Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab Hosts Demo Day for Largest, Most Global Cohort of Startups
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Insights
The convergence of AI and sustainability themes within the startup ecosystem, as highlighted by the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab's Demo Day, signals a strategic pivot in the investment community towards technologies that promise long-term growth and societal impact. The participation of startups across diverse sectors such as healthcare, supply chain and cybersecurity indicates a broad interest in innovation that transcends traditional industry boundaries.
Investors are likely to scrutinize these startups for their potential to disrupt existing markets and create new ones. The emphasis on AI and sustainability aligns with global trends, such as the push for environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in investment decisions. The breadth of industries represented suggests a growing recognition of the versatility of AI applications and the urgency of sustainable solutions across sectors.
The $250,000 investment provided by Morgan Stanley to each startup reflects a significant commitment to early-stage companies, which could catalyze further funding rounds. This investment level is noteworthy given the current economic climate, where funding has tightened, especially for seed to Series A stages. The Demo Day event, involving over 300 investors, indicates a robust interest in sourcing new ventures with high growth potential.
For stakeholders, the short-term implications involve the immediate influx of capital which can accelerate product development and market entry. In the long-term, successful startups from this cohort could contribute to portfolio diversification and potential high returns for investors. However, the inherent risks associated with early-stage investing, such as market uncertainty and technology viability, remain pertinent considerations.
The focus on startups providing sustainability-focused products or services is indicative of the shifting priorities within the investment landscape. As businesses and consumers alike become more environmentally conscious, startups that offer innovative solutions to sustainability challenges are poised to capture market share and drive industry standards.
Furthermore, the global representation of startups, including the first companies from Eastern Europe and Africa, suggests an effort to democratize access to capital and foster innovation on a wider scale. This could lead to the emergence of new hubs of technological advancement and a more inclusive approach to addressing global sustainability issues.
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Lab’s largest cohort, with 23 disruptive technology-enabled startups from
North America and EMEA, including first companies fromEastern Europe andAfrica - Lab companies pitching their innovations to over 300 investors, along with potential business partners and customers
- Startups span a range of industries, with AI and sustainability as cross-cutting themes
- Applications for next cohort open today, with emphasis on startups providing sustainability-focused products or services
Over the past five months, the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab has supported its ninth cohort of technology-enabled startups in the seed to Series A funding round stage. The intensive accelerator program provides each company a
“At a time when startups are facing a challenging funding environment, it is more critical than ever to provide a platform for founders to attract investment and scale their innovative solutions,” said Selma Bueno, Global Head of the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Group. “Today’s Demo Day showcases the Inclusive Ventures Lab’s largest and most global cohort to date, underscoring our mission to advance a more equitable investment landscape worldwide.”
Companies presenting at Demo Day represent a range of industries including healthcare, customer service, supply chain, recruiting and cybersecurity – with AI and sustainable solutions as cross-cutting themes. Cohort members include: Adauris (
Founded in 2017, the Lab has hosted 92 companies, with a combined valuation of
Applications for the next Lab cohort will be open from February 7 - March 15, 2024. The tenth cohort will include up to 25 companies, with emphasis on businesses led by overlooked founders providing sustainability-focused products or services. Morgan Stanley will be holding pitch competitions in select cities in
About the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab
The Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab (MSIVL) is an intensive five-month in-house accelerator program designed to help further develop and scale startups, culminating in a showcase presentation and Demo Day to the investor community. Morgan Stanley launched MSIVL, formerly called the Multicultural Innovation Lab, in 2017 in order to address inequities in funding of startup founders, which our research shows equals over
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
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Media Relations: Carrie Hall, carrie.hall@morganstanley.com
Source: Morgan Stanley
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