Game Changers 2018

Our selected startups are high-momentum companies pioneering technology with the potential to transform society and economies for the better.
About Techcelerate Ventures

Tech Investment and Growth Advisory for Series A in the UK, operating in £150k to £5m investment market, working with #SaaS #FinTech #HealthTech #MarketPlaces and #PropTech companies.
Select investor Company Game Changer technology DEVELOP product
Our selected startups are high-momentum companies pioneering technology with the potential to transform society and economies for the better.
About Techcelerate Ventures

Tech Investment and Growth Advisory for Series A in the UK, operating in £150k to £5m investment market, working with #SaaS #FinTech #HealthTech #MarketPlaces and #PropTech companies.
Select investor Company Game Changer technology DEVELOP product
Game Changers 2018
Emerging trends to watch and high-momentum startups 
with world-changing potential.
The technology market 
intelligence platform.
CB Insights software lets you predict, discuss, and 
communicate emerging technology trends using data 
in ways that are beyond human cognition.
2
See what other customers have to say at http://www.cbinsights.com/customer-love
A FEW OF OUR HAPPY CUSTOMERS
The most publicly reference-able customers of anyone in the industry
Beti Cung, Corporate Strategy, Microsoft
“We use CB Insights to find emerging 
trends and interesting companies that 
might signal a shift in technology or 
require us to reallocate resources.”
December 12 – 13, 2017 | San Francisco, CA
A-ha! is a gathering of Fortune 1000 executives, investors, 
academics, and startup founders discussing the next wave of 
ideas and technologies that will shape our world.  
SPEAKERS INCLUDE
Daymond John
The Shark Group 
Star of ABC’s Shark Tank 
and CEO
FUBU 
Founder/CEO
Liza Landsman
Jet.com
President
Sold to Walmart for $3.3B
Mudassir Sheikha
Careem
Co-founder & CEO
MENA’s $1.2B Unicorn
Benedict Evans
Andreessen Horowitz
Partner 
“Working Out What’s 
Happening Next” at a16z
13
17
68
2018 Game Changers
Company Deep Dives
Appendix & Methodology
6
Table of Contents
Marc Andreessen
Andreessen Horowitz
7
"Most of the big breakthrough technologies 
seem crazy at first... It has to be a radical 
product. It has to be something where, when 
people look at it, at first they say, I don’t get it, I 
don't understand it…"
8
Defining Game Changers
/ɡām - CHānjər/
noun
An event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in 
the current manner of doing or thinking about something.
A newly introduced element or factor that changes an 
existing situation or activity in a significant way.
Our selected startups are high-momentum companies 
pioneering technology with the potential to transform society 
and economies for the better.
9
2018 Game Changer categories
Neurotechnology
Regenerative Medicine
Synthetic Animal Products
Visualizing, improving, and 
repairing brain functionality
3D printing and engineering organs, 
cells, and tissues
Startups offering lab-grown animal 
products from food to clothing
Synthetic Agriculture
AI Chips
Massive Simulations
Advanced technologies for 
improving plant health and crop 
yield
Startups developing processing 
units for AI applications
The creation of simulated worlds 
for predicting real-world outcomes
Intelligent Public Safety
Autonomous Construction
Rocket Launchers
The future of surveillance, crime 
prevention, and emergency 
response
Robotics and automation 
equipment for the construction 
industry
Startups re-inventing the way 
rockets-to-space are built and 
flown
Extreme Logistics
Delivery in places requiring tech to 
compensate for lack of 
infrastructure
Neurotechnology
Regenerative Medicine
Synthetic Animal Products
Synthetic Agriculture
AI Chips
Massive Simulations
Intelligent Public Safety
Autonomous Construction
Rocket Launchers
Extreme Logistics
10
2018 Game Changers
Most active investors in 
game changers
Over 180 unique 
investors backed this 
year’s cohort of game 
changers. Topping the 
list was Andreessen 
Horowitz, Data Collective, 
IndieBio, NEA, Sequoia, 
and SOSV, with 
investments to 3 unique 
game changers. 
