On the surface, the attention is warranted. Some of the most well-known tech companies have built their profile by going public, including Facebook by raising $16 billion in 2012. But when you peel away the hype and examine investor returns from tech IPOs more closely, the reality can leave a lot to be desired. The Hype in Numbers When it comes to the IPOs of companies beginning to sell shares on public stock exchanges, tech offerings have become synonymous with billion-dollar launches....

Though the world has since recovered and moved on from the crash, the banking system that ignited such damage has in some ways never been the same. Take U.S. branch bank net openings, which is undergoing a notable trend reversal. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), for 11 years and counting, the number of U.S. bank branch closings has exceeded the number of branch openings. There are fewer banks in America with every passing year—in 2020 alone, a deficit of 1,537 branches was recorded, almost 2% of the roughly 85,000 branches in the country....

The legalization of cannabis for adult use – first passed in the states of Washington and Colorado in 2012 – is now approved in a total of nine states and the District of Columbia. By the end of the year, that total could be in the mid-teens as states vote on cannabis-related ballots in the upcoming mid-term elections. California’s Green Rush States are legalizing the adult use of cannabis for various reasons, but there’s no doubt that one of the primary ones is the potential impact on both the economy and government coffers....

From the Grand Canyon to the Ancient Pyramids of Giza, there is at least one mind-blowing attraction to discover anywhere you go. And the countries that have these great tourist attractions? They are happy to see you bring your tourist dollars into their borders. The question is: just how many dollars are spent, and where? Today’s map comes to us from HowMuch.net, a cost information site, and it shows the countries that rake in the most tourist dollars each year....

The fast pace, the pivots, and the setbacks involved in a new venture all make for an exciting day-to-day where anything can happen. And at the end of the road, with a little luck and some hard work, there is even potential to make a significant return on investment: a take-out offer, or an IPO can be a life changing event for one’s career and financial security. But the startup life is also grueling and unforgiving....

Cloud computing continues to be on the rise, and for good reason. It’s transformed our digital experience in numerous ways, from how we store data to the way we share information online with others. Growth in cloud services is showing no signs of slowing down, particularly in the data storage realm—by 2025, almost half of the world’s stored data will reside in public cloud environments. Yet, despite its increasing popularity among consumers and businesses alike, do people really understand what the cloud fully entails?...

Over time, advice for living longer has become more practical: eat well, get regular exercise, seek medical advice. However, as life expectancies increase, many individuals will struggle to save enough for their lengthy retirement years. Today’s infographic comes from New York Life Investments, and it uncovers how holding a stronger equity weighting in your portfolio may help you save enough funds for your lifespan. Longer Life Expectancies Around the world, more people are living longer....

Without the luxury of a crystal ball, investors must find opportunities by analyzing the market. There’s just one problem: the 24/7 news cycle is enough to make anyone’s head spin. Where should an investor focus their attention, when almost every new venture is forecast to be the next big thing? The Powerful Influence of Macro Trends Today’s infographic comes to us from U.S. Global Investors, and it highlights how analyzing macro trends can serve as a key investment tool....

And if you did it right? A customer would be loyal for life, always showing a preference for your brand above all others. This brand loyalty was a recipe for increased customer lifetime value (CLV), as well as a massive boost to the market share and profits of consumer goods companies. The New Ad Era In today’s world, the playbook has changed. In most situations, there are no longer two brands competing head-to-head on grocery shelves, battling it out to win the minds and hearts of consumers....

The proof? In the last decade, the number of women-owned firms nationwide has grown by over 3.5 million, now representing 38% of all businesses in the United States. Today’s map from HowMuch.net shows the top American cities where business is booming for women entrepreneurs. Where are Women-Owned Businesses Growing Fastest? Looking at the percentage growth in women-owned businesses tells us a lot about the way local economies have developed in the past decade....

The below infographic, put together by Aspect, covers the history of crude oil trading, while also highlighting the major events that have shaped the landscape of the oil market as we know it today. The History of Crude Oil The infographic serves as the perfect primer for all the questions about oil that you had, yet were afraid to ask. It also illustrates the impact that unexpected geopolitical events can have on the oil price – and how this volatility can be contagious to other global markets....

The Wealthiest Billionaires Under 35 Years Old The first billion is the hardest, according to oil magnate T. Boone Pickens. And while getting to a net worth of $1 billion at any point in time is a feat, doing it before the age of 35 is even more impressive. Today’s infographic describes the world’s wealthiest billionaires under 35 years old. Note: the list is based on net worth in 2015, and the ages listed correspond to that time as well....

In the next year, the country will move into the next phase of opening up its economy by lifting restrictions on the foreign ownership of securities, insurance, and fund management firms, and this will make the economy more accessible to the outside world than ever before. An Opportunity Too Big To Ignore Today’s infographic from BlackRock explores the steps China’s markets have taken to attract foreign capital on a global scale....

Iron has been extremely useful to mankind for more than 3000 years, and now accounts for 95% of all metal produced annually. Iron ore is now the world’s second largest commodity market after oil and is essential for developing nations to build infrastructure and to modernize. China’s rapid industrialization in the last decade has caused huge increases in global iron demand. In fact, China is responsible for all the growth in steel consumption since 2000....

We’re now 95% funded, with just 36 hours left to hit the funding goal. The VC App will bring the world’s best infographics, data visualizations, and motion graphics into the palm of your hand. And to make it a reality, we are offering exclusive rewards to backers for only 36 more hours. Time is Running Out. Back Us On: P.S. On the Kickstarter page you can find out about all the rewards you can get like early access to the VC App, exclusive invites and even lifetime subscriptions to our premium newsletter VC+....

This map looks at the top 25 countries by this metric. They’re located across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Notably, no South American or African countries make the list. Although number one on the global stage in terms of total GDP, the U.S. places fifth with a GDP per capita of $63,051. Interestingly, a number of countries with smaller population sizes have a high GDP per capita. For example, Iceland makes the top 10 at $57,189, but the island’s population is only around 342,000 people....

In recent years, an impressive number of companies have stepped up to take a more active role in shaping a more sustainable future—not just in the environmental sense, but also by taking social and governance factors into consideration. Today’s chart draws from the Corporate Knights Global 100, an annual ranking of the 100 most sustainable companies, to visualize exactly how many are located in each corner of the world. The companies on the list are clear winners not only because they aim to leave the world a better place, but because their stocks have also outperformed the market on average....

The popularity of a language depends greatly on utility and geographic location. Additionally, how we measure the spread of world languages can vary greatly depending on whether you look at total speakers or native speakers. Today’s detailed visualization from WordTips illustrates the 100 most spoken languages in the world, the number of native speakers for each language, and the origin tree that each language has branched out from. How Do You Define A Language?...

Today’s visualization relies on data compiled by CityLab researchers to identify the world’s largest megaregions. The team defines megaregions as: Areas of continuous light, based on the latest night satellite imagery Capturing metro areas or networks of metro areas, with a combined population of 5 million or higher Generating economic output (GDP) of over $300 billion, on a PPP basis The satellite imagery comes from the NOAA, while the base data for economic output is calculated from Oxford Economics via Brookings’ Global Metro Monitor 2018....

It is not the Grinch or Vladimir Putin that is stealing Santa’s workshop, but instead it’s the natural processes of the Earth that are moving the North Pole. In fact, since scientists have been tracking the anomaly in the Arctic, the North Magnetic Pole has been shifting towards Russia. So why exactly is the pole moving, and what does it mean? Charting a Course: Magnetic North A compass always points towards the North Magnetic Pole....