. Its platform allows users to receive prescriptions and healthcare products delivered to their homes, aiming to simplify patient access to medical services​.In <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thirty-madison-and-nurx-to-merge-creating-the-leading-virtual-specialty-care-platform-301478752.html">February 2022</a>, the company merged with Thirty Madison, a healthcare company focused on supporting chronic conditions. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed. Post-merger, Nurx operates under the umbrella of Thirty Madison but maintains a distinct identity focused on its specific healthcare services.Key customers and partnershipsNurx primarily serves individuals seeking convenient and confidential access to healthcare services related to sexual health, reproductive health, and general wellness. The company particularly focuses on women's health. As of <a href="https://www.nurx.com/">August 2024</a>, the company had offered over 100 medications and had served over 1 million patients.To help offer its services, the company partnered with several other startups, including TaskRabbit, CareDash, and Stride.In <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thirty-madisons-nurx-cove-partner-131500065.html">April 2024</a>, the company’s parent, Thirty Madison, partnered with Talkspace to expand comprehensive mental health offerings for more than half a million women. Through the partnership, Talkspace served as the recommended therapy partner for Thirty Madison brands, including Nurx.&nbsp;

Using AI to automate, enhance and optimize marketing activities

Marketing Automation

<div>
 
 tvScientific is a performance advertising platform that specializes in advertising for connected TVs (CTV). Its demand-side ad platform (DSP) provides two ways to purchase ads&mdash;either through managed services or a self-serve platform that allows marketers to manage their own TV ad campaigns. The platform&rsquo;s proprietary attribution technology optimizes campaigns by matching ad exposure to site visitations and other outcomes with a 1:1 deterministic ID match, providing transparency and accuracy for advertisers. Additionally, tvScientific provides targeting tools that allow for digital-like targeting on CTV media through third-party data sources and Web-to-TV retargeting, as well as a real-time reporting dashboard and Google-Analytics-integrated traffic reports.
 
 
 The platform provides direct access to premium CTV inventory and claims to be the industry's first supply path-optimized CTV media buying platform.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;
 
 
 According to the firm, it has access to 95% of ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) streaming apps, including SpotX, Magnite, and OpenX. Additionally, it can deliver campaigns on CTV platforms such as Samsung, Vizio, and Roku. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17655">
 2023,
 </a>
 tvScientific collaborated with MetricWorks, an incrementality measurement platform, to optimize and measure CTV performance and improve customer attribution in omnichannel advertising strategies, while also correcting last-touch attribution. 
 The company has also partnered with major mobile measurement partners (MMPs), such as&nbsp; 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/76419">
 AppsFlyer,
 </a>
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/85286">
 Adjust,
 </a>
 Kochava, and Singular, for CTV integrations. 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In April 2022, the company raised USD 20 million in a Series A funding round led by Norwest Venture Partners. It planned to use the funds to broaden its customer base, bolster the team by hiring additional personnel, and advance product development. The round follows its USD 1.5 million seed funding round in April 2021.
 
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Taboola connects advertisers with relevant and personalized content via its AI-powered content discovery platform in order to drive brand engagement. Taboola also offers a news discovery service (Taboola News) that allows personalized news feeds to be directly incorporated into mobile devices. The fiirm has introduced a number of enhancements to its solutions including an <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8071">AI-powered homepage personalization tool</a>, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/6981">SmartBid Dimensions</a>, an automated ad bidding technology, and a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23550">Generative AI AdMaker</a>. In July 2024, the company launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31939">Taboola for Audience, </a>offering AI-powered personalization capabilities consolidated into a single audience development platform.&nbsp;A competitive edge Taboola has over its peers such as Outbrain, is the large number of partnerships it has established with leading media publishers (9,000+ by November 2022) including Bloomberg, USA Today, and NBC, which are exclusive long-term partners. In addition, in November 2021 the firm upgraded its automated ad bidding system with the launch of ‘SmartBid dimensions’ which uses granular customer readership data to provide unique insights on customer intent.&nbsp;Taboola has also executed on a number of acquisitions including Connexivity, one of the largest ecommerce advertising media platforms on the open web, which it acquired in In July 2021 for USD 800 million. Taboola expects the incorporation of the ecommerce data provided by Connexivity and the upselling opportunities created to drive higher yields for Taboola’s publishers and advertisers. In May 2022, Taboola <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10734">acquired Gravity R&amp;D</a>, a developer of an ad personalization engine to further enhance its customization capabilities.&nbsp;In November 2022, Yahoo <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14914">acquired a 25% stake</a> in Taboola, becoming its largest shareholder. The firm deepened its relationship with yahoo and entered into a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15746">30-year partnership</a> to become the exclusive native advertising partner for all of Yahoo’s digital properties and is expected to generate ~USD 1 billion in annual revenue.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsBy December 2023, Taboola’s content discovery platform was reportedly used by 15,000–20,000 advertisers who provide content to more than 1.4 billion daily active users. Taboola News discovery service was offered by leading mobile device manufacturers in at least 80 countries as of July 2021.&nbsp;The firm has entered into a number of partnerships to enhance its product offerings including with Microsoft to launch a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7479">new ad bidding service</a> as well as with PMC to bring <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11521">personalized content to leading entertainment websites</a> in its portfolio which includes Rolling Stone, Billboard and Varierty. In February 2023, in partnership with TIME, the firm entered the ecommerce space with the launch of ‘<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16361">Taboola Turnkey Commerce</a>’, which allows premium publishers to create trustworthy content that helps readers make informed purchase decisions.

Lytics offers a cloud-based CDP and customer analytics and intelligence platform. The firm's CDP platform can connect to data warehouses to provide a unified view of customers, accounts, products, and sales information. The firm also offers “Decision Engine,” a customer analytics platform that leverages real-time behavioral insights to create personalized digital marketing campaigns. As of January 2022, Lytics users include General Mills, TIME, Lovepop, and Universal.&nbsp;Lytics’ CDP is claimed to be built on a “reverse ETL” approach, where a single copy of customer data is maintained in a data warehouse, allowing customer data to be stored securely while avoiding duplicates. The platform is also built specifically targeting retail, packaged goods, B2B, and financial services industries while including industry-specific analytics like customer query data, vendor information, and customer lifetime value (LTV). In August 2022, Lytics launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12046">private CDP solutions on Google Cloud</a> to facilitate enterprise users to leverage its solutions where compliance with privacy regulations is a key concern. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16163">February 2023,</a> the company expanded its privacy-focused offerings with the introduction of "Clean Room," which is powered by Google Analytics Hub and BigQuery. In May 2023, the firm <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19021">expanded its partnership with Google Cloud</a> to introduce three new generative AI capabilities within its CDP.In December 2021, the firm <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7210">launched “Cloud Connect</a>,” a freemium self-service tool allowing users to connect customer data to 80+ technology integrations including marketing cloud (Salesforce, Hubspot), marketing campaign automation (Campaign Monitor, Sailthru), and data warehouses (Snowflake, Google BigQuery). In February 2022, Cloud Connect was <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8614?industryIds=62">added to Microsoft Azure marketplace</a> and claims to be the only reverse-ETL-based solution available in the Azure marketplace. Connecting these solutions together, Lytics launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14007">Conductor, a customer data infrastructure (CDI)</a> in October 2022 enabling users to connect customer data across marketing channels and provide tools to manage customer data and customer identity and create unified profiles.&nbsp;&nbsp;The firm claims that users of its platform experience 4x revenue growth, 10x higher click-through rates, and a 20% decrease in customer acquisition costs.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsThe firm has entered into a number of partnerships including with marketing automation solutions (Sailthru, Salesforce, Oracle), and ecommerce platforms (Shopify, Klaviyo, and Bigcommerce) to integrate and extend the reach of its platforms. In December 2022, the firm <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15148">integrated with Microsoft</a> Advertising enabling Lytics customers to activate first-party customer data within the Microsoft Advertising platform. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16099">January 2023,</a> the partnership with Microsoft was further strengthened with the addition of Lytics in the LinkedIn Marketing Partner Directory. In June 2023, the firm<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19372"> partnered with LiveRamp,</a> a data collaboration platform, to offer marketers a comprehensive view of their customers, enabling them to deliver personalized experiences. In April 2024, the company partnered<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28369"> with Pantheon,</a> a WebOps platform, to democratize web personalization and streamline first-party data strategies, especially for WordPress and Drupal users.With the launch of Cloud Connect, Adara entered into a number of partnerships with data warehouses including Google Big Query, Amazon Redshift, Microsoft Azure, Snowflake, and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15523">Databricks</a> to fully integrate its solution.

Property owners and real estate companies are able to handle larger portfolios while offering faster and cheaper services.

Residential PropTech

Houzz is a platform connecting homeowners with vendors such as home improvement professionals, interior designers, and others. The platform gives opportunities to home improvement professionals to showcase their work and provide contact information so they can be reached by homeowners in need of such services. Over time, the company has also established an e-commerce marketplace for selling goods, such as furniture and others.&nbsp;In July 2024, the company upgraded its Houzz Pro 3D Floor Plan Tool to include multi-floor capabilities, allowing professionals to design and visualize multi-story buildings within the platform. This enhancement, part of the Houzz Pro suite, aimed to improve collaboration and communication between professionals and clients by offering a more comprehensive view of entire homes or multi-level commercial spaces. It also introduced AutoMate, a set of AI-powered tools integrated into Houzz Pro, designed to enhance efficiency for building, remodeling, and design professionals. Utilizing Houzz Vision AI technologies and GenAI models, AutoMate aimed to streamline workflows and improve productivity within the home improvement industry. Pricing details for this new feature were not disclosed.The company’s core business is to offer subscription plans to contractors and designers so they can list their services. The company offers its subscription in three different tiers: Starter, Essential, and Pro, priced at USD 85, USD 129, and USD 199 per month, respectively, excluding its Advertising package which costs USD 499 per month.Houzz was impacted negatively by the Covid-19 pandemic and had to lay off 155 employees (10% of the total) in April 2020. However, that was not the first layoff as it also let go of around 180 employees in January 2019 when the company stated that it was preparing for its IPO. The IPO is expected to be finalized in early 2022.In December 2021, Houzz acquired an Australian-based SaaS platform providing home construction planning and professional estimation tools through ConX. ConX’s tools were to be built into the end-to-end Houzz Pro offering to serve construction contractors better through the Houzz platform. It, therefore, allowed users of the Houzz platform to streamline the estimation process and efficiently manage workflow when undertaking home improvement projects.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsThe company had over 65 million monthly as of August 2022.In July 2024, the company partnered with GreenSky, a financial technology company, to provide home improvement financing options. The partnership integrated GreenSky's home improvement loans into Houzz Pro's business and marketing management software. This collaboration aimed to empower builders and remodelers by providing them access to financing options, potentially helping them close more business deals.

<div>
 
 DocuSign offers eSignature tools to facilitate the management of electronic agreements. These tools enable users to upload and send documents that require signatures, with other features such as checking the status, sending reminders, and storing documents online. The company offers its services to many sectors, including real estate, healthcare and insurance.&nbsp;
 
 
 For the real estate sector, DocuSign automates many transaction processes by providing electronic signing of documents, online notarizations, and a&nbsp; collaboration workspace for the relevant parties (buyers, sellers, agents, etc.). DocuSign claims it helps the property sector reduce paper costs and speeds up the process, while reporting that around 82% of documents sent through its platform get signed within a day.&nbsp;
 
 
 DocuSign has a specific plan for real estate purposes. The plan comes in three different tiers: Real Estate Starter, Real Estate, and Realtors, priced at USD 15, USD 45, and USD 35 per month, respectively.
 
 
 In May 2024, DocuSign 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29171">
 announced its agreement to acquire
 </a>
 Lexion, a contract management platform, for USD 165 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. Through this acquisition, DocuSign planned to leverage Lexion&rsquo;s AI-based contract management technology and expertise to strengthen its position in the Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) space and enhance DocuSign&rsquo;s IAM platform capabilities.
 
 
 DocuSign went public in 2018 and was valued at around USD 4.4 billion at the time of its listing.
 
 
 For FY2024, DocuSign reported total revenue of USD 2.8 billion (up 10% YoY), compared to a total revenue of USD 2.5 billion recorded for FY2023. The company reported a non-GAAP net income of USD 622.9 million for FY2023, compared to a non-GAAP net income of USD 418.9 million recorded a year ago.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of January 2024, the company had over 1 billion worldwide users since 2003 and over 1.5 million paying customers.
 
</div>

The intersection of beauty and technology to deliver hyper-personalized products.

