Planners on the rise as investors bounce back, eyeing 2024.

Investors are planning for a busy year ahead, with funding series set to make a comeback in 2024. Despite a challenging environment for start-ups in recent years, interest rates are stabilising and consumer spending is strong, leading to increased activity in the investment world. Investors are now taking a more cautious approach and looking at the overall health of a company before participating in a funding round. The focus is on profitability and organic customer acquisition, with retention and strong consumer sentiment also key factors. Investors have identified several categories that are expected to perform well in the coming year, including better-for-you food and beverage, clean beauty, and consumer packaged goods. Meanwhile, some investors are cautious about the year ahead, predicting a difficult time for consumer businesses seeking funding. Overall, investors are looking for profitable companies with unique differentiators, and there is continued interest in celebrity-backed brands.