Game Changers
2019
Emerging trends to watch and high-momentum
startups with world-changing potential
1
WHO WE ARE
The technology market
intelligence platform.
CB Insights software lets you predict, discuss,
and communicate emerging technology trends
using data in ways that are beyond human
cognition. We are a leader in the Expert Automation
& Augmentation Software (EAAS) space.
2
TRUSTED BY THE WORLD’S LEADING COMPANIES
“We use CB Insights to find emerging trends
and interesting companies that might signal a shift in
technology or require us to reallocate resources.”
Beti Cung, Corporate Strategy, Microsoft
3
Contents
11 2019 Game Changers
13 Company deep dives
49 Appendix & methodology
4
CLOSING THE SCI-FI GAP
“The gap between ‘sci-fi’ — that which was once
imagined — and ‘sci-fact’ — that which becomes
manifest and real — is shrinking.”
- Josh Wolfe, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Lux Capital
5
Defining Game Changers
/ɡām - CHānjər/
noun
An event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current
manner of doing or thinking about something.
A newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or
activity in a significant way.
Our selected startups are high-momentum companies pioneering technology
with the potential to transform society and economies for the better.
6
2019 Game Changer categories
Quantum
Quantum
AI AI AIAIon
onthe
theedge
Edge Disinformation
DisinformationDefense
defense
Quantum computing to accelerate AI processing at the network's edge for Startups fighting the spread of fake
artificial intelligence technology smarter and faster IoT optimization news and digital propaganda campaigns
Smart policing
Smart Policing Non-opioid
Non-Opioidpain
Painmgmt.
Mgmt. LongevityBoosters
Longevity boosters
Enhancing police collaboration, New drug therapies for alleviating acute Startups leveraging AI to combat aging
understanding, and investigations and chronic pain issues and age-related diseases
Superbug
Superbug Killers
killers Intelligentbeam
Intelligent Beamsteering
Steering Vehicle-to-Everything
Vehicle-to-everythingTech
tech
Startups addressing the rise of drug- The future of IoT connectivity, radar Making contextually aware, smarter, and
resistant super-bacteria sensing, and spectral efficiency safer autonomous vehicles
Ecosystem
Ecosystem Engineering
engineering Net-Zerobuildings
Net-zero Buildings Ocean
Oceanlife
lifepreservers
preservers
Technology to manage the risks of Transforming smart cities into clean Startups conserving marine wildlife and
environmental degradation energy generating networks preventing oceanic depletion
7
2019 Game Changers
Quantum AI AI on the Edge Disinformation Defense
NEW KNOWLEDGE
Smart Policing Non-Opioid Pain Mgmt. Longevity Boosters
Superbug
Superbug Killers
killers Intelligentbeam
Intelligent Beamsteering
Steering Vehicle-to-Everything
Vehicle-to-everythingTech
tech
Ecosystem
Ecosystem Engineering
engineering Net-Zerobuildings
Net-zero Buildings Ocean Life Preservers
Ocean-life preservers
8
International
Changing the world: 36 companies across 6 countries
game changers
Netherlands
Canada
28 of the 36 game
changers are based in the
US or have moved to the India
US. United
Kingdom
However, 5 other countries United States
are home to game-changer
companies: Canada, India,
Israel, United Kingdom, and Israel
the Netherlands.
NEW KNOWLEDGE
9
Most active
Top investors backing game-changing companies
investors in Firms with 2 or more unique game changer investments
game changers
Over 190 unique investors
backed this year’s cohort
of game changers. Bill Gates
Topping the list are Lux
Capital and Bill Gates, Jim Mellon
with at least 3 unique
investments each.
14 investors backed
multiple game changers.
10
11
Visit the Game
Changers 2019
collection on the CB
Insights platform
CBI Game Changers 2019
Track all of the game
changers in this report and
many more on our platform
using CB Insights’ Collections.
Create dynamic market
landscapes, collaborate within
and beyond your organization,
and ensure knowledge is not
tied up in people’s heads and
inboxes.
12
Quantum AI
Quantum computing to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) technology
13
THE WORLD AROUND US
“Quantum artificial intelligence will enhance the
most consequential of human activities, explaining
observations of the world around us.”
- Hartmut Neven, Engineering Director and Founder of Quantum Artificial Intelligence lab, Google
14
Quantum AI game changers
Headquarters: Ontario, Canada Headquarters: Massachusetts, US Headquarters: Ontario, Canada
Total disclosed funding: $6.9M Total disclosed funding: $5.4M Total disclosed funding: $2M
Xanadu is developing Zapata is a quantum Qindom is applying quantum
photonic (light-based) computing software startup computing to algorithms and
quantum computing to solve spun out of Harvard University, models in AI that could enhance
problems in machine focused on the intersection of market trend predictions, risk
learning, chemistry, finance, quantum computing, machine modelling, logistics
sensing, and drug discovery. learning, and chemistry. optimization, and more.
