Hi there, 
 

eBay’s got fresh kicks. 

Last week, it acquired Sneaker Con’s footwear authentication business. This was eBay’s first disclosed acquisition in 2 years.

eBay previously partnered with Sneaker Con in October 2020 to authenticate sneaker sales over $100 on the platform. 

(Note: partnerships are a great predictor of future M&A as we’ve shown with examples from Visa and Roche.)

eBay is now bringing the service — which has vetted 1.5M+ sneakers on eBay since last year — in-house. 

The move signals eBay’s continued investment in its growing sneaker business, and a bet on higher-end categories more generally. 

eBay is also going after sneaker resale marketplaces like GOAT and StockX, which have seen strong growth over the last year and are now valued at $3.7B and $3.8B, respectively. 

Banks want in

US banks have backed 62 equity deals to fintech startups in 2021 so far — more than the 2020 full-year total. 

From payments to blockchain, here’s where giants like Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and JPMorgan are placing their bets. 

Dealer’s choice

NFT funding is skyrocketing. 

Through Q3’21 this year, investors have backed 104 deals worth a combined $2B to NFT companies. In 2020, the space raised just $31M across 15 deals. 

Want to learn about NFTs and what’s behind the trend? Read our explainer here.

Last chance
 

Future of Health (Dec. 8-9, online) begins tomorrow and this is your last chance to get a ticket.
 

Here's what you get access to:

• 30+ A-list speakers, including from GoodRX, Color, Microsoft, Headspace Health, NEA, Hinge Health, the US Department of Health & Human Services, and Paige

• 25+ tech demos across 6 different categories with some live commentary from investor "sharks"

• 4 roundtables on topics including the mounting mental health crisis and the power of cognitive personas

• 2 Analyst presentations on the 5 Covid-Driven AI Trends Remaking Healthcare and How Big Tech Is Driving Pharma's Digital Transformation

• 1 exciting Digital Health 150 reveal

• Unlimited 1:1 networking

+ access to all the content for 30 days on demand.
 

Check out the full agenda here.
 

There’s only one day left before the fun begins. Register here and save 25% with code tomorrow.

Now that’s chemistry

BASF is one of the largest chemical companies in the world, netting around $67B in revenue in 2020.

Amid a push to curb emissions and reduce waste, the company has been investing, partnering, and acquiring across a wide range of industries.

We dug into the data and uncovered BASF’s 5 most important strategic priorities, from additive manufacturing to battery tech, in this analysis.

Stamp of approval
 

Prior authorizations have been an effective tool for health plans working to control medical costs, but they've become an administrative challenge for providers.

Electronic prior authorization software helps automate and accelerate prior authorization determinations, submissions, and status checking.

If you are looking to understand the electronic prior authorization landscape or initiate a vendor selection process, download our 43-page ESP Vendor Assessment report here.

Wall Street Journal. Peter Rudegeair (@rudegeair) and Liz Hoffman (@lizrhoffman) profile fintech investment banker Steve McLaughlin and cite CB insights data. 

Quartz. Nicolás Rivero (@NicolasFuRivero) discusses Miami’s tech scene and references CB Insights research.

Bloomberg. Lizette Chapman (@lizette_chapman) mentions the CB Insights State Of Blockchain Q3’21 report in reporting on OpenSea’s newest CFO. 
 

P.S. We are hiring for a director of public relations. Apply here.