2021, A year in Review

In 2021 our acceleration programs focused on a few key verticals. Looking back at the activities of our companies, we can point out those that we have been able to identify as game changers addressing real market needs. Most of which will only continue to grow, and our ambition is to continue and find solutions that will answer these needs.

These verticals represent the possibilities and opportunities that we, as a team of experts, believe that are not only driving innovation but have also a high potential of growth in the global markets.

IoT

Supply chains have been at the core of many of the obstacles and challenges facing global markets this year and will only grow as we move forward. One of the obstacles lies in the fact that, in general, systems are highly fragmented and there is little connection between the information and those who need to consume and operate based on it.

In early 2019 we recognised the opportunity to solve some of these pains when we met Wenda. Wenda develops end-to-end platforms that allow collaboration and transparency between producers and consumers using technology to gather and monitor data. This is done thanks to simple APIs that can we added and used in a simple and efficient manner.

Through Wenda we can not only see how supply chains become more efficient, a cost reduction on all ends of the chain but also how to enable data to be collected and used in the right manner.

Artificial Intelligence

A lot has been said about AI and the possible applications it can have to improve the life of people, but also processes and procedures of organisations. One of the main areas in which we have been able to see a real need, but also a real application of this technology throughout the pandemic has been in the Healthcare sector.

Our portfolio company SurgIQ has developed an open platform which, with the help of AI, is able to optimise resources within the healthcare systems. As such it has been able to create integrated systems for the management of hospitals, real-time solutions of complex problems by optimising the resources in an easy and intuitive way.

The need to optimise processes within healthcare has been long needed, however, we were able to identify a company that, thanks to their technology is able to give the needed solutions to this fast paced and high demand that is generated in times of crisis but is in dire need also in times of calm.

Fintech

Financial technologies have been present in the market since the early 1990’s and have been linked to many changes in people and company habits throughout the years. One thing we have been following over the years is the growth of digital commerce, but not only of goods, also those related to services which require online marketing as well as the growth in alternative finance and financing solutions.

Viceversa, which this year completed an important investment milestone, has developed a platform which grants “revenue-based financing” to support the growth of online sales. The system they have developed is led by a predictive tool of the sales performance which grants users an alternative to debt or equity-based financing. These innovative solutions, we believe, allows new forms of financing to directly reach merchants in need (or via partners), but is one that allows a true data driven approach to financing and resources.

Sustainability

Sustainability has taken a huge leap in the last couple of years, a leap that has manifested both in the development of technologies and, possibly in a greater way, in the mind of people across the globe.

Our portfolio company Irreos has been on the lookout to tackles sustainability challenges since it was founded in 2019 In fact, the help solve needs in one of the hottest topics discussed now which is, water.

Their innovative system uses satellite images that thanks to machine learning and AI can analyse and manage big data and offer the agricultural sector a precise, cost and time saving irrigation system, which will benefit both farmers as well as the planet. Scalability and growth potential are two of the main points we, at Digital Magics look for when we make an investment, which we were able to see in the way Irreo has created an easily scalable solution and product, mainly as it is completely managed and stored in the cloud.

How much will 2022 be different from the year that is about to be concluded? No doubt this is a question on the mind of many many people all over the world. In Digital Magics we can be sure that we will continue our search for new innovative technologies. We will thrive to find solutions that can predict the needs of customers and organisations. We will focus on human centricity, providing transparency, simplicity, and efficiency in processes. We will put emphasis on startups that have the highest growth potential. Our mission to grow our acceleration programs will be paired, as always, with the best entrepreneurial spirit and ideas we find in the market.

For us, 2022 will be the year where we will continue to create magic, together.