2023：11技术趋势（英文版）

202311

Tech

TrendsTo

WatchCloselyin2023Whereis

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data

from?TheCBInsightsplatformhastheunderlyingdataincludedinthisreportClick

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ContentsIntro46Immortality-as-a-service.Humanshavefantasizedaboutextremelifespansformillennia,buttheage-oldpursuitisnowattractingfreshinterestfromVCsandtechcompanies.Thesecretinvasionofsuperapps.Thegroundisbeingsetforamassiveclashofsuper1117app-levelplatformsvyingtodominateconsumers’onlinelife.Fintech’srapidregeneration.Fintechstartupsarefacingtherockiestmarketconditionssincetheywerefounded,butmanyarealreadyadaptingbyexpandingintonewspacesandcateringtoenterprises.Botsinthehouse.Tech

leadersandstartupsalikeareexploringhowrobotscanoperate2328safelyinthehome—bothashelpfulcleaningaidsandasempatheticcompanions.Virtualpowerplants.Decentralizedenergysystemsarepickinguptractionasthedemandforrenewableenergyincreases,gridstabilityconcernsescalate,andcommunitiescontendwithsurgingenergyprices.Healthcare’sinvisibilitytrick.Ambienthealthmonitoringwillgobeyondstandardremotepatientmonitoringapproachestocontinuouslycollectdataviadevicesthataremoreconnectedandlessinvasivethanever.3237Smellgoesdigital.Digitizingscentisacomplicatedprocess,butsmelltechismakingsignificantprogressthatcouldaffectindustriesincludingfood,retail,healthcare,andmoreinthecomingyear.Femtechturnstomenopause.Morestartupsareturningtheirattentiontounderserved42465155issueslikemenopauseasthewomen’shealthspacecontinuestoexpand.Thebio-basedmaterialsboom.Companiesaretransformingsubstancesderivedfromnaturalsourceslikemushroomsandseaweedintonext-genmaterials.India’stechascent.VCsarebettingonIndiainthehopeofcapitalizingonthestartupecosystem’snextbigperiodofgrowth.Regenerativeagtechtakesroot.Asfashionbrandsandfoodgiantsturntoregenerativeagriculture

toslashtheiremissions,startups

offering

enablingtechnology

are

gainingmomentum.311

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IN2023IntroTech

neverstopsmoving.Thoughlargeswathsofthetechworldcontinuetoreckonwiththecomedownfromtheheadyfundingbonanzaof2021,manyspacesdon’tseemtohavesloweddownatall.Infact,buzzyadvanceswillstarttopileupinthecomingyear.GenerativeAIhasalreadymadeabigsplash,butonthehorizonarealsostartupspromisingsignificantlylongerhumanlifespansandhealthcaremonitoringtoolsthatkeeptabsonpatientswithoutaddinganyburden.Improvementsindigitalsmelltechwillprovidenewwaystoprobetheworldandallowformoreconfidentpredictionsaboutwhatfoodandbeautyproductsconsumerswillenjoy.Meanwhile,virtualpowerplantsarebecomingpopularasawayforhomesdeckedoutwithglossysolarpanelsandbatterypackstomakemoneywhilealsohelpingelectricitygridsbecomemuchmoreresilient.Andasplasticsonceagainbecomeahottopicforindustries,next-genalternativesarebeingstrungtogetherfrombio-basedmaterialslikeseaweedandmushrooms.Butlotsoftechplayerswillalsobeadaptingtoalandscapewhereeconomicuncertaintyloomslarge.411

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IN2023Expansionintonewmarketswillbecomeparamountascompanieslooktobuildresilience.Expecttoseestartupsinsectorsexperiencingturbulencefromwaningdemand,likefintech,accelerateplanstolaunchnewproductsandfeatureswhileothercompanieswillgoafterunderservedmarketstofindnewcustomers,suchasmenopausewithinthewomen’shealthspace.Inthebackground,seeminglyeverycompanyaboveacertainsizewilltrytobuildthemselvesamoatbybecomingado-it-allsuperapp.After2022’scountlessshake-ups,manyarehopingthatthenewyearwillusherinarenewedsenseofdynamisminthetechworldas“thenewnormal”shiftsonceagain.Butifnothingelse,thecomingyearwillprovethatnothingintechstaysthesameforlong.511

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IN2023Immortality-as-a-serviceHumanshavefantasizedaboutextremelifespansformillennia,buttheage-oldpursuitisnowattractingfreshinterestfromVCsandtechcompanies.Imagineaworldwhereagewastrulybutanumber.

