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Chipmaker AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) has unveiled a range of innovative AI solutions spanning from data centers to personal computers. The AMD Instinct MI300 Series features data center AI accelerators, while the ROCm 6 open software stack introduces new features supporting Large Language Models (LLMs). Additionally, the Ryzen 8040 Series processors come equipped with Ryzen AI capabilities.
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Venture Capital: The Pandemic-Triggered Shift To Cloud Boosts Growth At Cockroach Labs
Cockroach Labs, which offers CockroachDB, the leading cloud-native distributed SQL database, says it more than doubled revenues and customers over the past year after the events of 2020 forced businesses to digitize and move to the cloud. Investors poured $160 million into the company’s Series E round, valuing it at an impressive $2 billion.
FinTech: Capitol Riot – Fintechs (And Techs) Hit Back At Trump
Fintechs took the lead in castigating President Trump for egging on a crowd of his supporters to attack and ransack the U.S. Capitol building last week. The horrific incident left five dead. Voices, and actions, from big tech followed with even Republican politicians welcoming the impeachment of Trump.
Liquid Alternatives: The Wilshire Liquid Alternative Index Gains 1.68% in December
The Wilshire Liquid Alternative Index was up 1.68% in December. The Wilshire index provides a representative baseline for the performance of the broader liquid alts space. This figure underperformed the 2.45% return from the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index in the month of December.
Alternative Investments/Digital: AUM At Global ESG ETFs Surged To Record In 2020 (TrackInsight)
Data from the global ETF analysis platform TrackInsight shows that ESG ETF assets across the world grew 223% year-on-year to scale a new record of US$189 billion in 2020. Nearly 200 new ESG ETFs were launched during the year, and total inflows into ESG ETFs were US$97 billion.
Venture Capital: Checkout.com Triples Its Valuation…Again
Fintech and online payments firm Checkout.com announced a Series C fundraising of $450 million led by Tiger Global Management. The valuation tag of $15 billion makes Checkout.com Europe’s most valuable fintech startup and the fourth most valuable globally.
Digital Assets: Crypto Volume On PayPal Scales Record High
Data revealed by crypto market aggregator Nomics showed that crypto-assets trading volume of $242 million on PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) on January 11 overshadowed its previous daily record of $129 million on January 6, 2021. The key question that arises is whether retail investors sold into bitcoin’s uptrend and booked profits.
FinTech: Walmart Will Partner With Ribbit Capital To Create New Fintech
Walmart (NYSE: WMT) announced Monday its launch of a new fintech startup to be created jointly with Ribbit Capital, the investment firm whose mantra is innovation in financial services. Ribbit is a backer of renowned fintechs such as Robinhood, Credit Karma, and Affirm. The new venture will deliver tech-driven financial experiences tailored to Walmart’s customers and associates.
Artificial Intelligence: Researchers Develop The AI Processor Of The Future
A research team led by Swinburne University of Technology Professor David Moss, Swinburne alum Dr. Xingyuan Xu, and Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell from RMIT University, has developed what is currently the world’s fastest, most powerful neuromorphic processor for AI. The optical neuromorphic processor operates a thousand times faster than previous ones.
Digital Assets: Bitcoin Nuggets
A student found the long-forgotten private keys to a 2011 stash of 127 bitcoin on December 22 when the crypto was trading in the $23,000s range. The lucky HODLer (“BitcoinHolderThankU”) them cashed them out for a net haul of $4.24 million at a price of $33,439.02 per coin minus a 0.15% fee.
Venture Capital: French Telecom Giant Orange Hives Off Venture Arm
Orange Ventures is among the top ten corporate venture capital funds in Europe. Orange, (EPA: ORA) the French telecom giant, has hived off Orange Ventures, its venture capital business, into a separate new entity and allocated it €350 million. It also decided to hand over the management of its Orange Digital Ventures initiative launched in…
Alternative Investments/Digital: Biden’s $3T Stimulus More Rocket Fuel For Bitcoin?
Crypto aficionados are eagerly looking forward to a new stimulus plan worth $3 trillion from U.S. President-elect Joe Biden. Though meant to be a rescue package for millions of Americans reeling from the economic damage inflicted by the virus, it may undercut the value of the dollar. However, that does not appear to be a concern for Biden, given his recent statement: “Economic research confirms that with conditions like the crisis today, especially with such low interest rates, taking immediate action – even with deficit financing – is going to help the economy.”
FinTech: How The Pandemic Stifled Use Of Cash In Saudi Arabia
The pandemic triggered a significant shift in the way Saudis used money during 2020. They wholeheartedly embraced online shopping, resulting in a 75% jump in digital payments. On the other hand, cash drawn from ATMs, and its use at payment points, fell sharply by 30%.
Artificial Intelligence: Baidu And Geely Tie Up To Make ‘Smart’ EVs
Geely’s (HKG: 0175) Linhai plant, built along the lines of Volvo’s global manufacturing system, boasts of one of the most advanced production lines in the world. The company’s Emgrand EV, an electrified version of its best-selling Emgrand 7 sedan, has a 500km NEDC combined city and highway range. It goes from 30% to 80% charge in 30 minutes. Geely’s automotive strengths will join with Internet giant Baidu’s (NASDAQ: BIDU) automotive driving technology in a new joint venture between the two companies that will make ‘smart’ electric vehicles (EVs).
