What you need to know:

• While the micromobility market has been tumultuous, continued demand from consumers is incentivizing players working to figure out a profitable solution. 
• The maintenance and charging of electric batteries have been a common pain point for various business models, but new solutions are emerging. 
• B2B players are entering the market to serve last-mile logistics and sustainability goals.
  

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Micromobility is not an easy business — just look at the plight of electric scooter pioneer Bird, a former VC darling. Demand is not the issue, making money is.

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These tech leaders are collaborating with energy incumbents and startups alike to tap into renewable energy sources and decarbonize their operations.

While these big tech players are competing in the energy space, they are also developing unique strategies:

• Amazon is working to decarbonize its transportation and fulfillment center operations, with a focus on hydrogen tech.
• Google is pioneering new models for clean energy procurement as it works to boost the sustainability of its data center network.
• Microsoft is focusing on renewable energy sources — like solar and fusion — and carbon capture technologies to meet the growing energy demands of its AI-driven operations.
• Nvidia is enhancing data center energy efficiency and investing in the development of a green and reliable power grid.

This report uses CB Insights datasets like investments, acquisitions, business relationships, company scouting reports, earnings transcripts, and more. Learn more about our data here.

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What you need to know:

• Companies like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Lilium, and Volocopter are nearing eVTOL commercialization, with plans to launch air taxi services as soon as 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

• Regulatory hurdles, infrastructure requirements, and battery efficiency are key challenges that need to be addressed before eVTOLs can become a widespread mode of transportation.

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The post Small electric aircraft are edging closer to swarming the skies — here’s what to expect as the ‘flying car’ tech matures appeared first on CB Insights Research.

In 2024 so far, a16z has backed more than 20 AI startups working within disruptive categories. For example, this year, it has invested in several AI-driven copilots and agents designed to automate key workflows in big industries like healthcare and finance. It has also turned its attention to multimedia generation startups expediting the creation of a wide variety of content, from images to videos to audio.

While championing AI’s advancement, the firm also acknowledges associated risks — its founders are proponents of open-source models, arguing that their transparency and accessibility will help ensure that AI is developed in a secure and ethical way. So far this year, the two largest a16z-backed AI deals have gone to open-source large language model (LLM) developers xAI and Mistral AI.

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It’s estimated that robots and other smart machinery will make up as much as one-third of US military presence in the next 15 years, according to Mark Milley, a retired US Army General and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Unmanned systems already dominate in some areas — like aerial drones — while significant development is underway in bringing autonomous tech to the ground, ocean surface, and underwater domains.

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Amid the funding decline, investors are favoring smaller mid- and late-stage deals. However, they are still willing to place early-stage bets where they see strong opportunities.

Based on our deep dive in the full report, here is the TL;DR on the state of climate tech:

• • Global climate tech funding declines by 20% QoQ to $4.9B in Q2’24 — the lowest quarterly total since Q2’20. While deal count rebounded QoQ to 397 in Q2, it still came in well below 2023’s quarterly totals.

• • Climate tech doesn’t see any unicorn births (private companies reaching $1B+ valuations) in Q2’24, marking climate tech’s second straight quarter without any new unicorns. This coincides with a decline in late-stage deal sizes — the median deal size at that stage is $38M in 2024 YTD, down 16% vs. full-year 2023.

• • Late-stage deal sizes decline, while early-stage sizes show strength. The median late-stage deal size is $38M in 2024 YTD — down 16% from full-year 2023. In contrast, median early-stage size is up 39% YTD, suggesting that investors are still willing to place bets where they see strong early-stage opportunities. Two of the largest early-stage deals in Q2’24 went to Cylib and Aether Fuels. Both companies intend to use the funding to scale and support commercialization initiatives — goals that are generally communicated by later-stage companies.

• • $100M+ mega-rounds continue to trend down in Q2’24. Climate tech mega-rounds dropped from 17 in Q1’24 to 9 in Q2’24. The majority of Q2’24’s mega-round recipients are focused on scaling operations and achieving full-scale commercialization. For example, one of the quarter’s largest deals ($375M Series G) went to battery materials developer Sila, which plans to use the funding to ramp up silicon anode production.

Source: CB Insights — Sila Funding Insights

• Climate tech funding drops yet again in Asia. Climate tech startups in the region raised a total of $0.4B in Q2’24, down 33% QoQ and 89% YoY. China suffered the sharpest funding decline (-90% QoQ) among highlighted countries in the region. India and Japan watched funding fall by 28% and 57% QoQ, respectively.

More energy resources from CB insights

• 5 climate tech markets gaining momentum in 2024
• The grid tech market map: The companies tackling the growing need for reliable electricity
• The energy impact of generative AI: 3 technologies transforming the future of data centers
• Analyzing 15 oil & gas leaders’ tech priorities: Here’s where incumbents are buying, investing, and partnering
• Sodium-ion batteries are poised for a breakout moment — energy players should prepare
• Why energy giants should have green ammonia on their radar

The post State of Climate Tech Q2’24 Report appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Enter sodium-ion batteries.