Wherecentenariansarenotjustcommonplacebutnimbleandhealthy,maybeevenstillworking.Societywouldbereshapedandmanyeconomicassumptionsupended—forexample,pensionsandsocialsecuritywouldfacemorepressurewhileindustrieswouldhaveabiggerworkforcetodrawuponandmoreconsumerstosellto.Howpeoplelivedandplannedtheirliveswouldalmostcertainlychangedramatically.Suchaworldmaynotbesofaraway.

ArmedwithincreasinglypowerfulAItoolsandagrowingabilitytoanalyzeandmanipulategenetics,moreandmoretechcompaniesaretakingacrackatsellinglongevity.Dreamsofimmortalityaside,theprizeforfoundersfocusedonprovidingservicestolivelonger,

healthierlivescouldbebig—age-defyingconsumerswouldlikelybealucrativesourceofrecurringrevenue.611

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IN2023Companiesarecomingatthelongevitychallengefromnumerousdifferentdirections,including:••••TinkeringwithcellularprocessesRegeneratingbodypartsDrugdiscoveryAnti-agingsupplements(notcosmeticfocused)Moreinvestorsaretakingnoteaswell:dedicatedVCfundslikeApolloHealthVenturesandLifeExtensionVentureshaverecentlyraisedmassive

funds

topour

intolongevity

companies.

Saudi

Arabiasaidin2022thatitwouldspend$1Ba

yearonanti-agingresearch.OnestartupthathasdrawnattentionisAltosLabs.Thecompany,whichisbackedbyJeffBezosandcountstheNobelPrize-winningco-inventorofgene-editingtoolCRISPRJenniferDoudnaasadirector,closedamammoth$3Bfundingdealinearly2022.Itsstatedaimisto“reversedisease”throughwhatitcalls“cellularrejuvenationprogramming”—ineffect,hackingcellularprocessestointerruptmechanismsassociatedwithagingandtrickingcellsintore-enteringamoreyouthful,healthierstate.AltosLabsisn’ttheonlywell-resourcedbiotechcompanywithloftylongevitygoals.AlphabetsubsidiaryCalicoisalsolookingtodisruptagingbytargetingcellularprocesses—thecompany’sfocusonlongevitycomplementsGoogle’sfarbroaderstrategytoprovidemorehealthcareservices.Thecompany,whichwasfoundedin2013,hasbeengrantedseveralpatentsassociatedwithcellularreprogrammingandextendeditspartnershipwithpharmacompanyAbbVielastyeartofocusontreatmentsforneurodegenerativediseasesandcancer.711

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IN2023GOOGLE

IS

GOING

AFTER

LONGEVITY

ALONGSIDE

MANYOTHER

HEALTHCARE

MARKETS.

CBINSIGHTS

CLIENTS

CAN

DIG

INTO

OUR

ANALYSIS

OF

ITS

PHARMA

STRATEGY

IN

THIS

REPORT.Meanwhile,plentyofearly-stageregenerativemedicinestartupstargetingspecificailmentsareenteringthescene—sellingtreatmentsthatcouldsignificantlyboostqualityoflifeaspeopleage,evenifoveralllifespanswon’tnecessarilyshiftthatmuchasaresult.CompanieslikeEyestem(restoringeyesight),Spiderwort(repairingspines),Hy2Care(cartilagerepair),Mesentech(reversingboneloss),andToregem

BioPharma(regeneratingteeth),amongothers,haveallraisedearly-stagefundingroundsin2022.811

