15 Trends For 2021 From Cathie Wood and ARK, One of the Best Performing Investment Firms in 2020

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Here are the 15 trends ARK Invest predicts will be big drivers of growth in 2021.

Deep Learning

• Data to write software (vs. humans) that can power AI chips and self-driving cars
• Could create more economic value than the Internet did
• ARK predicts $30 trillion over next 15–20 years

Reinvention of Data Center

• Accelerator, dominated by GPUs, will replace the CPU as Main Server Compute Engine

Virtual Worlds

• Metaverse of Video Games, VR, and AR
• Gamers will become developers
• Spending in-game and virtual goods will increase exponentially

Digital Wallets

• 230 million users by 2025 multiplied by $20,000 value per customer= $4.7 trillion market that will supplant banks with lower acquisition costs

Bitcoin Fundamentals

• Less built on hype, more on network fundamentals
• Could serve as alternative to cash on company balance sheets

Bitcoin: Preparing for Institutions

• Deserves strategic allocation in portfolios based on gained credibility
• Recommended allocation of 3–7%

Electric Vehicles (EV)

• Decreasing battery costs, costs to own, and competing range and performance with other autos drive growth

Automation

• Will lead to higher wages, lower prices, higher margins, and higher investments
• Shifted unpaid labor to paid labor

Autonomous Ride Hailing

• Will dominate urban transport at 1/10th of the cost of taxis
• Varying automation strategies in industry, scalability determines pace of adoption

Drone Delivery

• Reduce cost to deliver goods
• Battery technology improved
• E-Commerce by 2030
• Food Delivery

Orbital Aerospace

• Global connectivity, point to point travel, and living on moon and Mars
• Rocket reusability drives lower costs and ability to use more satellites for those without broadband access

3D Printing

• Most prevalent in aerospace and auto industries
• Low costs and rapid prototyping as well as AI in manufacturing

Long Read Sequencing

• More complete picture of human genome
• As more data produced, costs go down

Multi Cancer Screening

• Liquid biopsies could prevent more cancer deaths than any other medical intervention before
• Blood tests can help with early detection

Cell and Gene Therapy: Generation 2

• Total Addressable Market (TAM) for oncology therapeutics will increase by 20-fold
• Shift from autologous to allogenic cell therapies

Which trend are you most interested in? Which one will dominate over the others?