Insights

We believe technology drives sustainability. FoodLabs, headed by tech investor Christophe F. Maire, is working to prove this by launching a €100M food tech fund to invest in food, health, and sustainability startups. The fund will focus on scalable digital business models working toward a more efficient food industry from agriculture, production, distribution, human health to zero waste - encouraging the tech industry to pivot towards climate and sustainability efforts. To quote Maire: "We strongly believe that technology and entrepreneurship hold the key to tackling the key challenges of our time."

Last year, we partnered with medical startup SFC Fluidics, to build a unique device for those in need of diabetes care. SFC Fluidics was recognized early on by the FDA for healthcare innovation, receiving FDA's Breakthrough Device Designation, and is set to improve the lives of diabetes patients around the world. Paige Prostate - an AI tool that detects prostate cancer - has become the first of its kind to receive FDA approval. After also earning Breakthrough Device Designation in 2019 and $220M in funding, this software has improved cancer detection by over 7%, decreased false-negative diagnoses by 70%, and false-positive diagnoses by 24%. We invest in startups that are evolving the healthcare industry, and are proud to work alongside innovators dedicated to improving the well-being of others.

German fitness gear startup, Straffr, is making its mark in the industry with its smart resistance exercise band. The company only recently launched its product in March 2021 after two rounds of funding. It has since sold several thousand bands at $100 a piece. Connected with Bluetooth through Straffr’s free app, the band tracks your training session, and can monitor your stretching and pulling as you follow along on video workouts. The early startup has plans to develop more products in the future, running full speed ahead into the world of innovative fitness tech.

Interventional medicine remains the dominant method in Western healthcare - meaning a patient is only seen once symptoms arise, and treatment can become a long game of trial and error. Personalized health tech, including wearables that monitor one's health, or even using DNA, changes this by giving an individual access to his daily health, as well as alerts to pre-disposed conditions. Medical startups are competing to enter the personalized health tech industry, as an attempt to reinvent treatment towards musculoskeletal (MSK) medical conditions and chronic pain. In 2017, the MSK medicine market was valued at $57.4B, while the chronic pain market (which overlaps with MSK medicine) expected to reach $151.7B by 2030. Digital health tech continues to disrupt the future of treatment and preventative care in Western medicine, and possibly for the better.

Facebook announced its collaboration with Ray-Ban back in 2019, and now the augmented reality glasses will become the company’s next hardware release. Virtual reality is moving beyond gaming, and expanding its horizons into other forms of entertainment, work, fitness and social media. For Facebook, these glasses seem to be the gateway into its virtual ecosystem - a more three-dimensional internet that you can interact with. Facebook has some heavy competition, as Apple, Oppo and Samsung are also all rumored to be working on smart glasses. Though Microsoft and Google have been making AR glasses for years, this "future" of wearables and VR expanding to social platforms could arrive as early as the end of 2021.

Our use of digital technologies now causes more CO2 emissions than the entire aviation industry. Tech companies have been trying to offset their carbon footprints for years - unfortunately, most carbon offsetting schemes are ineffective at best, and don’t actually remove carbon from the environment. Start-up company Supercritical is out to change that, and developed the most efficient solution for carbon removal yet. It promises to help businesses get to net zero by measuring their climate impact and selling high-impact carbon removal offsets. Raising $2.7m in pre-seed funding, Supercritical already has clients (such as accuRx, Tide and what3words) and has positioned itself to become a market-maker for these emerging solutions. Though these technologies are still early in development, tech companies can soon begin to see positive change surrounding their impact on the environment.

The National AI Research Resource Task Force, born out of Congress’s National AI Initiative Act of 2020, is having its first meeting today (July 28). The main purpose is to discuss the blueprint of a shared AI research resource. Currently, big tech such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google are mainly those with access to the advanced computational resources, large data sets, and more, that are needed for certain research. The priority is to "democratize access" to AI research tools. Those in academia, government and private industry will all have opportunity to the same hub of existing resources. The task force is stepping into new territory in the governance of computing research and emerging tech. AI innovation continues to develop and grow - now with a goal to become equally accessible for every researcher and student across all scientific disciplines.