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IN2023Somecompaniesareeventryingtheirhandatgrowingentirelyneworganstoextendlifespans.LyGenesisistestingtechnologythatitsayswouldcompelapatient’sbodytogrownewkidneys,livers,orpancreasesontheirlymphnodes.Thesemini-organswouldactasanalternativetoafull-blowntransplantforpeoplewherethisisn’tanoption—suchasforthosewhoareveryillorwhenasuitabledonorcan’tbefound.Meanwhile,SatelliteBioraisedan$82MSeriesAin2022todevelopimplantabletissuesthatitsayscanbeprogrammedtoreplacedysfunctionalorgans.Drugdiscoveryisanotherkeyareawheretechcouldaffecthowhealthypeopleareastheyageandhowlongtheylive.ArecentsuccessfromanAlzheimer’sdrugtrialdemonstrateshowfindingbetterwaystodesignandtestnewdrugsquicklycouldhaveaprofoundimpactonaging.AdvancesinAIandquantumcomputingarealreadybeingtestedfornewapproachestoidentifydrugcandidatesfrommassivedatabasesofmoleculesandtosimulatedruginteractionstomakeitmorelikelythatclinicaltrialsaresuccessful.Forexample,Algorithmiqraiseda$4Mseedroundinearly2022tobuildaquantumcomputing-supportedplatformfordrugsimulations.Watchfortherateofdrugcandidatesbeingtestedforcommon,age-correlateddiseaseslikedementiaandcancertoshootupasnewdrugdiscoverytechnologiesmature.Othersarelookingtohelpconsumersmeasuretheir“biologicalage”withepigeneticclocks—theideabeingthatsomeone’sbodymayexhibitagingcharacteristicswhichdeviatesignificantlyfromwhatwouldbetypicalfortheirchronologicalage.Forinstance,ElysiumHealthoffersanat-hometestwhereconsumersprovideaDNAsampleforgeneticanalysis.Thecompanylooksforepigeneticmarkersassociatedwithagingfromlifestylefactorslikelack-of-sleeporstressandsellssupplementsthatitclaimshelpwardoffsomeeffectsofaging.911

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IN2023SOURCE:

ELYSIUM

HEALTHDespitetherapidgrowthofinvestorinterestinthelongevitysector,

nocompanyislikelytofindasinglefountainofyouth.Instead,watchfornear-termadvancestobemadeinkeyareaslikecellularreprogramming,regenerativemedicine,anddrugdiscovery.Thesedevelopments,takentogetherwithbetteraginginsightsfromepigeneticclocksandtechnologylikeambienthealthmonitoring,hintthatthegroundisbeingsetforholisticanti-agingplatformsthatwillhelppeoplemeasureandmaintaintheirgeneralhealthandaccesstreatmentsattheearlystagesofillness.Ourassumptionsaboutagemayormaynotbecompletelyupendedoverthecomingyears,butonethingisforsure:Forthetechworld,thedreamofimmortalitywillneverdie.1011

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IN2023ThesecretinvasionofsuperappsThegroundisbeingsetforamassiveclashofsuperapp-levelplatformsvyingtodominateconsumers’onlinelife.SuperappsaretheSwissArmyKnivesofconsumertechplatforms.FromTencent’sWeChatinChinatoGrabinSoutheastAsia,theseall-in-oneappshaveevolvedtobundleserviceslikemessaging,payments,shopping,gaming,andfooddelivery—creatingdigitalecosystemsthatusersneverneedtoleave.Now,

companieslikeMeta,Microsoft,Amazon,Google,andApplearelookingtosuperappsasmodelstoextendtheirreachwithconsumers—includingintheUSandEurope,wheresuperappshaveyettotakehold—anddrivenewsourcesofrevenue.Andthey’renotalone:Adiversearrayofcorporateplayers,fromZillowinhousingtoMarks&SpencerinretailtoPayPalinfinance,haverecentlysignaledtheirintentionstobuildsector-specificsuperapps.Soon,evenWesternconsumerslongingforthedo-it-allconvenienceofsuperappswillbespoiledforchoice.1111