In total, 21 investors 
backed 2 or more of 
these companies. 
With 20 backers, Zipline 
International has the 
most investors. 
11
Top investors backing game-changing companies
Firms backing 2 or more unique game changer startups
12
13
Neurotechnology
Visualizing, improving, and 
repairing brain functionality
Michael Tarr
Former co-director of Carnegie Mellon's 
Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition
14
"The study of the mind and brain is the last frontier in 
science. Although the field has made enormous 
progress over the past several decades, 
understanding of the basic principles of thought and 
brain function are still far more unknown than 
known.”
15
BLOCK CHRONIC PAIN
Neuros Medical's technology delivers high-frequency stimulation to sensory nerves in the 
peripheral nervous system to block chronic pain. The system consists of an electrode placed 
around a peripheral nerve and is powered by an implantable pacemaker-size generator.
The company is focused on the elimination of chronic pain in a variety of conditions, including 
amputation pain, post-surgical pain, migraine, and trigeminal neuralgia.
Select Investors: US Department of Defense, Boston Scientific Corporation, US Venture Partners
16
Synchron is a medical device company developing an “endovascular neural interface” called the 
Stentrode – an implantable brain device to achieve direct brain control of assisted technologies.
The technology platform is being developed to help paralyzed patients facilitate control of 
external devices such as robotic limbs, computers, and exoskeletons by translating brain 
activity into physical movement.
Select Investors: US Department of Defense, DARPA, Neurotechnology Investors
HELP PARALYZED PATIENTS
17
PREVENT SEIZURES
NeuroPace offers an implantable device called the RNS System, for the treatment of 
neurological disorders.
The company's initial focus is the treatment of epilepsy to prevent seizures. The device 
recognizes electrical patterns specific to your brain, identifies unusual activity indicative of a 
seizure and sends brief pulses to instantly normalize your brainwaves.
Select Investors: Johnson & Johnson Innovation, New Enterprise Associates, KPCB
18
Regenerative Medicine
3D printing and engineering 
organs, cells, and tissues
19
"This is going to be the future of medicine, where 
stem cells and other types of cells can literally be the 
treatment of devastating chronic and untreatable 
diseases.”
Adeeb Al-Zoubi
Clinical Assistant Professor of Regenerative 
Medicine at The University of Illinois
20
PRINT ORGANS ON DEMAND
Prellis Biologics engineers human tissues and organs using laser-based 3D printing technology. 
The company can create single layers of cells and build tissue scaffolds for organs on-demand 
in a laboratory setting.
The company aims to address organ donor shortage and provide human tissues to streamline 
the development of therapeutics. As its first product, Prellis Biologics is developing insulin-
secreting units of the pancreas to help people with Type 1 Diabetes.
Select Investors: True Ventures, SOSV, Civilization Ventures, 415 Ventures, IndieBio
21
TRANSPLANT BETWEEN SPECIES
eGenesis is a life sciences company leveraging genome editing technology known as CRISPR 
to deliver safe and effective human-transplantable cells, tissues and organs. The company is 
developing a platform using xenotransplantation – the process of grafting or transplanting 
organs or tissues between members of different species, primarily pigs.
eGenesis’ mission is to address the shortage of organs available for transplantation. The 
company claims that using its technology, one animal can save an estimated eight lives.
Select Investors: Khosla Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Uprising
22
MANUFACTURE CELLS
BlueRock harnesses induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapies to use healthy cells to cure 
a range of diseases. Using this Nobel Prize-winning technology, the company can 
manufacture virtually unlimited quantities of pure healthy cells.
The company is initially targeting severe brain and heart conditions such as Parkinson’s 
Disease and congestive heart failure. 
Select Investors: Bayer, Versant Ventures
23
Synthetic Animal Products
Startups offering lab-grown 
animal products, from food 
to clothing
24
Current livestock production is unsustainable
Source: World Resources Institute
25
REPLACE TRADITIONAL MEAT
Memphis Meats develops technology to engineer real meat without animals, by farming 
animal stem cells in a lab without the need to feed, breed, and slaughter livestock.
