Hi there, 

On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell.

On July 4, 1776, America gained its independence from England.

Today is just as historic.

On February 2, 2022 (the beautiful 2/2/22), in the appropriately named Year of the Tiger, we crossed 1,000 unicorns.

Take a moment to reflect on that.

Write down where you are right now while reading this newsletter so you can tell your kids.

I’ll wait…

Ok, now that you’ve taken in the enormity of this moment, let’s unpack what this all means for the future of humanity.

The herd exploded by 70% in 2021, tapping into an insane gusher of capital to reach 959 unicorns by the end of 2021. 

But is it sustainable?

Retail is home to some of the world’s most wasteful and polluting industries. The fashion sector alone generates over 92M metric tons of waste every year.

But consumers and institutions are increasingly demanding change.

From resale platforms to regenerative farming, we examine how technology is shaping the future of sustainable retail in this report.

Do my hair toss, check my nails

Sephora is one of the most prominent beauty retailers in the world, with over 2,600 stores across 35 countries. 

But as more of the shopper journey takes place online, Sephora and beauty players like it are accelerating their digital transformation. 

We look at how tech companies are disrupting the beauty retail experience here.

No more shortages please 

Semiconductor tech funding hit $16.5B in 2021 across a record 852 deals. 

We examine the sector’s market drivers, where investment is going, and the key implications for this growth here.

CNBC. Ryan Browne (@Ryan_Browne_) looks at crypto & blockchain startup funding and references CB Insights data. 

Protocol. Tomio Geron (@tomiogeron) covers fintech funding using the CB Insights State Of Fintech report.

Modern Retail. Maria Monteros (@MariaMonteros_) discusses big-box stores’ makeovers and cites CB Insights data.
 

P.S. Blockchain is having a moment. Find out what’s next for the sector (and answers to your questions) in our upcoming analyst-led webinar.

Client-Exclusive Research
 

[E-Commerce]

Danone's growth strategy. CPG giant Danone has honed its strategy for supporting a more sustainable food system with investments and partnerships.
 

[Venture & Tech]
Cities on the up. Funding for the tech solutions making cities smarter is increasing as the world looks to solve complex urban dilemmas.

[Healthcare]
Clinical trials tech. Collecting, accessing, and leveraging novel data sources can improve the speed and success rates of clinical trials.