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IN2023Theprizeismassive:Anycompanythatcanbecomeago-tocombinedplatformforonlineactivitieslikesearch,commerce,anddigitalidentificationcouldgainawidemoatandactasagatewaytothedigitaleconomy—withanabundanceofmonetizationopportunities.Butbigtechplayers’superappambitionsarenotaboutmakingaWeChatclone.Instead,thesecompaniesaresteadilysprawlingouttocontrolmoreaspectsofconsumers’onlinelivesacrossthefollowingareas:••Discovery(e.g.,search,socialmedia)Transactionsandauthentication(e.g.,payments,messaging,digitalIDs)•Delivery(directlyprovidingaproductorservice)Tech

companies’startingpointsandadvantagesherevary,

butplayersarealreadyconvergingoneachother’sterritory—givingrisetoeffectivesuperapp-levelplatformsthatwillbegintocompetemoreandmoredirectly.Searchisakeybattleground.InDecember2022,TheInformationreportedthatMicrosoftisconsideringbuildingasuperappwithitsBingsearchengineasthebackbone.Thecompanyislookingtointegratefeaturesrangingfromshoppingtonewsfeedsasitseekstoexpandfurtherintotheconsumermarketandcapturemoreadvertisingdollars.1211

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IN2023Meanwhile,Google,whichcurrentlydominatesglobalsearchvolumes,isenhancingitssearchandproductlistingcapabilitiestokeepuserswithinitsnetwork.Forexample,itrecentlyexpandeditspartnershipwithShopifytoYouTube

(whichitacquiredin2006)toenablemerchantstoshowcaseshoppableproductsdirectlyontheirYouTube

channels.US-basedcreatorshavetheoptiontoenableonsitecheckout,whichallowsviewerswhohavestumbledacrossaproductvideotocompletetheirpurchaseswithoutleavingYouTube.SOURCE:

YOUTUBEGooglehasalsolaunchedfeaturestomakeitssearchmorevisuallyengaging,suchasenrichingresultpreviewswithimages,asitfacesdowncompetitionfromsocialplayers.1311

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IN2023Roughly40%ofyoungpeopleintheUSarenowusingTikTokorMeta’s

InstagramtofindaplaceforlunchinsteadofGoogleSearchorMaps,accordingtocommentsmadebyGoogleSVPPrabhakarRaghavaninJuly2022.Fortheirpart,socialmediaplatformsarenowlayeringoncommercefeaturesasmoreconsumersusethemasdefactosearchengines.Butevenassearchevolves,keepingconsumerslockedinbeyondthediscoveryphase—andtakingabiggerpieceofthee-commercepie—willbeakeychallengeforplayerswithsuperappambitions.Forexample,Meta’s

superappgoalsmaybeclearestwithWhatsApp,themessagingserviceitpurchasedin2014.InNovember2022,thecompanyannouncedits“visionforbringingtheentireshoppingexperiencedirectlytoaWhatsAppchat.”To

start,WhatsAppusersincertaincountriescannowsearchforbusinesseswithintheapp,messagethemdirectly,andmakepaymentsinthechat.Metaischartingacoursetohandlediscovery,messaging,andpaymentsforWhatsApp’smorethan2Busersglobally.1411

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IN2023AN

EMERGING

CROP

OF

COMPANIES

ARE

SUPPORTING

BRANDS

AND

RETAILERS

ONWHATSAPP

BY

OFFERINGTOOLS

FOR

MARKETING,

COMMERCE,

AND

MORE.

