ET: July 23rd 2024

[Exploding Topics Logo]( Presented by: [Exploding Topics Pro Logo]( Here’s this week’s list of rapidly trending topics, insights and analysis. Topic #1 Korean Sunscreen [Chart]( Korean sunscreens are nourishing formulations that offer sun protection without leaving a white residue. These sunscreens often contain niche ingredients like rice extract, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. While American sunscreens are only required to indicate the levels of UVB protection (SPF ratings), Korean sunscreens specifically call out UVA and UVB protection individually, with PA++++ being the highest level of coverage against UVA rays. Videos with the hashtag #koreansunscreens have 28.4M views on TikTok. Searches for one specific Korean sunscreen formulation, “[Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun]( have increased by 300% over the past two years. One highly-rated Korean sunscreen brings in approximately $187K/month on Amazon. What's Next Korean sunscreen is part of the Specialty Sunscreens meta trend. Today’s consumers want sunscreen to feel luxurious and to offer more benefits than just sun protection. Examples of trending products in this category include: [Ceramide sunscreens]( are infused with ceramides, which moisturize the skin and improve the skin’s natural barrier. [Vitamin C sunscreens]( amp up the power of UVA sunscreen because vitamin C neutralizes any free radicals that slip past the base level of protection. [Ginseng sunscreens]( also enhance the protection level of UVA sunscreens. They’re also known for decreasing inflammation and minimizing dark spots. [Birch juice sunscreens]( are said to soothe inflammation and boost collagen production. Topic #2 Slang AI [Chart]( Slang AI is a voice AI tool that answers calls and takes reservations for restaurants. Up to 50% of customer calls at restaurants go unanswered according to DoorDash. Slang AI aims to remedy this problem by providing an AI-powered voice assistant that frees up restaurant staff and eliminates the need for frustrating robo phone menus. According to company data, the AI tool can handle more than 50% of a restaurant’s calls without the need for human intervention. This saves a restaurant an average of 200 hours per month. By 2030, Slang AI predicts they will have saved restaurants a total of 1B minutes. In May, Slang AI emerged from stealth mode with a $20M Series A funding round. The company was also named one of 2024’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. What's Next Slang AI is part of the Restaurant AI Tools meta trend. Search interest in “[AI for restaurants]( has grown more than 500% in the past two years. 60% of restaurant operators say they’ll invest in technology to enhance the customer experience this year. More than 15% say their investment will go toward AI integrations. Early-adopting restaurants are now using AI to take drive-thru orders, manage inventory, respond to online reviews, and customize their menus. Here are a few trending AI tools for restaurants: [Popmenu]( offers an AI voice answering tool and an AI marketing platform that creates emails, texts, and social media posts. [Presto Automation]( provides AI voice ordering for drive-thru restaurants like Taco John’s and Hardee’s. [Encounter AI]( voice ordering tool can recognize subtle clues in customers’ language and tone. It can be utilized in drive-thrus, kiosks, and at-table tablets. Topic #3 SumSub [Chart]( SumSub is an identity verification platform that helps businesses verify users, prevent fraud, and ensure compliance throughout the KYB-KYC process. Company data shows the platform can verify users in under five seconds without requesting documents. According to SumSub, nearly 100% of fraud attempts are blocked by the platform. The tool also decreases the duration of the verification process by 53%. Last year, SumSub’s revenue was $25M (up from approximately $1M in 2019). Company leaders say revenue could top $45M in 2024. SumSub is used by 2K organizations across four continents and 220 countries. What's Next SumSub is part of the Unified Identity Verification meta trend. Traditional KYC verification is a manual process that requires a total of more than 25 million documents at large financial institutions. Instead of this siloed process, unified platforms combine all of the verification processes into one streamlined, automated service. Some of the largest banks have previously employed more than 3,000 people to work on KYC processes. Automated unified verification platforms make the process more efficient and reduce the need for such high staffing levels. Here are three trending platforms for unified identity verification: [Fourthline]( is a European startup that uses AI to scan more than 200 checkpoints on new customers. [Third Fort]( is an identity verification platform that allows customers to verify through an app. [Veriff]( combines human verification teams with AI to deliver a six-second ID verification process. Topic #4 Charlie Health [Chart]( Charlie Health is a virtual healthcare platform designed for teens and young adults. Charlie Health’s program is called “intensive outpatient programming.” It includes group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy over 9-12 weeks. Their medical professionals offer treatment for a variety of mental health challenges like anxiety disorders, trauma, self-harm, and substance abuse. Once users register, they begin treatment in as little as 24 hours. In addition, hospitals with a shortage of mental health professionals have partnered with Charlie Health to provide virtual therapy while patients wait for in-person treatment. Charlie Health treated 15K patients last year. More than 60% of them were between the ages of 11 and 17. The platform currently operates in 30 states. What's Next Charlie Health is part of the Pediatric Mental Health meta trend. One in five children has a mental health disorder. Yet the average wait time for mental health or substance abuse treatment is 48 days and nearly 60% of youth with major depression don’t receive treatment. While traditional treatment methods fall short and staffing shortages cause large gaps in care, startups are looking for new ways to ensure mental well-being in children. VC funding for mental health startups had already reached $500M by mid-2024. Here are two other startups offering virtual mental healthcare to children: [InStride Health]( treats pediatric anxiety and OCD through text, chat, and video. [Talkiatry]( provides general telepsychiatry services to adults but recently expanded its children’s services to encompass 31 states. Topic #5 Exponential New Product Category (Exploding Topics Pro Only) [Chart]( Topic #6 AI Software Gaining Traction (Exploding Topics Pro Only) [Chart]( Topic #7 Exploding FinTech Platform (Exploding Topics Pro Only) [Chart]( Topic #8 DTC Product Taking Off (Exploding Topics Pro Only) [Chart]( Topic #9 Hockey-stick Growth Health Trend (Exploding Topics Pro Only) [Chart]( Get access to 1.1M+ under-the-radar markets, products, and investment opportunities at least 12 months before anyone else. [Try Exploding Topics Pro]( Exploding Topics 548 Market St. Suite 95149 San Francisco CA 94104-5401 USA [Unsubscribe]( | [Change Subscriber Options](