With the exception of the first week of 2021, the tech startup world is uplifted and optimistic about the new year. As we should be. Global venture funding in January reached an all-time monthly high of $39.9 billion, according to Crunchbase data. The number of $100 million-plus funding rounds also hit a record, led by huge rounds for Rivian, Cruise, Lalamove and Robinhood. Crunchbase

We shook our network of angels and VCs for their 2021 insights:

• Arora Project / Krishan Arora - 2020 may have been a year we'd all like to forget, but it also kicked a chain of events into motion that will permanently change the funding landscape. For 2021, I predict the ongoing rise of equity crowdfunding. We'll continue to see record-breaking raises, and this trend will shift focus away from VCs—putting power back in the hands of founders and the crowd. In short, early stage funding is on the brink of the most monumental disruption of the decade. Startup Equity Crowdfunding

• Buoyant Ventures / Amy Francetic - We are encouraged by the continued global momentum of climate action. Corporations continue to make ambitious decarbonization commitments. The financial services industry is coalescing around TCFD and SASB standards to disclose and address climate risk in their portfolios. And old world industries are digitizing their operations at an accelerated pace. With leadership from the Biden Administration, the climate tech industry is poised for growth, and investors at all stages from venture to growth to public markets stand to make a great deal of money.

• Central Coast Angels / Nik Bahram - The public and private investment climate, paths to exit and number of entrepreneurs are growing rapidly and are near all time highs. There were early setbacks during the Pandemic but most entrepreneurs have recovered their footing. Deep tech (AI first solutions, Intelligent autonomous mobile platforms), Enterprise Software, EdTech, Health Sciences, Fintech, Cybersecurity, Genomics led therapies, At-scale Testing and last inch Covid vaccine delivery, Intelligent/connected Medical devices, next gen AI accelerator chip Technologies are some key areas where deal activity is accelerating. Globally, a multi-polar entrepreneurial world is emerging with the USA and the China Ecosystems leading but growing in separation. The EU, Australia, Asia ecosystems are active and though have a tilt to the USA are collaborating with both US and China ecosystems. The CCA is focused on Tri County entrepreneurs and in collaborating with companies that have early revenue, significant customer traction and proven technologies and who are seeking business/technology insight, mentorship, support and capital to scale rapidly growing businesses. As a business that meets these criteria, we would welcome your pitch decks and business plans. Please send to businessplans@centralcoastangels.com

• Sail Community Capital / Hillary Talbot - Securities-based crowdfunding allows everyone to invest in startups and small businesses they love, in their local communities or anywhere. Last year, we had loans, convertible notes or equity offered by six local companies with minimum investments ranging from $100 to $1000. Additionally, we reached a critical mass of live offerings to launch a Community Speed Investing event. This year, the event will be held quarterly with the goal of providing our entrepreneurs with community capital to help finance their ventures.

• Sand Hill Angels / Mark Mitchell - Despite COVID, Sand Hill Angels has seen a steady stream of high-quality deals in every sector. With the success of Beyond and Impossible Foods, there seems to be a trend around alternative meat products including cell-cultured pork, vegetarian bacon, and vegetarian shrimp. I’ve also recently invested in printable batteries and automated contract review. The pandemic is making it easier for geographically distant investors and entrepreneurs to find each other; because we’re not meeting in-person, it’s easier to do deals with people outside the area. That’s a good thing, but, as the pandemic subsides, I look forward to being able to meet entrepreneurs and investors face-to-face again!

• Santa Cruz County Bank / David Apgar - assuming the Monterey and South Bay Area economy recovers this year to within a few percentage points of its pre-covid trend, Santa Cruz County Bank hopes to build a $5 -10 million portfolio of venture loans and lines of credit in the range of $250 thousand to $2 million.

About SC County Bank: Santa Cruz County Bank (“SCCB”) is a full-service bank specializing in building long-term relationships with small to mid-sized businesses to help meet their financial needs. SCCB is one of only a handful of community banks in the country offering venture loans to early-stage companies that may not be cash flow positive or eligible for SBA guaranties. Whether you need a loan to grow revenue, finance working capital, or reach a capital raise, Santa Cruz County Bank can help you hold on to more of your firm’s equity.

SCCB business accounts allow you remote access from wherever you may travel, including online cash management, bill payment, debit cards, ACH and wire payment services, mobile banking, mobile deposit, remote deposit and more.