Beauty Tech

Hawthorne is a developer of custom fragrance, body care/grooming, hair care, and skincare products for men. The company launched with fragrances, introduced body care products in 2018, hair care products in 2019, and in January 2020 introduced custom skincare products. An online quiz collects information such as daily routine, lifestyle, taste, and familiarity with grooming products. That information is then analyzed using a proprietary data processing algorithm.Hawthorne claims that the algorithm can match customers with a product that suits their body chemistry, skin type, hair type, and lifestyle with a 97% accuracy. As of January 2024, the company’s personalized fragrances were priced at USD 50–60 and skin and hair care products were priced at USD 17–21. The company ships to the US, Hawaii, and Alaska.Key customers and partnershipsHawthorne’s perfumes are developed in collaboration with award-winning perfumers such as Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Olivier Gillotin, and Quentin Bisch.

Birchbox is a beauty subscription service that delivers personalized monthly boxes containing a mix of four to six sample and full-sized items of makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance products. Subscribers complete a web-based beauty profile to receive customized product selections tailored to their preferences and needs. The company allows subscribers to try high-end samples before committing to full-size purchases. Birchbox's online shop offers full-size versions of sampled products along with other beauty items.Birchbox also operates physical retail stores in New York City and Paris. In 2015, the company developed its own in-house beauty brands named Love of Color and Arrow.&nbsp;In May 2023, the investment company Retention Brands acquired Birchbox’s assets from FemTech Health (a company that acquired Birchbox in 2021). As of July 2024, Birchbox offered monthly subscriptions starting at USD 19 for an annual plan, delivering a mix of samples and occasional full-size items across the makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance categories.

Data Infrastructure & Analytics

AtScale is a semantic layer technology company founded in 2013 that extends the capabilities of modern cloud data platforms to deliver performance acceleration and enhanced user experience for business intelligence and analytics workloads. The company's platform enables organizations to optimize analytics performance on their data cloud through query virtualization, allowing metrics to be built without physically moving data. AtScale autonomously defines, orchestrates, and materializes performance acceleration structures to support analytics user experience, with all queries and temporary views orchestrated on the cloud data platform. The platform simplifies analytics data pipelines by dynamically generating queries against source data using predefined metrics, making it resistant to disruptions caused by changes in underlying data.
Key customers and partnerships
AtScale has worked with several major enterprises across various industries. The company partnered with Tyson to facilitate their transition from Hadoop to Amazon RedShift and subsequently to Google BigQuery, helping them establish foundational elements for self-service business intelligence. Cardinal Health implemented AtScale's semantic layer to create a universal source of truth across their organization, enabling consistent metric definitions across teams and reliable data access through both Tableau and Excel platforms.

DataStax is a data management company focused on allowing enterprises to build GenAI applications. Its flagship offering, Astra DB, is a multi-cloud NoSQL database service based on Apache Cassandra, providing vector search capabilities for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) applications. Astra DB supports simultaneous search-and-update tasks on distributed data and streaming workloads.DataStax also provides DataStax Vector Search, an API that supports vector and structured data for RAG applications. This API enables the development of GenAI applications with real-time data and streaming capabilities. Astra Streaming enhances the accuracy and relevance of LLMs, chatbots, and AI agents through live data ingestion and user feedback loops.In May 2024, DataStax introduced its Hyper-Converged Data Platform (HCDP), enabling enterprises to deploy on-premises vector databases and GenAI platforms.&nbsp;DataStax operates under a volume-based pricing model based on data volume and operations processed.Key customers and partnershipsIn April 2024, DataStax announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud, integrating Astra DB with Vertex AI Extensions and Vertex AI Search. This collaboration aimed to simplify the creation of enterprise-ready GenAI applications by connecting models to existing data sources and APIs.&nbsp;DataStax also partnered with Unstructured to facilitate data extraction and transformation for AI initiatives.

AI, robotics, and IoT to streamline the flow of goods and information

Logistics Tech

<div>
 
 Canada-based Attabotics offers a proprietary storage and retrieval system that utilizes three-dimensional, goods-to-person bots, powered by robotics, machine learning, and AI. Attabotics&rsquo; robotic shuttles are designed to move three dimensionally inside a vertically designed storage structure to retrieve and store goods. Attabotics claims that its compact vertical storage structure reportedly contributes to a 85% reduction in fulfillment space. Attabotics&rsquo; solution can be applied to a range of industries including ecommerce, retail, and consumer goods and is designed to handle activities such as sequencing, sortation, and conveyance. The company also offers an order management and control solution, &ldquo;Weave,&rdquo; to manage the movement of robots.
 
 
 
 
 In September 2022, Attabotics launched the first commercialized version of its proprietary robot, &ldquo;Attabot 2022.&rdquo; Attabot 2022 offers a flexible payload, accommodating larger bins up to 16 in tall at 100 lb and offers advanced features&nbsp; such as the ability to operate in multiple temperature zones with an unlimited number of robot, structure, and workstation configurations.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company offers its products on a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) and a fulfilment-as-a-service business model.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s customers include Gordon Food Service, Calgary, US Department of Defense (DoD), Pan Pacific Pet, and Modern Beauty.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 In April 2021, it entered a partnership with AltaML, an applied AI and machine-learning company, and Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), an AI research and application center, to develop AI and ML capabilities that enhance efficiency and productivity of Attabotics&rsquo; solutions.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company has strategic partnerships with SYNUS Tech to provide its technology to the South Korean market&nbsp; (May 2022) and with K&ouml;rber Supply Chain Automation to sell and distribute its technology in the European market (June 2022).
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14661">
 In November 2022,
 </a>
 Attabotics raised USD 71.7 million in a Series C round led by Export Development Canada to scale its technology and enhance its commitment on implementing its technology across the market. 
 
</div>

Osaro specializes in developing AI-driven robotic solutions for warehouse automation, focusing on the ecommerce and logistics industries. Its key product is the “OSARO SightWorks” software, which uses AI and machine learning for advanced perception and control of robotic systems. The company's robots perform tasks such as piece-picking, bagging, kitting, and depalletizing, integrating with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). A notable feature of Osaro's offerings is its ability to handle complex SKU inventories and delicate items. The company also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35584">"AutoModel,"</a> an advancement to SightWorks, designed for high-volume piece-picking and kitting applications.It offers the products on a robotics-as-a-service basis.Key customers and partnershipsOsaro’s customers include Panasonic Connected Solutions, Konica Minolta, Kyoto Seisakusho, Rohto Pharmaceutical, Zenni Optical, and Konoike Transport.Osaro also has&nbsp;sales and integration partners including Fanuc, Mission Design and Automation, NPSG Global, Cognex, Geek+, Pregis, Sealed Air, Abiman Engineering, IHI, JR Automation, LG CNS, Dematic, Adaptec Solutions, and SVT Robotics.

Using AI to mimic and understand human language

Natural Language Processing Tools

Interactions is a company specializing in conversational AI solutions for customer experience (CX). Their core product offering is an Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) that leverages advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology to enable more natural and effective interactions between businesses and their customers. The IVA is designed to handle routine customer service tasks, allowing human agents to focus on more complex issues.
Interactions' technology utilizes various aspects of NLP, including Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Natural Language Generation (NLG), and Dialog Management. This enables their IVA to comprehend customer intent, extract meaning from spoken or written language, and generate appropriate responses. The system can handle variables such as different languages, dialects, slang, tone, and background noise to provide more contextually relevant interactions.
The company's approach aims to transform customer service from a model focused on containment and deflection to one that actively engages and satisfies customers. Interactions' solutions are designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall customer experience. Their technology allows for 24/7 automated service, particularly useful during high-traffic periods when human agents may be overwhelmed.

AI21 Labs, founded in 2017 by Amnon Shashua, Yoav Shoham, and Ori Goshen in Tel Aviv, Israel, is a leader in generative AI and large language models (LLMs). The company specializes in developing AI systems capable of understanding and generating human-like text. AI21 Labs' flagship product is AI21 Studio, a developer platform that enables businesses to create custom text-based applications using the company's proprietary language models, including the advanced Jurassic-2 model. The Jurassic-2 family of models is offered in three sizes: Large, Grande, and Jumbo, each with a separate instruction-tuned version. These models support multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Dutch.
AI21 Labs also offers Wordtune, an AI-based writing assistant that understands context and meaning, allowing users to refine and generate text or summarize content quickly. In August 2023, the company introduced an upgraded version of Wordtune, transforming it into an all-in-one platform with multiple features for generative AI reading, writing, and knowledge control assistance. This enhanced version includes tools for longform editing, work-related templates, proactive AI suggestions, live outlines, and AI question answering.
The company's approach goes beyond standalone models, focusing on building AI systems that are easy to integrate and generate reliable, trustworthy, and accurate results with more refined control. AI21 Labs has also developed five task-specific APIs for common tasks such as paraphrasing, summarizing, text recommendations, grammatical error correction, and text segmentation. These specialized models are designed to be smaller, more accurate, and less prone to hallucinations compared to larger, general-purpose models.

A decentralized version of the web powered by the blockchain

Web3 Ecosystem

Ready Games provides a Web3 mobile gaming ecosystem that allows game developers to incorporate Web3 gaming elements into new games or transform existing Web2 games into Web3 through in-house turnkey APIs and unity-based SDKs. The APIs are platform-agnostic, supporting mobile, desktop, and console, and they allow for cross-game and cross-platform play.The platform allows developers to create App Store- and Google Play-compliant games, and includes pre-built user loyalty programs, NFT marketplaces, and game-monetization capabilities. It also offers dashboards for developers to manage and analyze on-chain data.The organization works as a DAO and has its own utility token, AURA, which provides token holders with control over all ecosystem decisions. Furthermore, gamers can earn AURA as a reward for playing or testing new games, and the token is embedded in every NFT minted.Key customers and partnershipsIn 2022, the company partnered with several game developers such as Game Storm and Aeria to develop blockchain-based mobile games. It also partnered with Aptos in February 2024 to facilitate the transition of 15 million gamers from Web2 to Web3 by introducing NFTs to enhance popular Web2 gaming titles.Funding and financialsReady Games raised USD 3 million through an initial coin offering of its AURA token in May 2022. It aimed to utilize the funds to develop its Web3 division and to encourage Web2 game developers to explore and transition to Web3.

Blockdaemon is a blockchain infrastructure company providing node management services. It offers node-as-a-service for developers to connect to several blockchain networks through its Ubiquity API without requiring them to own and manage nodes in-house. The company also provides access to native blockchain APIs, which allows developers to explore a network in detail, along with node infrastructure for blockchain networks and validators to stake and scale operations. Blockdaemon supports more than 40 blockchain networks globally through cloud and bare metal servers.The company also provides RPC archival nodes for zkSync, a layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum. These nodes are designed to improve the stability, security, and resilience of the zkSync network by providing better infrastructure services.In July 2022, Blockdaemon acquired Sepior, a data and digital asset security company focused on institutional-grade cryptographic key management and protection services, for an undisclosed sum. Through the acquisition, Blockdaemon aimed to improve its staking services by providing institutional customers the option of custodial and non-custodial wallet solutions for digital assets.Funding and financialsIn January 2022, Blockdaemon raised USD 207 million in Series C funding co-led by Sapphire and Tiger Global at a post-money valuation of USD 3.25 billion. It aimed to use the new capital to complete its node-stack product suite and for strategic acquisitions. The company had also planned to use the funds to launch its own DeFi fund to make structured investments in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem.

Exploring the limitless possibilities of AI

Generative AI Applications

Resemble AI is a Canada-based technology company specializing in generative voice AI solutions. Its flagship technology includes Text-to-Speech, Speech-to-Speech, Neural Audio Editing, and Language Dubbing capabilities, enabling the creation of highly realistic human-like voiceovers. It offers a range of products and features such as Emotions, allowing users to add various emotions to generated voices, Real-time Voice Cloning for precise control over voice inflections, Localize for voice translation into 100 languages, and Resemble Fill for audio editing. Additionally, Resemble AI provides tools like AI Watermarker to protect intellectual property by detecting unauthorized use of audio data and a Deepfake Detector to identify AI-generated content, offering real-time deepfake detection and IP protection. Its technology is reportedly developer-friendly with flexible APIs, allowing the integration of AI voice solutions into various applications and services. Its use cases include:1)Call Centers: Enhancing IVR systems with natural and customizable AI voices for improved customer service2)Advertising: Creating engaging voiceovers, radio ads, and digital marketing campaigns with human-like voices3)Content Creation: Streamlining content production by providing realistic AI voices for videos, animations, and podcasts, enhancing content qualityThe company claims that Resemble Detect offers 98% accuracy in real-time deepfake audio identification.Key customers and partnershipsAs of July 2023, the platform served more than one million users, including Byju’s, World Bank, Netflix, and Boingo.

