Goodbye 2020 - Q1 Edition

In the last week of 2020, we look back on the events and major activities of each quarter. January through March was a quarter of anticipation that we couldn’t have expected to spiral into a pandemic. 

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• The Korean picture Parasite swept awards at the Oscars including Best Picture, a first for a foreign movie.
• Even though most of the world didn’t know it then, the coronavirus was brought to attention by WHO at the beginning of January citing its origins from Wuhan, China. The virus eventually spread to other parts of the world by the beginning of March causing the worst stock market crash since 1987 and lockdown and quarantine announcements to follow. 
• We lost a Laker Legend in Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others in a helicopter crash.
• Britain leaves the European Union while Prince Harry and his wife Megan, the Duchess of Sussex also leave the British royal family. The Duchess has since become a startup investor for Clevr Blends, an oat milk brand.
• The Tokyo Olympic Games is postponed for a year, in an unprecedented move that has never occurred for the Games. Amateur and professional athletes have had to change their 
• Documentary Tiger King becomes a phenomenon on Netflix as many are stuck at home during the onset of the pandemic.
• PrivCo recorded over 1100 funding rounds in this quarter. Notable funding included $2.3BN raised by Waymo, $800MM by Vantage Data Centers, and $700MM+ by Juul. 
• We also recorded over 1200 M&As notably Meetup by AlleyCorp, WellCare Health Plans by Centene Corporation, E-Trade by Morgan Stanley, and Plaid by VISA.