Forget flying cars - self-driving cars are the future, according to Oculii, the US start-up that is developing a newer, better way for autonomous vehicles to "see". Its partnerships include Great Wall Motors, Baidu, and Nvidia, and it has raised more than $76 million to date. Even bigger - Oculii just landed a deal with Geely, one of China's largest automakers. Geely intends to integrate the updated radar system into cars it makes in China, serving as the "eyes" for autonomous systems. Oculii's disruptive AI technology will compete with lidar tech (light-emitting optical sensors), and proves to be an emerging leader in the autonomous vehicle industry.

Fitness company Technogym expands into AI with its new app release, designed for clubs and studios who are not integrated with Technogym Mywellness platform, but still want to offer their members fitness video content. The AI feature, Technogym Coach, is a digital trainer that will create personalized programs to meet your fitness goals. This app and its customized experience opens an opportunity for operators to attract new members to their clubs, as digital innovation continues to integrate into the physical spaces of fitness.

Gympass, the digital fitness startup unicorn that scored $300M in its 2019 round of funding, has announced another round of $220M - valuing the company at $2.2B. Since 2012, Gympass has worked directly with employers to offer workers monthly fitness passes to redeem at any gym or fitness studio. In an industry booming with competitors, Gympass focuses on its direct-to-consumer business model, and has seen a surge of clients since the COVID-19 lockdown has decreased restrictions. The company boasts a well-rounded wellness platform, as it covers not only fitness, but therapy, mindfulness, and nutrition. It intends to use the new funds to help its US market as gyms reopen, and workplaces begin their return to fitness clubs and studios. Gympass continues to rise above other digital fitness startups as it directly encourages employees back into gym facilities, improving the digital fitness experience, and impacting corporate wellness in America.

In Part One, SmallWorld's Sophie Sureau covered Gen Z's perspective on physical fitness, athletic attire trends, and how they choose to spend their money, along with how brands are running to catch up to the evolving "digital native" generation. In Part Two, we dive headfirst into how Gen Z uses social media and technology for brand connection, along with how these influential consumers prioritize mental health - from nutrition to mindfulness and spirituality.

Oura continues its push towards health research, raising $100 million for its Series C, focusing on using its wearable tech to bridge gaps within the healthcare industry, encouraging users to take ownership of their own wellness journeys. The wearable technology market was valued at $116.2 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to reach $265.4 billion by 2026, largely due to the growing benefit of wearable devices in the healthcare sector, as well as continued advancements in IoT, AR and machine to machine (M2M). With the fitness device manufacturer already selling more than 500,000 rings to date and its total funding reaching $148.3 million, Oura proves to be an emerging leader in the wearable fitness tech industry, empowering the trend of "smart living" among users.

Snap (Snapchat's parent company), is moving from pure entertainment to tackle e-commerce by purchasing Fit Analytics - a fitting technology startup that powers billions of accurate sizing recommendations for the world's leading apparel companies annually. With Snapchat's current revenue coming from advertisement, its popular experience of augmented reality and filters, and Fit Analytics - Snap aims to help shoppers find the right-sized apparel and footwear from online retailers. This collaboration presents a new way of shopping for their young audiences, using AR to accurately try on clothes, shoes, and accessories online.

With the constant evolution of digital transformation, Gen Z has substantial influence over the tech industry, and the future of brand involvement. Understanding these "digital natives" might just be the secret to cracking the code on what the next trends will be, and how to best connect with your young, tech-savvy audience. SmallWorld's Sophie Sureau dives deep into how Gen Z perceives Wellness and the world around them - from fitness, savvy shopping and brand values, to mental health, nutrition and spirituality.