15
AI on the Edge
AI processing at the network's edge for smarter and faster IoT optimization
16
Moving artificial intelligence to the device
AI on the edge means switching to a distributed intelligence network for better performance.
Distributed intelligence network Centralized intelligence network
Equipping devices and
machines with AI reduces
the amount of bandwidth
needed for real-time data
V.S.
processing and minimizes
latency in device-level
decision making.
Image credit: STMicroelectronics 1717
AI on the edge game changers
Headquarters: California, US Headquarters: California, US Headquarters: California, US
Total disclosed funding: $30.06M Total disclosed funding: $28M Total disclosed funding: $10M
Syntiant uses low-power Kneron develops neural SWIM develops AI edge
semiconductors to move networks for edge devices, analytics software for
machine learning from the providing high computing combining edge computing,
cloud to the device, enabling performance with low-power machine learning, and self-
artificial intelligence for consumption for emotion and training digital twins for OEMs,
sensor, voice, and video behavior recognition, smart smart cities, IoT vendors,
applications. surveillance, and navigation. developers, and more.
18
Disinformation Defense
Startups fighting the spread of fake news and digital propaganda campaigns
19
Fake news is distorting reality
Most Americans suspect that false news is causing confusion about basic facts.
About two-in-three U.S.
adults (64%) say fabricated
news stories cause a great
deal of confusion about
the basic facts of current
64%
issues and events.
Pew Research Center
Credit: Pew Research Center 2020
Disinformation defense game changers
Headquarters: Texas, US Headquarters: California, US Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel
Total disclosed funding: $13.12M Total disclosed funding: $10M Total disclosed funding: N/A
New Knowledge is a AI Foundation combines AdVerif.ai is an artificial
cybersecurity company human moderation and intelligence company providing
specializing in machine learning to identify content verification solutions
disinformation defense for malicious digital content for advertisers, publishers, and
highly visible brands under meant to deceive people such ad networks to scale the
attack by coordinated as deepfakes — wholly content moderation process
disinformation campaigns. computer fabricated videos. and improve accuracy.
21
Smart Policing
Enhancing police collaboration, understanding, and investigations
22
Smart policing improves public trust & safety
Law enforcement agencies want technology to improve crime fighting and community relations.
High-Priority Technology Needs For Law Enforcement
Top law enforcement Other, 16%
Community
relations,
technology needs include 30%
improving community
relations, effectively sharing Forensics,
17%
information, and better
forensic capabilities.
Information Training,
sharing, 19%
18%
Source: RAND, “Identifying High-Priority Technology and Other
Needs for Improving Law Enforcement Operations and Outcomes”
Credit: RAND n = 154 law enforcement needs 2323
Smart policing game changers
Headquarters: New York, US Headquarters: New York, US Headquarters: Ontario, Canada
Total disclosed funding: $1M Total disclosed funding: $78.16M Total disclosed funding: N/A
Elucd builds technology to Mark43 makes law Magnet Forensics develops
improve community relations enforcement information cyber forensics software that
with police by measuring management software to recovers evidence from
how residents feel about reduce administrative work, computers, smartphones, and
safety in their neighborhoods enable mobile data entry, tablets to help forensics
and how much they trust analysis, and data sharing professionals find, analyze,
local law enforcement. across national departments. and report digital evidence.
24
Non-Opioid Pain Management
New drug therapies for alleviating acute and chronic pain issues
25
We need an alternative to opioid pain management
Over reliance on opioids to manage pain has led to the worst drug crisis in American history.
National Overdose Deaths
More than 40% of all U.S. Number of Deaths Involving Opioids 2002 - 2016
opioid overdose deaths in
2016 involved a prescription
opioid, with more than 46
people dying every day from
overdoses involving
prescription opioids.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC Wonder
Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2626
Non-opioid pain management game changers
Headquarters: Washington, US Headquarters: Massachusetts, US Headquarters: California, US
Total disclosed funding: $75.55M Total disclosed funding: $135.62M Total disclosed funding: $145.53M
Kineta is a biotechnology Centrexion Therapeutics is Myoscience offers a non-
company focused on focused on developing new opioid way to manage pain by
developing therapeutics in treatments for moderate to treating peripheral nerves with
three large high-need severe chronic pain that targeted cold to temporarily
therapeutic areas: address the safety and disrupt the transmission of
autoimmune disease, viral efficacy gaps in the current pain signals from pain
disease, and chronic pain. treatment paradigm. receptors to the brain.
27
Longevity Boosters
Startups leveraging AI to combat aging and age-related diseases
28
The world’s population is getting older
The health of the human body inevitably declines over time giving rise to age-related diseases.
