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Unlocking Big Venture Capital Profits Started with This One Lesson

By , VC Advisor, Money Morning -

David Weisburd, a serial entrepreneur, Co-Head of venture capital at 10X Capital, and the newest member of the Angels & Entrepreneurs advisory board has been an angel investor for 12 years, a venture capitalist for five, and has reviewed more than 2,000 startups throughout his career.

Through all those years and all of those deals, he's learned a multitude of lessons - many of which we'll be talking about in the next few days and weeks.

But today, he wants to cover the single most important lesson he wishes he knew when he first started investing.

In fact, if he had known this piece of information back in 2008, he would've avoided many restless nights and missed opportunities.

By sharing it here with you today, David's goal is to make sure that you do not miss any opportunities, either.

And not missing out on a single great opportunity is the key to finding the next Facebook or Google.

Let's get started...

One Firm Is Taking the Hassle Out of Digital Payments - and Handing You a Piece of an $11 Trillion Opportunity

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

Like many of us, I'm a huge believer in the convenience of mobile commerce, often referred to simply as m-commerce. I use Apple Pay from Apple Inc. on my phone regularly when shopping.

There's just one problem - maybe something you've dealt with, too. My iPhone can't recognize me and approve my identity with facial recognition. At least, not when I am wearing my COVID-19 safety mask.

That's where the new field of "touchless commerce" comes into play. It's a process in which you simply tap the store's reader with an enabled credit card.

And it's quickly gaining share in m-commerce, a field worth $284 billion.

Even without COVID-19, this was a field to pay attention to. The world is barreling toward the most convenient "hands-free" options in everything from buying to driving to texting.

That's why it's a great time to invest in the firm that's pioneering touchless commerce. With the initiatives this payments innovator is managing, I see its stock doubling in three years or less...

5G's Unstoppable Momentum Could Bring a Potential Upgrade to Every Future Smartphone

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

Many of the largest smartphone makers have a reputation built almost entirely on their flagship phones. Once a year, companies like Apple and Samsung roll out the red carpet and introduce their latest and greatest devices.

The phones are packed with new features, ranging from new cameras and bigger screens to faster chips and more memory.

The downside is that these new features add up to a $1,000 price tag.

This has created a major challenge for the burgeoning 5G market. These flagship 5G-capable smartphones on the market are so expensive, it's hard for the average person to afford them.

But in the last few weeks, big changes have happened - changes that could potentially upgrade every future phone. That's 1.5 billion new smartphones every year that could gain access to 5G networks.

This change will also give carriers the ability to continue expanding 5G network coverage as new users come online...

This Money-Doubling Classic Could Lead an Outer Space "Gold Rush"

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

When Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt blasted off from the surface of the moon on the evening of Dec. 14, 1972, very few people believed it would be NASA's last manned moon mission for 47 years - and counting.

But ever since, the American manned space program has been very much focused on working and exploring in Earth's orbit.

Now, America's human spaceflight plans have been kicked back into high gear.

Later this month, on May 27, American astronauts are slated to launch from American soil aboard an American vehicle for the first time since the Space Shuttle retired back in 2011. In fact, the "Crew Dragon/Falcon 9" mission is a true joint government-commercial venture between Elon Musk's SpaceX and NASA.

And in 2021, Boeing Co. plans a crewed launch of its new CST-100 "Starliner" crew capsule.

One of the chief aims of these projects is a return to the moon.

The Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s were capably assisted by American private enterprise, but they were essentially muscle-flexing demonstrations of American missile and materials technology, shot squarely across the Soviet Union's bow.

But these new 21st century missions have a decidedly commercial purpose.

Now, Trump's overwhelming preference for American space dominance is on the record. And so it surprised no one when the president recently signed an executive order to allow the United States to begin mining water and other natural resources... on the moon.

See, far from being dull, empty rocks, the moon and even the asteroid belt are proven to be absolutely packed with extremely valuable natural resources.

There's water, strategic metals, minerals, and even precious metals like gold and platinum - wealth beyond measure - "out there" for the taking.

