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$185 BILLION RAISED ACROSS 12,500 TRANSACTIONS BEHIND GROWTH CAPITAL MARKETS’ 2018 BULL RUN, REVEALS HAMPLETON PARTNERS’ REPORT

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Hampleton Partners’ analysis of growth capital reveals that 2018 marked another record year for global venture capital financing, with a total disclosed value of $185 bn (€165 billion) raised across more than 12,500 transactions.

The international technology M&A and growth finance advisors reveal that total transaction volume grew five per cent per year from 2014 to 2018 across the globe, while total value raised grew by 13 per cent, suggesting that funding rounds are becoming larger.

The Asia-Pacific region registered the largest number of deals in 2018 at 6,676, followed by North America with 5,640 and Europe with 2,601.

Asia-Pacific also charted the highest growth in absolute value, propelled by the increasing prevalence of massive investment funds such as Softbank’s $100 billion Vision Fund and Tiger Global’s new $3.75 billion tech fund, both having contributed to some of the record 21 new Asian unicorns born in 2018.

Over a four-year period, Europe walked away with the highest relative growth, witnessing a 24% CAGR over three years, with the number of deals having doubled since 2016. The proliferation in Europe of early stage funding rounds and the higher value they generate are the result of favourable government programmes, thriving tech hubs from Stockholm to Berlin, and a highly active and maturing investor environment.

Supergiants and Unicorns

“Supergiant” funding rounds – venture capital rounds generating funds in excess of $100 million – are becoming commonplace. 2018 saw 515 supergiant rounds, more than 2017 and 2016 combined.  Although they accounted for only two per cent of all rounds worldwide, they secured a massive 56 per cent of the total $185bn value raised.

There was also an all-time high of 106 unicorn births during 2018, dwarfing the combined 2016 and 2017 total of 73.

Miro Parizek, founder and principal partner, Hampleton Partners, said:

“We’ve witnessed the highest level of venture capital investment on record, both in volume and value terms. This has included an unprecedented increase in the number of supergiant rounds and new unicorn births, in addition to growth in all median sizes of funding rounds. The total value of all unicorns has also inched above $1 trillion.

“This seemingly boomish growth is driven by the new wave of start-ups causing extreme disruption in traditional industries such as automotive, retail, security, and healthcare in addition to the larger start-ups continuing to fundraise from favorable private markets. While lights are bright green for the VC markets, this high growth in all metrics may also be a signal of overheating markets of increasingly cash-rich funds making increasingly risky investments.

Most active investors

Hampleton’s report identifies the most active investors in the EU and US. In the US, 500startups racked up 398 investments, followed by Y Combinator (374), Sequoia (305), Techstars (221), Plug and Play Ventures (188), Matrix (168) and Accel (163).

In Europe, Index Ventures tops the chart with 92 investments, followed by Partech (90) and High-Tech Gründerfonds (74), Kima Ventures (63), Balderton Capital (43), Octopus Investments (38) and EQT (38).

Largest transaction

The most valuable company on 2018’s unicorn list is Bytedance, a Chinese machine learning content platform. Bytedance was valued at $75bn in its October fundraise in a round led by Softbank and joined by KKR and General Atlantic.

Sector-focused funding

Fintech proved to be the most popular sector for investors, as consumer solutions aiming to revolutionise the banking and payments industry gained traction. Among the new unicorns born out of the rounds completed by Ant Financial or JD Finance in the second half of 2018 were N26, Plaid Technologies, Viva Republic and Monzo.

Autotech investment took second place with the highest number of VC investments in car-related businesses on record, totalling 355 vs. 325 in 2017, though total equity value raised was down to $13.5bn (€12bn) from a $25bn (€22bn) high in 2017, which was achieved after several mega-transactions by Softbank.

New autotech unicorn births included Aurora, Momenta, Xpeng and pony.ai.

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World 50 Group Announces Winners for the 2024 I&D Impact Awards, Recognizing Workplace Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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ATLANTA, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — World 50 Group, the global community of business leaders from the most respected and influential companies, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Impact Awards. Now in its second year, the I&D Impact Awards spotlight the remarkable strides organizations have taken to create more equitable workplaces and communities around the world.

