Digital Lifescapes

Some technology sector M&A activity is relatively immune to market disruptions. The robotics industry received significant investment in 2019, reaching $46 billion. A total of $17.8 billion went to acquisitions and a further $29 billion went into investments, according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research. Most of the funding was focused on autonomous passenger vehicles (APV’s), surgical robotics, and warehouse automation, with significant new growth for field robotics and drone services. Robotics Technology Market Development "Despite not having commercialized their technology, autonomous passenger vehicle developers like Waymo, Cruise, Zoox and company have continued to amass enormous funding from the corporate and VC world," said Rian Whitton, senior analyst at ABI Research . Surgical robots also received significant new funding, and have already been commercialized to a considerable extent, with Intuitive Surgical selling over 5,000 Da Vinci ro...

Many silicon valley venture capital firms would prefer to forget the epic dot-com bubble that lasted from 1997 to 2000. But who can forget their naive rush to invest in some of the most absurd Web 2.0 start-ups and silly Social Media companies? It was truly unprecedented. Granted, the people who would most like to erase those memories are the senior executives at large corporations who helped to orchestrate the acquisition of a dot-com flop, at ridiculous market evaluations, then close the failed business within a year to eighteen months of the purchase. That fiasco would never happen again. Or, could it? Technology-related mergers and acquisitions (M&A) spending in 2015 is likely to continue at the record pace that was set last year, according to the latest market study by 451 Research. Bullish sentiment from corporate acquirers and bankers, combined with an optimistic macro-economic environment and a re-energized private equity market, is fueling the current M&A outlook...

According to the latest market study by 451 Research, a variety of acquirers increased their mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity within the Internet of Things (IoT) marketplace during 2014, spending a combined $14.3 billion to acquire 60 companies. By comparison, that spending is almost eight-times the total spent by acquirers prior to 2014 -- representing a forty-fold increase over 2013. Meanwhile, the ongoing interest in the IoT-related venture capital investment market is likely to blossom during 2015. The number of corporate M&A deals increased more than twofold, with companies such as Google, Samsung, Cisco, Intel, PTC, Qualcomm and others increasing their effort to position IoT as a key contributor to business growth strategy. 451 Reserach analysts believe that the sharp rise in deal-making activity in 2014 suggests that market forces surrounding IoT have become sufficiently compelling, which has simulated major IT vendor action. "Acquirers don’t want...

Since the financial crisis, venture capital (VC) firms have been actively investing in mobile, social, and over-the-top (OTT) app start-ups, while showing little interest in the core telecom networking sector. In fact, VC support for telecom infrastructure start-ups has dropped from $796 million in 2009 to just $270 million in the 3Q 2011 to 2Q 2012 period. According to the latest market study by Ovum, they have found reason for new optimism -- but not from where you would expect it. While VC support for network infrastructure has declined, overall VC investments have recovered -- growing from $20.1 billion in 2009 to $27.8 billion in the four quarters ended 2Q12. Matt Walker, principal analyst at Ovum , said "A funding disconnect has thereby emerged between network builders and network users. Lots of innovation and venture capital is targeting the network users, such as mobile apps and OTT platforms. However, little of it is directly helping the network builders." Wi...

Virtual Worlds Management released a report tracking the virtual worlds-related investments of 2008. More than $594 million in 63 virtual worlds related companies in 2008. The year has seen a steady decline in investments from 2007's burst of over $1.4 billion. In Q4 2008,we saw $101 million invested in 13 virtual worlds related companies. This was down from $184 million in Q1 to Q2's $161 millions to Q3's $148.5 million and now the most drastic drop. "The year wasn't bad for all sectors," said Christopher Sherman, Executive Director, Virtual Worlds Management. Nineteen youth-oriented properties received over $70.47 million over the course of the year. The bulk of that was in Q1 and Q3. As more and more youth worlds came to market over the course of the year, spectators worried that the space was overcrowded. Others have seen it as a sector for opportunity, and it appears as if venture capitalists are still somewhat interested. With the youth world space on i...

According to a Virtual Worlds Management market study, venture capital and media firms have invested more than $148.5 million in twelve virtual worlds-related companies during the third quarter of 2008 -- with participation from many more VC firms and angel investors. The total investment in the virtual worlds space for 2008 is now over $493 million. The news was announced just prior to the upcoming Virtual Worlds London conference. The bulk of the investment is in the entertainment space, with all but $22.4 million going to developers of worlds with strong game-play elements, ties to media brands, or the youth sector. Youth worlds are constantly on the rise, and investors remain interested in backing them as long as they can find unique propositions. "Many smaller investments were made across a spectrum of youth-oriented virtual worlds," explained Joey Seiler, Editor of Virtual Worlds News. "$35.64 million was invested in seven virtual worlds aimed at kids through teen...

