New Trends to Watch: Calming Treats, Quant Funds, Tapcheck, and Cometeer

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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 future 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.

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Trend #1: Calming Treats

Calming Treats: Soothing Solutions for Anxious Dogs

Calming Treats are specially formulated canine chews designed to ease stress and anxiety in dogs. These treats address common triggers such as fireworks, thunderstorms, loud noises, unfamiliar visitors, and separation from owners.

Understanding Canine Stress

• Noise Anxiety: 57% of dogs exhibit stress due to loud disturbances.

• Separation Anxiety: 47% show anxiety when apart from their owners.

How They Work
Infused with natural calming agents like hemp seed powder, chamomile, valerian root, and L-Theanine, these treats help relax dogs. Options vary: some offer immediate relief for acute stress, while others support long-term emotional balance.

Market Success
A leading brand generates approximately $476,000 monthly on Amazon, reflecting strong consumer demand.

Industry Growth & Trends
Calming Treats fall under the expanding Specialized Pet Supplements sector, projected to surpass 1billionby2024,growingata141billionby2024,growingata14147 billion in 2023, driven by demand for functional ingredients like fish oil and B vitamins.

Innovators in the Space

• Pooch & Mutt (UK): Offers premium natural foods and supplements, including salmon oil and hemp chews.

• Pawfy: A direct-to-consumer brand with 10 targeted supplement blends for issues like joint pain and eye health.

• Maev: Known for raw dog food, it also sells four supplement bars targeting joint health, mood, coat, and digestion.

• Wuffes: Specializes in chewable and liquid joint supplements.

The Big Picture
As pet owners increasingly prioritize holistic health, companies are innovating to meet niche needs—from anxiety relief to joint care—propelling the pet wellness industry forward.

Trend #2: Tapcheck

Tapcheck: Empowering Employees with On-Demand Pay

Tapcheck is a financial platform that lets employees access a portion of their earned wages before payday, addressing cash-flow gaps. Compatible with 100+ payroll systems, employers can deploy the tool in under 15 minutes. Once enrolled, employees use an app to transfer funds to their bank account or a Tapcheck Mastercard.

Key Features

• Employer Cost: Free for businesses; employees pay a $3.99 fee per bank transfer.

• Adoption: Launched in 2019, Tapcheck serves 1,000+ employers, including ~10% of U.S. McDonald’s franchises.

• User Reach: 100K+ Google Play downloads and 17K App Store ratings.

The On-Demand Pay Revolution
Tapcheck is part of the booming Earned Wage Access (EWA) sector, fueled by rising financial strain:

• 64% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck in 2024 (up from 58% in 2023).

• Google searches for “earned wage access” surged 160%+ in two years.

• 75% of employees say they’d prefer employers offering EWA, citing emergencies, bills, and expenses as key drivers.

Competitors Shaping the Market

• DailyPay (2015): Allows 100% wage access via bank transfer or a branded Visa card.

• ZayZoon: Offers payouts to bank accounts, gift cards, or gas cards; named to Deloitte’s 2023 Fast 500.

• Payactiv: Serves 1,500+ employers and 2M+ users, enabling early paycheck access by up to two days.

Why It Matters
As financial instability grows, EWA platforms like Tapcheck are becoming critical tools for workforce retention and financial wellness. Employers leveraging these solutions gain a competitive edge, while employees gain flexibility to navigate economic pressures.

Trend #3: Quant Fund

Quant Funds: Algorithmic Investing in the AI Era

Quant Funds use mathematical models and algorithms—not human judgment—to manage investments. These systems analyze vast datasets (historical trends, real-time signals) to identify patterns, predict market shifts, and capitalize on opportunities faster than traditional methods. By eliminating emotional bias, they’re particularly effective in volatile markets.

By the Numbers

• Market Share: 20% of global equity assets.

• 2024 Performance: +12% returns in Q1.

The Rise of Investor AI
Quant Funds are part of the broader AI-Driven Investing trend, where machine learning enhances decision-making:

• Searches for “AI for investors” spiked 250%+ since 2022.

• Vanguard will use AI to manage 13 AI-powered funds in 2024.

• The AI trading tools market is forecast to hit $50B+ within 10 years.

AI Tools Reshaping Finance

• AlphaSense: A $4B-valued platform using AI to track companies, industries, and trends.

• Danelfin: Analyzes 900+ metrics to assign AI scores predicting a stock’s 3-month performance.

• Capatalise AI: Lets users automate trades via natural language commands (e.g., “Buy if price hits $X”).

• Tickeron: Combines AI-driven trading, stock screening, and portfolio management.

Why It Matters
As markets grow more complex, quant strategies and AI tools are becoming indispensable for investors seeking speed, precision, and emotion-free analysis. Firms adopting these technologies gain a critical edge in uncovering alpha and managing risk.

Trend #4: Cometeer

Cometeer: Revolutionizing Coffee with Flash-Frozen Convenience

Cometeer delivers premium coffee through patented flash-frozen capsules. Their brewed coffee is frozen into recyclable aluminum pods, which dissolve instantly in hot water for a steaming cup or thaw for iced coffee—each pod packs 180mg of caffeine.

Key Features

• Variety & Price: 40+ artisanal blends at ~$2 per serving.

• Flexibility: One-time purchases or subscriptions via their DTC site; now sold at Whole Foods, Costco, and Sprouts.

• Marketing Wins: Nearly 5M TikTok posts fueled by influencer campaigns.

Cold Brew Concentrates: A Surging Market
Cometeer taps into the Cold Brew Concentrates meta-trend, driven by demand for quick, café-quality drinks at home:

• Cold brew popularity has skyrocketed 300% since 2016, with a 45% surge in 2023 alone.

• Market value projected to hit $16B by 2032, fueled by convenience-focused consumers.

Competitors Brewing Innovation

• Javy Coffee: One teaspoon of its concentrate equals a cup; each bottle offers 35 servings.

• Jot Coffee: Supercharged liquid concentrate (20x stronger than standard brews).

• Pop & Bottle: Expanded from plant-based lattes to four organic cold brew flavors in 2024.

Why It Matters
As busy lifestyles collide with rising coffee culture, Cometeer and rivals are redefining at-home brewing—combining speed, sustainability, and premium taste. For brands, dominating this space means mastering both tech-driven formats (like flash-freezing) and savvy digital engagement.

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Last Week’s Poll Results 📈

Which Trend Excites You The Most?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Agrivoltaics (23)

 🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Dripify (12)

 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Non-tarnish Jewelry (5)

 🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Numero eSIM (21)

61 Votes