How to start an investment conversation?

Weekly Investment Conversation Starters No. 121

Thanks for reading this newsletter, this week we talk about cars on the blockchain, AI in your running shoes and better prostate cancer detection with AI algorithms.

Three ideas to start a thematic investment conversation

1. 42 million Californian cars are on the blockchain ????

California's DMV digitized 42 million car titles using blockchain to modernize systems and prevent fraud.

2. Train smarter… not harder, with AI sport shoes ????

MIT-supported startup develops shoe sole tracking and analyzing force, movement, and form for improvements with AI.

3. AI may yield better outcomes for prostate cancer ????

A startup collabores with UCLA Health to detect prostate cancer 45 times more accurately than doctors with AI.

1?? 42 million Californian cars are on the blockchain

Seen on Reuters this past week:

• California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has digitised 42 million car titles using blockchain technology.
• The move aims to modernise systems and simplify title transfer, while also addressing fraud.

Why should you know?

1. The project is a pioneering effort that could set a trend for other states and agencies.
2. It is also expected to improve convenience and security for vehicle owners, reducing the need for in-person visits.
3. The use of blockchain technology fits perfectly as it creates a transparent, unchangeable record, making fraud harder.

How does it work?

• DMV partnered with tech firm Oxhead Alpha, Ava Labs and Deloitte.
• First step was tokenizing the vehicle titles on the Avalanche blockchain.
• Next is creating a user wallet app for phones, so owners can claim titles.

Share an investment thought:

???? Investment Theme: Smart Mobility

Regulatory changes, consumer preferences and technological advances will likely lead to even greater electrification and automatisation of means of transport.

2?? Train smarter… not harder, with AI sport shoes

Seen on MIT News this past week:

• A startup supported by MIT has developed a shoe sole that tracks force, movement and form.
• By analysing the data, it quantifies force and movement efficiency and provides useful improvement insights.

Why should you know?

1. This technology can revolutionize athlete training and help prevent injury.
2. It can also support more casual runners with performance insights.
3. Its potential use extends beyond running in many sports like golf, hiking, tennis.

How does it work?

• The tech fits into shoe inserts, with two layers of flexible electrodes with a material that reacts to force.
• It uses sensors to track data precisely: force, movement, and form.
• AI algorithms can infer full-body motion and provides personalized plans.

Share an investment thought:

???? Investment Theme: Enabling Technology

Enabling technologies like artificial intelligence, AR/VR, 5G, cloud and big data are the engine of the digital transformation and spending on their development should remain high.

3?? AI may yield better outcomes for prostate cancer

Seen on UCLA Health this past week:

• A startup has developed an AI model to help detect prostate cancer.
• The research, in partnership with UCLA Health, shows that AI-assisted identification of cancerous tissue is 45 times more accurate than doctors’ measurements alone.

Why should you know?

1. AI in cancer treatment could lead to more effective, personalized care, reducing side effects from surgery or radiation.
2. Accurate detection of prostate cancer is crucial for treatment planning.
3. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime in the US, with one in 44 dying from it.

How does it work?

• Regular diagnosing prostate cancer involves various tests: PSA blood test, MRIs, CT scans.
• Doctors often underestimate the cancer size using MRI alone.
• Use of AI can help better defining cancer margins and improving invasive treatments like focal therapy.

Share an investment thought:

???? Investment Theme: Healthtech

Healthcare is still one of the least digitized major global industries, but there are growing signs that healthcare providers recognize the potential for digital technology to improve efficiency.

About Investment Conversation Starters

Hand-picked for relationship managers and investment advisors,?Weekly Investment Conversation Starters?is a series of ideas to start a conversation with clients, spark their curiosity and gauge their appetite for thematic investments.

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