AI21 is an Israel-based AI research lab developing large language models (LLMs). The firm also builds generative AI applications based on its LLMs, marketing them to businesses and consumers. Its consumer tool is “Wordtune,” a writing companion that offers paraphrasing, quality improvement, summarization, grammar reviews, and text segmentation. In August 2023, the company launched an <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21417">upgraded version</a> of Wordtune, transforming the tool from a consumer-oriented tool into a comprehensive platform offering various features for GenAI assistance in reading, writing, and knowledge control and catering to professional users. Its features include1) Rewrite: A tool to paraphrase emails, articles, messages, and other written content2) Read and Summarize: A tool to summarize text and videos, including academic papers, YouTube videos, and magazine articles3) AI Writing: A tool that allows users to create and edit content for HR, marketing, other business tasks, as well as for personal use4) Grammar Checker: A tool to check grammar and correct spellings.Key customers and partnershipsAs of April 2024, AI21’s Wordtune customers included millions of professionals from companies like Nike, Walmart, ebay, Fujifilm, Zoom, Google, Doordash, Airbnb, Medtronic, Primis, Adidas, NICE, Samsung, and Wix; over 350 companies have implemented Wordtune for their employees.Funding and financialsIn August 2023, AI21 Labs raised <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21424">USD 155 million</a> in a Series C funding round. Investors included Walden Catalyst, Pitango, SCB10X, b2venture, Samsung Next, and Amnon Shashua, the founder of Intel-owned Mobileye and a co-founder of AI21 Labs. Notable participants also included Google and NVIDIA. The funds were expected to be used to accelerate the growth of its text-based generative AI services for enterprises. In November 2023, the company announced an <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24240">extension</a> of USD 53 million to this round, led by Intel Capital and Comcast Ventures. With the new funds, AI21 planned to promote its proprietary outlook of making AI purposes more specific, challenging the conventional "one size fits all" approach.

Foundation Models

Hume AI is an AI technology research laboratory and startup that specializes in developing conversational AI systems optimized for human well-being and emotional understanding. Hume AI's flagship product is the Empathic Voice Interface (EVI), a conversational AI that can interpret and respond to human emotions. <a href="https://venturebeat.com/ai/who-needs-gpt-4o-voice-mode-humes-evi-2-is-here-with-emotionally-inflected-voice-ai-and-api/">EVI</a> utilizes a proprietary empathic large language model (eLLM) that integrates standard language models with expression measures, allowing it to adjust its language and tone based on the user's emotional expressions.&nbsp;In September 2024, the company <a href="https://www.hume.ai/blog/introducing-evi2">introduced EVI</a> 2, a new foundational voice-to-voice AI model. It is designed to interpret emotional expressions and generate empathetic responses to conversations by integrating transcription, language modeling, and text-to-speech. EVI 2 can engage in conversations with short response times, understand and generate various tones of voice, and adapt to user preferences. EVI 2 uses a proprietary AI model developed through cross-cultural voice recordings matched with self-reported emotional survey results. Additionally, the technology offers features such as customizable voices and in-conversation prompts, allowing the option to adjust to speaking style.&nbsp;As of September 2024, EVI 2 offered over 10 base voices in English, with plans to expand to Spanish, French, and German by the end of the year. EVI is the first model to offer its services through an API, allowing developers and businesses to integrate the technology into their applications or build new ones. Its EVI 1 service is priced at USD 0.102 per minute and EVI 2 service at USD 0.072 per minute, with volume discounts available for enterprise users.

<div>
 
 AI21 is an Israel-based AI research lab developing large language models (LLMs). The firm also builds GenAI applications based on its LLMs, marketing them to businesses and consumers.&nbsp;
 
 
 AI21 launched its first AI model, &ldquo;Jurassic-1,&rdquo; in August 2021, offering two versions. The larger variant, Jurassic-1 Jumbo, contained 178 billion parameters&mdash;three billion more than OpenAI&rsquo;s 175-billion parameter GPT-3 model. Similar to GPT-3, Jurassic is able to write emails and articles, summarize text, compose poetry and recipes, create website layouts, and generate code.&nbsp;
 
 
 The firm concurrently launched AI21 Studio, a platform allowing users to train custom versions of Jurassic-1 and embed them into products via an API.&nbsp;
 
 
 In May 2022, AI21 confirmed it was working on a new AI system, called the &ldquo;modular reasoning knowledge and language&rdquo; or &ldquo;MRKL&rdquo; framework (pronounced &ldquo;miracle&rdquo;). MRKL augments LLMs, connecting to external sources and symbolic reasoning models to enable the generation of accurate historical information, news on current events, and dynamic information, such as weather, exchange rates, and Wikipedia information. This allows models to accurately answer math queries by calling a calculator and navigate more complex questions by breaking down queries into parts. An initial implementation of MRKL, Jurassic-X, is available on AI21 Studio, which allows users to connect LLMs to their own databases and navigate their data using natural language.
 
 
 In March 2023, the firm launched &ldquo;Jurassic-2,&rdquo; a successor to its initial language model. The new LLM differs from Jurassic-1 and most popular LLMs, in that it incorporates semantic reasoning into its text generation processes alongside statistical inference, enabling the model to more reliably and accurately respond to queries.
 
 
 AI21 says this was achieved by training Jurassic-2 in two phases: A traditional self-supervised phase using an extensive corpus of unstructured and unlabeled data and a second phase, involving a large volume of labeled data to teach the model to follow instructions. Jurassic-2 did not initially implement the MRKL framework, although AI21 confirmed it as an upcoming feature.
 
 
 The company claims that its foundation models are 30% more efficient than those of other providers and it also does not charge additional fees for the use of fine-tuned models.
 
 
 
 
 In March 2024,
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27995">
 AI21 launched Jamba,
 </a>
 a model that integrates the Mamba Structured State Space model (SSM) technology and transformer components. The company further introduced 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32879">
 Jamba 1.5 Mini and Jamba 1.5 Large
 </a>
 to offer high performance and efficiency for long-context language processing in August 2024. The models have a hybrid architecture combining Transformer and Mamba approaches, allowing for quality responses with large context windows.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of June 2023, AI21&rsquo;s customers include Latitude, Easyway, Verb, Tweet Hunter, and Harambee.
 
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The tools that power remote work are define the next generation of enterprise software.

Remote Work Tools

Hive is a productivity platform for project management and collaboration. The platform provides automated workflows, project planning layouts, and action templates to assign and keep track of project tasks. Hive focuses on improving task execution with instant feedback cycles for editing and approvals. Additional features include note taking (Hive Note), instant messaging, online meetings, and file sharing.Hive offers a variety of ways for teams to organize their projects, including Gantt charts, Kanban boards, tables, and calendars, with updates made in one view automatically reflected in all others. The platform allows team members to create action cards with files, sub-actions, dependencies, and comments to stay on top of their objectives, and have access to a personal to-do list that compiles all assigned tasks from all projects. Managers can use Hive to assign approvals, share proofs, provide feedback, and collect project forms from clients and customers. Hive also uses AI and machine learning to provide insights on team productivity and identify potential risks, and to optimize resource allocation and client billing.Key customers and partnershipsThe company’s customer base includes Google, Toyota, Comcast, and Starbucks. Hive offers integrations with over 1,000 SaaS platforms, including Asana, Trello, Basecamp, and Smartsheet, allowing users to import tasks from these platforms.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/5208">August 2021</a>, Hive raised USD 10 million in a funding round led by Rembrandt Venture Partners with participation from Zoom, and existing investors Tribeca Venture Partners and Angelpad. Hive is one of the first startups to receive an investment from Zoom’s “Zoom Apps Fund” (a USD 100 million global venture fund). The fresh funds were allocated toward platform development.&nbsp;

Speeding up sales, cutting costs, and preparing for the future of retail—whether brick-and-mortar or online.

Retail Industry Robots

Canada-based Attabotics is a developer of a proprietary storage and retrieval system that utilizes three-dimensional, goods-to-person bots, powered by robotics, machine learning, and AI. Attabotics’ robotic shuttles have a range of applications, including ecommerce, retail, consumer goods, and within micro-fulfillment operations. They are designed to move three dimensionally inside a vertically designed storage structure to retrieve and store goods, along with the ability to handle activities such as sequencing, sorting, and conveyance.The company also offers an order management and control solution, “Weave,” to manage the movement of robots. Attabotics’ products are available on a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) and a fulfillment-as-a-service business model. Attabotics claims it can automate 75% of a typical grocery store’s SKUs, equating to 60% of total sales.Key customers and partnershipsIn June 2020, Attabotics partnered with FoodX Technologies, a developer of grocery fulfillment solutions, to deliver end-to-end micro-fulfillment solutions for the grocery ecommerce market in North America.

From fast food to fine dining, everything but the kitchen sink is suddenly just a tap away.

Online Food Delivery

Tovala is a Chicago-based meal kit delivery platform that delivers ready-to-cook, chef-crafted meal kits. The meal kits require less than a minute of prep time and can be prepared by simply scanning a barcode using the accompanying smart oven solution offered by the company. The customers can select from a range of meal plans in the company’s rotating menu and get four to 16 meals delivered weekly. As of February 2021, the company had shipped over three million meals and offered more than 400 meal options in its rotating weekly menu that features options like premium meals and customized meals.The company’s Wi-Fi-connected smart oven can be purchased via the platform and can be used to prepare multi-step meals by simply scanning the barcode of a recipe. The oven comes equipped with five different cooking functions (steam, bake, broil, toast, reheat).In 2019, the company partnered with LG to integrate its Scan-to-Cook technology in select LG smart ovens, allowing Tovala meal barcodes to be scanned via the LG ThinQ app. The partnership further extended to include Tovala meals for purchase in the LG ThinQ app.In February 2021, the company raised USD 30 million in a Series C funding round led by Left Lane Capital with participation from previous investors Finistere Ventures, Comcast Ventures, OurCrowd, Origin Ventures, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, and Joe Mansueto. This funding round brings the company’s total funding to over USD 50 million. The funding was leveraged for opening a new production facility, expanding the team, and improving the customer experience.

A foundational component to the next generation of digital entertainment.

Esports

<div>
 
 Players’ Lounge, a Y Combinator graduate, is an esports tournament platform that connects players to compete for cash prizes. The platform provides equal opportunities to all players regardless of their skill levels and targets gamers on Xbox, PlayStation and PC and supports games such as Call of Duty, NBA, Madden, MLB, FIFA and Fortnite. The platform enables players to bet on their own performance placing wagers ranging between USD 2.5–500 on their skillful play out of which the platform takes a 10% cut. 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11937">
 July 2022
 </a>
 , the company raised USD 10.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Griffin Gaming Partners with participation from Comcast Ventures, Samsung Next, and Vice Ventures, among others. The funds were allocated to expand out of the sports gaming genre to launch a mobile app in Q3 2022. 
 
</div>

Hardware, software, and wearable devices to help prevent and manage the next pandemic.

Infectious Disease Tech

Juganu is a technology company that provides an innovative platform for smart cities and smart retail spaces. The company's core offering is a wireless computer vision platform and advanced services that leverage existing lighting infrastructure. Juganu's smart fixtures integrate sensors, cameras, and AI capabilities, transforming physical spaces into digital ecosystems that enhance safety, efficiency, and connectivity.
The platform combines advanced LED lighting technology with computer vision AI applications, IoT connectivity, and integrated analytics. Juganu's solution enables a wide range of capabilities, including public Wi-Fi and 5G networks, environmental sensors, traffic optimization, restricted area monitoring, people density mapping, abnormal noise detection, and integration with third-party applications.
Juganu's smart lighting fixtures reduce energy consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional options, contributing to sustainability goals and lower operational costs. The company's patented planar light technology mimics natural sunlight, providing exceptional illumination quality.
Juganu's platform can be rapidly deployed, going live within days, and requires minimal installation effort, resulting in low capital and operational expenditures for clients. The company's technology has been implemented in various smart city projects across multiple countries, including the US, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Greece, and Israel.
In the retail sector, Juganu's platform automates routine tasks, enhances customer experiences, improves security, and optimizes operations through capabilities like customer journey management, shelf monitoring, queue management, and real-time messaging.

Retail investors demanding sophisticated passive investment strategies are looking for an edge.