SOURCE:

CBINSIGHTSMeanwhile,othersaregoingafterpayments,akeyenablerofsuperappfunctions.ApplePayadoptionhastakenoffintheUS,withanestimated75%ofiPhoneshavingtheserviceactivated.InMay2022,GooglerolledoutitsdigitalwalletappforAndroidphones,whichstorescreditcards,transitdocuments,tickets,andmore.Goingastepfurtherinowningtheconsumerjourneyend-to-end,Appleisreportedlylookingtobringavarietyoffinancialproductsin-housebydevelopingitsowntechforpaymentprocessing,fraudanalysis,andmoreinaprojectdubbed“Breakout.”1511

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IN2023AppleandGooglearealsoamongthecompanieseyeingthedigitalIDmarket.Crediblyestablishingwhousersareonlinecouldbeaboonforsuperappecosystemsasconsumerscouldmoreseamlesslyaccesssensitiveserviceslikebankingandhealthcare.Thesecompanieswouldalsofindthemselvesatthecenterofevenmoredailyinteractionsinconsumers’lives—bothonlineandoffline.WhileGoogle’sIDfeatureforitsGoogleWalletisstillintheworks,Apple’sWalletIDsarenowsupportedatseveralTSAcheckpoints.PatentfilingsrecentlysurfacedbyFintechBusinessWeeklyindicatewhereApplemayheadnextwithitsidentitycredentials:know-your-customer(KYC)checks,peer-to-peer(P2P)transactions,andpossiblyvoteridentityverification.EvenElonMusknowhassuperappambitions.InOctober2022,Musktweetedthat“buyingTwitterisanacceleranttocreatingX,theeverythingapp.”Twitter’s$44Bpricetagcouldsomedaylookcheapifitisactuallytransformedintoafull-fledgedsuperapp—andMusk’srangeofotherbusinessinterests,fromsatellite-basedinternettoautonomousvehiclestobrain-controlledsoftware,maybenefitfromaplatformthattiesthemtogether.Ofcourse,significantobstaclesexistforsuperappwannabes,suchasgainingtheconsumertrustneededtohandlesomuchdigitalactivitywhilealsobenefitingfromnetworkeffectsinasoon-to-be-crowdedspace.Buttheallureofsuperappshasalreadytakenholdacrossthetechlandscape.Bigplayersareonasuper-sizedcollisioncoursein2023andbeyondastheycompeteforincreasinglyoverlappingaspectsofconsumers’onlinelives.1611

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IN2023Fintech’s

rapidregenerationFintechstartupsarefacingtherockiestmarketconditionssincetheywerefounded,butmanyarealreadyadaptingbyexpandingintonewspacesandcateringtoenterprises.Fintechisundergoingatectonicshift.ThesectorledthebroaderVCmarket’smeteoricgrowthinrecentyears,capturing$1outofevery$4investedintheventuremarketatitspeakin2021.Butmostfintechstartups,havingbuilttheirbusinessesinthegrowthperiodsincethe2008financialcrisis,haven’tenduredaprolongedmarketdownturn.Theprospectofarecessionloomsespeciallylargeforfintechcomparedtomanyothertechsectors.Someofthemostwell-knownfintechs,fromRobinhoodtoChime,relyoneverydayconsumershavingcashtothrowaround—avulnerablerevenuesourceduringarecessionaryperiod.Meanwhile,asinterestratescontinuetorisefromhistoriclows,borrowingmoneyisbecomingincreasinglycostlyfordigitallenders,draggingdowntheirbusinesses.Realestatetechfirmshavebeenplaguedbylayoffsthisyearassoaringmortgageratesandinflationscareoffwould-behome-buyers.EvenStripe—thefourth-mostvaluableunicornintheworldbasedonitslastfundinground—isunderpressurefromslowinge-commerceactivityandhasreignedincosts.Theshifthasalreadyuprootedfintech’sholdovertheventuremarket.InQ4’22,thesectordrewjust14%ofallVCdollars—down10percentagepointsfromitshighof24%inQ2’21.1711

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IN2023Today’s

starkeconomicenvironmentthreatenstoupturnthecurrentfintechlandscape.To

survive,fintechsarealreadymovingin2keydirections:1.

Expandingintonewbusinesslinesandproductfeatures,includingnon-financialones2.

MorevigorouslytargetingenterprisebuyersThefirstsurvivaltacticisacceleratingdiversificationefforts—along-standinggoalformanyfintechsthathasnowbecomemorevitalthanever.