SmallWorld has been partnering with SFC Fluidics in product development and strategy to pioneer modern healthcare technology - SFC Fluidics has been granted FDA's Breakthrough Device Designation for its innovation.

Last year, I wrote Part 1 of evolving your fitness club. Globally, business is forever changed by 2020. The intent of this series is to guide the evolution of an industry with enormous potential for great good — health & fitness—by providing insights learned from consulting the Fortune 50 giants of our industry down to the unique single-operators.

Being accessible now does not equal long-term innovation. When considering what an innovative tech company is, you have to consider the giants of “now”, the giants of “always”, and the difference between the two.

Despite humans having daily interactions with digital devices, the digital experience has long held a cold, emotionless, and even robotic connotation. Pre-COVID 19, there was still a well-defined line between human and digital experiences. So the question is: how can you make your businesses’ digital interactions more human? Get 5 tips from CEO, Jake Curreri.

An overview of the need for digital innovation for businesses impacted by COVID-19. How do you get past the “survival” mentality to start thriving again? When industry level shifts have never been more necessary, it’s a vital time to test digital products and services — time for diversification and industry level shifts. Those who choose to digitally innovate have a chance to succeed.

COVID-19 is changing the way individuals are consuming health and wellness resources. Many industry leaders have offered free programs during this time. We've compiled a list of resources available.

Working from home during self-quarantine can be seemingly difficult. It's essential to prioritize mental and physical health to remain productive. At SmallWorld, this is something that we have successfully incorporated into our team culture. Here are 7 tips on how to have a successful work environment at home.

A thought starter piece on re-evaluating what membership means to your facility. When do we make a decision to incorporate a few elements of consumer options without overwhelming and over-engineering the experience of achieving an individual’s wellbeing?

While working in the comfort of your home or travel Airbnb or wherever you’re calling the office for the day can be extremely rewarding, it comes with a lot of challenges as well. You have to put a huge emphasis on mental and physical health. This is something that we have incorporated into our team culture overall. The SmallWorld team came together (in Slack) to offer a few tips and tricks we’ve discovered. The team is very diverse in their work styles and hours, but you’ll quickly notice a few trends in our answers.

How digital instructor-led workouts push the boundaries of an active life.

By increasing engagement and interaction with members, apps have become a critical business tool that can give your gym’s revenue the boost it needs. Since 2014, the use of mobile apps has skyrocketed more than 300%, and, at the beginning of this year, approximately 160,000 fitness-related apps were vying for users’ attention.

Entrepreneurs should be recognized for their modern-day adventuring, chartering of unmapped territories. This would allow for more preparedness for the trials and tribulations along the way for all adventures. Consultancies like Startup Junkie will be the grass-root guides in the hero’s journey of startups: allowing innovation and entrepreneurship to be the engines of economic growth. Let Silicon Valley and Middle America learn from one another, fostering an advancing economy, realistic of potential and encouraging of the adventures. Perhaps to become the Adventurer's Valley.

Data has entered the state of an ownership battle. Does a consumer truly have a right to their data? If so, what extent beyond that right — if any — can companies leverage the data sets? By extension, what does it mean to have a “right to your data”?

Move into a culture of creativity and ownership. Embrace the mid-day pause. Encourage longer maternity and paternity leaves. If you’re partnering with a fitness provider for your employee memberships, make data requests to review engagement in their facilities. Having a good corporate wellness program is not executing corporate wellness. Define your values of wellness. Then, execute technologically in the activity, communications, and engagement spaces.

Walmart is dominating the U.S. online grocery market, according to new research out this week from the analysts at Second Measure. The nationwide retailer today offers grocery pickup and delivery in nearly every U.S. state, and had 62% more customers in June than its next nearest rival. And no, in this case, that rival is not Amazon — it’s Instacart.