Retail Trading Infrastructure

Acorns operates a micro-investing app that automatically invests contributions from users into diversified portfolios consisting of stock and bonds. The platform enables users to set up automated investments through small amounts of change money. The app rounds up debit or credit card purchases made from a linked card to the nearest dollar and invests the change on behalf of the individual. The company also enables users to set up recurring investments on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, and provides additional features such as automated portfolio rebalancing and educational tools to improve financial literacy.The company’s products are offered under three tiers: 1) Lite 2) Personal and 3) Family at USD 1/3/5 per month respectively. The company’s most basic package offers investment accounts, with the latter two providing additional features such as retirement and checking accounts. In November 2023, Acorns launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24469">Mighty Oak Debit Card </a>, a debit card providing the option to invest spare change from transactions, in partnership with Dwayne Johnson. The Mighty Oak Debit Card provides 3.00% checking APY and 5.00% APY on the card's emergency fund savings, with no minimum deposit or balance requirements.As of May 2021, the company had around 4 million subscribers in the US with revenue of USD 71 million in 2020 representing 61.4% year-over-year (YoY) from 2019. Recent revenue growth has been driven by an increase in high paying subscribers. The company expects to achieve a revenue of USD 126 million for 2021, implying a growth rate of 77.5% YoY. Acorns is yet to be profitable and incurred an operating loss of USD 65 million in 2020.Key customers and partnershipsIn January 2024, Acorns extended its <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25326">partnership with Helix </a>, a banking-as-a-service platform, to launch its new debit card, the Mighty Oak Debit Card.Funding and financialsIn March 2022, Acorns raised USD 300 million in Series F funding led by TPG at a valuation of USD 2 billion. The management planned to utilize the funds to pursue more acquisition opportunities and invest in growth and innovation. The company had also indicated that it will pursue a traditional IPO following the termination of its proposed USD 2.2 billion merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Pioneer Merger Corp.

New data privacy regulations have opened up space for a new wave of compliance-focused startups.

Digital Privacy Tools

BigID provides a platform that leverages advanced machine learning tools to help enterprises protect their data and comply with regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, etc. on a large scale. The company launched its patented Discovery-in-Depth technology during January 2020 to automatically discover different types and sources of data across an enterprise’s entire IT infrastructure. It expanded this technology in August 2020 by launching Hyperscan, a machine-learning-based scanning solution for large volumes of data that minimizes scanning time by 95%. The company also provides <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13382">native data deletion features</a> that allow organizations to delete personal and sensitive data across their data stores effectively. The feature allows organizations to purge duplicate and redundant data, minimize data before a cloud migration, initiate data deletion workflows based on data retention policies, and automatically address policy violations.In March 2023, BigID <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17433">released a native data privacy suite</a> that allows enterprises to automate California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) compliance requirements across data inventory and mapping, privacy impact assessment, self-service privacy rights portal, automated DSAR fulfillment, and regulatory reporting by leveraging holistic privacy management.In April of the same year<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18004"> launched “BigAI”</a>, a large language model (LLM) designed to scan and classify data, leveraging machine learning and generative AI to organize data into tables, columns, and categories. The BigAI platform also includes a generative AI chatbot named “BigChat”, which provides data compliance advice through conversational Q&amp;A. The company also <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24136">launched</a> a new AI-powered tool in November 2023 designed to automatically generate remediation instructions for data security and reduce the burden on security teams.Additionally, it provides solutions concerning data subject rights management, consent management, privacy data protection impact assessments, third-party risk management, incident response, reporting, and monitoring.Key customers and partnershipsBigID has partnerships with companies such as TrustArc and IBM, among others, to deliver comprehensive compliance solutions.In April 2023, BigID announced a technology partnership with French tech company Thales to integrate its data discovery and classification capabilities with Thales’ CipherTrust encryption platform to identify and anonymize sensitive data for business use while maintaining individual privacy. In the same month, BigID collaborated with SPHERE to develop an identity hygiene risk management solution. In June 2023 the company announced an integration with Databricks to automate data discovery, classification, and governance.

New insurance models are disrupting a centuries-old industry with a focus on personalization and convenience

InsurTech: Personal Lines

<div>
 
 Hippo is a digital homeowner insurance provider. The company offers its homeowner policies online, with each policy accompanied by a complementary smart home monitoring system that will help identify risks proactively. It provides coverage using a combination of machine learning, satellite imagery, and other public records and actively reviews for any changes to the property overtime.
 
 
 Hippo also provides home insurance to buyers of newly built homes that is directly integrated to the digital mortgage and title process through its Builders business. Further, it launched 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16051">
 Hippo Builder Insurance Agency (HBIA)
 </a>
 in January 2023, to allow builders of all sizes to partner with HBIA to send leads of homeowners in return for a fee.
 
 
 The company also offers an on-demand homecare and maintenance app (Hippo Homecare) which it launched in 2019 following the acquisition of Sheltr, a home maintenance platform, during the same year. It also launched &ldquo;Book a Pro'' feature within its mobile app in Q4 2022, which allows homeowners based in Texas to connect to home improvement professionals as well as message its Hippo&rsquo;s own home care experts to get advice. Hippo also plans to roll-out this feature to other states in the future.
 
 
 In June 2020, Hippo entered into an agreement to acquire long-time insurance partner Spinnaker Insurance Company, which is a property and casualty insurer registered in all 50 states, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was expected to help the company expand its geographical reach. The company&rsquo;s homeowner offering was available in 40 states as of January 2023.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Hippo had 332,000 customers as of September 2022, and it claimed nearly 75% of its new customers were Gen B.
 
 
 The company partnered with property and casualty risk intelligence company, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17629">
 Opterrix in April 2023
 </a>
 , to leverage its real-time data on severe weather events to identify at-risk policyholders and improve its claims management capabilities.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In November 2020, Hippo raised USD 350 million from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance company. The company expects to use this funding to support its national expansion plans and also evaluate acquisition opportunities to grow inorganically.
 
 
 For FY2022, the company recorded total generated premiums of USD 811.1 million, which was up 33.8% YoY. Its gross loss ratio improved 62 percentage points to 76% during the year, while its net loss improved 10.2% YoY to USD 333.4 million.
 
</div>

A concentration of wealth and a willingness to adopt age-in-place technologies present new opportunities.

Age Tech

Papa is a platform that provides on demand companionship services for elderly persons. The Papa community functions as a family on-demand and helps the users with daily tasks such as car rides and chores, in addition to companionship. The company’s services overall aim to reduce the loneliness and increased risk of premature death caused by social isolation.&nbsp;The service is available nationwide, typically covered by health plans and employer benefits. Papa has also partnered with multiple health insurance and health plan providers such as Aetna, AvMed, Florida Blue Medicare, and Priority Health, among others.&nbsp;The company has taken a digital approach and included virtual companionship in response to the pandemic. Papa noted in May 2020 that it conducted more virtual companion visits than it conducted in-person visits prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The company also launched Papa Pals, to provide contact-free food delivery for the elderly.&nbsp;In November 2021, the company was valued at USD 1.4 billion. Key customers and partnershipsIn November 2021, Papa reported that it had retained all customers from the year, and was available to provide more than 65 health plans (comprising over 25 health plans added in the last seven months); Papa announced that it intends to introduce another 26 health plans at the start of 2022.&nbsp;In April 2023, the company expanded its launch of its Social Care Navigation Offering after a limited release of the service in 2022. The offering provided a dedicated team of social care navigators that will help users identify and solve social issues such as housing, grocery payment, and overdue health checkups. The expanded rollout made the service offering available to all Papa customers. Previously, this product was provided to selected health plans, with it being used by a quarter of the company’s health plan customers. One such provider, Fallon Health, tripled its member population that would be eligible for the Social Care Navigation offering after noting improvements in member experiences.

Helping employers provide personalized, high-touch, and holistic financial wellness tools to their entire workforce.

Financial Wellness Tools

Brightside provides a financial care platform for employers that combines human advice with technology that leverages behavioral science. The platform connects employees with Brightside’s financial advisors to obtain one-on-one financial coaching and help employees devise a personalized financial plan. The advisors also provide advice in relation to managing one’s spending, setting savings goals to meet financial emergencies and obtaining cost efficient alternatives for financial products such as insurance or cheaper refinancing for existing high-interest personal debt (such as student loans and credit cards).Telecommunications giant Comcast is the anchor client of Brightside. The company was founded by Comcast executives (Callum King and Shawn Leavitt) in 2017, in a bid to deploy an effective financial wellness platform across its own employees. Comcast also led the company’s seed round in 2018.Brightside reported total revenue growth of 800% for 2021 and expects to achieve revenue growth of 10x in 2022. As of November 2022, the company’s headcount has increased to over 175 employees. Brightside had plans to hire 200 more employees in 2023.Key customers and partnershipsBrightside served various organizations including notable companies such as Comcast and Unum, as of September 2024.

Using online platforms, autonomy, electric and fuel-cell tech solutions to shape the future of trucking.

Truck Industry Tech

DrayNow is a freight matching app that offers a marketplace for intermodal freight and carriers for first- and final-mile freight transportation. DrayNow’s app has a network of vetted carrier partners and enables shippers and brokers of intermodal freight to post loads, connect with carriers, and track and manage shipments. The app’s features include real-time geo-tracking, ETAs, document capture for drayage shipments, a spot rate tracker, and a pricing tool. DrayNow offers capacity across the US and provides same-day drayage services for intermodal marketing companies.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21586">September 2023</a>, DrayNow formed a joint venture with its investor Norfolk Southern Corporation to enhance shipment transparency and increase network fluidity.

Moving industry forward with next-gen advancements in energy storage and transmission

Alternative Energy

Dandelion Energy offers residential geothermal energy solutions. Dandelion was initially a part of Google X—the tech giant’s experimental business wing—before being spun out into an independent company in 2017.Dandelion offers a geothermal heat pump for residential units. During the summer, the heat pump draws heat from the air in the house and transfers it to the ground, while in the winter, the heat pump draws heat from the ground and transfers it to the house. This would eliminate the need for an air conditioner or a furnace at home. Dandelion claims that its geothermal solution is around 47% cheaper than using a fuel oil furnace and around 14% cheaper than using a central air conditioner. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33733">September 2024</a>, the company launched Dandelion Geo, a geothermal heat pump with heating performance of up to 63,000 Btu/hr.Key customers and partnershipsAs of November 2022, Dandelion has installed over 1,000 pumps.In April 2022, Dandelion partnered with Robison, where the latter agreed to install geothermal heating and cooling solutions. In November 2022, Dandelion partnered with Accrue Savings to enable its customers to save in installments for the total cost of the installation. In April 2023, the company partnered with EmPower to offer the latter’s customers USD 500 off their Dandelion system. In September 2023, Dandelion partnered with Palmetto to expand access to their solar services and geothermal energy by launching a program in Massachusetts.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7899">January 2022</a>, Dandelion acquired Glacier Drilling, a Connecticut company providing drilling and related services to residential and commercial customers, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will complement Dandelion’s geothermal offerings in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont.Funding and financialsDandelion’s most recent funding round was in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14667">November 2022</a>, when the company raised USD 70 million in a Series B1 funding round led by LENX. The company will use this funding to support its expansion into retrofit and new construction markets as well as to invest in a broader range of products capable of serving more customers and geographies. Prior to this in February 2021, Dandelion raised USD 30 million in a Series B round led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

AI-based solutions for evolving digital threats

Next-gen Cybersecurity

<div>
 
 Uptycs offers a platform allowing organizations to coordinate their endpoint and cloud security from a single dashboard. The platform can also be used for extended detection and response (XDR), cloud work protection, and cloud security posture management. It collects and analyzes telemetry and transforms it into dashboards, reports, and alerts using structured query language (SQL). The platform combines the open-source endpoint agent osquery with a security analytics framework to identify and detect intrusions across Linux, macOS, Windows, containers, and cloud workloads. As of May 2021, the company claimed to have experienced consecutive years of triple-digit revenue growth and counted various Fortune 500 companies among its clients, such as Comcast Security, Flexport, and Lookout.
 
 
 
 
 In May 2021, Uptycs raised USD 50 million in a Series C funding round led by Norwest Ventures for product development and to expand its geographical footprint.
 
