Companies working in B2B have several challenges to face in order to reach their audience, getting leads is more difficult than in B2C due to the lower volume of customers and the complexity of reaching the target. More and more companies are taking advantage of these difficulties to offer services aimed at increasing leads. Some of them have received venture capital funding in 2013.
Today, companies not only need to know what happened in the past to understand the present, but also to anticipate the needs of their customers. The "Predictive Enterprise" involves the use of advanced technological tools that make it possible to move from product-focused to customer-focused companies. These types of companies, which are currently growing considerably, have applications in numerous sectors of activity and have received great support from venture capital; in 2013 and so far in 2014 alone, this sector has raised $531M.
New technologies are changing the consumer's behaviour when it comes to making a purchase decision, the mobile phone, for example, is one of the tools that have been incorporated into the decision making process. The customer at the point of sale can compare prices, ask for opinions, look for offers. That is why in recent years companies have been created that provide mobile marketing services for large brands that see the mobile phone as an opportunity to interact with their customers. It seems that the trend for this type of company is on the rise as their effectiveness becomes clearer and investors do not hesitate to bet on them.
The elimination of geographical barriers, as well as new technologies applied to production processes and increased competition, are creating an increasingly demanding customer. Companies face two challenges: to know what their customers' real needs are and to reach them. In order to help in this task, numerous online marketing companies have appeared, many of them driven by venture capital.
Venture capital in the world of health-focused information technology. The concern for fitness and new technologies have led to the emergence of numerous applications and software that help people to lead a healthier life. Venture capital has seen the potential of such companies and has decided to invest in them. Of the 95 A and B rounds raised in 2013 and 2014 in the health sector, 23 were in this niche market (ICT-wellness).
New technologies applied to connect with professional experts present a wide range of opportunities, even in sectors where it seemed impossible, as in the case of medical care. In recent years, numerous companies have emerged that use new technologies to carry out patient monitoring, thus saving time and costs and providing a more personalised service. Venture capital has not wanted to be left behind and has decided to invest in the sector.
Numerous companies have taken advantage of the concern for health and wellbeing and the increased use of new technologies to create innovative companies in this field. Investors have not been left behind and are betting heavily on the sector. Proof of this is that the number of Series A and B rounds in the health sector has increased by 179% from 2010 to 2013, from 24 deals in 2011 to 67 in 2013.
Caixa Capital Risc, the "la Caixa" group's venture capital manager for early-stage innovative companies, which had 4 investment vehicles specialising in Biotechnology, Industry and ICT, has launched a new Biotech fund together with the CDTI.
Due to the rise of new technologies, learning has become much easier and more fun. Investors have realised that e-learning presents an opportunity for their portfolios and have been very active in this sector, especially in the last 3 years.
On the internet, video content is increasingly becoming the preferred format for consumers. This trend has not escaped Spanish venture capital, which has invested in several companies that work with video.
Venture capital investments in the field of mobility cover a wide range of activities such as payment systems, hotel reservations and fleet management. In recent times, Telefónica and business angels have been particularly active.
The world of fashion has undergone a profound change from the conception of designs to the form of distribution with large textile groups such as Zara, Mango and H&M. Venture capitalists see technology as a tool for new changes.