Fintechleadersarebundlingservicestobettermonetizetheirexistingcustomers,buildmoats,andreducetheirdependenceonnow-riskierbusinesslines.Take

Klarna,oneofthebiggestnamesinthebuynow,

paylater(BNPL)space.Itsvaluationreached$45.6Bin2021—upmorethan8xfromitsfundingroundjust15monthsbefore—ontheheelsoftheBNPLmarket’srapidgrowth.1811

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IN2023Sincethen,thespacehasdrawnregulatoryscrutinyandBNPLprovidershaveseenlossesmountasmoreconsumersfailtopaybackloansontime.ThenewrealityhashitKlarnahard:Itconducted2roundsoflayoffsacross2022ontopofan85%cuttoitsvaluationinJuly.WithBNPLfacingheadwinds,Klarnaisinsulatingitselfbypushingintonewproductareas.Inthepastfewmonths,ithasrolledoutfeaturesincludingapricecomparisontool,shoppablevideos,andaplatformtoconnectcreatorsandbrands.ThesestepsarehelpingKlarnamovefromapure-playfinancialpartnerformerchantstoanend-to-endcommercetoolforretailers,influencers,andshoppers.Inthisvein,we’llseemorename-brandfintechsmovetowardsbecomingsomethingresemblinga“superapp”—connectedecosystemswhereuserscanmanagetheirmoney,

shop,buyinsurance,andmore.Revolut,forone,hasbuiltanarsenalofaround50products,includingsalaryadvance,petinsurance,andbusinesspayroll.InNovember2022,itevenaddedinstantmessagingfunctionalitytoenablecustomerstocommunicatewitheachother—anon-financialstepinthemoldofAsiansuperappslikeAlipay.Meanwhile,fellowchallengerbankNubankhasengagedwithnumerousstartupstoexpandintoinsurance,investments,cryptotrading,andmore.Today,

itsaysitsactivecustomersusemorethan3differentNubankproductsonaverage.1911

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IN2023SEE

WHERE

NUBANK

IS

PLACING

ITS

BETSIN

CB

INSIGHTS’

NUBANK

STRATEGY

MAP.Beyondnewproducts,fintechsareleveragingasecondtactictorideouttoday’smarketconditionsbyhuntingdownamorestableclientbase:enterprises.Consumersandsmallbusinessesareaflightriskwhenthemarketturnssour.

Somefintechsaremakinghardpivotstoavoidthatexposure.CorporatespendmanagementfirmBrex,forone,recentlyannounceditwoulddropitssmallbusinessclientsaltogetherandinsteadservelargeenterprisesandstartupsthathaveraisedfunding.Meanwhile,StarlingBank,oneoftheUK’sfirstchallengerbanks,ispushingintothebanking-as-a-service(BaaS)arena.InFebruary2022,itlaunchedEngine—acloud-agnostic,“bankinabox”technologythathelpsotherfinancialservicesfirmsbringbankingproductstomarket.2011

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IN2023Similarly,cloud-basedcorebankingplatforms—whichintegratewithorreplacebanks’existingcoresystems—helpbanksquicklyadapttochangingcustomerneedsandlowercostsacrosstheretailbankingvaluechain.Thisisasignificantopportunityfortech-savvyfintechstosellintotheworld’slargestfinancialfirmsandsecurearecurringrevenuestream.CLOUD-BASEDCORE

BANKING

IS

A

TECH

SOLUTION

RETAIL

BANKS

SHOULD

PRIORITIZE,PER

CB

INSIGHTS’

