The number of AI-related healthtech transactions has doubled every six months since the second half of 2017, reaching 10% of all deals by the end of 2019, according to a report from Hampleton Partners. The international technology mergers and acquisitions advisors' report says that overall healthtech transactions have seen a healthy rebound after dropping significantly in the second half of 2016 and the first half of 2017. Volumes increased by 14% compared to the first half of 2019 and 27% compared to the same period last year. The majority of recent disclosed healthtech transactions were aimed at process efficiency, primarily tackling mounting cost pressures and inefficiencies across the healthcare industry but also tackling new challenges. Jonathan Simnett, director, Hampleton Partners, said: "The phenomenal progress being made in healthcare technology, including genomics, is generating exabytes of data that need analysis, storage and security. That puts the spotlight on AI and machine learning companies which can comb through this massive data pool to extract what's needed to deliver the tailored therapies, drug discovery and care delivery that the sector wants to achieve. "The number of AI targets is rising exponentially as the early movers and pioneers in this space are maturing and becoming ripe for sale.

Global fundraising for insurtech startups has already reached an all-time high in volume in 2018 as of October with 204 deals, following 202 deals in the full year of 2017 and 174 transactions in 2016, according to the latest The Insurtech M&A Market Report by Hampleton Partners. Fundraising transaction values reached $2.6 billion so far in 2018, close to the 2015 peak of $2.7 billion. In 2017, transaction values were at $2.2 billion, following $1.7 billion in 2016. Since 2016 the insurtech sector has reported 151 acquisitions, with 22 buyers making more than one acquisition, according to the report. Strategic buyers, such as insurance enterprise software company Sapiens International and insurtech Charles Taylor, are in the driving seat with 87 per cent of all transactions, versus private equity's 13 percent, the reported noted.