TechCrunch+ summary: VC robotics survey, Visa Bulletin update, SaaS engagement metrics

Just a few nights in the past a robotic taxi drove me residence and every thing was wonderful.

It felt like an info packet transmitted over a community because it drove me by means of Golden Gate Park at a gradual 23 miles per hour (slowing down to six mph for every velocity bump).

Since our final robotics investor survey in February 2020, Determine has emerged from stealth with its bipedal humanoid robotic, and Atlas of Boston Dynamics has change into a parkour knowledgeable.

Autonomous tractors, semi-trucks and warehouse stocking robots went from idea to actuality. Is robotics mainstream now?

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“The time in between has been arguably crucial years for the trade,” writes {hardware} editor Brian Heater, who requested 13 buyers about subjects as numerous as robotics as a service, rising shopper merchandise, and the way a lot of a task it may play. When addressing local weather change:

• Milo Werner, basic accomplice of The Engine
• Abe Murray, managing accomplice, Alley Robotics Ventures
• Kelly Chen, accomplice, DCVC
• Neel Mehta, enterprise investor, G2 Ventures
• Oliver Keown, Managing Director, Intuitive Ventures
• Rohit Sharma, accomplice, True Ventures
• Helen Greiner, marketing consultant, Cybernetix Ventures
• Kira Noodleman, accomplice, Bee Ventures
• Dayna Grayson, co-founder and basic accomplice, Assemble Capital
• Paul Willard, accomplice, Grep
• Cyril Ebersweiler, basic accomplice, SOSV
• Claire Delaunay, non-public investor
• Peter Barrett, co-founder and basic accomplice of Playground World

Thanks a lot for studying TC+ this week!

walter thompson
Content material Supervisor, TechCrunch+
@yourhero

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4 SaaS engagement metrics that entice buyers

Picture Sources: Tetra sorcerers (opens in a new window) / Getty Photos

Previous efficiency does not at all times predict future outcomes, nevertheless it’s the very best place to seek out buyer retention statistics that curiosity buyers.

In accordance with Oleksandr Yaroshenko, head of funding and technique at Edtech startup Headway, engagement charges for present clients are “the very best indicators for resubscription.”

On this submit, she explores her gamification technique and shares her concepts for making a “golden band” that represents your target market.

Ask Sophie: What number of employment inexperienced playing cards can be found every year?

Picture Sources: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch

Pricey Sophie,

I am attempting to calculate how lengthy I ought to watch for the inexperienced card.

I’ve two questions for you: What number of employment inexperienced playing cards can be found in every class every year? How can I make sense of the Visa Bulletin?

— Pending in San Jose

Secondary market watchers illuminate a historically darkish deal panorama

Picture Sources: Getty Photos

Preliminary valuations have dropped, however by how a lot?

Relatively than ready for founders to launch their subsequent spherical of fundraising, Rebecca Szkutak watches secondary markets the place “buyers should buy and promote present shares in a enterprise or fund.”

Like Caplight, Discover, Birel, and Hive Markets, “These offers have been harder to trace than major enterprise capital offers as they have been usually unannounced, however a fleet of latest startups sheds mild on them.”

“At the same time as a dealer who’s lively every single day, I used to be shocked by how fragmented and collapsed the info was,” Discover founder Tyson Hendricksen stated. “It was actually onerous to grasp what was happening.”

VCs nonetheless assume enterprise software program is a sensible funding

Picture Sources: NicoElNino / Getty Photos

As employers and workers face the brand new actuality of distant and hybrid places of work, buyers proceed to fund startups producing enterprise software program, in response to a Deloitte report launched this week.

Kyle Wiggers says a number of traits are attracting enterprise capitalists for the way forward for enterprise: In a declining market, buyers are on the lookout for sustainable progress.[s] Longer lasting, sturdy business-to-business contracts for software program toolkits could be discovered amongst them.

MassMutual launches $100M fund to spend money on numerous founders

Picture Sources: We / Getty Photos

Insurance coverage firm MassMutual is doubling down two years after launching the primary $50 million MM Catalyst Fund to help numerous founders.

Dominic-Madori Davis interviewed Liz Roberts, the corporate’s head of influence investments, to study extra concerning the new $100 million influence fund and talk about how previous funds have been allotted.

“We wish to have extra friends investing with us with that sort of thesis and understanding,” Roberts stated. “We’re too small for an ideal alternative.”

Pitch Deck Teardown: Diamond Customary’s $30M Collection A deck

Picture Sources: Diamond Standard (opens in a new window)

Diamond Customary obtained a $30 million Collection A for its blockchain-based funding platform final yr and shared its 11-slide deck with TechCrunch+:

• Cowl and job slide
• abstract slide
• Resolution slide (“Intro to the sensible product”)
• Drawback slide (“Diamonds severely under-allocated”)
• Market Alternative (marked as slide 4 within the deck)
• Roadmap slide (“How can we make a diamond meta?” is marked slide 5 within the deck)
• Product slide 1 (“Diamond Customary Trade”)
• Product slide 2 (“Diamond Customary Recycling”)
• ESG slide (“Diamonds are a robust ESG funding”)
• Founder slide
• group slide

CeFi and DeFi versus regulation

Classify Rafael / EyeEm by way of Getty Photos

Will the FTX debacle set off regulatory crackdown throughout crypto?

“Most anticipate the worst,” says Ira Lam, SuperLayer’s chief authorized officer. “Complete reactive strain on all elements of crypto appears imminent, framed to guard the general public from future unhealthy actors.”

On this detailed market evaluation, Lam examines the variations between decentralized and centralized monetary programs, considering the completely different manifestations of threat in every surroundings.

“It might take a very long time earlier than we see any vital motion in direction of shopper protections in crypto, however one factor is for certain: CeFi and DeFi can not exist with out one another.”