Data science can provide a high return on investment across multiple industries and use cases. Whether predicting new target customers, measuring product demand or detecting high product failures - the use cases are nearly as infinite as the problems that face modern businesses. Although data science undoubtedly has significant potential to impact business decision-making, leaders across multiple industries have struggled with getting value from data science projects. In fact, according to research by the Gartner Group, nearly 85 percent of big data projects fail.

Slack, founded in 2009 as Tiny Speck, closed up 48.5% Thursday at $38.62 per share. The stock had climbed as high as $42 in intraday trading. Slack’s market cap now sits well above $20 billion, or nearly 3 times its most recent private valuation of $7 billion.

Offering heartrate-based workouts, combining technology and science with community and accessibility for all. Established chains often lack the infrastructure to replicate these types of technological innovations. Larger chains — Crunch Fitness or Equinox — have no trouble. Smaller chains are then left to mitigate club operations, automation tools, and marketing campaigns on tightly-lined margins. Smart, scalable digital transformation exists.

Apple reported revenues of $5.1 billion for its Wearables, Home, and Accessories business in the first three months of 2019, which is up from $3.9 billion in the same period of 2018. According to the most recent version of the Fortune 500 list, the cutoff for the Fortune 200 was at $14.6 billion in annual revenue in 2018.

Facebook announced an overhaul of its main mobile app today that puts more emphasis on two of its most critical features: events and groups. The company says it’s placing groups front and center as a cornerstone of how it wants users to think of the main Facebook app, while events is getting a fresh coat of paint as one of the most-used parts of the app that keeps users coming back day in and day out.

Investors often describe the world of business in terms of animals, such as bears, bulls, hawks, doves and dogs. Right now, mere ponies are being presented as unicorns: privately held tech firms worth over $1bn that are supposedly strong and world-beating—miraculous almost. Next month Uber will raise some $10bn in what may turn out to be this year’s biggest initial public offering (ipo). It will be America’s third-biggest-ever tech ipo, after Alibaba and Facebook. Airbnb and WeWork could follow Lyft, which has already floated, and Pinterest...

In charge of maintaining and configuring system processes, connecting central management systems to 1st party tools, and overseeing development of the Fitness One mobile app, Jake Curreri is endlessly experimenting with ways technology can elevate fitness experiences. After working with PerfectGym to create their client portal, open API and PG back office manager last October, Curreri sat down with PG to catch up on how the club management platform is working for him and how the open API has helped his club’s staff and members.

Facebook wants to create its own digital currency. The social network is running into roadblocks as it looks to hire for the secretive project.

Wearable technology moved back to No. 1 after falling to No. 3 in 2018. “The wearables, even the low-end ones, have gotten more accurate,” says Walter R. Thompson, the 2017-2018 ACSM president and author of the report, which appeared in the November/December issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal. “That may help explain why they’re back at the top.”

“Coding is the universal language of the 21st century, and just like learning any language, the earlier you start, the easier it is,” said Jessica Naziri, founder of TechSesh.co, a community-based organization dedicated to empowering women in STEM. “It’s important that we are inspiring young people to learn to code and giving them access to quality computer science education, so they’ll later be inclined to pursue careers in tech.”

Hiring top-notch engineers in Silicon Valley has become an art. Competition for the best developers and engineers has grown so intense that many rock star programmers are hiring agents to help them land that big job with the right mix of salary and perks as well as a role that provides an opportunity to innovate or work on projects that positively impact society. For that reason, it can be difficult -- if not impossible -- to outbid tech giants for top talent.

DeepLens is essentially a small Ubuntu- and Intel Atom-based computer with a built-in camera that’s powerful enough to easily run and evaluate visual machine learning models. In total, DeepLens offers about 106 GFLOPS of performance.

How Watson learned, in five steps: Watson was trained. In Portuguese and in banking by a dedicated team with 10,000 customer questions. Watson was tested. In a limited number of branches until the bank was satisfied with the responses. Watson was launched. And made available to the employees of all 5,200 branches nationwide. Watson got results. And as employees began to trust Watson, response times were reduced from 10 minutes to a few seconds. Watson keeps learning. And improving, thanks to feedback on over 10 million interactions.