The company claims its technology requires up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions, land, 
and water than conventionally produced meat. Scaling up for mass production, Memphis 
Meats hopes its products will replace traditional meat altogether.
Select Investors: Bill Gates, Cargill, Richard Branson, Kimbal Musk, Draper Fisher Jurveston
$17M
26
PRODUCE CULTURED LEATHER
Modern Meadow applies advances in tissue engineering to produce cultured leather that 
requires no animal slaughter and much lower inputs of land, water, energy and chemicals than 
conventional methods.
The process is called biofabrication. Starting with living cells, Modern Meadow can grow 
collagen, the same natural protein found in animal skin, assemble it into a sheet of synthetic 
leather, and then finish the aesthetics with a tanning process.
Select Investors: Sequoia Capital, ICONIQ Capital, Temasek Holdings, Tony Fadell
27
HARVEST FISH STEM CELLS
Finless Foods is an early-stage biotechnology company that harvests fish stem cells from 
living fish to produce lab-grown fish meat for human consumption.
The company’s goal is to make seafood more sustainable and healthier compared to today’s 
conventionally caught and commercially farmed seafood.
Select Investors: IndieBio, SOSV
28
Synthetic Agriculture
Advanced technologies for 
improving plant health and 
crop yield
29
By 2050, global demand for food 
could increase up to 98%, and 
synthetic agriculture could help 
satisfy demand.
Source: Harvard Business Review / The Journal of the 
International Association of Agricultural Economists
30
NATURALLY PROMOTE PLANT HEALTH
Indigo Agriculture is developing microbial solutions to naturally promote plant health and 
improve agricultural production. The company uses genomic sequencing and computational 
bioinformatics to predict which microbes are most beneficial to plant health.
Indigo has built a platform for product discovery and generated a pipeline of candidates in 
crops, including corn, soy, wheat, cotton and vegetables.
Select Investors: Flagship Pioneering, Baillie Gifford & Co., Alaska Permanent Fund, Activant 
Capital Group
31
IMPROVE CROP GENETICS
Benson Hill Biosystems leverages cloud biology, comprised of cloud computing, big data 
analytics, and plant biology, to enable companies to improve crop genetics. 
The company uses machine learning to predict which seeds will produce a desired trait. The 
platform uses an array of tools, from breeding, to genome editing, to transgenics.
Select Investors: National Corn Growers Association, Alexandria Venture Investments
32
CURE DISEASES IN CROPS
Inocucor offers a process that uses fermentation and microbe combinations to enable plants to reach 
their full growth or yield potential. The process uses microbiological techniques to isolate individual 
microbial strains based on their compatibility with one another and other factors.
The company has identified and field tested 11 microbial strains for use in farms and greenhouses, and 
is currently working on biological formulas to cure diseases in crops such as strawberries, tomatoes, 
and potatoes.
Select Investors: TPG Alternative & Renewable Technologies, Desjardins, Cycle Capital
33
AI Chips
Startups developing 
processing units for AI 
applications
AI is spreading across 
industries
Interest in applying AI 
across industries means 
AI-enablement 
companies are poised to 
accelerate the future.
CB Insights Trends mines 
a massive corpus of 
media articles to enable a 
data-driven, real-time 
method to discover, 
predict, and plot the arc 
of rising expectations and 
excitement for emerging 
technologies.
34
Industry applications of AI coming into focus
2013 – 2017 YTD (11/14/2017)
Recent interest in industry 
applications for AI, based on CB 
Insights Trends Tool
35
EXPLORE MACHINE INTELLIGENCE
Graphcore sells an intelligent processing unit (IPU) designed to lower the cost of AI applications in 
cloud and enterprise data centers. The company offers a programming framework for research 
teams and for customers working on commercial AI deployments.
Graphcore’s chips are reportedly up to 100 times faster than traditional processing units and 
could someday help power the machine learning algorithms behind intelligent connected devices, 
self-driving cars, and robotics.
