Move over the Thundering Herd - the Thundering Nerds are here! For those of us who remember the Merrill Lynch catch cry, it has well and truly been usurped by technology. This month we examine how technology is disrupting and reshaping the Wealth sector.

Enjoy, from all of us at North Ridge Partners.

Original Thinking From North Ridge Partners

Here come the Thundering Nerds! Last week we completed the sale of next generation Wealth app Spaceship to global rival eToro. It seems like a good opportunity to examine the global business of WealthTech - click here to read our analysis.

Stuff We Found Interesting

Now and then we come across great reading from firms we like that make us think. Here are two recent examples:

• The art of the Possible: Amid global instability, Possible Ventures is investing in sectors that will build technological and sovereign resilience to navigate uncertainty and deliver a better society. An Australian/German deeptech VC firm, Possible is investing globally in sectors like climate and energy, future computing, AI, cyber, space tech and advanced materials -– you can read their most recent report to investors here.

• Meanwhile, AI gurus Dave and Helen Edwards of Artificiality recently brought bold thinkers together in Bend, Oregon to explore AI, intimacy, and the future of humanity at their Artificiality Imagining Summit – you can read the opening address here.

And in other stuff we found interesting:

• What the Donald's re-election means for Silicon Valley. 

Asia Pacific Tech News

• Southeast Asia’s e-commerce sector is set to boom, catching the eye of the Chinese digital giants.

• Low-cost Chinese ecommerce platform Temu could overtake Amazon in

  user numbers next year.

• Not wanting to miss out in the boom, here comes Japan as Ayala partners with MUFG in ground-breaking Philippines fintech deal.

• No chip change says TSMC, after Trump election.

• Lights dim as no vacancy signs go up in the metaverse.

Perplexity’s Take on Big Tech Q3 Results 

• Apple reported record revenues of $94.9 billion, up 6% year-on-year (YOY), Microsoft delivered $64.7 billion, up 15% YOY, with Azure growing 29%, Meta exceeded expectations at $40.5 billion, up 18.7% YOY, Amazon surpassed forecasts with $158.9 billion, up 13% YOY, and Alphabet's Google Cloud grew 35% YOY to $11.4 billion.  

• Google Cloud and Azure show the fastest growth rates, with analysts viewing Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon as best positioned for the future. However, increased AI-related may impact short-term profitability.  

• Apple faces challenges with slowing iPhone sales (note the Oracle of Omaha has sold two-thirds of Berkshire’s position), while Meta's rebound and focus on efficiency have improved its outlook.  

• Overall, cloud and AI capabilities appear to be key differentiators for future growth potential among these tech giants. Meanwhile, Nvidia just became the world’s largest company.  

Tech Investment Banking Across Asia Pacific

North Ridge Partners advises tech companies across the Asia Pacific on strategy, capital raising and M&A. We’re experienced dealmakers who have built and sold many tech companies. In partnership with GP Bullhound, we have 200 bankers in 17 global offices.

Contact us here.

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