</div>

The latest line of defense against rising cyber attacks

Cyber Insurance

BitSight offers a data-driven security rating system for financial services, retail, manufacturing, telecom, and cyber insurance companies. BitSight’s risk rating system is backed by a company’s historical data as well as industry benchmarks. The platform collects data from over 260 billion cyber events daily from 120 data sources. In the areas of cyber insurance, it allows insurers to determine the rate of premiums while also enabling the continuous monitoring of security posture during the coverage period. BitSight also offers cyber risk modeling services, helping businesses financially quantify enterprise cyber risk.In September 2021, BitSight acquired VisibleRisk, a cyber risk rating startup created by the credit ratings agency Moody’s Corporation and the venture capital firm Team8. BitSight integrated VisibleRisk’s cyber risk assessment capability to enhance its Financial Quantification tool to better estimate the financial exposure of an organization to cyber risk. Following the acquisition, BitSight was to set up a Risk Solutions Division that focuses on cybersecurity insights for the board of directors and C-suite executives.In August 2022, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12196">acquired </a>the third-party risk management startup, ThirdPartyTrust. ThirdPartyTrust was integrated into BitSight’s existing TPRM solutions to deliver real-time insights throughout the entire third-party lifecycle and extended supply chain.Key customers and partnershipsBy July 2021, the company had analyzed the security ratings of over 27,000 companies. During that period, the company claimed that 50% of all cyber insurance policies underwritten globally were by its customers and 20% of governments worldwide use BitSight data for national security. Overall, the company had over 2,300 customers globally and an employee headcount of 500 as of September 2021.Bitsight announced an <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17887">expanded partnership with Moody’s Analytics </a>in April 2023, providing analysts with enhanced insights, and making Bitsight’s analytics available through Moody’s BVD Orbis database. The firm also added a response function to its TPRM platform.Funding and financialsIn conjunction with the acquisition of VisibleRisk in September 2021, BitSight also secured USD 250 million in funding from Moody’s at a valuation of USD 2.4 billion. The company utilized the funds to pursue growth and further enhance its product offerings and capabilities.

Revolutionizing construction with sustainable practices to build faster

Prefab Tech

<div>
 
 Juno develops multifamily residential units using prefabrication technology. The company focuses on sustainable development by using low-carbon materials like mass timber, reducing construction waste and eliminating the use of natural gas.
 
 
 The company uses an end-to-end digital platform while creating standardized tools and systems to reduce design times and increase the accuracy of estimation and planning. The company works with fabrication partners for manufacturing and decides on the method of assembly (whether off-site or on-site, depending on market conditions).
 
 
 In September 2021, the company raised USD 20 million in Series A funding led by Comcast Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Real Estate Technology (RET) Ventures, which was to be used to continue product development. As of September 2021, the company had started development of an 400-unit apartment building in East Austin, Texas, expected to open in 2022, with two more sites planned for Seattle, Washington and Denver, Colorado.
 
</div>

Information to create a more efficient, cleaner and safer way to travel in the city of the future

Smart Mobility Information

<div>
 
 Populus provides city municipalities with mobility data and tools to manage shared mobility and parking policies in cities. Populus&rsquo;s mobility management tool specializes in providing data on micromobility solutions such as bikes, scooters, and mopeds to help formulate policies and monitor compliance. In 2020, Populus expanded its services to include a Street and curb manager platform, providing data on curb parking demand to help plan and create street policies and curbside parking policies and communicate them to relevant stakeholders including map platforms, shared mobility operators, and autonomous vehicles. Populus applies machine learning (ML) techniques to deliver insights, leveraging data from 40+ micromobility operators covering more than 150 million shared mobility trips. 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 As of January 2022, Populus was available in more than 80 cities on 4 continents including cities in the US, Israel, and Brazil. 
 
 
 In 2020, Populus was selected for an initiative funded by the US Department of Transportation to improve micromobility safety. In October 2021, Populus was selected for Phase II of the initiative, which will be expanded to 15 US cities including Cleveland, Lexington, and Charlotteville. In June 2022, Populus was awarded a contract to manage the 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11252">
 city of Chicago&rsquo;s shared Scooter and bikes program
 </a>
 .&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In August 2022, the company raised 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12693?industryIds=66">
 USD 11 million in a Series A funding
 </a>
 round co-led by Zero Infinity Partners and Climactic. It will use the funds for the development of its existing suite as well as its proprietary curb management software. It also planned to increase its headcount by 2x from 25 over the next year. Additionally, Populus reported that it had launched pilot projects in several European cities and planned to focus on congestion pricing in future. The round follows its USD 5 million seed funding in March 2021 led by Storm Ventures and Magna. 
 
</div>

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

Pony.ai is a self-driving vehicle technology company founded by former developers at Chinese tech giant Baidu. The company tests its autonomous vehicles in the US and China, primarily focusing on autonomous ride-hailing. It also <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14811">develops safety and driving assist technologies </a>for passenger vehicles.Its sixth-generation system was unveiled in January 2022 and features the “Nvidia Drive” computing platform and Level 4 autonomy (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles limited to specific locations and/or conditions). The company offers three advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) solutions dubbed <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15664">“PonyClassic,” “PonyPro,” and “PonyUltra” </a>for private passenger cars. The solutions offer functions such as valet parking and autonomous driving on expressways and city roads.Pony.ai claims to be the first to launch robotaxi services in December 2018 in Guangzhou, China, where passengers can hail autonomous cars via its “PonyPilot+” app. As of February 2024, the company had permits to commercially deploy fully driverless robotaxi services in Shanghai <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31214">(July 2024),</a> Shenzhen <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25517">(January 2024),</a> Beijing <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21985">(September 2023),</a> and Guangzhou <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18027">(April 2023).</a> The company received permission to deploy autonomous vehicles without a safety driver in Fremont, Milpitas, and Irvine, California, in May 2021 (which was revoked a year later citing failure to monitor driver records of the safety driver). As of April 2023, the company had carried out over 13 million miles of autonomous driving and over 200,000 paid rides.<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34942">In October 2024,</a> the company filed for an US IPO, after receiving the approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28771">in April 2024.</a> The company’s revenue grew 2x to USD 24.7 million in 1H 2024 and reported a net loss of USD 51.3 million over the same period (compared to USD 69.4 million in 1H 2023).Key customers and partnershipsPony.ai also has several product partnerships with automotive companies, OEMs and other parties including RoboSense&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13728">(October 2022),</a> SAIC AI Labs&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13336">(September 2022),</a> Luminar Technologies (May 2021), FAW Group (November 2020) Bosch (August 2020), Hyundai (October 2019), GAC Group (September 2019), Toyota (August 2019; extended to form a JV to build robotaxis&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20665">in August 2023),</a> Horizon Robotics&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15569">(January 2023),</a> Abu Dhabi Investment Office&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22847">(October 2023),</a> ComfortDelGro&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32152">(July 2024),</a> and BAIC&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35561">(November 2024).</a>The company also partnered with China-based ride-sharing services provider Cao Cao Mobility to launch robotaxis within the latter’s platform in Beijing&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12380">(August 2022),</a> and with mobility tech firm AutoNavi to launch robotaxis in AutoNavi's platform in Guangzhou&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34796">(October 2024).</a> Pony.ai also has a partnership with Pima Community College (PCC) to test autonomous vehicles in Tucson, Arizona&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13259">(September 2022);</a> a JV with GemVaxLink to offer self-driving mobility tech and services in South Korea&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27229">(March 2024);</a> and a partnership with Luxembourg Government partner to enhance autonomous mobility in Luxembourg&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27379">(March 2024).</a><a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14811">As of November 2022, </a>the company had also secured a contract from an unnamed automaker to install driving assist technologies in a vehicle model scheduled for mass production in 2024.

Alternative Living

Zeus Living is a furnished corporate housing provider operating in major cities across the US, including San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington DC, and New York. The company offers professionals the flexibility to live in different locations without sacrificing the comforts of home. Zeus Living primarily caters to business travelers, relocating employees, and individuals requiring short-term housing solutions for extended stays of 30 days or longer.
Zeus Living's accommodations include apartments, houses, and condominiums, outfitted with amenities like high-speed WiFi, in-unit laundry facilities, handpicked furnishings from reputable brands, and essential household items. The company's operations teams provide 24/7 support for property maintenance and special requests, ensuring a seamless living experience for residents.
As of October 2019, Zeus Living had a portfolio of 1,600 homes across its operational markets. Since its inception in 2015, the company has served over 27,000 residents. Zeus Living has established partnerships with companies such as Bird, ServiceTitan, HackerOne, and Samsara to provide corporate housing solutions.

Riding together toward a sustainable future

Shared Mobility

<div>
 
 Lyft is a technology company that provides an on-demand ride-hailing platform connecting passengers with drivers. The company operates a mobile app that allows users to request rides from nearby drivers using their personal vehicles. Lyft's primary offering is private rides, enabling passengers to book individual trips for transportation. In addition to rides, the company expanded into food and package delivery services in recent years.
 
 
 
 
 Lyft's business model relies on leveraging its network of independent contractor drivers who utilize the platform to accept ride requests. The company charges a commission on each completed trip, with the remaining fare going to the driver. Lyft has implemented various features within its app to streamline the ride experience, such as upfront pricing for passengers and in-app tipping for drivers.
 
 
 
 
 Lyft's technology facilitates the ride-hailing process by matching nearby available drivers with passenger requests, optimizing for factors like proximity and demand. The app leverages GPS tracking to provide real-time updates on driver locations and estimated arrival times. Passengers can rate drivers after each trip, contributing to the platform's safety measures.
 
 
 
 
 In terms of market presence, Lyft operates primarily in the US and Canada. As of March 2024, the company held a 24% market share in the US rideshare industry, trailing behind its larger competitor, Uber. Lyft's observed sales saw a 3% year-over-year increase in March 2024, though they have yet to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
 
 
 
</div>

Managing employee health-related benefits

Health Benefits Platforms

Sidecar Health is a transformative health insurance company providing medical coverage for employers. Its model eliminates the need for prior authorizations, referrals, and restrictive formularies, offering transparency into benefits and local pricing. Members know exactly how much their plan pays before receiving care and can choose any licensed provider without network restrictions.Sidecar Health operates on an instant-pay non-network model, enabling members to pay for care at the time of service using their Sidecar Health VISA benefit card. This facilitates immediate payment to providers, reducing administrative complexities. When members opt for providers charging less than their plan's benefit amount, Sidecar Health shares the savings with them. Key customers and partnershipsIn June 2024, the company partnered with Koch Disruptive Technologies to provide health coverage to a segment of the latter's workforce in 2025. Additionally, Sidecar has chosen Kosh as its design partner to develop insurance coverage options for large-scale employers.

Travel Tech

Away is a provider of travel bags, accessories, and smart luggage products. Its suitcases are manufactured from polycarbonate and come equipped with one or more TSA-approved combination locks. Away provides shipping to the US, Canada, and the UK, and offers a limited lifetime warranty on the company’s products. Away has multiple stores in the US, and one store each in the UK and Canada.Its range of smart luggage editions includes The Carry-On (priced at USD 245–USD 645 and launched in March 2016); The Flex (priced at USD 325–USD 425 and launched in August 2021); The Medium (priced at USD 725); and The Large (priced at USD 745). Travellers also have the option of personalizing their suitcase and/or including an ejectable USB charging port with the suitcase for an additional fee of USD 20.Key customers and partnershipsKey corporate clients include Netflix, Morgan Stanley, YouTube, Spotify, Delta Airlines, and Hilton.In October 2022, Away partnered with three fashion designers (to revamp its Bigger Carry-On smart luggage edition) and had a prior partnership with Serena Williams (to announce the launch of the Away x Serena Williams collection of smart luggage products in January 2021). Other celebrities that have used the company’s smart luggage products include Jessica Alba, Karlie Kloss, and Margot Robbie.

Promises increased productivity, cost-efficiency, and competitiveness in the legal industry

LegalTech

<div>
 
 DocuSign is a leading provider of electronic signature solutions, enabling individuals and businesses to securely sign, send, and manage documents digitally. The company's core product, DocuSign eSignature, allows users to upload documents, add signature fields, and request signatures from multiple parties. DocuSign's technology supports various document types and integrates with popular cloud storage platforms.
 
 
 
 
 As of 2024, DocuSign reported over 1 billion users across 180 countries. The company's platform is designed to streamline document workflows, reduce paper usage, and accelerate business processes. DocuSign's technology ensures the confidentiality of transactions and provides a comprehensive audit trail for each completed signature event. In addition to basic e-signature capabilities, DocuSign offers features such as templates, bulk sending, and automated reminders to enhance efficiency.
 
 
 
 
 DocuSign has expanded its offerings beyond e-signatures to include contract lifecycle management tools. In May 2023, the company acquired Lexion, an AI-powered agreement management firm, to enhance its capabilities in this area. DocuSign's platform also supports features like payment collection, advanced form fields, and PowerForms for embedding signable documents on websites.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 
 DocuSign serves a diverse range of industries, including real estate, healthcare, financial services, and technology. The company has partnerships with major technology firms to enhance its integration capabilities. For instance, in March 2024, DocuSign announced a partnership with Microsoft to integrate its e-signature solution into SharePoint, allowing users to initiate signature processes directly from Microsoft 365 applications.
 
