Verticals

The terms resilience, decarbonization, the circular economy, urbanization, and digitalization are currently used broadly throughout the cleantech industry. At MPI, we focus on these and look towards other cleantech aspects such as solar PV, battery and energy storage, onshore and offshore wind power, hydrogen and renewable gas, and carbon sequestration. All of these contribute to a cleaner, greener future, partially mandated by recent, new and emerging regulations regarding the environment. We fully support enabling technologies such as AI, machine learning, robotics, Big data and analytics, and IoT to make way for greater efficiencies.

At MPI, we consider Green Tech to be the research, development, and application of products, equipment, and systems used to take care of the environment, minimizing the negative impacts from humans. We seek out companies that leverage resources, such as high-end recycled plastics, low or zero-emissions flight vehicles, lab-grown fish, edible food coatings, new building materials—at the same time, using AI to support activities such as replantation and habitat conservation projects.  We review only a few aspects as potential Green Tech opportunities come our way. While staying abreast of current trends is essential, we prefer to look towards the next innovative “wave” to ensure that our investors can leverage first-in-market opportunities.

This past year has been a tremendous year for the shipping industry, and the upcoming years are projected only to get better. Shipping companies have recently enjoyed an enhanced image brought forth by media and other sources focusing on the high value brought to bear by shipping companies. Last year, the profitability of all combined shipping companies exceeded the earnings of Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google. Exceptional. Decarbonization is high on the list, and the development of new fuels is progressing and will be available very soon. Shipping is an industry that excites MPI and our investors as we pursue opportunities to capture a portion of this sector and enhance our investment portfolio.

While Covid 19 caused significant changes in the consumption of media (everything from new series, favorite movies, and old concerts), the future of media and entertainment is exceptionally bright. The global video streaming market size is constantly growing. Covid caused a significant impact to live entertainment, and venues are again open. The pandemic generated a desire to create live events available to more extensive and increasingly diverse audiences, making the potential for changes to traditional formats. Entertainment subscription services will be expanding in some directions and contracting in other ways. Consumers are willing to experiment with entertainment options, and the hard lines separating content and distribution channels are becoming increasingly blurry. These are a few aspects that MPI uses when evaluating media and entertainment opportunities, continuously optimizing investor value.

Covid impacted the retail industry in the most disruptive manner. Luckily, the industry is moving hand in hand with eCommerce. There are several related issues such as cyber security/prevention of cyberattacks, infrastructure and scalability, delivery and logistics, and ensuring there is an omnichannel approach in place – having the ability to meet consumer needs in-store, online, or wherever the shopper may be. Social commerce – shopping via Tik Tok or Instagram is a retailing approach not to be missed, as are pop-up shops. There is an increase in self-service technologies, including self-checkout, mobile POS, scan-and-go, and cashier-less stores. Customers seek to make easier decisions in physical stores, experience reduced fatigue, and waste less time wandering around the store—the above-enabled stores’ reductions in the available options (think about the cereal aisle). Operating in the cloud has become critical to the retail industry, as has tracking and predicting inventory needs, all supported by combining technological and human insights.

At MPI, we consider government investment opportunities stretching far beyond North America’s borders. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated: “The biggest crisis lessons are that governments will need to respond to future crises at speed and scale while safeguarding trust and transparency.” We recognize that the government must focus on building resilience in terms of future “shocks” (think Covid). Government and planners should be paid attention to how structures, systems, and data-sharing can be connected to drive more significant impact and value and how to create an all-inclusive, equity-centered government –  for all the people.  Some of the trending topics in government are: providing digital access for all, future-proofing of the labor force, and reimagining social care.  These and many other trends are where MPI seeks to assist in investing to ensure a more significant and more accessible global government.

At MPI, we realize that people are turning away from luxury hotels and seeking properties providing fewer wasteful amenities (think items that are not sustainable for the environment). People are also looking for properties that focus on the local community and properties that exhibit purpose – sometimes social purpose. People want an experience of essential hospitality without unwanted or unsustainable amenities. Solo travel is becoming increasingly popular. In addition, the industry is moving towards using digital voice assistants.  Forecasts suggest that there will be more than 8.4 billion by 2024. Mobile apps will allow for quick and easy check-in and check-out. Flex, or “multifunctional spaces,” will become increasingly crucial while incorporating indoor/outdoor flow to enable seamless movement throughout a hospitality structure. Finally, in-room fitness and assorted variations are becoming increasingly strategic for specific properties.

Because of Covid, hospitals and some specialty physician practices still struggle with fluctuating patient volumes since many patients are not quite ready to continue healthcare “as usual.”  Unplanned or elective procedures were often put offed during viral surges. Healthcare IT and risk-based physician practices have experienced a less negative impact from the pandemic.  Telehealth has become a safe and effective alternative to in-person medical visits. Since these are increasingly important, Pharma Services and Diagnostics labs will likely see increased valuations.  Interest in biopharmaceuticals is rising. Covid has also increased the need for effective behavioral adjustments, which teletherapy can accommodate. There is also a need to provide integrated and customized commercial communications services among and between pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Home healthcare and hospice are growing areas within healthcare and life sciences. It also appears that partnerships rather than M&A activities are on the uptick. All of these present MPI with a variety of investment opportunities.

Manufacturing factories have been quite busy shedding jobs while Covid was peaking. At the same time, output in manufacturing has been increasing as companies are ramping up production post-pandemic. Employee retention is also a critical aspect for companies to consider, and companies are diversifying their workforce. There is a gap between the thinking of leadership and frontline workers regarding how managers can enhance company skills.  Mobile training apps are filling these gaps in many cases. Supply chain constraints have become a significant issue, and components and container costs have also risen. At the same time, manufacturing companies are introducing increasing amounts of automated solutions, including labor automation and robotics. After all of these challenges and facts are brought together, it only makes sense for MPI to pursue manufacturing opportunities where many of these items have been addressed while allowing the possibilities of significant efficiencies and cost savings to permeate these companies.

In real estate, primarily commercial real estate, companies are retrofitting properties and repurposing spaces for alternate uses while also maximizing value.  Developing long-term return-to-work strategies contributes to a demand for improved technology skills that will shape the talent landscape. Sustainable properties are focused on providing tenants with an enhanced experience. Commercial real estate firms are also building partnerships to provide new offerings to tenants by leveraging Real Estate as a Service (REaaS). Many firms continue to depend on legacy technology systems which alone could limit a company’s ability to grow in the future. They could also take advantage of enabling and emerging technologies.  MPI has a firm belief that real estate has an incredibly bright future.