Select Investors: Samsung Catalyst Fund, Dell Technologies Capital, Robert Bosch Capital
36
PUT AI IN EVERYDAY DEVICES
Mythic offers a chip for enabling local AI, to turn everyday devices into intelligent systems 
without leveraging the cloud. Mythic’s chips work in tandem with the company’s software to 
make devices see, hear, and process the world. Target markets include smart home, 
healthcare systems, and security and monitoring for commercial and home use, and drones 
for industrial applications. 
Mythic’s platform targets devices that previously lacked the computing power, battery life, and 
reliable cloud connectivity to support decision making with AI.
Select Investors: Data Collective, AME Cloud Ventures, Lux Capital, Draper Fisher Jurveston
37
SIMULATE HUMAN NERVE CELLS
Cambricon (寒武纪) is developing a brain-inspired processor chip that simulates human nerve 
cells and synapses to conduct deep learning. The company’s chips can enable AI for computer 
vision, autonomous driving and flying, security monitoring, speech recognition, and more. 
Cambricon also offers an AI software platform for developers.
Cambricon says its chips double the performance of a conventional GPU while also 
consuming less power.
Select Investors: Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Lenovo Ventures Group, Yonghua Capital
38
Massive Simulations
The creation of simulated 
worlds for predicting real-
world outcomes
39
What are the advantages of massive simulations?
1.Make better 
decisions
2. Introduce and test 
variables
3.Examine edge 
cases
4.Limit impact of 
mistakes
40
BUILD SIMULATED WORLDS
Improbable Worlds is developing an operating environment that allows user to build simulated 
worlds that can be run in real time, simulating the behaviors and interactions of millions of 
entities. 
Improbable is focused on game development, but has implications for industries ranging from 
commerce to security, enabling organizations to understand the consequences of their 
choices before executing in the real world.
Select Investors: Temasek Holdings, Horizons Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz
41
SIMULATE AGRICULTURAL OUTCOMES
CiBO Technologies is a sustainable agriculture company that simulates agricultural outcomes. 
The company’s platform aggregates historical plant, soil, environmental, nutritional, and 
ecological data to provide land-use simulations. 
CiBO offers a distributed database for agronomically-relevant computations and analyses, 
detailed weather simulations, and more. 
Select Investors: Flagship Pioneering
42
TEST AUTONOMOUS CARS
RightHook allows automotive, aviation, robotics, and other industries rapidly adopting 
autonomous applications to safely test their products in simulated environments. The 
company offers several products, including a suite for creating HD maps and traffic 
simulations, as well as grid and cloud management for testing autonomous cars.
Because testing self-driving cars in the real world is potentially dangerous, further 
development of autonomous technologies will rely on simulated test environments.
Select Investors: Tencent Holdings, First Round Capital, Fontinalis Partners 
43
Intelligent Public Safety
The future of surveillance, 
crime prevention, and 
emergency response
TSA airport security failed ‘in the 
ballpark’ of 80 percent
November 9th, 2017
Public safety needs a tech makeover
44
45
SECURE THE PERIMETER
Evolv Technology creates both hardware and software for physical security. The company 
offers a security gate which can conduct rapid body scans of people without requiring them to 
stop or slow down. The company's imaging sensor is designed to detect anomalies on a 
person, like a bomb or firearms they may be trying to carry into a venue.
Evolv can also work with cameras and facial recognition software to identify people entering a 
venue, and check them against relevant databases.
Select Investors: Gates Ventures, In-Q-Tel, General Catalyst, Data Collective
46
EXPLORE HIGH THREAT ENVIRONMENTS
Shield AI builds artificially intelligent systems for protecting law enforcement officers, 
emergency first responders, and civilians. The company offers a quadcopter that 
autonomously explores high threat environments ahead of personnel and can also conduct 
searches without a radio frequency link, be flown manually if needed, and learns and improves 
over time. 
Shield’s computer vision software works in conjunction with cameras and trained neural 
networks to identify individuals, objects, and activities of interest.
Select Investors: Andreessen Horowitz, Homebrew
47
DETECT VEHICULAR SECURITY THREATS
UVeye is building computer vision and machine learning technology to help detect vehicular 
security threats. By scanning the undersides of passing vehicles, UVeye flags anomalies that 
indicate a car has been modified for weaponization and/or smuggling.
