January 29, 2025

Give me a minute

Hi there, 

Quick ask — should we send this newsletter more or less frequently?

Tell me in this 60-second survey.

Your input will help us nail down:

• How many newsletters per week you actually want
• The stuff (aka data, tech drama, etc.) we put in those updates

Thanks for helping us make this thing better.

Seek and you shall find

What do DeepSeek’s model releases mean for the future of AI?

We dive into 5 key trends highlighted by DeepSeek’s rise: 

1. AI infrastructure costs come under scrutiny
2. VCs and private AI sector face recalibration
3. Amid funding gap in China, restrictions force innovative development
4. Open-source ecosystem gains steam, with China making strides
5. Enterprises rethink AI strategies for open models

Get the full report.

When in doubt, M&A

Fintech M&A surged 24% QoQ in Q4’24, reaching 189 exits — the highest since Q1’22. 

US firms were scooped up in 8 of the 10 largest deals, led by Stripe’s $1.1B acquisition of stablecoin platform Bridge. 

The quarterly jump signals a broader rebound in fintech M&A activity, with exits rising 6% YoY to 664 in 2024.

Get the full breakdown in our State of Fintech 2024 report.

Hungry hungry hippos

The AI boom has fueled a surge in energy demand. 

Tech companies are exploring nuclear energy to support AI’s growth, eyeing small modular reactors (SMRs) in the near term and fusion long term.

Amid the shift, SMRs (dramatically scaled-down versions of traditional nuclear plants) saw funding leap last year.

Dive deeper into the race to secure next-gen nuclear tech in this research brief.

Better than ever

We launch new innovations every month to help our customers bet on the right markets, stay ahead of competitors, and source the right companies.

What are the latest product upgrades from CB Insights?

• 8,800 research reports just for you — Our AI super analyst can turn every research report we write into personal, actionable intelligence just for you.
• 2x more people data — We nearly doubled our people data (including email addresses, work history, and LinkedIn profiles) so you can instantly reach out to key executives, former leaders, and board members.
• Your competitors’ business relationships, revealed — One simple list to instantly view and track your competitors’ customers and partnerships.

CBI customers, learn more about what’s new for you here.

Industry Standard

The Wall Street Journal. Yuliya Chernova (@ychernova) highlights AI recruiting startup Mercor's rise to a $2B valuation, using CB Insights data. 

Technext. Ejike Kanife (@aktivingredient) covers the decline in equity funding for African fintechs in 2024, citing CB Insights research.

South China Morning Post. Ben Jiang reports on ByteDance’s AI ambitions, using CB Insights research.

I love you.

Anand

@asanwal 

Co-Founder & Exec Chair

P.S. Did I mention sharing your feedback on this newsletter takes just 60 seconds? That’s half the time it takes to microwave leftover Taco Bell. 

Get started with CB Insights

CB Insights' emerging technology insights platform provides all the

analysis and data from this newsletter. Our data is the easiest way to discover and respond to emerging tech. 

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here