The goal of algorithms must not be to replace, manipulate, or deceive in the name of profit. This is all too often the case as black-box algorithms use massive amounts of data to attract eyeballs, encourage clicks, and, in more dire circumstances, even determine if someone goes to prison.

It’s the full and complete game as present on consoles, it’s iOS-first and it supports cross-platform play with console and PC players.

White space is your friend. Be open to things you didn't imagine. Be confident, not arrogant. Nothing takes a second. Don't be rude. Tell me the problem, not the solution. Decide who will decide. Have clarity of purpose.

The new paradigm of Ethereum development brings with it many moving parts. Smart contracts, distributed applications (or “dapps”, sometimes stylized “ĐApps”), the “ether” cryptocurrency, a world-wide virtual machine where work is measured in “gas”—all of this is in addition to the basic underlying blockchain technology. Navigating this isn’t anywhere close to being second nature for most people, even from a user standpoint. That said, how can a non-expert make a reasonable assessment of a potential Ethereum developer candidate?

Most of us want to look good online, need a website, maybe even a logo. More and more individuals and organizations are discovering that they need to hire a professional. It comes down to doing your homework. Be clear with yourself before you spend a nickel or a minute with a designer. This difficult internal conversation will save you endless frustration and heartache later. Here are four postures to consider in working with a good (or great) designer:

So, if you searched for "best" and ended up here, well, you're welcome. So, while this is not the authoritative list, it is a list of some very solid branding and identity designs that have turned up over the last few years.

As the IoT grows to encompass an increasing number of things, AI and machine learning will enable these things to operate autonomously or semi-autonomously. For example, a robotic vacuum with computer vision could navigate and clean a house with minimal intervention. As technology advances, swarms of intelligent things will work collaboratively to achieve a goal.

Since then (February 2014), Nadella has not only restored Microsoft to relevance; he’s generated more than $250 billion in market value in just three and a half years—more value growth over that time than Uber and Airbnb, Netflix and Spotify, Snapchat and WeWork. How Nadella turned things around comes back to the book he had his top lieutenants read, and the culture that took hold from there. He has inspired the company’s 124,000 employees to embrace what he calls “learn-it-all” curiosity (as opposed to what he describes as Microsoft’s historical know-it-all bent) that in turn has inspired developers and customers—and investors—to engage with the company in new, more modern ways.

The technology, media and telecommunications industry has the highest expectations for AI to accelerate new product and service offerings of all industries tracked in the study, projecting a 52% point increase in the next five years...Customer-facing activities including marketing automation, support, and service in addition to IT and supply chain management are predicted to be the most affected areas by AI in the next five years.

With massive amounts of data from Whole Foods shoppers, Amazon will ultimately be able to tailor the grocery shopping experience to the individual.

In 2015, spending for AI was $300-350 million. Its projection for 2025: $30 billion. What gives? At risk of sounding crazy, AI is changing the entire creative process. In a new wave of computer-human “collaboration,” companies are already using AI to create effective movie plot points based on box office performance, and one company recently used AI to create a horror movie trailer based on trailers the AI had already processed and annexed.

The ONE Architecture is remarkable in two ways: first, AI (in the form of Watson) represents an entire layer, indicating the breadth of IBM’s bet on the technology. The second remarkable aspect of the architecture is what it’s missing: most of the traditional layers of a strategic technology architecture, like databases, middleware, and the like – now all rolled into the Cloud.

From virtual assistants to image recognition to self-driving cars, we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of how AI-related technology will impact our daily lives and transform how businesses operate. IBM’s Chief Innovation Officer Bernie Meyerson optimistically predicts 2017 will be “the year of the solution as opposed to the year of the experiment.”