The winners were unveiled last night at the I&D Impact Awards ceremony in Miami, where hundreds of global executives from leading organizations gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements, advancements, and progress in DEI. Partners of the I&D Impact Awards, including Amazon, Best Buy, Cognizant, Joshin, RHR International, and SLB—all esteemed World 50 member companies and DEI champions—joined in the festivities.

“The 2024 I&D Impact Awards once again underscore the steadfast commitment of today’s leading companies to building a brighter future for us all,” said Jennifer Bird Newton, World 50’s chief impact officer. “We are in a pivotal moment for DEI. The significance of coming together to acknowledge our achievements—without resting on our laurels—cannot be overstated. Last night’s festivities served as a powerful reminder of the impact of collective action, and we extend heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners.”

Chosen from a competitive pool of more than 140 entries from 74 unique organizations, the 2024 I&D Impact Awards winners represent leaders from diverse industries, spanning nine categories:

  • I&D Ally Award: Ferrero
  • Transparency Award, in partnership with Best Buy: Rio Tinto
  • Innovation Award, in partnership with Amazon: Victoria’s Secret & Co.
  • Gender Equality Award: Kimberly-Clark
  • I&D Team of the Year, in partnership with Cognizant: Inizio Evoke
    • Highly commended: Humana
  • I&D Leader of the Year, in partnership with RHR International: Lydia Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, Victoria’s Secret & Co.
    • Highly commended: Sherri Neal, Chief Diversity Officer, HCA Healthcare
  • Community Impact Award: Amazon
  • Inclusion Award, in partnership with Joshin: EY
    • Highly commended: Union Pacific
  • I&D Impact Award, in partnership with SLB: Cummins
    • Highly commended: Cargill

The winners were meticulously chosen by a panel of esteemed, independent judges comprising 24 top DEI executives from leading organizations, including AstraZeneca, Discover, Cognizant, Hilton, Lenovo, Mars, MetLife, and Warner Bros. Discovery, among others.

“Witnessing the passion, creativity, and impact of these winning initiatives reignites my belief in the power of inclusion to reshape our future,” said Crystal Andrew Banks, global head of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at The Kraft Heinz Company. “Bravo to all companies that submitted a nomination, and let’s keep pushing boundaries together.”

Earl Newsome, chief information officer at Cummins, added: “Each submission showcased the beauty of creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. Every entrant should take pride in the impact they are making.”

The I&D Impact Awards serve as a cornerstone of the World 50 I&D Impact Community, one of the largest groups of global DEI leaders in the world. Members convene regularly to exchange best practices and amplify what works when advancing DEI initiatives across the organization. Participation is complimentary for heads of DEI at World 50 member companies.

Learn more about the World 50 I&D Impact Awards—and how to get involved in 2025—here.

About World 50 Group
Leaders of the world’s most respected companies join World 50 to learn from one another. More than 4,800 global CEOs, board directors, and senior executives across every function—from 40 countries across six continents—trust the World 50 community for insights that deliver impact at scale.

World 50 is the safe space to exchange ideas, navigate complex challenges, and evolve as a leader. Members are at the forefront of transformation, leading organizations with a total market cap exceeding $34 trillion and more than 37 million employees worldwide.

To learn more about membership and request an invitation, visit world50.com.

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ICIS and Base Oil News Announce Partnership to Enhance Market Insights

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LONDON, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ICIS, a global source of commodity intelligence, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Base Oil News, a premier news outlet founded by industry expert Iain Pocock that provides in-depth coverage of the base oils and lubricants market. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the dissemination and exchange of critical market data and insights.

With more than two decades of journalism experience at Bloomberg, Reuters, and Argus Media, Iain Pocock brings unparalleled expertise to this partnership. His deep understanding of illiquid energy markets makes him a credible and influential figure in the industry. Since November 2023, Iain has been working closely with ICIS to share and exchange valuable data and insights, enhancing the services both platforms offer to the base oils and lubricants market.

Through the collaboration, Iain integrates ICIS’ extensive content and data resources in Base Oil News market coverage. In return, he contributes market insights to ICIS News, including expert and exclusive analysis of supply and demand dynamics, price margins, and other critical market drivers. This exchange ensures that subscribers of both ICIS and Base Oil News have access to the most comprehensive, timely, and accurate market information, empowering them to make informed decisions.

