The metaverse land rush of 2022 is on: projected to reach nearly $1 billion this year.
The (metaverse) land rush of 2022 is on
If you feel left behind by the red-hot real estate market, don’t worry, you may have another chance—virtually at least. Although maybe don’t wait too long. According to one estimate, real estate sales on the four major metaverse platforms reached $501 million in 2021 and are projected to reach nearly $1 billion this year.
Even as IPO market sputters, these startups are going public via SPAC
Public market volatility has largely put a pause on the U.S. IPO market this year, but a handful of startups are still aiming for Wall Street debuts via an alternate path: mergers with SPACs. Follow along as we track the venture-backed startups that have completed mergers with blank-check acquirers so far in 2022.
Debt financing could heat up as venture capital slows
Debt financing—which can lessen the amount of more expensive venture capital a startup needs and also lower dilution for founders and earlier investors—seems to be becoming a more popular option, especially as venture funding appears to be slowing down.
Weglot lands $49M in hot translation software space
Translation-focused companies have been raising significant capital lately, with more than $490 million going to the space since the beginning of last year, per Crunchbase data. The latest large funding recipient, Paris-based Weglot, announced this week that it raised 45 million euros ($49 million) in a growth funding round.
Track the most valuable private companies with the new Unicorn Board
Keep tabs on the most valuable private companies globally with The Crunchbase Unicorn Board. Our new leaderboard is updated daily and tracks private companies as they reach unicorn status.
VC firm Lux launches ETF focused on digital health
VC firm Lux Capital is rolling out an exchange-traded fund focused on digital health in partnership with First Trust Advisors. It’s an interesting spin on the trend of public market investors also investing in the private markets, and follows on last year’s strong IPO market for digital health companies.
Meet the top-funded female entrepreneurs in 2022 (thus far)
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting female entrepreneurs who are leading, inspiring and shaping the future. We leveraged Crunchbase’s Diversity Spotlight data to curate this list of 10 top-funded companies founded and led by female entrepreneurs so far in 2022.
