The Pulse by EllisX: Tech & Business Trends Worth Exploring — Feb 22
As we approach the end of February, it seems like we’ve seen things that were once unfathomable. Who would have imagined that Texas would literally freeze?! The images of icicles coming down from ceiling fans and a snowed-in state, which usually has 80-degree weather in the dead of winter, were disturbing at the least. In a lot of ways, this points to larger problems, such as climate change and the reliability of the power grid. While these are not problems we can solve overnight, it is paramount to embed sustainability in our existing systems — from the way they operate to their impact on the environment. That’s why we were happy to see that the air-travel industry is taking strides in this direction (more below). Here are the rest of the trends that caught our eye in the past week:
Welcome to the drone age
Just a few years ago drones were a novelty. In 2012 the FAA estimated that there would be 30,000 drones in the US by 2020. Fast-forward less than a decade and that number is north of 1.7 million registered drones. They’re not just a ‘toy’ for hobbyists but are used in a variety of industries, from farming to entertainment. In fact, it is predicted that drones will account for 30% of goods deliveries by 2040. We believe that the usage of drones will increase over the next few years, with commercial drones becoming much more commonplace. If you’re curious how they can be used, Morning Brew compiled a drone guide.
Private market liquidity is heating up
Retail investors have been on the rise over the last couple of years. As Robinhood ushered trading into the mainstream and crypto-enthusiasts purchased and held on to Bitcoin, it became easier for individuals to increase their net worth. This is especially true for tech workers who can typically sell a part of their stock before a company goes public. A host of tools and services has sprung up to support this, but in most cases this option is only available for employees of well-known pre-IPO companies. That’s changing. As companies wait longer to go public, some startups are allowing employees to sell stocks earlier. This could be a game-changer for the private markets and individual wealth creation.
Will air travel get cleaner?
Airplane travel accounts for 2.8% of global carbon emissions, and the air travel industry is finally ready to address this. In 2019 EasyJet became the first net-zero carrier by offsetting its carbon emissions. Two weeks ago Dutch airline KLM completed the first passenger flight, powered entirely by a synthetic fuel mixture. Now, the industry is getting ready to welcome hybrid-electric airplanes as a replacement to the ones dependent on jet fuel. While they’re not expected to be widely available by 2035, we might be able to board a short-to-medium distance flight on such a vehicle in the next few years. Nevertheless, it seems like the aviation industry is on a trajectory of becoming more sustainable.
What are your thoughts on these trends? Would you like to learn more about them? If that’s the case, we got awesome experts ready to weigh in. Find them here.