They’re cheap to build, temperature-resilient, and could soon shake up the global energy storage market — which is projected to grow to $77B within the next 10 years.

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Humans will still play a crucial role — but instead of assembling parts or operating machinery, they will maintain robots and keep them running.

In these future factories, robots coordinate in unison, completing work automatically — without breaks, every hour of the day — to get products out the door. 

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Major players like BP and Shell are aiming to become net-zero emissions energy businesses by 2050, with Shell targeting a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 2016 levels.

These ambitious goals are driven in part by shifting regulatory frameworks. The EU, for instance, plans to require oil & gas companies to buy carbon credits to compensate for offshore activities, while in the US, the Inflation Reduction Act has incentivized sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

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While Nvidia initially developed its graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming, these chips turned out to be ideal for powering AI tasks. Now, the company is focusing its efforts on providing the computing hardware — notably its A100 and H100 GPUs — and the software infrastructure required for developing generative AI applications.

Amid the generative AI rush, Nvidia has grown rapidly. In fact, it recently surpassed Microsoft and Apple to become the world’s most valuable company. To bolster its leadership position and keep ahead of AI computing competitors like AMD and Intel, Nvidia has forged relationships with companies across the AI landscape.

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The post Analyzing Nvidia’s growth strategy: How the chipmaker plans to usher in the next wave of AI appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Assisted driving technologies also remain a core interest. In addition, automotive leaders are exploring the potential of humanoid robots to automate automotive manufacturing processes.

Below, we use CB Insights data on automotive leaders’ investments, acquisitions, and partnerships as well as earnings calls to benchmark their activity so far this year.

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The post Analyzing automotive leaders’ 2024 activity so far: Toyota, BMW, and BYD make moves across the EV value chain appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Automakers have pursued cleaner, connected, and autonomous vehicles via a mix of acquisitions, investments, and partnerships. However, their strategies have evolved over the past few years.

For instance, many automakers have adjusted their plans for electric vehicles (EVs) in response to market pressures. General Motors recently rolled back its EV production goal for North America in 2024.

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While most genAI initiatives are still in early stages of development, incumbents and startups are betting heavily on its potential.

ABB, for instance, has identified over 100 internal applications for the tech, from robotics to predictive maintenance. Retrocausal, which develops a computer vision-enabled AI copilot for the assembly line, estimates that genAI can reduce manual assembly time by a third.

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Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff called AI “the single most important moment in the history of the technology industry” in the company’s most recent earnings call. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said, in his April 2024 letter, “we are completely convinced the consequences [of AI] will be extraordinary.” 

Others are hyper-focused on AI’s potential to drive new efficiencies and product development. Big pharma companies are pushing ahead with AI-powered drug discovery collaborations, with the goal of accelerating drug development timelines. Payments giants, meanwhile, are leveraging AI to fight back against a wave of fraud.  

Much of the hype around recent advances has yet to translate to revenue. No AI-discovered drug has been approved yet for sale (though Insilico Medicine brought the first drug fully generated by AI into human trials in 2023), and Salesforce acknowledged its latest AI push would not have a material impact on its revenue this year. 

But the promise of future opportunities — and the perceived risk of inaction — is driving leaders to make moves now that could eventually reshape some of the world’s biggest industries. Our 70-slide report surveys the AI strategies of the following companies:

• Financial services & insurance: JPMorgan, Visa, Mastercard, UnitedHealth Group
• Enterprise tech: Oracle, Salesforce
• Pharma: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson
• Industrials: Toyota, Siemens

Using the CB Insights technology intelligence platform, we analyzed signals like investment & partnership activity, executive chatter in earnings transcripts, patents, and more to understand their efforts. Download the full report to see them all. 

Largest companies based on market cap (as of 4/15/2024). Our analysis excludes big tech, semiconductor developers, and state-owned companies.

The post AI strategies for 11 of the world’s largest companies: Where Eli Lilly, Visa, Oracle, and 8 other giants are making moves appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Large language models (LLMs) are enabling new capabilities with simulation and generative design, empowering humanoid robots, and paving the way for copilots to improve productivity across manufacturing, sales, and the aftermarket.

With the growing focus on software-defined, electric vehicles, and as automakers look to build a more digital-forward car buying experience, these technologies are growing increasingly relevant.

Using the CB Insights technology intelligence platform, we analyzed signals such as funding, analyst briefings, business relationships, headcount growth, Mosaic scores, and more to identify 15 high-momentum technologies that auto stakeholders should be watching in 2024.