And now the word is out, and the new, commercial "Space Race" is on. Many companies will play a role, but the one I'm thinking of - one that's already doubled our money - will be a real linchpin in this new era...Full Story

A New Innovative 5G Network Could Launch by Year’s End, Driving This Company Up 100% or More

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

On April 1, T-Mobile US Inc. closed its acquisition of Sprint, and with that, the whole wireless landscape in the United States changed.

This merger will make 5G more accessible to millions of people at a time when video conferencing, streaming, and Internet usage is skyrocketing.

And it did this with one simple move - access to spectrum.

Without getting too technical and just giving you the most important details, there are three different kinds of spectrum: low-band, mid-band, and millimeter wave (mmWave).

Every carrier uses a different combination to provide wireless signals to their customers, and each type of spectrum offers different tradeoffs, which range from faster speeds to better coverage.

In this case, T-Mobile had mostly slow low-bands with better coverage and only a limited presence in the fast mmWave spectrum.

Combined with T-Mobile, Sprint was able to fill the gaps with its own mid-band and mmWave spectrum coverage, creating better 5G capabilities for everyone on its network.

But that's just part of the story.

This merger is creating a potential profit opportunity in 5G that'd you only know about by diving into the details about the merger... Full Story

Wall Street Keeps Ignoring This AI Leader - and the Stock Is a Bargain

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

Agrobot is on a mission. Based in Oxnard, Calif., the privately held firm wants to use a 3D camera and robotics to identify and pick the ripest berries, without damage - something human pickers find difficult when they're working for hours on end.

Then there's 12 Sigma Technologies, a San Diego firm that's developing a system to sift through hundreds of medical images to and create an "early warning system" for lung cancer - a deadly disease with a five-year survival rate of just 17%.

There's also Tempus, a Chicago-based venture that wants to assimilate a patient's genetic makeup and medical history to create "precision treatment" plans that maximize a person's health.

All three of these companies have one thing in common: Their projects all rely on artificial intelligence (AI), a new wave of technology that's set to have a $15.7 trillion impact on the global economy.

Right now, fast and robust graphics processors are the main power behind AI.

But there's a new advance in AI that could accelerate its adoption even as it revs up computer performance - and with good reason: This innovation operates at lightning speeds but just "sips" energy.

In fact, this "artificial" intelligence parallels the actual thinking pattern of the human brain.

Known as "neuromorphic computing," this type of AI-powered "neural network" will find use in computer vision and speech and pattern recognition. According to researcher Gartner Group, this could become the predominant type of AI computing by 2025.

In short, we're talking about game-changing innovation - one that's being driven by a new kind of chip.

One specific company has leaped to the forefront. It's a company whose shares are still trading at bargain levels.

Let's take a look...

The "Zoom of Healthcare" May Be the Greatest Company You Haven't Heard Of

By , Executive Editor, Money Morning • @privatebrief -

Virtually everyone has heard of Zoom Video Communications Inc. - the came-out-of-nowhere winner of the coronavirus pandemic.

With its work-from-anywhere software, Zoom has changed the way we look at our jobs.

And that promises to change the American workplace and the U.S. economy moving forward.

Well, there's also another innovator out there - a tech firm that promises to have a bigger-and-longer-lasting impact on a different sector - the $1.7 trillion U.S. healthcare market.

This company - which I'm referring to as the "Zoom of Healthcare" - could be one of the biggest winners of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But many investors have never even heard of it. So today, our Bill Patalon sat down with tech expert Michael Robinson to talk about just how big this is for investors...

Microsoft's "Right-Hand Man" Could Double Your Money Before the Economy Recovers

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

"We're living in a time of rapid change," is a phrase I hear often in the media these days. I think that's a big understatement.

The coronavirus pandemic has transformed the world and the markets in a little over a month.

Nevertheless, it's tough to imagine anything that would change my strong conviction on Microsoft.

I've made no secret of the fact that I believe "Mr. Softy" is one of the best plays in a $160 billion cloud computing sector that's grown stronger by the day since 2.5 billion people went under lockdown.

