Verticals

Digital technology is transforming healthcare at a dizzying rate. Digital health companies have many avenues to disrupt traditional healthcare services, achieve rapid growth, and make a significant impact on public health. These include improving the way patient information is stored and shared, making healthcare more accessible via wearables or other innovative devices, and improving the effectiveness of telehealth, among many others.

B2B SaaS (Business to Business Software as a Service) is a cloud-based software distribution model that allows companies to access software products through an internet application or web browser rather than downloading the software to a desktop PC. B2B SaaS products can include any software, and this category is a critical component of the “digital transformation” trend that is revolutionizing the way businesses function.

EdTech (short for Education Technology) involves the use of technology to enhance and support teaching and learning. EdTech has the potential for significant impact in a number of areas, including personalized learning, learning analytics for use by teachers and professors, enrollment solutions, massive online open courses (MOOCs), and more. The importance of the EdTech vertical continues to grow as the student journey becomes more personalized, families look for access to greater resources, and learning extends well into our working careers.

FinTech (Financial Technology) involves the use of technology to improve and automate financial services. FinTech companies are disrupting the traditional financial services space by offering innovative solutions to longstanding challenges present in the financial industry. FinTech enables the digital delivery of financial transactions and services, creates easier access to the global financial system broadly, and facilitates better management of financial operations. Growth has been, and will likely continue to be, driven in part by large investments in technology-based solutions by banks and other financial entities.

Nascent Industries is an all-encompassing term describing emerging or newly formed industries that are still in the early stages of development. Many of the companies in these industries are creating new technologies, products, and services. Some of the industries that we follow here include Space Technology, Cannabis, and Online Gambling, which have experienced rapid industry changes and significant growth.

ESG refers to businesses that incorporate environmental, social and governance factors in their strategic operations. Environmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. Social criteria examine how relationships should be managed with employees, suppliers, customers, and communities. Governance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights. ESG investing is sometimes referred to as sustainable investing, responsible investing, impact investing, or socially responsible investing. In this case, many companies in the EdTech vertical could also become part of the broader ESG strategy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing vertical that allows machines to perform computational tasks that might normally require human intelligence. Technologies such as Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) are used to train computers to perform these tasks by processing large volumes of data. AI has the potential to transform a wide range of industries, from financial services and healthcare to manufacturing and education, as well as creating new industries.

Fueled by Marketing Technology (MarTech), online shopping is increasingly replacing in-store (brick-and-mortar) shopping as the default mode of purchase for consumers. The MarTech vertical also includes companies that offer software and tools for managing and measuring online marketing efforts. The MarTech vertical has experienced strong growth in recent years, as businesses increasingly seek data driven insights for optimizing their online commerce and advertising efforts.