“It’s a very exciting partnership – where we leverage each other’s strengths and provide actionable insights to our customers,” said Iain Pocock, Founder of Base Oil News. “The market is the winner.”

“As ICIS is already the world’s most trusted pricing benchmark for base oils, this collaboration with Iain Pocock and Base Oil News provides an even stronger and deeper service to our customers,” said Stephen Burns, Editorial Director at ICIS. “Iain’s expertise and extensive industry connections are invaluable, and we have established a fruitful partnership that benefits the market at large.”

For the latest insights from Iain Pocock on ICIS News, visit ICIS News.  

About ICIS

ICIS – Independent Commodity Intelligence Services – helps businesses through seamlessly delivering data and analytics, across the chemical, fertilizer and energy markets. A trusted source and benchmark for price information and insight across key commodities markets worldwide. Our independent, transparent market intelligence informs thousands of quality decisions every day, taking the pressure out of negotiations and giving customers space for more innovative thinking, through published datasets including price assessments, price forecasts, supply and demand fundamentals and more.

Over 150 years of shaping the world by connecting markets to optimise the world’s valuable resources. With a global team of more than 600 experts, ICIS has employees based in London, New York, Houston, Karlsruhe, Milan, Mumbai, Singapore, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo and Perth.

ICIS is part of RELX, a FTSE15 company with a market cap of £64bn and an employee base of over 30,000 experts across 40 countries.

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs approximately 30,000 people of whom almost half are in North America. RELX PLC is a London listed holding company which owns 52.9% of RELX Group. RELX NV is an Amsterdam listed holding company which owns 47.1% of RELX Group. The shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX and RENX. Total market capitalisation is approximately £64bn | €75bn | $81bn.

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Bybit Web3 Announces “Mantle Sharding With Ethena” Campaign

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DUBAI, UAE, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, one of the world’s top three crypto exchanges by volume, is thrilled to announce a campaign in collaboration with Mantle Network: Mantle Sharding With Ethena. This exciting event offers $MNT holders the opportunity to earn a share of a massive 2.5 billion Ethena Shards.

Lock In $MNT and Earn mShards

The official lock-in period for the Mantle Sharding With Ethena campaign runs from March 27, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC to April 26, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC. During this time, Bybit Web3 users can lock in their $MNT tokens to earn coveted mShards. These mShards, fully backed by the Mantle Treasury, can be later redeemed for Ethena’s native token, $ENA.

Maximize Your Rewards and Trade mShards Across DeFi dApps

For maximum reward potential, users are encouraged to keep their $MNT locked throughout the entire campaign period. Rewards are dynamically calculated and updated in real-time based on the total amount of $MNT locked per second by all participants.

Bybit Web3 is proud to be the first ecosystem to enable the trading of Ethena Shards in the form of mShards across various DeFi dApps. This integration marks a significant milestone for Mantle Ecosystem, paving the way for further exciting developments.

Don’t miss this opportunity to earn substantial rewards and contribute to the growth of the Mantle and Ethena ecosystems. For full details and participation instructions, please visit:

https://announcements.bybit.com/en/article/limited-time-offer-lock-in-mnt-and-grab-your-share-of-2-500-000-000-ethena-shards–blt66c8da8bd86d0910/

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #BybitWeb3

About Bybit Web3

Bybit Web3 is redefining openness in the decentralized world, creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. We are committed to welcoming builders, creators, and partners in the blockchain space, extending an invitation to both crypto enthusiasts and the curious, with a community of over 1 million wallet users, over 10 major ecosystem partners, and counting. 

Bybit Web3 provides a comprehensive suite of Web3 products designed to make accessing, swapping, collecting and growing Web3 assets as open and simple as possible. Our wallets, marketplaces and platforms are all backed by the security and expertise that define Bybit as a top 3 global crypto exchange, trusted by 25 million users globally.

Join the revolution now and open the door to your Web3 future with Bybit.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Web3.

About Bybit

Bybit is one of the world’s top three crypto exchanges by trading volume with 25 million users. Established in 2018, it offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press.

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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