It's not hard to understand the catalyst for that: Governments, institutions, and individuals have little choice but to work and transact business remotely where- and whenever possible. That includes Microsoft itself, by the way.

Cloud computing and storage is absolutely critical for that effort.

So, my Microsoft recommendation stands, of course, but today, I want to look at another long-term buy.

This firm is closely allied with Microsoft - like my dad used to say, "People judge you by the company you keep."

The company I'm about to name is actually integral to Microsoft's own success, so much so that its earnings could double in the next three years... Full Story

Three "COVID-Killer" Technologies - and Three Ways Investors Can Ride Along for Profit

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

The coronavirus pandemic is absolutely one of the biggest crises - and greatest tragedies - of this generation.

But trouble also spurs action - so that new ways of thinking tackle new threats like COVID-19.

And more than any other, one word characterizes these new ideas.

I'm talking about "innovation."

Now, I don't think there's any doubt among scientists, doctors, and drug executives that COVID-19 has created a huge paradigm shift.

The pandemic is prompting company executives, researchers, government officials, and medical scientists to seek new ways to do things - as well as the technologies that can fuel those new approaches.

The bottom line: All these folks are looking to use existing technologies to tamp down on the coronavirus pandemic.

And once they've succeeded - as they will - these new ways of doing things will mostly be here to stay.

That means the technologies that made this all possible will be major beneficiaries going forward.

Three areas of technology stand to be the biggest winners of all.

Today, I'm going to show you those three winners. All told, the three segments I want to walk you through today are on their way to being worth more than $70 billion on a global basis.

And I'm also going to detail three investments that will allow you to ride these new tech waves - and profit - in an equally meaningful way.

So let's get started...

Next Stop for Amazon (AMZN) Stock: $3,000 a Share

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

The coronavirus panic has most of the economy in a deep freeze.

Brick-and-mortar retail stores are getting hammered.

The food-supply-chain is under pressure.

Unemployment is rising.

And all the signs suggest that the U.S. economy is headed for a recession.

With the opportunity matrix changing for investors, the COVID-19 pandemic is transforming one heavyweight into an absolute juggernaut.

We're talking about Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), which has become the essential retailing icon of the pandemic.

In fact, our Michael Robinson is predicting that we'll eventually see Amazon at $3,000 a share as a result of the market.

And the stock will move even higher from there.

Here's why...

How Tech Startups Are the Key to Adapting to a Pandemic-Altered World

By , Special Contributor, Money Morning -

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it. And even after we get through this - and believe me, we will - many aspects of our lives will completely change or be altered.

I'm talking about the way we dine out, the way we travel, the way we shop, the way we work and learn. The list goes on. Whether we like it or not, the global community will have to change some of their lifestyle habits to adapt to a pandemic-altered world.

But the good news is many tech startups will rise to face the challenges of the world's changing needs by offering solutions other companies simply can't.

Take education, for example.

Whether we were ready for it or not, 2020 is now the year of edtech - technology used to move education forward. According to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), more than 1.4 billion "learners" are stuck at home right now. And dozens of companies have stepped up to beam classes straight to your living room.

Many of these startups are seeing staggering increases in their user base numbers. While this level of growth is not sustainable, it has forced education ahead in many respects.

Edtech startups have had to scale at unprecedented rates to meet demand; meanwhile, teachers, students, and parents have had to fully immerse themselves in the latest technology just to continue meeting their goals.

In other words, COVID-19 has essentially pushed edtech's innovation timeline forward by five or 10 years - virtually overnight.

There are other sectors where tech startups could have invaluable impact, from health and biotechnology to the ways we meet and conduct business.

Today, I'm going to dig deep into some of these areas where tech startup firms could immensely help us in adapting to the global changes brought on by the coronavirus.

These will be the areas most exciting - and successful - for investing...

Why This Top Tech Leader Should Be No. 1 on Everyone's Watch List

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

With this choppy, news-driven market still driving wild daily swings, it's still not time to go "all in." But adding to or starting positions in strong stocks is a good idea.

We've talked about how to get back in at the right pace - buying in increments, using dollar-cost averaging to lower your cost basis.