Our 19-page report digs into trends like:

• AI and quantum computing are accelerating vehicle development and reducing R&D costs, allowing OEMs to introduce new designs, prototypes, and materials.
• Automotive production will see gains from more sophisticated robotics and automation solutions, laying the groundwork for cost-effective, modular production of next-generation vehicles.
• AI is enabling a more personalized, efficient automotive sales process, with new fintech solutions and engagement tools speeding up the sales cycle and improving accessibility for car buyers.
• Connected vehicle technology is enabling real-time visibility into vehicle health and security, providing OEMs with valuable data to enhance other facets of the value chain and the in-vehicle experience.
• Chatbots and computer vision-led inspection solutions are driving efficiencies in vehicle repair, improving service desk productivity and technician accuracy.

And much more. Download the full report to see them all.

The post How AI is reshaping the auto industry: A look at 15 high-momentum technologies across the automotive value chain appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Threats to grid stability are escalating due to more extreme weather events and sophisticated cyber attacks. Increasing electricity demand due to data centers and electric vehicles exacerbates these challenges, while the global push toward sustainable — yet intermittent — power sources like solar and wind adds further complexities.

There is an urgent need for more power generation diversity and delivery system reliability, as exemplified by incidents like the 2021 Texas freeze and the 2022 California heatwave.

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The post The grid tech market map: The companies tackling the growing need for reliable electricity appeared first on CB Insights Research.

A handful of developers are targeting 2024 to release their humanoid robots, which are designed to perform tasks similar to humans. Technologies like generative AI and reinforcement learning are helping drive this progress. However, the impact will be limited at first, and it will likely take 3-5 years to see more widespread commercial rollout and usefulness.

Below, we dive into 6 industries that humanoids will impact the most in both the near- and long-term, as well as the technology firms making this possible:

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At the same time, rising fuel prices and a thinning labor force are pushing other industries like retail and pharma to favor privatized fleets that can better ensure timely delivery of goods to customers. For example, for Walmart, owning its fleet has been key to keeping prices down and ensuring products are in stock.

To successfully run a fleet, operators need to maintain high visibility into freight movement, optimize routes and schedules, and ensure compliance with driver regulations. They’re turning to tech solutions like transportation management and yard management systems to achieve this — as well as tech like AR/VR to train employees on skills like truck loading. 

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The post The trucking tech market map: The startups making fleets more efficient and connected appeared first on CB Insights Research.

The company maintains a robust internal combustion portfolio, but it has aggressively invested across the entire vehicle electrification ecosystem. Despite scaling back its EV production goals to account for fluctuating consumer demand, GM remains committed to electric vehicles and plans to have the capacity to produce 1M EVs by 2025.

Meanwhile, GM has also pulled back from fully autonomous driving by reducing spending on Cruise — its autonomous vehicle (AV) subsidiary — and moved investments away from AV companies. However, the company has retained its focus on its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), Super Cruise.

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The post Analyzing GM’s growth strategy: How the automaker is reimagining its approach to vehicle electrification and automation appeared first on CB Insights Research.

However, as deal sizes have gotten smaller, the space has seen a corresponding shift toward early-stage dealmaking. In 2023, 69% of climate tech deals went to early-stage companies — an increase of 14 percentage points vs. 2022.

Using CB Insights data, we break down the climate tech landscape and the markets and startups seeing the most traction.

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Despite equity funding to the space dropping 39% YoY to $41B in 2023, deal counts actually ticked up 4% to over 2,700. This was driven by an increase in early-stage deals, which represented 69% of all deals in 2023 — up from 55% in 2022.

To see where climate tech is heading in 2024, we looked at the tech markets with the most early-stage investment activity in 2023:

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The company first introduced electric vehicles (EVs) in 2013 with its i3 vehicle. Since then, the automaker has continued to leverage investments and partnerships to develop its EV models as well as pursue its ambitions in autonomous vehicles, such as via its collaboration with NVIDIA.

Looking ahead, BMW is aiming to introduce solid-state batteries in vehicles after 2025, a leap forward in battery technology that is expected to bring down the costs of EVs while also increasing their range. The company is leaning on investments and partnerships with companies like Solid Power to reach that goal. Further, the automaker is building its expertise in areas like grid tech to help support the rollout of electric vehicles.

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At the heart of its growth strategy is the integration of AI. In 2017, the company founded the Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence — a global team dedicated to advanced AI research — while investing over $100M+ into a new AI campus. The company’s 2025 goal is to incorporate AI in all of its products or develop them using AI.

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The post Analyzing Bosch’s industrial strategy: How the global supplier is leveraging AI to disrupt manufacturing and job sites appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Connected vehicle tech encompasses a wide range of solutions, from auto telematics to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These solutions are capable of offering enhanced safety, improved efficiency for fleet operations and vehicle maintenance, and an enhanced user experience.

As the demand for connected vehicles continues to rise, the need for robust vehicle data privacy and security solutions will intensify. Additionally, the growth of this sector has spurred the development of software-defined vehicle platforms, fleet maintenance platforms, and connected vehicle data platforms.

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