Important Innovations Collection

       D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF                By Journalists Edward Kane & Marya nne Kane  MOON MINING - INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY?                      Source:  NASA Moon Metals & Resources China, India, Europe, the US and Russia are in an intense space race to be the first to start mining the Moon, because the potential is worth many quadrillions of dollars Here's what we know: Precious rare metals, frozen water and helium are locked in the surface of the Moon and are estimated to be worth many quadrillions of dollars An intense competition has erupted among the US, China, India, Russia and Europe to be the 1st to start mining the Moon's surface and stake out the turf as their territory 400 public and private missions to  the Moon are planned between 2022 and 2032 The center of focus is the Moon's south pole where India just landed a spacecr...

New Initiatives at UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow                                        Source:  COP26 & Stock Images VC Money Pouring into Climate-Tech Startups At the United Nation's Climate Conference COP 26 in Glasgow, world leaders have renewed their vow to accelerate the fight against Climate Change in a concerted and united fashion.  The remedies include cutting greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, implementing a $19 billion plan to end deforestation by 2030 and investing in innovative, new technologies to fight Climate Change.  Fortunately, VC money has already started pouring into the climate-tech innovation sector. Climate Cash Investments in climate-tech startups during the first 3 quarters of 2021 are already 30% higher than in all of 2020.  It amounts to $32 billion.  While that $32 billion is only 6% of all VC money ...

Sono Motors Files for an IPO on Nasdaq                                             Source:  Sono Motors' Sion Valuation Could Be More Than $1 Billion Sono Motors of Munich, Germany was founded in 2016 by four friends working out of a tiny garage. The company specializes in developing solar electric, zero emissions cars. Fast forward five years, the company has filed for a US initial public offering (IPO).  The company will be listed as SEV on the Nasdaq with a expected valuation in excess of $1 billion.  Sono has developed an advanced solar electric vehicle called Sion.  It is looking to pull in investor money to expand operations as governments around the world are pushing for greener, cleaner, zero emissions vehicles like Sion.  Growing from zero revenues and a concept to $1 billion in valuation in five years is the essence of a hot...

Money Chasing Semiconductor Startups                                  Source: Semiconductor Stock Images Global Chip Shortage Is the Driving Factor Semiconductor startups are very hot.  They are the recipients of a flood of investor money rolling into them globally if they have very promising new chips.  In 2021 so far, 85 global deals in the semiconductor market have raised $3.7 billion with startups receiving 43% of the money.  The reason for the global investor spotlight on semiconductors is the global chip shortage that started in 2020.  Experts predict that shortages could continue through 2023 and beyond. The impact is huge.  Automakers and technology companies are being forced to wait 5 months and more for chip deliveries which is hampering their global businesses. Search For Developing New Chip Technologies What investors are placing bets on are chips that...

Going for Global Investor Gold Source:  Ant Group $34.4 Billion IPO  Chinese financial technology giant Ant Financial Services Group is launching a dual listed IPO on the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.  The IPO is aiming to raise nearly $35 billion. That would be the world's largest share price offering in history. Investors are racing for a piece of the fast growing company.  Ant is Alibaba's financial affiliate. Alibaba is a giant China-based technology and e-commerce multinational company. Ant offers a suite of financial services, including the widely popular Alipay digital payment system, known as China's wallet. The IPO deal would value Ant at more than $313 billion.  That is more than the world's biggest bank by assets, The Industrial and  Commercial Bank of China. Regulatory and Trade Concerns Overshadowing the market debut is a threat by the US State Department to add the company to its trade blacklist.  There is also some concern over...

Germany's Flying Taxi Startup Lilium Source:  Lilium Top Tesla Investor Takes a Stake Tesla's top external investor, Edinboro based Baillie Gifford, has taken a stake in the German air taxi startup Lilium.  The investment management firm has invested $35 million, which is a less than 5% stake, in Lilium which vows to be the global leader in the emerging air taxi industry. Flight Tested Lilium has a proven air taxi prototype.  Its 5 seat, passenger air taxi took a maiden flight in October 2019 and successfully took-off, flew and landed.  The Lilium Jet is an electric, vertical take off and landing vehicle (eVTOL).  It takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter.  The vehicle is powered by 36 electric jet engines placed in the wings. Competitive Racing for Market Launch With a fresh round of funding, Munich-based Lilium has a market valuation of more than $1 billion.  It is racing to bring the eVTOL flying taxi to market.  Compet...

Expands EV Portfolio with LA Startup Canoo Source: Canoo Hyundai Developing New Platform for EV Cars, Trucks, SUV's  South Korean automotive giant Hyundai is broadening and deepening its future transportation and electric vehicle lineup through a new partnership with Los Angeles EV startup Canoo. The two are partnering to develop a distinctive, new skateboard platform that Hyundai can use to produce a wide range of inexpensive electric cars and e-vehicles. Skateboard Platforms Skateboard platforms are the rage for EV manufacturers with major players like Detroit-based Rivian and Israeli startup REE getting significant outside investments to develop their own skateboard platforms.  What stands out about Hyundai is that its investment commitment into future mobility technologies for EV's in particular is now hitting an unprecedented amount of $87 billion over the next few years.  Their partnership with Canoo is their latest partnership commitment to...