Forecasting Population Age
We are living through a Proportion of the world population aged 60 years or more
1950 - 2050
period of population aging
that is without parallel in the
history of humanity. This is
a result of the combined
effects of declining fertility
and falling mortality rates.
Source: United Nations, “World Population Ageing 1950 – 2050”
Credit: United Nation’s Population Division 2929
Longevity booster game changers
Headquarters: New York, US Headquarters: Isle of Man, UK Headquarters: California, US
Total disclosed funding: $1.18M Total disclosed funding: $65.38M Total disclosed funding: $15.66M
Ichor Therapeutics is a pre- Juvenescence AI focuses on AgeX Therapeutics develops
clinical biotechnology cellular pathways to aging, technology relating to cell
company that has several as well as affecting change immortality and regenerative
intramural research in the mitochondria and biology by developing
programs that broadly focus cleaning senescent cells, products for the treatment of
on therapeutic interventions which accumulate when the aging and age-related
for age-related disease. body grows old. diseases.
30
Superbug Killers
Startups addressing the rise of drug-resistant super-bacteria
31
A RISING PANDEMIC
“Some of the world’s most common – and
potentially most dangerous – infections are proving
drug-resistant. And most worrying of all, pathogens
don’t respect national borders.”
- Dr. Marc Sprenger, Director of WHO’s Antimicrobial Resistance Secretariat
32
Superbug killer game changers
Headquarters: California, US Headquarters: Delaware, US & Bangalore, India Headquarters: Maryland, US
Total disclosed funding: $110.2M Total disclosed funding: $13.21M Total disclosed funding: $2.45M
MicuRx is a biopharmaceutical Bugworks Research uses Adaptive Phage Therapeutics
company whose mission is to semiconductor design is a clinical-stage company
discover and develop principles to model and founded to provide an
antibiotics with improved manipulate bacterial systems effective therapeutic response
safety profiles to improve the for discovering drugs to treat to the global rise of multi-drug
treatment of antibiotic antibiotic-resistant bacterial resistant, patient-specific
resistant bacterial infections. infections. bacterial infections.
33
Intelligent Beam Steering
The future of IoT connectivity, radar sensing, and spectral efficiency
34
Beam steering applications are widespread
Applications and benefits include more efficient cellular and IoT connectivity, 3D radar sensing
for enhanced physical security, safer autonomous vehicle navigation, and more.
Telecommunications Security Autonomous navigation
Intelligent beam steering permits more focused Intelligent beam steering provides 3D situational Intelligent beam steering provides superior radar,
and efficient communications between a base radar awareness to secure critical infrastructure, enabling machine vision capable of humanlike
station and users’ devices. public spaces, smart cities, etc. interpretations of the world.
V.S.
Current cellular systems spray single swaths
of shared spectral energy to connect devices.
35
Intelligent beam steering game changers
Headquarters: Washington, US Headquarters: Washington, US Headquarters: California, US
Total disclosed funding: $31.75M Total disclosed funding: $44.2M Total disclosed funding: $17M
Pivotal Commware develops Echodyne is applying the Metawave is building high-
software-defined antennas and physics of metamaterials to performance radars capable of
radios that use intelligent deliver high-performance 3D imaging and intelligent
beam steering to increase agile imaging radar with beam steering to provide
network speed, capacity, and computer vision software for faster telecom networks and
spectral efficiency for ships, machine classification, near-instant connectivity for
planes, cars, and more. recognition, and perception. billions of users.
36
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Technology
Making contextually aware, smarter, and safer autonomous vehicles
37
V2X technology improves transportation
The future of autonomous vehicle sensing, accident prevention, roadway efficiency, and more
The V2X communication ecosystem
V2X compliments vision-
based sensing such as lidar,
and extends a vehicle’s
ability to see, hear, and
communicate further down
the road, especially outside
of the range of a car’s
computer vision systems.
Source: Telematicswire.net
3838
Vehicle-to-everything game changers
Headquarters: Kfar-Netter, Israel Headquarters: Washington, US Headquarters: California, US
Total disclosed funding: $65M Total disclosed funding: $217.58M Total disclosed funding: $20M
Autotalks is a fabless Kymeta is commercializing a Savari is developing advanced
semiconductor company software-enabled, wireless sensor technologies
developing solutions for metamaterials-based and software for V2X
vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle- antenna for bringing high- environments to support a
to-infrastructure speed and high-bandwidth growing portfolio of intelligent
communication scalable for satellite connectivity to transportation services
mass network growth. anything that moves. alongside OEMs and others.
39
Ecosystem Engineering
Technology to manage the risks of environmental degradation
40
WORKING ALONGSIDE NATURE
“It is essential that we understand the pace of
environmental change that is upon us and that we
start to work with nature instead of against it to tackle
the array of environmental threats that face us.”
- Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme
41
Ecosystem engineering game changers
Headquarters: California, US Headquarters: California, US Headquarters: Washington, US
Total disclosed funding: $86.75M Total disclosed funding: $24M Total disclosed funding: $5.19M
Pivot Bio is a biotech company Aclima delivers DroneSeed plants tree seeds
developing a microbial environmental intelligence by using precision drones often in
solution that can replace combining sensors, climate post-fire environments such as
nitrogen fertilizers, reduce science, enterprise software, forests and rangelands, and
nitrogen runoff, and eliminate and machine learning to take suppresses invasive species
the related production of the real-time pulse of the to make reforestation more
nitrous oxide. invisible world around us. efficient.
42
Net-Zero Buildings
Transforming smart cities into clean energy generating networks
43
Net-zero buildings generate clean energy
Energy-efficient buildings create economic, social, and environmental opportunities.
Net-zero buildings are the most efficient way to cut emissions
Net-zero buildings provide
the most bang for the buck
in reducing climate change-
causing emissions, and
often have low or no
marginal cost, or even
provide a return on
investment.
Source: World Resources Institute
4444
Net-zero buildings game changers
Headquarters: New York, US Headquarters: New Mexico, US Headquarters: Vermont, US
Total disclosed funding: $4.1M Total disclosed funding: $1.64M Total disclosed funding: $2.12M
Blueprint Power aims to UbiQD is a nanomaterials Packetized Energy designs
convert buildings into power company that manufactures and deploys systems to enable
plants and real estate into an quantum dots and polymer distributed energy resources
energy business. The company composites that will enable such as water heaters, electric
aims to help commercial building-integrated sunlight vehicle chargers, battery
buildings participate in a harvesting, turning windows storage systems, etc. to
transactive market for energy. into power units. balance supply and demand.
45
Ocean Life Preservers
Startups conserving marine wildlife and preventing oceanic depletion
46
Our oceans need our immediate help
Overfishing and plastic pollution pose a clear threat to the health of our oceans and marine wildlife.
LIFE FOR THE FUTURE Forecast of plastics volume growth, 2014 - 2050
"In the space of a single generation, human
activity has severely damaged the ocean by
catching fish faster than they can reproduce
while also destroying their nurseries. Profound
changes are needed to ensure abundant ocean
life for future generations."
- Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International
Source: World Economic Forum, “The New Plastics Economy”, 2016
4747
Ocean life preserver game changers
Headquarters: Delft, Netherlands Headquarters: California, US Headquarters: London, UK
Total disclosed funding: $21.8M Total disclosed funding: $10K Total disclosed funding: $N/A
The Ocean Cleanup is a non- NovoNutrients has developed SafetyNet Technologies
profit organization that a proprietary process which designs, builds, and tests light
develops technologies to rid uses microbes to convert emitting devices to increase
the world's oceans of plastic CO2 from industrial the selectivity of commercial
by leveraging the power of emissions into food for fish fishing practices and thereby
ocean currents to concentrate to eliminate overfishing of reduce overfishing and
and extract plastic waste. vital small fish feed stocks. improve sustainability.
48
Game changers appendix
Additional company data
49
Game Changers
Fueling up for growth
annual financing Gamechangers deal activity 2014 – 2018 YTD (11/16/18)
history 500
$498
(Full-year run rate)
35
31
Year to date (11/16/18), the 450 (Full-year run rate)
2019 Game Changer startups 27
30
400
have seen 27 deals worth 25
almost $440M in funding. 350 25
At the current run rate, 2018 300
20
deals and dollars are on track
250
to reach a high of 31 deals
15
worth nearly $500M, bringing 200
total disclosed equity 11
150
investment since 2014 to 10
roughly $1B and over 70 deals. 100 6
5
5
50
$17
$39 $236 $270 $436
0 0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018TD
50
Game changers
Mosaic money score comparison
are high-mosaic Game Changers vs. all companies
companies
CB Insights’ data-driven Mosaic
Money metric assesses
financial signals including
funding recency, total amount
raised, and investor quality to
evaluate private company
health.
On average, our list of game
changers had Mosaic Money
scores 2.3x those of all tech
companies.
710 310
Game Changer Average All Company Average
51
Our methodology
How the 12 categories were selected: We used the CB Insights Trends tool, which mines and
organizes millions of media articles to quantify media attention to tech trends, to identify game
changing tech trends.
How the 30 companies were selected: We used CB Insights Company Mosaic, which tracks
private company health using signals including recency of financing, total raised, and investor
quality, to identify high-momentum/quickly growing companies within our categories. We’ve
gathered this data via our machine learning technology (dubbed The Cruncher) as well as via
several thousand direct submissions from firms and individual professionals using The Editor.
The CB Insights Mosaic page walks through the factors considered in the algorithm in greater
detail.
52
WHERE IS ALL THIS DATA FROM?
The CB Insights platform has the
underlying data included in this report
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE
53
cbinsights.com
@cbinsights
54
