Highlights of the Week (Feb 19, 2021)

This week saw snowstorms in many part of the country. For our friends in Texas, it was an especially chilling and dark week, as the energy crisis continues to drag on. Mardi Gras celebrations were non-existent, in stark contrast to 2020. However, increasingly declining COVID-19 numbers are allowing more companies to be optimistic about the months ahead.

• If you haven’t seen it, we have refreshed our PrivCo site to give you a better idea of what our database offers. Have a look around!
• Meanwhile, we also share our list of top companies to watch in 2021 in the following eight industries: Enterprise Software, Consumer Services, HealthCare, SaaS, e-Commerce, Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, and Mobile. Take a sneak peek at our choices.
• More enterprises are embracing the possibilities of AR, not just to imagine how a piece of furniture would look in a new apartment but also for building airplanes or managing logistics. Startups are helping bring these ideas to life with new wearables as well as content, but not all startups have succeeded. See our list of the ups and downs in the AR world.
• Biotechnology has raised over $3BN in funding in just the past 2.5 months. While it’s no surprise, as we all see the advantages of new medical developments in the wake of a pandemic, what other verticals are seeing massive inflows of investment capital? Find out here. 
• With e-commerce growth of 44% and $860BN+ spent in 2020 online, merchants are upping their game to present the best online experience for consumers. One way they are doing it is leveraging headless commerce technology. What is it? Find out here. 
• The modern workplace post-pandemic will see us leveraging more online tools to collaborate seamlessly. These startups have made a mark in the designers’ world with their easy-to-use tools, grabbing both customers and capital to grow their businesses. See the list.