CORE

BANKING

SERVICESMVP.2111

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IN2023EvenBNPLprovidersarenowgoingafterbusinessesastheenduser,

particularlyinareaslikesupplychain&tradefinance.B2BBNPLprovidersattractedsteadyinvestmentdollarsin2022,despitethebroaderfintechfundingdrought.InvestorsareprioritizingtheB2Bsideforseveralreasons:theaveragepurchasesizeismuchhigheramongbusinessesthanconsumers,soBNPLproviderscancommandlargerfees;andlendingtoprofit-drivenbusinessesislessriskythanbankrollingexpensiveconsumerpurchases.Under-pressurefintechsareadjustingtheirgo-to-marketstrategiestofocusonthemoststableandsecuresourcesofrevenue—whetherbydevelopingnewproductstohawktotheirexistingcustomerbasesorbuildingentirelynewbusinesslines.Whiletheoldassumptionsaboutseeminglyendlessgrowthforfintechnolongerapply,

newopportunitieswillcontinuetosurfaceforthestartupswillingtoreinventthemselves.2211

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IN2023BotsinthehouseTech

leadersandstartupsalikeareexploringhowrobotscanoperatesafelyinthehome—bothashelpfulcleaningaidsandasempatheticcompanions.WhiletheJetsons’iconicflyingcarmightnotbemakingitintosuburbangaragesquiteyet,anothermust-haveforthefuturisticfamilycouldbejustaroundthecorner:

theat-homerobot.Recently,techincumbentslikeAmazon,Google,andDysonhavemadenotablemovesintheconsumerroboticsspace—signalingaloomingcompetitiontotransformthehomeandputthemselvesatthecenterofconsumers’day-to-daylives.Theopportunityinthespaceisalreadysubstantial:Theconsumerrobotsmarketisestimatedtobeworth$22B,perCBInsights’IndustryAnalystConsensus.Robotsthatcanassistwithsimplehouseholdtasks,likecleaningortransportingitemsfromroomtoroom,arecurrentlyakeyfocus.Forexample,whileAmazonhaslongbeenamajorforcebehindadvancesinroboticsforapplicationslikeoperatingwarehouses,itisnowmakingstridesintoconsumerrobotsforhomes.InAugust2022,thetechgiantannounceditwouldacquireiRobot,makerofthepopularRoombavacuumingbot,for$1.7B.ThedealisinAmazon’stop5largestacquisitionsever.Earlierin2022,Amazonparticipatedina$3.1Mfollow-onseedroundtoLabradorSystemsviaitsAmazonAlexaFund.Labradorisdevelopingat-homeassistiverobotstoaiduserslivingwithchronicpainandotherhealthconditions.Itsrobotscannavigateusers’homestotransportitemsandevenretrieveobjectsfromtablesandcountertops.2311

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IN2023Thecompanyhasalsobeenexperimentingwithitsownat-homerobotcalledAstro,whichit’seffectivelypitchingasaself-propelledAlexatabletthatdoublesasaRing-equippedsecurityguardformonitoringhomeswhenpeopleareout.(CBInsightsclientscanreadmoreaboutAmazon’shomeautomationstrategyhere.)ConsumerappliancesleaderDysonhasalsobeenexploringthepotentialforroboticstoassistwithhouseholdtasks.InMay2022,thecompanysharedavideoteasingprototyperobotscompletingtaskslikewashingthedishes,settingthetable,pickinguptoys,andotherchores.SOURCE:

DYSONWhiletheseprojectsarestillinR&Dstages,theyindicatethecompany’sinterestindeployingadvancedroboticsthatcansafelyoperateinhomeenvironments—andhintatthedevelopmentsinhomeroboticsthatwemayseeunfoldin2023andbeyond.2411

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IN2023Googleisalsoenteringthefamilyrobotfray.

InAugust2022,thesearchgiantreleasedasimilarvideoshowingarobotmovingaroundakitchentodotaskslikeopeningdrawersandplacingitemsoncounters.Theprototypeisadditionallyequippedwithchatbot-esqueconversationalskillstointeractwithusers,leveragingAIlanguageprocessingtechnologytobetterrespondtohumancommands.Beyondassistinginhouseholdtasks,ahostofcompaniesareexploringanotherpurposerobotscanfulfillinthehome:companionship.Forexample,IntuitionRobotics’smallrobotElliQisdesignedtoprovidecompanionshiptopeoplewhospendmostoftheirtimeathome,especia