Top Ten Spheres for Investing in Technology
Want to get a head start on what angel and venture capitalists are looking for in 2017? Here are some sectors we hear whispers about from investors:
1. Healthcare IT
Healthcare insurers want to improve communications with providers and consumers as well while reducing costs and improving service. This scenario set up the hunt for across the board B2B and B2C technology.
2. Enterprise Software & Gamification
Business enterprise software is back in favor as companies strive to integrate more advanced consumer technology into operations. Gamification of business processes is gaining popularity.
3. Fashion Technology
Wearable technology is poised to explode: It’s not just biometric tracking, but wearables that can improve health and essential body functions. Fashion Technology will also encompass supply chain improvements, inventory and sales performance.
4. Mobile Payments
Mobile payments have risen as a popular payment process through providers like Square, Intuit and Paypal. Mobile payments will increasingly replace plastic as consumers become more familiar with their convenience.
5. Solar Technology – Consumer Market
Home sales of solar panels will increase with new financing models that permit homeowners to buy installation as easily as financing a car. Architects and home builders will begin to integrate solar panels into home design, driving demand and lowering costs.
6. 3D Printing
3D printing has moved from industrial to consumer use with the advent of print on demand and delivering products and in home units at affordable prices. Continued improvements will drive pricing down, thereby driving the market.
7. Robotics
Industrial robotics have taken over factories and are now moving into the home with floor cleaners, companions for children and home bound adults. Robotic helpers in healthcare will drive down costs of caring for the elderly while providing more individual assistance.
8. Cloud Security
With businesses big and small moving to cloud storage, security for integrating all access from online and mobile is essential. Look for companies to provide more security software for integration of multiple devices.
9. Mobile Healthcare Apps
The healthcare industry is moving rapidly to adopt apps that will help them communicate better with their customers. People are on the go and expect mobility in every facet of life, and healthcare is one of the most essential.
10. Big Data Analytics
Big data in and of itself is useless because so much is produced every minute of every day that making sense of it is impossible. The analytics applied to specific industries on the other hand are essential for top performance and will separate winners from losers.