As far as what to get into - you can't go wrong with a strong tech leader.

These are the stocks you want to own for years to come. Buying in a little off the bottom won't matter in a few years, when your money has doubled or tripled - or better.

To get that tech leader buy list ready, it means giving each one a thorough checkup to make sure that prior to the correction, it had a great track record of earnings gains.

I've recently given you recommendations on a money-doubling tech stock and three high-dividend tech stocks. Today, I want to reveal a tech leader that I feel should be on everyone's watch list. It's a former laggard that become one of the market's top leaders. Along the way, it amassed a market value of roughly $1.4 trillion.

But when it became one of the first in the sector to warn of a sales decline brought on by the coronavirus and exposure to China, the stock got hammered.

Here's the thing - it's firing on all cylinders, and it gives investors multiple shots on goal. I'm talking about everything from defense and cannabis to the cloud and computing...

This Double-Your-Money Tech Stock Is a Perfect Play for the Current Market

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

Investing icon Peter Lynch had a key tip for investors who were looking to cut through the uncertainty to find winning stocks.

His advice: Invest in what you know.

It's a great bit of advice - even when talking about tech stocks.

And it's a great bit of counsel.

In a wild-and-wooly market like the one we're navigating now, focusing on a company whose products, services, and technologies you know, like, and use can give you one heck of a competitive advantage: You'll zero in on discount stocks before the deep-pocketed investment pros even realize there's a bargain to grab.

Today, I'm going to tell you all about one such tech play. It's a company I've been following for more than 30 years. And I've been using its technologies for almost as long.

In short, I'm going to tell you all about a stock that I know.

And I'll do more than just tell you about the company. I'm also going to walk you through the five "screens" that explain why this beaten-down tech leader should be on your personal "watch list" right now.

By the time we're done, if you decide to move on this stock, you'll be investing in what you know, too...

Grab Your Share of This $231.9 Billion Industry with These Coronavirus Scam Defense Plays

By , Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI -

You are likely unfamiliar with the plight of Frank Krasovec - it got very little traction.

He is hardly a household name. Frank Krasovec serves as the chair of Dash Brands Ltd. The privately held firm owns Domino's Pizza franchises in China.

Krasovec was the victim of financial fraud costing him nearly half a million dollars. According to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal, he was the perfect victim.

The short version: Krasovec took on a $1 million personal line of credit from a local bank in 2018. He went on a business trip a few months later.

When he got back, he was stunned to learn that $450,000 of his money had vanished. Hackers had used his e-mail address to get an unsuspecting employee to send them that amount by wire transfer.

I'm bringing this up now because often in times of crisis, hackers get to work. We may see them coming at us with phishing e-mails seeking donations to help those stricken with the virus when, in reality, they want to rob us blind.

The privately held cybersecurity company, Agari, issued a warning in late 2018 about California wildfire e-mail scams. The emails purported to come from corporate executives asking employees to make donations, which were actually intended to fatten the bank accounts of hackers.

In other words - you should also be extra cautious about your online presence, especially your e-mails and credit card accounts.

There's also an incredible opportunity here for cybersecurity. This marks a moment for the sector to become even more vital to our existence now that millions have shifted their lives online.

For investors... there's a way to cover the entire waterfront of this sector with one single investment, set to outperform the market for years to come... Full Story

Even a Global Crisis Can't Keep These Companies from Growing

By , Special Contributor, Money Morning -

You don't need to be an expert - or a trader - to see that publicly traded companies are being pummeled right now.

That's one reason right now could be a better time than ever to consider adding private equity to your portfolio of assets.

While private companies aren't completely immune to the impacts of the virus, many of them are built to survive a crisis.

All startups share a certain set of qualities that make them better-equipped to weather this storm than many publicly traded goliaths. During uncertain times, a tiny business just starting out has an upper hand because it's better prepared for loss and hardship than the bigger, more established companies. And it also doesn't have a lot on the line (yet) to lose.

So if you've been thinking about getting into startups for a while and didn't know how or when to get in, this could be the perfect chance to set yourself up for a lifetime of wealth.

Let me show you how this works... Full Story