While many of the technologies focused on finding real-world solutions (ex., digital health, wellness tech) for consumers, there were also hardware and software solutions which could empower creators in 2023. From a VC's perspective, Alexa Fund director Paul Bernard remarked via email that, 'To invent on behalf of our customers, we're investing in emerging trends across the metaverse, creator economy tools, XR, Web3 and so much more.' 'Attending and speaking at CES as a creator was beneficial as today brands and creators are merging, and creators are the CEOs of their brand. ' As such, this show gave creators access to new hardware and software around AR, VR, gaming, AI and the metaverse which support content creation.' Jonathan 'Yoni' Frenkel is a content strategist and founder of YKC Media, an agency which works with VCs, corporate executives and startup founders. He most recently wrote about The United Nations Global Assembly and Clinton Global Initiative for Crunchbase News....

A growing number of people are looking for ways to live more sustainably amid increasing concerns over the environment and what we humans keep doing to pollute it. Today, a startup called Grover that has built a business around one aspect of that ' enticing people to buy and eventually discard less consumer electronics such as phones, monitors and electric scooters by offering them attractive subscriptions to use their stock of new or used gadgets instead ' is announcing a big round of funding to expand its business. The Berlin-based company has raised $330 million ' specifically $110 million in equity and $220 million in debt ' money that it plans to use both to expand its stock of devices as it gears up for more user growth; but also build out more tools and financial services to personalize the experience for individuals, to encourage more business on its platform through schemes like loyalty programs in markets where it operates, and to drive deeper into big markets, such as the U.S....

Months after the novel coronavirus was first detected in the United States, the COVID-19 crisis continues to upend Americans’ lives and livelihoods. The pandemic has disrupted nearly every routine in day-to-day life. The extent and duration of mandated lockdowns and business closures have forced people to give up even some of their most deeply ingrained habits—whether spending an hour at the gym after dropping the kids off at school, going to a coffee shop for a midday break, or enjoying Saturday night at the movies.Such disruptions in daily experiences present a rare moment. In ordinary times, consumers tend to stick stubbornly to their habits, resulting in very slow adoption (if any) of beneficial innovations that require behavior change. Now, the COVID-19 crisis has caused consumers everywhere to change their behaviors—rapidly and in large numbers. In the United States, for example, 75 percent of consumers have tried a new store, brand, or different way of shopping during the pandemic. Even though the impetus for that behavior change may be specific to the pandemic and transient, consumer companies would do well to find ways to meet consumers where they are today and satisfy their needs in the postcrisis period.Behavioral science tells us that identifying consumers’ new beliefs, habits, and “peak moments” is central to driving behavioral change. Five actions can help companies influence consumer behavior for the longer term:...