Revolutionary Innovations: Buldak Ramen, Ambercycle, Photoroom, and CNAPP Leading the Market

Navigating the dynamic landscape of startup fundraising can be challenging, but staying ahead of the curve can give you the edge you need. In today’s fast-paced world, trending topics can significantly influence investor interest and funding opportunities.

In this edition, we explore four Trending Topics for Fundraising. These emerging trends have the potential to create fundraising momentum, attract investors, and propel your startup to new heights. Leveraging these trends showcases your adaptability and positions your startup as a forward-thinking player in the industry.

Let's explore these trending opportunities and how to harness their power to secure the funding you need to thrive.

Trend #1 Buldak Ramen

Buldak Ramen, an instant noodle product, includes a flavoring powder and a spicy sauce packet. The name "Buldak" means "fire chicken" in Korean. It became popular in South Korea and recently went viral on TikTok as a food challenge.

Since its launch in 2012, Buldak Ramen has generated $2.3 billion in sales. It has been tagged in over 360 million TikTok posts and has millions of views on YouTube. TikTok users are not just following the package instructions; they are also experimenting by adding eggs, mozzarella cheese, and heavy cream to the noodles.

In the past two years, search volume for “cheese buldak ramen” has increased by 350%, and for “buldak recipe,” it has risen nearly 500%.

What's Next

Buldak Ramen is part of the Viral Korean Food meta trend. TikTok's food channel has over 1.1 billion posts, with 750 million posts tagged as Korean food.

One of the most viral Korean food brands is Bibigo. Although their products have been available in the US since 2010, sales have surged 1,100% in the past four years.

Here are three other viral Korean foods:

1. Frozen kimbap: A seaweed rice roll that went viral when Trader Joe’s started selling it in late 2023, followed by Costco in mid-2024.

2. Tissue bread: This loaf with dozens of thin slices originated from the Truffle Bakery in Seoul, and TikTok users are now making it at home.

3. Hwachae: A Korean punch made with fruit and a carbonated drink. The TikTok video that popularized this drink has over 36 million views.

Trend #2 Ambercycle

Ambercycle, a Los Angeles-based startup, transforms textile waste into raw materials for manufacturing. Utilizing its “molecular regeneration technology,” Ambercycle recycles discarded polyester to create Cycora, white polyester pellets suitable for producing new yarn.

In the United States, only about 15% of textiles are recycled, with the remaining 85% ending up in landfills or incinerators. Testing has demonstrated that Ambercycle’s regenerated material performs as well as virgin polyester. Starting in 2026, Athleta will use Ambercycle’s Cycora to manufacture athletic apparel.

What's Next

Ambercycle is part of the Fast Fashion Alternatives meta trend. Governments and conscious consumers are urging fashion brands to adopt recycling and circular business models. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, such models could capture 23% of the global fashion market by 2030, representing a market value of $700 billion.

Additionally, TikTok features over 98 million posts related to “slow fashion,” highlighting consumers' preference for fast fashion alternatives. Trends on the platform include mending clothes, shopping at vintage stores, and reducing new clothing purchases. TikTok reports a 70% increase in views on slow fashion posts over the past year.

In 2023, the resale clothing market grew 15 times faster than the overall retail clothing sector and is expected to double by 2028. Clothing rental platforms are also gaining popularity, with Nuuly and Armoire Clothing Rental being two of the most popular options.

Trend #3 Photoroom

Photoroom is an AI-powered photo editing app designed for marketers and content creators. It is primarily used to create images for product marketing, featuring tools such as background removal, AI fill, and AI background creation to enhance unprofessional product images for e-commerce sellers.

Photoroom offers basic features for free, with an annual subscription costing $89, accommodating three team members. The app boasts over 100 million downloads on Google Play. In February 2024, Photoroom announced a new funding round, raising their total funding to $64 million and valuing the company at $500 million.

What's Next

Photoroom is part of the Accessible MarTech meta trend, which includes affordable, self-serve tools that don't require contracts or lengthy sign-up processes. The martech space has expanded significantly, with over 14,000 solutions available to businesses, up from 7,000 in 2019.

Interest in AI marketing tools is rising, with one-quarter of SMBs already using AI tools and an additional 44% expressing interest in adopting the technology. The global market for marketing technology grew by over 30% from 2022 to 2023, increasing from $508.9 billion to $670 billion.

Examples of trending accessible martech tools:

1. Email Octopus: An affordable email marketing platform designed for small businesses.

2. Taplio: An AI-powered tool used for LinkedIn marketing.

3. Rewardful: Affiliate and referral management software used by SaaS and subscription-based businesses.

Trend #4 CNAPP

A CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform) is a security solution that offers centralized cloud risk visibility. CNAPPs serve as comprehensive security platforms, allowing businesses to "shift left" by integrating security measures throughout the application lifecycle and "shift right" to address security threats in real-time.

In 2023, fewer than 15% of enterprises will use industry cloud platforms, but Gartner predicts this will surge to 70% by 2027. As cloud usage increases, so does the investment in cloud security, with predictions indicating a 24% rise in cloud security spending this year. In 2023, 40% of organizations were already using a CNAPP, with an additional 45% planning to adopt one by the end of 2024.

What's Next

CNAPP is part of the Cybersecurity Stack meta trend. Last year saw 3,205 reported data breaches, and the average cost of a data breach reached a record high of $4.45 million in 2023, marking a 15.3% increase from 2020. This has driven significant investment in cybersecurity tools, with a recent survey showing a 60% increase in cybersecurity budgets between 2023 and 2024. Large enterprises now spend an average of $26 million on cybersecurity investments.

Trending cybersecurity tools:

1. Snyk: A developer security platform designed to identify and fix vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle.

2. Hoxhunt: Utilizes AI and behavioral science principles to mitigate employee behaviors that could lead to cyber attacks.

3. Abnormal Security: An email security company that uses AI to detect phishing and socially-engineered cyber threats.

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