 
 
 
 DocuSign also collaborates with Google, offering integrations with Google Workspace applications such as Google Drive, Docs, and Gmail. In July 2023, DocuSign partnered with Sandbox Banking to enhance and automate agreement workflows for financial institutions, integrating DocuSign's Maestro tool with Sandbox's Glyue platform.
 
</div>

Technology to customize and procure furniture

Furniture Tech

Modsy was an online interior design service that utilized 3D imaging technology to help customers visualize how their spaces would look with new furniture and decor. Founded in 2015, Modsy developed a visualization engine that allowed users to scan their rooms in 3D and work with designers to virtually redesign their homes. Customers could explore shoppable 3D renderings of their spaces, complete with furniture and decor recommendations from popular retailers.
Modsy's design process began with an interactive style quiz, followed by customers uploading photos and measurements of their rooms. The company's designers would then create 3D design concepts, which users could revise using Modsy's 3D Style Editor tool. Modsy offered different pricing packages, ranging from USD 159 for a single room to USD 499 for a Luxe package with additional design support.
In March 2022, Modsy launched a first-of-its-kind virtual Renovation Design service, enabling customers to visualize home improvements using 3D technology and virtual tours before construction. However, by June 2022, Modsy had ceased providing online interior design services to consumers.
On August 30, 2023, Modsy's intellectual property and team were acquired by homebuilder Lennar. Under Lennar's ownership, Modsy's visualization engine will be used to provide dynamic virtual tours of Lennar's model homes for potential buyers, rather than offering design services to individual consumers.
Key customers and partnerships
Modsy maintained collaborative partnerships with numerous retailers, including Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Wayfair, and Interior Define, among others. This enabled Modsy to offer customers access to a wide range of furniture and decor options from popular brands within its 3D renderings.
Additionally, in 2021, Modsy partnered with Lennar, with the homebuilder taking an investment stake in the company. As part of this partnership, Modsy's technology was initially used to provide virtual tours and design services for Lennar's homebuyers.

Deriving insights from uncommon data streams

Alternative Data

Enigma Technologies is a data science company that specializes in providing comprehensive intelligence on the financial health and identity of over 30 million small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the US. The company's proprietary machine learning algorithms combine data from hundreds of public and private sources to offer a holistic view of the revenues, growth, and detailed firmographic information of SMBs.
Enigma's core offering is its advanced data analytics and risk modeling solutions for financial institutions. By leveraging Enigma's data insights, lenders can make more informed decisions when extending credit to SMBs, a segment that has traditionally faced challenges in securing financing due to the lack of reliable data on their business health. Enigma's solutions empower community and regional banks to efficiently originate, monitor, and securitize small business loans, ultimately lowering the cost of capital for SMBs.
In January 2022, Enigma spun off a new lending platform called Prime to further broaden access to its data analytics capabilities. Prime provides a dashboard that allows banks to upload their loan books and access advanced indicators like Enigma's data on business revenue and growth, enabling them to make risk and lending decisions more efficiently and confidently. Prime launched with a funding commitment of USD 49 million from partners including Capital One, Third Point Ventures, Customers Bank, and NEA.

Simplifying the insurance experience for businesses using technology

InsurTech: Commercial Lines

<div>
 
 Bunker is a digital insurance platform specializing in business insurance solutions for the gig economy and small businesses. Bunker offers a range of contract-related insurance products, including general liability, professional liability, and cyber liability insurance. The company's platform allows users to obtain instant insurance coverage and compliance certificates, simplifying the process for freelancers and independent contractors to meet contractual requirements. Bunker differentiates itself by providing real-time, usage-based insurance tailored to the unique needs of its clients​​.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 &nbsp;
 
 
 Bunker mainly focuses on catering to Amazon sellers, offering tailored insurance solutions to meet the specific requirements of the ecommerce platform. The company's platform streamlines the process of acquiring insurance policies, allowing most Amazon sellers to secure the required coverage within 48 hours of requesting a quote. Bunker's insurance offerings for Amazon sellers include product liability insurance, general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and additional protection through riders. The company provides a 30-day cancellation policy, allowing clients to change their coverage.
 
 
 The agency collaborates with established insurance carriers, such as Chubb, and brokers to provide comprehensive coverage options to its client base.
 
</div>

Tools that streamline software development

DevOps Toolchain

Split Software is a feature management and experimentation provider that offers solutions to help development teams control and innovate their software releases. The company's Feature Data Platform enables teams to set up feature flags, safely deploy to production, and control feature visibility. Split's platform connects every flag to contextual data, allowing teams to assess feature performance and react quickly to issues. It also facilitates feature experiments such as A/B tests without slowing down the development process. Split's technology aims to give development teams the confidence to accelerate with control and the freedom to innovate with ease. The company's solutions support various aspects of the software development lifecycle, including building, deploying, and releasing software while running experiments to measure feature adoption. Split's customer base includes enterprises such as Comcast, SAP, Rocket Mortgage, and Salesforce. In June 2024, Split Software was acquired by Harness, a move that aimed to create a more comprehensive software delivery platform.
Key customers and partnerships
Split Software's key customers include major enterprises such as Comcast, SAP, Rocket Mortgage, and Salesforce. The company has also partnered with Harness, leading to its acquisition in June 2024. This partnership aims to integrate Split's feature management and experimentation capabilities into Harness's software delivery platform, providing a more comprehensive solution for software development teams.

Next-gen Displays

Light Field Lab is a Silicon Valley-based company founded in 2017 by Jon Karafin, Brendan Bevensee, and Ed Ibe, who previously worked at Lytro. The company has developed SolidLight, a groundbreaking holographic display technology that creates true 3D images visible without the need for special glasses or headgear. SolidLight uses modular panels containing billions of pixels to generate light fields that form holographic objects appearing to float in mid-air. These holograms are viewable from multiple angles and behave like real objects, responding to focus changes and occlusion.
The SolidLight system comprises three layers: a photonic array of light-emitting nanoparticles, a modulated-amplitude plane, and a static PhaseGuide modulation plane. Together, these components manipulate light to create holographic images with a density of 10 billion pixels per square meter. Light Field Lab's proprietary WaveTracing software enables real-time rendering of holographic content from standard 3D engines like Unity and Unreal. In February 2023, the company demonstrated its Defy interactive experiences, which allow users to engage with responsive holographic characters in real-time.

Empowering efficiency, visibility and collaboration throughout supply networks

Supply Chain Tech

BitSight offers a data-driven security rating system for financial services, retail, manufacturing, telecom, and cyber insurance companies. BitSight’s risk rating system is backed by the company’s historical data as well as industry benchmarks. The company claims that, while having over 44 trillion raw events collected, the platform continues to process over 400 billion events daily. The data is used to rate over 40 million companies worldwide. BitSight also offers cyber risk modeling services, helping businesses financially quantify enterprise cyber risk. In terms of supply chain risk management, the platform facilitates the evaluation and onboarding of new vendors, enables continuous monitoring of vendor portfolios and their ecosystems, and assists in triaging associated risks in collaboration with vendors.In September 2021, BitSight acquired VisibleRisk, a cyber risk rating startup created by the credit ratings agency Moody’s Corporation and the venture capital firm Team8. BitSight integrated VisibleRisk’s cyber risk assessment capability to enhance its financial quantification tool to better estimate the financial exposure of an organization to cyber risk. Following the acquisition, BitSight was to set up a Risk Solutions Division that focuses on cybersecurity insights for the board of directors and C-suite executives.In August 2022, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12196">acquired </a>the third-party risk management startup ThirdPartyTrust, which was integrated into BitSight’s existing TPRM solutions to deliver real-time insights throughout the entire third-party lifecycle and extended supply chain.In August 2024, Bitsight has <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32956">unveiled</a> new asset mapping capabilities to help organizations better manage vulnerabilities across their extended attack surface. Originally launched for AWS, the company's Cloud Infrastructure Sync (CloudSync) feature was redesigned and extended to include Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. It also introduced new AI models within its Graph of Internet Assets (GIA) technology. These models map discovered assets to specific entities, which are then prioritized and hand-curated by Bitsight's research team.Earlier In July 2024, the company also <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32048">launched</a> the Trust Management Hub, a solution for centralizing security documents and questionnaires for assessments. The solution aims to accelerate the sales cycle by improving the security assessment process, with early customers reporting an 85% faster process and a 25% workload reduction.Key customers and partnershipsBy July 2021, the company claimed that it had analyzed the security ratings of over 27,000 companies. During that period, the company claimed that 50% of all cyber insurance policies underwritten globally were by its customers. Overall, the company had over 2,300 customers globally and an employee headcount of 500, as of September 2021.In June 2024, Bitsight <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30430">partnered </a>with AmiViz, a Middle Eastern B2B enterprise marketplace, to boost cybersecurity capabilities in the region. The collaboration aims to leverage AmiViz's local market knowledge and Bitsight's advanced expertise to offer cybersecurity solutions specific to the demands and challenges of Middle Eastern businesses. The partnership also signifies Bitsight's intent to expand in the Middle Eastern market. Earlier in April 2023, Bitsight announced an <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17887">expanded partnership with Moody’s Analytics </a>to provide services as a cyber risk analytics provider, enabling Moody’s analysts to provide enhanced insights through new integrations.

Threat Prevention Toolchain

SafeBase is a company that provides a Trust Center Platform designed to streamline security reviews and automate security assessments for B2B SaaS companies. The platform offers a self-serve portal that allows InfoSec teams to access comprehensive information about a company's security program. This approach speeds up the sales cycle by providing transparency and building trust with potential customers. SafeBase's technology automates access to sensitive documents and provides security and compliance information for industry standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC2.
The Trust Center Platform includes features such as custom branding, custom URLs, website integrations, and governance capabilities. It offers configurable permission profiles, a custom rules engine for customer access, and a Knowledge Base for self-serving answers to common security questions. The platform also supports multiple Trust Centers within a single SafeBase instance, allowing companies to communicate their security posture across various products. SafeBase's solution aims to reduce the need for repetitive questionnaires and streamline the security review process.
In March 2023, SafeBase launched an AI-powered security questionnaire automation platform following the acquisition of Stacksi. The company's Trust Centers amassed a combined two million views in the same year. SafeBase also introduced the SafeBase Trust Alliance, a community for cybersecurity leaders, and hosted the inaugural Women in Trust Summit in San Francisco to address gender diversity in the trust and security sector.

Ensuring the right people access the right resources at the right time

Identity & Access Management

<div>
 
 HYPR, an identity assurance company, offers passwordless authentication solutions for the enterprise. The company's approach focuses on security across the identity lifecycle through its identity assurance platform, which features passkey-based authentication, continuous risk monitoring, and enhanced identity verification to secure the entire identity lifecycle of users. HYPR's solutions are designed to be user-friendly, offering a seamless authentication experience that eliminates the traditional security risks associated with passwords​​.
 
 
 HYPR&rsquo;s products include: 1) HYPR Authenticate, its passwordless multi-factor authentication solution; 2) HYPR Adapt, an identity risk engine and policy orchestration platform; 3) and HYPR Affirm, an identity verification platform.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 HYPR&rsquo;s customers as of May 2024 included Rakuten, Fiserv, CVS Health, Unifiedpost, Fido Alliance, and Norwegian Airlines.
 
 
 HYPR has also formed significant partnerships to enhance its reach and capabilities, including Ernst and Young, Okta, ForgeRock, Guidepoint Security, and Optiv.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 HYPR raised USD 25 million in a Series C1 funding round led by Advent International, with the fresh cash being set aside to bolster the firm&rsquo;s go-to-market strategy and drive R&amp;D. 
 
</div>

Creating safer digital communities with AI vigilance

Automated Content Moderation

Reality Defender, founded in 2021, is a startup specializing in detecting deepfakes and synthetic media. The company offers a comprehensive platform for identifying artificially generated content across various modalities, including text, images, audio, and video. Reality Defender's technology utilizes an ensemble of proprietary deep learning models trained on diverse real-world data to detect manipulated media. The platform provides its services through a web application and API, enabling integration into existing business processes.
Reality Defender's detection capabilities span multiple types of synthetic content, including face swapping, cloned voices, and AI-generated text. In September 2023, the company launched its Text Detection feature, claiming over 99.82% efficiency in detecting text generated by large language models like ChatGPT and Bard. The platform also offers real-time deepfake screening tools for immediate detection of potentially synthesized content, crucial for preventing financial fraud and information leaks.
To enhance transparency, Reality Defender introduced an "Explainable AI" feature in October 2023, which visually highlights manipulated sections of media files, starting with text. The company also unveiled a real-time voice deepfake detection service designed for call centers and fraud prevention teams. Reality Defender's approach involves examining uploaded files from multiple perspectives to output prediction probabilities and visualization results.