FinTech: SaaS Banking Platform Mambu Scores €110 Million In New Capital
After reporting 100% year-on-year growth, SaaS banking platform Mambu announced a new funding round of €110 million. This round was led by TCV, while additional investment was received from Tiger Global and Arena Holdings, as well as existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, Runa Capital, and Acton Capital Partners.
Digital Assets: Amidst Bitcoin’s Moonshot, Crypto Exchanges Are Wheeling-Dealing
A Bloomberg report said today, citing anonymous sources, that crypto trading exchange Bakkt was negotiating a deal to go public through a merger with blank-check company VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings (NASDAQ: VIH). At the other end of the globe, Nexon (TYO: 3659), the South Korean multi-billion-dollar gaming conglomerate, is negotiating to buy out a controlling stake in Bithumb, Korea’s largest bitcoin and crypto exchange.
Venture Capital: Games Platform Roblox And Cloud Security Developer Lacework Score $500M+ Funding Rounds
The new year is off to a good start with two funding rounds, each over $500 million, announced in its first week. Fast-growing Lacework, which allows companies to build securely in the cloud, closed a $525 million Series D round, earning a valuation tag of more than $1 billion. Online games platform Roblox raised $520 million in a Series H round that valued it at $29.5 billion. Both companies benefited from the digital shifts triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Altimeter Capital was a lead investor in both companies’ rounds.
Artificial Intelligence: Hyundai’s Flip-Flop On Self-Driving With Apple
Hyundai first confirms, then retracts its statement on a tie-up with Apple on self-driving EV cars. On Friday, Hyundai Motor (KRX: 005380) sent investors and motor enthusiasts into a flurry of excitement with its announcement of a potential tie-up with Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) for an electric car (the so-called Apple car) and batteries.
Alternative Investments/ESG: The SP Funds S&P Global REIT Sharia ETF For Exposure To Shariah-Compliant Real Estate
This is a new faith-based ETF from SP Funds, home of North America’s largest family of Shariah-compliant ETFs. SP Funds has a solution for investors looking for Shariah-compliant exposure to real estate using the ETF vehicle. The asset manager has launched North America’s first Shariah-compliant REIT ETF. The SP Funds S&P Global REIT Sharia ETF (NYSEARCA: SPRE) launched on the New York Stock Exchange on December 30.
Artificial Intelligence: AI To Use Mobile Devices To Monitor Mental Health
A person’s devices such as smartphones and smartwatches and other sensors (such as IoT devices) may sense signs of depression and other changes in the mental health of their user. In fact, these devices can accurately and continuously monitor these behavioral shifts, that otherwise may not be symptomatic. Their data, combined with AI, can help mental health doctors to better manage and monitor their patients.
Alternative Investments/Digital Assets: FiCAS’ Active Crypto ETP Greenlighted For All Investors Across The European Union
FiCAS AG announced today that it has received the regulatory go-ahead to offer its 15 FiCAS Active Crypto ETP throughout the European Union to all investors. FiCAS, a Swiss-based crypto investment boutique, had first launched the ETP in Switzerland in July 2020 on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The actively managed ETP does not track bitcoin or any other crypto. Instead, FiCAS actively manages its investments in 15 top cryptocurrencies to generate sustainable returns over a time horizon of 3 to 5 years.
Venture Capital: Indian B2B Startup udaan Raises $280M Including From Tencent
udaan, the Indian business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform, has scored a solid funding round of $280 million that valued it at $3 billion, post-money. It raised the funds from existing investors that included Chinese internet giant Tencent (HKG: 0700), and venture funds Lightspeed Venture Partners, DST Global, GGV Capital, and Altimeter Capital. Two new investors, Octahedron Capital and Moonstone Capital, also participated in the funding.
FinTech: Green Dot’s New Mobile Bank To Help Financially Challenged Americans
Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) announced Wednesday the launch of GO2bank, a new mobile bank that is FDIC-insured. The new bank will address the problems faced by those Americans that have limited financial means. Typically, these families are forced to eke out their lives from one payday to another.
Digital Assets: CPPIB Takes $113M Haircut On Investment In SolarWinds
Around December 9, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Canada’s largest pension fund, bought approximately 5% of Texas-based software company SolarWinds (NYSE: SWI) for $315 million from private equity firm shareholders Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo. The price was $21.97 per share of SolarWinds. A week later, news broke of the very sophisticated cyberattack on SolarWinds. The price of the stock fell to a low of $13.98, knocking off 36% of CPPIB’s investment.
Alternative Investments/Digital: “Bitcoin Could Be Rat Poison, But The Rat Could Be Cash,” Says Bill Miller
Bill Miller, the founder of major investment management firm Miller Value Partners and Co-Founder of Legg Mason Capital Management, made some very bullish observations on bitcoin in his Market Letter for Q4.