Joby Aviation's $590 Million Investor Infusion Source:  Joby Aviation VTOL Toyota Lead Investor There's a flying taxi readying for takeoff.  Joby Aviation, which develops electric flying taxis, has secured $590 million in investment money.  Toyota is the lead player at $394 million, followed by Intel Capital, Jet Blue VC and Toyota's AI Ventures.  Joby Aviation, headquartered in northern California, has developed a very impressive VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle. Electric VTOL Joby's flying taxi goes up to 200 mph, 150 miles + on a single charge, is 100-times more quiet than conventional aircraft and has zero carbon emissions.  The vehicle seats 4 passengers, vertically takes off like a helicopter and smoothly transitions to forward flight.  The $590 million is the biggest investment ever made in a flying taxi company. Big Players eVTOLs are the hottest category of flying cars.  Six urban air mobility vehicles are curr...

$7 Trillion Point of View Source:  BlackRock's Sustainable Home Banner BlackRock Goes Green BlackRock, based in New York City, is the world's largest asset manager with $7 Trillion under management.  CEO Larry Fink just announced that he's making fighting Climate Change a key part of his investment strategy. His focus is sustainable investing. He says that the dangerous impact of Climate Change is causing investors "to reassess core assumptions of modern finance." Concrete Steps Fink has a strategic plan that he's implementing.  Essentially, he's greatly escalating holdings in green, sustainable investment vehicles.  Specifically, he's: Doubling BlackRock's sustainable ETFs to 150 Putting pressure on index providers to include more sustainable benchmarks Selling $500 million worth of investments in thermal coal producers by July Voting against boards and management who don't account for climate risk or don't hav...

Investor's News Guide to Big, New Innovations Available on Amazon and Kindle As a business journalist and licensed stock broker, I've just published a valuable guide for investors interested in taking a look at big, new innovations.  I've focused on six key innovations sectors:  Electric Vehicles, Robotics, Sustainable Products, Connectivity, Environmental and Energy and Travel. For the savvy investor, my book provides news summaries on nearly 80 top, new inventions.   The book is designed to serve as a take-off point for the reader to explore the innovation, do their own independent research and due diligence and then personally determine if it’s an investment bet you’d like to make. For a free sample read,  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B083LGWYWK&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_mp1fEbYPC5XN6 For access to my collection of innovation books,  amazon.com/author/ekane

Latest Book by Business Journalist and Stock Broker Ed Kane https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083LGWYWK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i14 On Amazon and Kindle I'm pleased to announce that my latest book "Investing in Disruptive Innovations has just been published as an e-book and paperback by Amazon and Kindle The book provides investors with information on the latest  big  innovations with the potential to disrupt industries.  It's an important take-off point for investors to start their own research and due diligence on innovations that could provide significant investment returns. As a business journalist and licensed stock broker I've written the book as a helpful informational resource on the latest in breakthrough innovation that I'm tracking. To take a look, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B083LGWYWK&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_dsEfEbE7FENJ3 amazon.com/author/ekane

REE Electric Vehicle System:  Engines Directly in the Wheels Source:  R3E Increases Efficiencies and Cuts Costs REE, an Israeli start-up based in Tel Aviv, aims to reimagine the future of electric vehicles.  They've developed potentially disruptive technology that enables a completely different way of building electric vehicles.  They've created a completely flat and modular chassis.  That allows all engine components to be put directly next to the wheels and below the body of the car.  The design reduces weight and space and increases efficiencies.  Essentially, the team has developed a new electromobility platform that works across models from powerful cars to 10 ton trucks. Skateboard Chassis REE calls it a skateboard chassis.  The modular design puts the engine, suspension, steering, electronics, powertrain, brakes and other components right next to the wheels. This fundamentally changes the way cars are built.  Furthermore th...

Wall Street's $1.3 Billion Bet on EV Startup Rivian Source:  Rivian R1S SUV Unique EV "Skateboard Technology" for Cars, Trucks, SUVs The 2020's are going to be hot growth years for electric vehicles.  Detroit-based EV startup Rivian just closed on a $1.3 billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price.  The Wall Street investors are joined by existing stakeholders Ford and Amazon. Rivian's Differentiator:  Unique Technology Rivian's technological approach to electric vehicles is unique.  It has a patented "skateboard" design.  The skateboard is the chassis that bundles the electric motors, batteries and controls.  Moreover, the skateboard design can accommodate a variety of models and body styles.  That's just one of the unique aspects of Rivian that attracted Ford to invest $500 million in the startup company. Big 2020 Development Plan Rivan is currently valued at $5 to $7 billion.  It previously raised $2.2 billi...