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovations with Generative AI Infrastructure

Generative AI Infrastructure

<div>
 
 DataStax offers technologies that enable organizations to develop AI-powered applications leveraging real-time data. Its product offerings include Astra DB, Vector Search, Astra Streaming, RAGStack, and DataStax Enterprise.&nbsp;
 
 
 Astra DB is the company's flagship product and is a database platform offering NoSQL and vector database capabilities for developing GenAI applications. It can perform simultaneous search-and-update tasks on distributed data and streaming workloads and provide low latency while delivering relevant results without redundancies.&nbsp;
 
 
 DataStax Vector Search offers an API that supports vector and structured data for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) applications and enables the building of GenAI and RAG apps with features like real-time data and streaming capabilities.
 
 
 Astra Streaming helps to increase the accuracy and relevance of LLMs, chatbots, and AI agents through live data ingestion while fostering a user feedback loop for improved interactions.
 
 
 RAGStack streamlines RAG in GenAI apps, leveraging LangChain and LLamaIndex to boost developer productivity, system performance, and accuracy with continuous updates, enterprise-level governance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, while DataStax Enterprise is a cloud-native NoSQL database platform built on Apache Cassandra.
 
 
 DataStax utilizes a volume-based pricing model where users pay based on the volume of data and the number of operations processed.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 DataStax's solutions are utilized by various sectors, including ecommerce, identity management, security and compliance, supply chain, inventory management, asset monitoring, and logistics. Notable customers include Netflix, T-Mobile, Audi, Priceline, Bud Financial, Capital One, SkyPoint Cloud, Atom Bank, and others.
 
 
 Key partnerships include a collaboration with Google to integrate vector search capabilities into its AstraDB NoSQL database-as-a-service (June 2023), a strategic partnership with AWS to provide customers developing GenAI applications access to the Astra DB Vector Database (November 2023), and a partnership with LlamaIndex to launch RAGStack to develop GenAI applications with fewer hallucinations (
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates">
 February 2024
 </a>
 ).&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In June 2022, DataStax received an investment of USD 115 million led by the Growth Equity business within Goldman Sachs, with participation from RCM Private Markets and EDB Investments. The funding was to be used in its business development and potentially pave the way for an IPO. Notably, DataStax's Astra DB serverless cloud database also reported 300% YoY growth in its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)​​​​​​.
 
 
 
</div>

SafeBase develops a smart trust center platform for sharing security posture and automating access to sensitive documents for enterprise programs. Its software offers custom security checklists, and continuous monitoring of security systems, and configures security policies to allow companies to implement security practices.

Hume AI provides the AI toolkit to measure, understand, and improve how technology affects human emotion. Use Hume’s science-backed API to measure human expressive behavior in images, videos, audio, and text and build applications that better predict users’ intents, preferences, experiences, and outcomes.  Hume AI was founded in 2021 and is based in New York.

HealthSnap is an integrated Virtual Care Management Platform that helps healthcare organizations improve patient outcomes, reduce utilization, and diversify revenue streams. From chronic disease-agnostic Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Chronic Care Management (CCM) to AI-guided care coordination, virtual care delivery, automated care management billing, population analytics - and so much more - HealthSnap is the simplest way to manage chronic conditions remotely.

Haven Energy is a climate technology company that is accelerating home energy storage adoption. Haven walks homeowners through the process of selecting, quoting, and financing a home battery system, and then connects them with vetted, qualified electricians to complete the installation. Haven works with homeowners after installation to integrate their batteries into an aggregated virtual power plant, allowing customers to monetize grid participation and significantly reduce their electricity costs.

AI21 Labs is a creator of generative artificial intelligence and massive language models, as well as tools for creating artificial intelligence systems with extraordinary understanding and generation of natural language. The company's tool captures real intelligence and rewrites writing to say exactly what is meant; it transforms the way people read and write, empowering them in the process; it is an artificial intelligence-based writing companion that understands context and meaning; and it helps people read more efficiently by providing summaries, allowing customers to understand, analyze, and visualize abstract knowledge structures.

Reality Defender develops a detection platform to identify and assess risks associated with false media content. Using synthetic media detection algorithms in real-time, the platform points out manipulated contents that help enterprise and government clients effectively combat synthetically altered images, videos, audio phone calls, and documents. Reality Defender was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in New York.

Resemble AI creates custom voices using proprietary deep-learning models that can produce realistic speech synthesis. It allows users to transform their voice into the target voice with real-time speech-to-speech. Granular control over every inflection and intonation.

HYPR is a cybersecurity company that provides passwordless authentication for users. The HYPR Cloud Platform makes it easy to eliminate passwords and deliver lightning-fast login experiences. HYPR aims to reduce the risks associated with password-based authentication by replacing passwords with biometrics, security keys, and other strong authentication factors.

Populus is a platform for cities to manage and price commercial fleets to deliver safer more sustainable streets. Over 100 cities around the world rely on Populus to receive GPS data from commercial vehicles, and are now leveraging their platform to create, manage, and enforce payment for access to curbs to prioritize transitions to lower carbon transportation.

Players' Lounge (playerslounge.co) is a social gaming startup. Their mission is to provide gamers with a platform to play their video games against others for cash and prizes.  A very small percentage of gamers are making a ton of money playing professionally, but there are millions of gamers who want to make money playing video games as well. Players' Lounge is giving this opportunity to everyone.

Eva is the easiest way to send personalized corporate gifts at scale. Never worry about preferences or delivery details again. Just cc Eva in an email or chat on Slack.  Eva's machine intelligence matches hip product companies with the unique interests and attributes of the gift recipient. The result is a perfect automated gift from a curated list of vendors.

TvScientific is a CTV platform that makes TV advertising accessible and measurable for brands and apps of all sizes. TvScientific leverages data to prove the actual value of TV advertising and simplifies and automates CTV buying and optimization. TvScientific provides actionable, real-time reporting so people may feel confident their campaigns are performing at their peak levels. Users may gain insightful information about the incremental value of CTV campaigns from the Always-On Incrementality testing feature, which gives them further confidence that they are generating the desired results.

Amplemarket develops a sales intelligence platform to help businesses reach their revenue goals. Amplemarket assists clients with everything from lead generation to prospect engagement, allowing them to focus solely on selling. With Amplemarket, clients can easily find the data that helps them close deals.

DevOps-as-a-Service is our unique take on continuous delivery that aims to do more than deploy a single microservice to a container platform. Armed with an understanding of your system's dependency graph, Architect automates the deployment of distributed services, configures secure network policies, and enables on-demand stacks across all of your environments. DevOps-as-a-Service unlocks the potential of cloud-native developers and by supporting our over-worked and under-staffed DevOps teams.

Parallel Markets is an Identity verification and accreditation platform for financial platforms. The company works directly with investors and investment platforms to simplify the onboarding and verification process. Investors who are already using Parallel are able to sign up and share all of their investor credentials with a single click. The Company work with both individuals and entities and have a whole suite of identity products to help make our partner’s onboarding processes better.

Curbio partners with real estate agents and homeowners to deliver a smart and hassle-free home improvement experience designed to get every home on the market and sold fast.

Neural Magic specializes in enterprise inference solutions that optimize the performance of open-source large language models (LLMs) across various infrastructures. The company focuses on maximizing computational efficiency and hardware utilization, enabling organizations to deploy AI models securely and cost-effectively.

Juno Residential develops apartment buildings intended to offer environment-friendly and speedy housing alternatives. It uses prefabrication techniques and organic and low-carbon materials like mass timber, thereby providing clients with modern and curated apartments.

Branch Energy provides energy from renewable sources, supporting local wind and solar projects. The power of data analytics and smart home technology can help reduce power consumption and support clean energy projects.

Madison Reed is a beauty company revolutionizing the way women color their hair. The company uses technology, a proprietary ammonia-free formula, and a team of licensed colorists to deliver salon-quality hair color to homes nationwide for under $25.  The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Tovala combines a smart oven with a fresh meal delivery service to makes dinner effortless. Tovala is a smart oven that sits on the countertop and is paired with a companion meal delivery service. The company's meal system combines an internet-connected countertop steam oven capable of multi-step cooking with meals prepared by gourmet chefs, making dinner preparation as simple as scanning a barcode, enabling busy people to get access to an effortless way to eat delicious, healthy, home-cooked meals. The Chicago-based company was founded in 2015 and was launched in 2017.

Zapata Computing is a quantum software company that offers computing solutions for industrial and commercial use. It provides hardware-agnostic solutions for simulation, optimization, and machine learning applications in chemistry, finance, logistics, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and materials. Zapata Computing is a spun out of Harvard University launched by a group of Harvard scientists, including Alán Aspuru-Guzik. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Based in Amsterdam and founded in 2018, Cooper is a private professional network. Cooper helps anyone get quality introductions from the people they trust, by focusing on meaningful, trusted, and real relationships. Founders Robert Gaal and Emiel van Liere met while building successful social consumer platforms, such as Hyves (acquired by TMG) and Wakoopa (acquired by GfK).

Juganu transforms physical environments into digital space. By leveraging existing lighting infrastructure Juganu creates a wireless platform with an abundance of applications for a connected, productive and safe environment, in dense indoor and outdoor areas.  A unique combination of lighting with AI edge computing monitors, analyzes and uses real-time data, to better serve customers, employees and citizens, while protecting privacy, at a fraction of cost and time.

DrayNow is the first real-time marketplace for matching intermodal trucking freight and carriers. The company's intermodal marketplace uses technology to connect intermediaries to more carriers, maintain visibility of the shipment's location and status at all times, and helps truckers to compare rates, view load details, and select available loads in their area in real-time. DrayNow enables companies in the intermodal industry to operate with increased efficiency in order to maintain optimal levels of capacity, service, visibility, and profitability.

Papa is a platform that connects college students to senior citizens for companionship and assistance. The platform connects college and nursing students to older adults who need assistance with transportation, house chores, technology lessons, and other services that enable older adults to stay independent while living securely and happily at home. Papa was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Split Software is a feature delivery platform that builds better software for engineering teams to build impactful products. Its feature delivery platform pairs the speed and reliability of feature flags with data to measure the impact of every feature. Engineering teams at Twilio, Salesforce, and WePay use Split to reduce software development cycle time, mitigate release risk, and create a data-driven culture to maximize impact.  Founded in 2015, Split is based in Redwood City, California with offices in Boston and Argentina. It is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Accel Partners, and Harmony Partners.

Nurx is a digital healthcare company offering 10 services across reproductive health, at-home testing, dermatology, migraine care, and more. Nurx offers patients transparent pricing and judgement-free care whenever and wherever works best for them. Nurx believes everyone should have the freedom to live well and be in charge of their healthcare decisions, regardless of their circumstances.

Sidecar Health is an insurtech company that provides a personalized health insurance platform. Its platform offers customizable plans based on coverage needs and budget while being completely transparent about medical costs and payouts with comparable coverage and permits fast and easy transactions through a credit card to charge medical expenses upfront at the doctor's office and pharmacy of their choice, enabling consumers to get suitable and affordable health insurance plans.

Hippo Insurance Services offers a different kind of home insurance, built from the ground up to provide a new standard of care and protection for homeowners. Our goal is to make homes safer and better protected so customers spend less time worrying about the burdens of homeownership and more time enjoying their homes and the life within. Harnessing real-time data, smart home technology, and a growing suite of home services, we are creating the first integrated home protection platform. Hippo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California with offices in Austin and Dallas, Texas, and insurance products available to more than 80 percent of U.S. homeowners in 37 states. Hippo Insurance Services is a licensed property casualty insurance agent with products underwritten by various insurance companies.

Nomad Homes is a software-enabled marketplace for residential real estate across Europe and the Middle East (EMEA). It currently operates in France, Spain, Portugal, and the UAE. The company empowers agents to better collaborate with one another to boost their earning potential and offers buyers a co-pilot tool to simplify the home buying and mortgage journey. Nomad aims to create the infrastructure to enable more seamless transactions, improving liquidity and market growth.

RenoFi Loans use the after renovation value instead of your home's current value, enabling you to borrow the most money at the lowest rates. RenoFi is not a lender, rather we’ve partnered with lenders who offer RenoFi Loans. These lenders leverage RenoFi's technology platform to seamlessly offer RenoFi Loans.