UVeye’s under-vehicle inspection system leverages high-resolution 3D cameras and image 
processing algorithms to identify car-housed explosives, concealed weapons, and other 
contraband. License plate numbers can also be captured for database comparisons.
Select Investors: Ahaka Capital, SeedIL
48
Autonomous Construction
Robotics and automation 
equipment for the 
construction industry
49
Shortage of manual labor in construction
Source: Forbes & Commercial Construction Index
50
AUTOMATE EARTH MOVING
Built Robotics offers technology to automate earth moving and construction work. The 
company is leveraging sensors from self-driving cars and retrofitting them into equipment for 
the job site, as well as developing autonomous software designed specifically for construction 
tasks related to excavating and grading for building foundations. 
Solutions like those offered by Built could address a chronic labor shortage of construction 
workers, boost productivity, and prevent work related injuries.
Select Investors: New Enterprise Associates, Great Oaks Venture Capital
51
AUTOMATE MASONRY
Construction Robotics is developing hardware and software for the construction industry, 
starting with SAM100, an autonomous bricklaying robot used for masonry. Combined with 
SAM100, the company’s 3D brick-mapping software helps masons lay out wall designs and 
account for onsite variations as well as capture real-time data for continuous improvements.
The company’s products aim to help masons be more productive, reduce repetitive-motion 
injuries, and build more lasting buildings.
Select Investors: National Science Foundation under SBIR Phase I and II grants
52
PRINT WHOLE BUILDINGS
Apis Cor is focused on making building construction fast, efficient, and high-quality by 
delegating work to smart machines. The company offers a mobile construction 3D printer, 
which prints buildings completely on site.
Apis’ mobile 3D building printer has made at least one house (within a single day) that the 
company claims is durable enough to last up to 175 years.
Select Investors: Rusnano, Sistema 
53
Rocket Launchers
Startups re-inventing the 
way rockets-to-space are 
built and flown
Nanosatellites are 
taking off
According to estimates, 
between 300 and 400 
nano satellites (1 – 50kg) 
will be launched 
throughout 2018. 
By 2022, approximately 
2,500 additional nano 
satellites will require 
launch based on 
announced plans and 
programs. 
54
55
DELIVER SMALL SATELLITES
Rocket Lab is building an all carbon-composite launch vehicle. The rocket is designed for the 
emerging small satellite market and can rapidly deliver small satellites to commercial orbits.
Rocket Lab is founded on the belief that small payloads require dedicated small launch 
vehicles not currently offered by traditional rocket systems.  
Select Investors: In-Q-Tel, Lockheed Martin, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners
56
AUTOMATE ROCKET BUILDING
Relativity Space aims to build and fly rockets with zero human labor to resupply satellite 
constellations. The company is creating what it calls an “evolvable product line” based around an 
intelligent 3D printing manufacturing system. Relativity says the system can assemble a rocket 
from scratch in 60 days with short lead times and at a low cost.
Relativity’s goal is to create the first rocket on Mars and ultimately lay the groundwork for building 
industrial 3D printers that are lightweight and rugged enough to build a space colony.
Select Investors: Y Combinator, University of Southern CA, Stanford, Social Capital, Philip Spector
57
DEVELOP SATELLITE MISSIONS
Kubos provides open source software and hardware for developing satellite missions. The 
company offers developers building satellites an operating system, hardware support, and 
developer tools for their missions. Products include cloud-based mission control software and 
a test environment for flight hardware. 
Kubos is focused on providing an operating system for small spacecraft. The company has 
deals with three nanosatellite manufacturers: Pumpkin, NanoAvionics, and Innovative 
Solutions in Space.
Select Investors: Entrenext Ventures, GGV Capital, Draper Dragon, Tim Draper
58
Extreme Logistics
Tech-enabled delivery 
solutions for low-
infrastructure areas
59
“In developing countries, lack of 
infrastructure is a far more serious 
barrier to trade than tariffs.”
