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Let's consider the technological developments of the next ten years, moving past immediate concerns. Despite the magnitude of the challenges facing humankind, our technological capabilities have never been more advanced. Here's further insight, courtesy of Danny Crichton:

He delves into five significant areas shaping the future in a related article for Extra Crunch, which he terms: Wellness, Climate, Data Society, Creativity and Fundamentals. The following is an excerpt focusing on the Data Society component:

Data education

The fundamental components of the Data Society idea are evolving at an accelerated pace this year, as the pandemic has disrupted conventional business and learning environments, simultaneously creating opportunities for new methods. For instance, an individual launching a new enterprise today will almost certainly need to utilize a variety of software applications. Successfully navigating this initial step enables capabilities such as the automated monitoring of each customer’s long-term worth. Prior generations of small business owners lacked the necessary tools and expertise to accomplish these tasks using the less advanced technologies of their time.

This illustrates the significant impact of no-code technology, as Danny explained in a separate article on TechCrunch:

What is the path forward to achieving this vision? Examining the situation from a generational viewpoint, Natasha Mascarenhas provides a detailed analysis of how educators are adjusting to the pandemic – and the developing landscape of online learning they are now a part of. A number of teachers appear to be transitioning into offering additional, part-time instruction. Although the online learning experience differs from traditional classroom settings, it demonstrably offers unique benefits. The following company serves as an illustration:

It is conceivable that, in the near future, a course focused on online commerce will become a mandatory component of a high school education. We may then observe this type of education contributing to greater achievements for the next generation of businesses on local streets.

The challenges of the next ten years may be more complex than ever before, but the means to address them are within reach.

The merging of expertise in building consumer technology products with the application of enterprise-focused revenue strategies has driven the significant growth in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies over the past ten years. This week, Caryn Marooney and David Cahn from Coatue management summarized the key takeaways from this successful approach in a widely-read article for Extra Crunch. The following is an excerpt, detailing how leading companies in the field analyze crucial metrics and establish their pricing structures:

Despite overall market declines this week, the initial public offering (IPO) market demonstrated resilience. Root Insurance concluded its IPO at $24 per share. While this figure is slightly under the initial $27 per share price, it remains within the company’s previously anticipated valuation range. Consequently, the offering can already be considered a positive outcome for the company – and its future performance will be closely watched as market volatility surrounding the elections subsides.

According to Alex Wilhelm of Extra Crunch, “Root’s IPO represents a significant achievement for the Midwest, specifically Ohio. The company demonstrates the viability of establishing rapidly expanding, multi-billion dollar technology businesses outside of traditional coastal centers. Furthermore, this IPO is beneficial for the insurtech industry as a whole, as Root joins Lemonade as a publicly traded company, establishing a robust valuation benchmark for neo-insurance startups. This is encouraging news for comparable businesses such as Clearcover, MetroMile, and other companies operating in a similar space to Root and Lemonade.”

The outlook remains favorable for software companies exhibiting strong growth potential, as Alex further notes, suggesting the possibility of additional IPOs later this year. Airbnb is one example of a company potentially pursuing this path.

Beyond current IPOs, Alex expanded on earlier reporting to analyze the prospective public offering of Databricks, which appears increasingly probable in the coming year.

Across the week

TechCrunch

The burgeoning startup ecosystem in India warrants close observation.

A recent directive from Yale University could fundamentally reshape approaches to institutional investment, particularly regarding diversity.

Revenue generated from cloud infrastructure experienced a substantial 33% increase this quarter, reaching nearly $33 billion.

Innovative approaches to business are necessary to overcome the limitations of traditional media filter bubbles.

Tim Kendall, a former executive at both Facebook and Pinterest, attributes the prevalence of ‘extractive business models’ to the influence of venture capital firms.

Extra Crunch

An analysis of effective and ineffective board members, along with strategies for addressing problematic situations, is now available.

Terri Burns, a new partner at GV, focuses her investment strategy on opportunities related to Generation Z.

With the recovery of venture capital funding, the current state of venture debt is under scrutiny.

In the competitive landscape of ‘buy now, pay later’ services, PayPal appears well-positioned to achieve market leadership.

Advice is available for E-2 visa holders exploring potential career changes and upgrade possibilities.

#EquityPod

From Alex:

Greetings and welcome to another installment of Equity, TechCrunch’s podcast dedicated to the world of venture capital (and now available on Twitter!), where we analyze the data underlying current events.

Before we begin, please note a couple of things. First, a special bonus episode focusing on this week’s financial earnings reports will be released this Saturday. Second, we did not create a video recording for this week’s show. Therefore, viewers who typically watch on YouTube will find a different experience this time!

Now, let’s review the topics Natasha, Danny, and I covered this week:

• The substantial negative impact of COVID-19 on public markets, particularly affecting the technology sector.
• A significant antitrust discussion! As scrutiny increases regarding the Vista-Plaid transaction (and similar deals), we considered the potential implications for startups that may be better positioned for mergers and acquisitions rather than initial public offerings.
• We then explored the growing practice of founders securing funding even before leaving their current employment, a trend Natasha has been investigating.
• Following that, Danny presented his thoughts, building upon his 2020s analysis, and identified areas where startups have the greatest potential to create meaningful global change. We anticipate that investment capital will align with these opportunities.
• Next, we turned our attention to startup accelerators, with Natasha providing details on the Indie Bio cohort and my sharing information about recent companies from Techstars.
• We also discussed venture capital fundraising, with the three of us examining the new funds raised by The Engine and Impact America.
• Finally, we talked about the Yuanfudao funding round and a recent Series B financing completed by The Wanderlust Group.

We concluded with updates from r2c and then ended the recording session. Join us this Saturday, and then we’ll return to our regular schedule on Monday morning.