Uptycs is the leading cloud security platform for large hybrid cloud environments. We protect workloads wherever they run while extending security visibility from development to runtime. That’s why enterprises like PayPal, Comcast, and Nutanix rely on Uptycs to secure their mission-critical workloads. First-generation CNAPP solutions don’t have the data needed to manage and prioritize risk. With Uptycs, data is power! We have no trouble giving you deeper context so you can focus on what truly matters. Most CNAPPs can tell you if a vulnerable workload is exposed to the internet, but can they show you vulnerable packages running now, or three weeks ago, and if and how you were breached? Uptycs can. Uptycs brings teams together to optimize security operations, ensure compliance, and accelerate remediation across cloud workloads, containers, Kubernetes, and software pipelines — all from a single security console, policy framework, and data lake.  Shift up your cybersecurity with Uptycs.  Learn how at: https://www.uptycs.com

Brightside is inventing a new category of financial health company -- Financial Care.  Brightside provides employers with a complete platform of financial solutions, focused on the 2/3 of workers who are living paycheck to paycheck and driving the cost of poor financial health (turnover, healthcare costs, productivity, DEI, and safety) for companies with front-line workers.  Brightside combines these solutions with tech-powered financial assistants and an app that ties it all together and helps influence employees and their families to better financial health.

FortressIQ defines security, insights, and governance in enterprise business automation and AI. It is on a mission to unlock the limitless potential of the global workforce by accelerating the responsible and ethical use of AI in the enterprise. FortressIQ is a meta-learning company, focused on techniques that allow deep neural networks to scalably acquire training data by observing the world around us. The company was founded by Pankaj Chowdhry in 2017, with its headquarters in San Francisco in California.

Blockdaemon is a blockchain deployment facilitator that manages nodes and payment rails for blockchain networks. Their solution is fully portable, it allows its user to switch networks and chains with the click of a button, so they don't have to worry about picking the perfect network configuration from day one. They support the blockchain developer ecosystem with best-of-breed dev-ops advice. Blockdaemon was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Selector AI is a platform for operational intelligence of multi-cloud infrastructure and performance-sensitive managed services. By adopting an AI/ML-based data analytics approach, Selector AI provides actionable multi-dimensional insights to network, cloud, and application operators. Their customers can meet their service KPIs through seamless collaboration on messaging platforms, search-driven querying with a conversational user experience, and automated data engineering pipelines.

Lendio is a financial services company. They develop financial applications to offer online loan services. Their application connects small-business owners with banks, credit unions, and lending sources. They provide access to tools and resources to help small business owners manage their cash flow and improve their credit rating.

K Health is a data-driven digital primary care app that uses AI to deliver personalized primary care. The AI-powered health platform integrates data and creates a predictive model to enable its user to learn more about their personal well-being as well as help them better manage their health by comparing themselves to people with similar characteristics, gender, age, symptoms, and medical history, through a free symptom tracker. K Health is backed by Mangrove, 14W, Comcast Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Primary Ventures, Max Ventures, The Box Group, GGV Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Kaiser Permanente, LTS Ventures, Atreides Ventures, PICO Partners, Marcy Venture Partners, and other New York and Israeli seed investors.

Life House is a hotel software and management platform building proprietary products that aim to grow profitability and reliability for independent hoteliers. As one of the first and only vertically integrated hotel companies backed by institutional venture and private equity investors, the company is investing ambitiously to make hotels far more profitable, predictable, and seamless for owners, while making the guest experience more reliable for travelers.

The Athletic is an online media company that specializes in online news publishing for the sports industry. It features a web-based platform that utilizes news and updates about athletes and season updates for sports such as basketball and football. The company was founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Dandelion Energy offers affordable geothermal heating and cooling installations. Dandelion Energy's home geothermal system replaces the home’s existing air conditioning and heating equipment with a powerful heat pump and safe, underground pipes that move heat between the earth and the house.

Dot.LA is a digital newsroom covering L.A.'s startup and tech community. Dot.LA’s mission is to celebrate and empower the Los Angeles startup and tech community, fueling innovation around the world.

Zeus Living is a property management company, rents furnished housing properties to startups, students, and companies in the Bay Area, Seattle, Los Angeles, and the District of Columbia. It also manages furnished properties on behalf of property owners.

Eden provides flexible workplace software for modern companies. Investors include Y Combinator, SV Angel, Bessemer Venture Partners, S28 Capital, Fifth Wall, Quiet Capital, Reshape, JLL, ENIAC, Maven Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, and more.

Avibra is an ecosystem-based well-being, risk and protection advisor offering no-cost and affordable financial, insurance and lifestyle benefits. It provides both direct-2-consumer access via app and enterprise distribution through its embedded platform offering. Founded in 2019 by a finance and life insurance industry veteran to better serve a U.S. population faced with increasing costs for shrinking benefits, Avibra helps consumers from all walks of life connect with its growing selection of no- and low-cost benefits. A-la-carte options, offered for just one dollar a week, range from increased life and AD&D coverage, telehealth and teletherapy services, to phone repair and roadside assistance. For more information, visit Avibra.com.

SimpleCitizen is dedicated to innovating immigration. By creating tools that make the immigration process more easy, affordable and online they are helping families establish themselves in new communities around the world. Since their founding in 2014, they continue to work at becoming your trusted partner in immigration.

Aircam specializes in AI-powered local photos that increase conversions. Their photo-sharing platform is designed to share event photos instantly. The company's platform makes photos clicked by professional photographers accessible to everyone at an event without requiring anyone except the photographer to install an application, improving productivity for photographers, enabling users to get instant access to pictures clicked by professional photographers at weddings, and parties, and other events.

They are co-located in Silicon Valley and New York City, but are open to great talent anywhere. They welcome critical thinkers who are excited to re-write the rules of e-commerce. They promise it will be fun.

Osaro creates machine intelligence software that combine state-of-the-art perception with powerful adaptive decision-making abilities to help computer and robotic systems act efficiently and intelligently.  Like many advanced machine learning technologies, Osaro's software automatically extracts information from high-dimensional, time-varying data. Osaro goes beyond merely classifying data.  The technology interacts with the environment to learn, discover, and achieve a specific goal.  By making machines more adaptive, intelligent, and efficient, Osaro frees up humans to focus time, energy, and capital on higher level tasks.

BigID develops software that helps companies have secure customer data and satisfy privacy regulations. It uses advanced machine learning and identity intelligence to help enterprises better protect their customer and employee data at a petabyte scale. The company helps organizations manage and protect their customer data, meet data privacy and protection regulations like the CCPA and GDPR, and leverage unmatched coverage for all data across all data stores. BigID aims to give enterprises the software to safeguard and steward customer data, by bringing data science to data privacy. BigID has offices in the US and Israel and is founded in 2016 by security industry veterans spanning the identity, data security, big data, and governance markets.

Hawthorne creates personal care products using premium quality ingredients, data-driven algorithms, and smart subscriptions. It makes it easy to elevate consumers with premium quality products that work perfectly for them as an individual. With just a quick quiz, consumers will receive tailored products for all of their bathroom needs.

Ready democratizes gaming with The Ready Games- DIY game tournaments- and Ready Maker, a platform for gaming and robotics. Ready opens games creation to the world, with over 1 million makers and players. The Ready Games app delivers three, brand new mobile mini-games every week that anyone can play to win cash prizes. Ready Maker provides a creative platform that builds in the mediums of their client's time - mobile games, robotics, VR/AR.

Light Field Lab is a breakthrough technology startup that builds an innovative holographic ecosystem. It re-creates what optical physics calls a real image for off-screen projected objects by generating a massive number of viewing angles that correctly change with the point of view and location just like in the real world. They enable entirely new business opportunities across consumer and enterprise markets. The company was founded in 2017 by Jon Karafin, Brendan Bevensee, and Ed Ibe, with the single mission to enable a holographic future by building upon the founders’ collective expertise of light field technology innovation. Based in San Jose, CA, Light Field Lab is backed by top-tier venture firms including Khosla Ventures.

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Attabotics provides a robotic warehousing and fulfillment system that has the potential to redefine the market. The company specializes in the fields of industrial automation, robotics, and software engineering.

Hive is a productivity platform that drives companies to work forward. Their productivity platform powers the fast pace at companies like Starbucks, Uber, IBM, and Netflix, and they are passionate about changing how people work and communicate. Hive aims to improve workplace productivity for companies of all types and sizes. Hive was founded by John Furneaux and Eric Typaldos in 2015 and is based in New York, USA.

goTenna is the world's leading mobile mesh networking company and provider of off-grid connectivity solutions for smartphones and other devices. goTenna's mesh networking protocol, Aspen Grove™, is embedded into lightweight, low-cost devices and paired with easy-to-use mobile apps enabling mobile, long-range connectivity even without cell, wifi, or satellite. goTenna’s mesh technology enables decentralized, programmable mobile infrastructure on a global scale in markets ranging from public sector to enterprise and IoT. The goTenna vision to create a resilient communications system was ignited during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, when approximately a third of cell towers and power stations were knocked out.  Based in Brooklyn, goTenna is backed by investors including Founders Fund, Union Square Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Collaborative Fund, and Bloomberg Beta.

Modsy combines advanced 3D graphics, computer vision, and creative curation to provide its customers with home design guidance and plans. It allows its customers to see inspirational designs and decor within the context of their own home and shows ideas for their space before making any changes. Modsy helps new homeowners, remodelers, and renters create an ideal, personalized design. It was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Blueland uses reusable, refillable products to eliminate the need for single-use plastic packaging in traditional cleaning and personal care products. It believes that people should be able to have a clean home without sacrificing a clean planet, and that sustainable options can be simple, effective, and affordable. It is a science-driven company that began with cleaning sprays and hand soap.

Medallia Agent Connect is a company feedback platform for customer service. It offers two core products: Stella Connect, a platform that solicits feedback from customers about their personal interactions with a service agent, and Stella Pulse (formerly Stella Metrics), a ''mystery shopping'' service that measures the customer service performances of numerous companies and then licenses this data to other online merchants and aggregators.

Stella Connect is a customer feedback and quality management platform built specifically for customer service teams. Companies use Stella Connect to drive agent engagement and to measure and improve their service performance.

Lytics helps companies orchestrate more relevant marketing through the only enterprise-grade Customer Data Platform (CDP). Nestle, General Mills, Atlassian, The Economist, Heineken, and other leading companies use Lytics to choreograph one-to-one interactions across marketing channels that their customers welcome. The Lytics Customer Data Platform (CDP), the company's flagship product, was launched in October 2014. The Lytics CDP connects a company's marketing data about customers and users from multiple sources (e.g., structured and unstructured data from tools, anonymous and known profiles, and other interactions and events from the marketing stack, sales, and support databases) and creates behavior-rich user-profiles and segments (e.g., likely to churn, most active on mobile, coupon lover). These customer profiles and segments then sync with a company's marketing tools (from website personalization and ad retargeting, to email marketing and content optimization) to improve marketing campaign results and reduce inefficiencies. Many marketing technology vendors claim to offer a ''customer data platform.'' Lytics has the only customer data platform that is easy enough for a beginner marketer to use, but technically sophisticated enough to impress software developers and data scientists. Lytics builds a profile based on unifying any fragment of customer information using sophisticated data science and conducts probabilistic matching to merge identities. The result: a rich profile of a consumer that can power one-to-one marketing in third-party martech tools, APIs, and Lytics own native execution platform. Lytics is led by marketing-technology veterans who’ve held leadership positions at Webtrends, Urban Airship, Jive, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. We are headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

Enterprises use Orai to run communication and soft skill training in a cost effective and scalable manner. Orai is an AI speech coach that helps people become more effective and confident communicators. We have over 300k users on our iOS and Android app, and to date Orai has given AI-driven feedback on over 2M recordings.

Dandelion's vision is to enable frictionless discovery of content and commerce. In a world where its easy for anyone to be a seller, it should be easy for anyone to be a marketer too.  Dandelion provides the platform to storefronts, marketplaces, and their participants to make that happen.

Aporeto offers comprehensive cloud-native security for containers and microservices. It secures all workloads across any infrastructure with identity-based access control for a Zero Trust posture. Aporeto was founded in 2016 and is based in San Jose, California.

Acorns is a finance company that allows individuals to round up purchases and automatically invest the change. It allows customers to automatically invest in a low-cost, diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds offered by some asset managers including Vanguard and BlackRock. Acorns was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Italic is building the modern ''everything store.'' We empower consumers to shop quality goods straight from the same manufacturers as top brands but at 50-80% lower prices. For manufacturers, we provide the tools, distribution, and technology necessary to access a global customer base to build a completely new revenue stream.

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