Joseph E. Stiglitz
Columbia University professor and recipient of 
the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic 
Sciences (2001) 
60
USE UP EXCESS TRUCKING CAPACITY
CargoX is a logistics company that offers cargo transportation services for shippers in the 
heavy duty trucking industry. The company’s machine learning technology is designed to use 
up excess trucking capacity by triangulating trips and taking advantage of idle and return 
spaces.
CargoX aims to cut down CO2 emissions and reduce the amount of empty trucks on the road. 
The company is currently focusing on Brazil, where few railroads in the country mean that a 
high proportion of the country’s freight gets shipped by trucks.
Select Investors: Goldman Sachs, Qualcomm Ventures, Soros Brothers Investments, Agility
61
USE A PHONE AS AN ADDRESS
The Fetchr app aims to solve the logistical problem of lacking a physical address, which can 
restrict the proliferation of delivery services, especially for ecommerce, in places like the Middle 
East and North Africa, by allowing users to use a phone as a physical address. 
Using Fetchr, drivers arrive to a customer's exact location via a phone to pick up a package and 
deliver it to the recipient.
Select Investors: BECO Capital, Winklevoss Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, New Enterprise Associates
62
GET BLOOD ON-DEMAND
Zipline International builds autonomous fixed-wing medical drones and runs airborne delivery 
services, dropping medical supplies to clinics or hospitals in areas that aren't accessible by 
land. The service lets health workers at remote clinics and hospitals text orders to Zipline for 
on-demand medical products such as blood.
Zipline’s deliveries are often used for transfusions during surgeries or complicated childbirths, 
or to treat victims of malaria. The company is operating in partnerships with the Rwandan and 
Tanzanian governments.
Select Investors: Stanford University, Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures, Sequoia Capital
63
Game changers appendix
Additional company data
Game Changers annual 
financing history
Year to date (11/13/17), 
the 2018 Game Changer 
startups have seen 31 
deals worth nearly  
$1.29B in funding. 
At the current run rate, 
2017 deals and dollars 
are on track to reach a 
high of 36 deals worth 
nearly $1.5B, bringing 
total disclosed equity 
investment since 2013 to 
over $2B and over 80 
deals.
64
Fueling up for growth
2013 – 2017 YTD (11/13/17)
,
International game 
changers
22 of the 30 game 
changers are based in 
the US or have moved to 
the US.
However, 6 other 
countries are home to 
game changer 
companies: Brazil, 
Canada, China, Russia, 
the UAE, and the UK.
65
Changing the world
30 companies headquartered in 7 countries
Game changers are 
high-mosaic companies
CB Insights’ data-driven 
Mosaic Money metric 
assesses financial 
signals including funding 
recency, total amount 
raised, and investor 
quality to evaluate 
private company health.
On average, our list of 
game changers had 
Mosaic Money scores 
1.9x those of all tech 
companies.
66
Mosaic money score comparison
Game Changers vs. all companies
67
Game changers expert collection
Track all of the Game 
Changer startups in this 
presentation and many 
more on our platform using 
CB Insights’ Collections. 
The expanded list of 
startups includes high-
momentum companies 
pioneering technology with 
the potential to transform 
society and economies for 
the better.
68
Our methodology
How the 10 categories were selected:  We used the CB Insights Trends 
tool, which mines and organizes millions of media articles to quantify 
media attention to tech trends, to identify game changing tech trends.
How the 30 companies were selected:  We used CB Insights Company 
Mosaic, which tracks private company health using signals including 
recency of financing, total raised, and investor quality, to identify high-
momentum/quickly growing companies within our categories. We’ve 
gathered this data via our machine learning technology (dubbed The 
Cruncher) as well as via several thousand direct submissions from 
firms and individual professionals using The Editor.
The CB Insights Mosaic page walks through the factors considered in 
the algorithm in greater detail.
Questions?
69
@AltmanW
Waltman@CBInsights.com
@JudWaite
Jwaite@CBInsights.com
CBInsights.com
@ cbinsights
+1(212)292-3148