Venture capital and media firms have invested more than $161 million dollars in 16 virtual worlds related companies during the second quarter of 2008, not including two companies that were acquired for unknown amounts. This compares with $184 million dollars in 23 virtual worlds related companies during the first quarter of 2008. That puts the total amount invested in the first 6 months of 2008 at $345 million. "Interestingly, neither of the companies that were acquired, GirlSense.com by IAC and PixVerse by hi5, have actually produced virtual worlds. The former is a virtual fashion site and social network and the latter produces apps for social networks," notes Joey Seiler, Virtual Worlds Management author. Both, however, have been discussed, or self-described, as having potential for virtual worlds, showing an eye toward the future. Those, combined with four investments in pre-launch companies, highlight the still emerging nature of the industry. With two more investments g...

Virtual Worlds Management announced findings from a comprehensive study of accountable transactions showing that venture capital and media firms have invested more than $184 million dollars in 23 virtual worlds related companies during the first quarter of 2008 with participation from many more VC firms and angel investors. As they already noted in their recently released analysis, the youth market is heating up, and the investments show the same theme: 8 investments were made in youth-oriented virtual worlds for a total of over $16 million. Mirror Worlds and mixed realities also saw a significant, though more concentrated, interest with three investments totaling over $15 million. "The total figure may seem anemic compared to Q4 of 2007's $425 million spread across 15 companies, but there are several things worth keeping in mind for any comparison," said Joey Seiler, Editor of VirtualWorldsNews.com. "$300 million of that period went to Zenimax Media, which we acknow...

Virtual Worlds Management announced findings from their comprehensive study showing that venture capital and media firms have invested more than $425 million dollars in 15 virtual worlds companies during the fourth quarter of 2007. Of the $425 million, $375 Million was invested in 13 companies and the remaining $50 million consisted of two acquisitions. Fourth quarter numbers are up from $220 million having been invested in 23 virtual worlds related companies in Q3 2007. In the third quarter Disney also announced its $700 million acquisition of Club Penguin. No comparable data is available for Q4 2006. Investors during the Q4 2007 period include: Omnicom, Alloy Ventures and Storm Ventures, Vickers Financial Group, DHX Media Ltd., Benchmark Capital, Canaan Partners, GrandBanks Capital, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, Rustic Canyon Ventures, Providence Equity Partners, Charles River Ventures, Kodiak Venture Partners and Pequot Ventures, Gigamedia, Sony and Time Warner,...

Rutberg & Company has reviewed and analyzed the venture capital activity for the digital media sector in 2006. Their key takeaways include: - Venture financings in digital media totaled $4.4 billion in 2006, as compared to $2.6 billion in 2005. The 2006 growth rate of 66 percent far exceeds the growth rates for the overall venture industry. Notably, though, the growth in venture financings for digital media has moderated over the past six months. - The curbed growth of investment activity is consistent with Rutberg's conversations with venture capital investors. On an anecdotal basis, they believe that investor sentiment is becoming more rational rather than exuberant, as was seen in the beginning of the year. - The percentage of transactions with a financing size of $20 million or greater has increased, from 6 percent in 1H05 to 13 percent in 2H06. These larger transactions are driven, in Rutberg's view, by activity in the capital-intensive Semiconductors sector and in...

Rutberg & Company has reviewed and analyzed the venture capital activity for the wireless sector in 2006. Their key takeaways include: - Venture financings in wireless totaled $6.4 billion in 2006, as compared to $5.4 billion in 2005. A material portion of the growth is due to several outlier investments. The growth rate for 2006, adjusted for outliers, is 13 percent, which is in line with the growth rates for the overall venture industry. - This strong level of activity is consistent with their conversations with entrepreneurs and investors. On an anecdotal basis, they continue to hear significant interest among venture capitalists, and they continue to see financings with multiple term sheets and full valuations. - The percentage of transactions with a financing size of $20MM or greater was 18 percent in 2006, as compared to 11 percent in 2005. This and other statistics reflect in their view the growth of private company revenues and funding requireme...