CBX Daily 5/15/2025

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CultureBanx Team
May 15, 2025

Today, Klarna is putting IPOs on ice, but let’s start with how FemTech has female leaders rolling the dice…

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FemTech’s Future Is Female, Funded, and Ripe for Disruption  

CBX Vibe

FemTech is not just about periods and pregnancy, it's about data sovereignty, community health, and economic power. The term encompasses software, diagnostics, products, and services focused on women’s health, and is on the rise with a global market expected to surpass $103 billion by 2030, according to a Deloitte report. Funds like 100KM Ventures are continuing to invest in the future of work and health, knowing that game changing FemTech entrepreneurs like Arion Long, CEO of Femly, the world’s first smart touchless pad and tampon vending machine are poised to gain a fair share of this market. 

Klarna Backs Out & Markets Catch IPO Cold                                                           

CBX Vibe:

Major tech-based corporations like Klarna and StubHub are putting their public debut plans on ice, and investors are taking notice. Klarna, once Europe’s most valuable fintech with a $45.6 billion valuation, has officially paused its IPO plans. StubHub, the popular ticket resale platform, backed out of IPO plans this year as well. Why? Market volatility has scarred even the most bullish investors, and thanks to rising global tariffs and shaky interest rates, liquidity events are looking like a further-off dream.

The $200K Illusion: Americans Redefine What It Means To Live Comfortably                                                         

CBX Vibe:

“Financially comfortable,” the meaning is unreachable for many, especially when you consider Americans feel they need more than three times the median U.S. household income of about $71,000 a year to feel financially secure. A Bankrate survey found U.S. citizens want to earn over $200,000 a year to be financially comfortable. Considering the median household income for Black U.S. households in 2021 was $46,400 and more than 450,000 job cuts during the first half of 2023, the expectation of being financially secure feels out of reach for many. 

Tune-in Tuesdays!

The U.S. and China have reached a temporary tariff truce. Given how the trade war started, Is this a sincere reset in global economics or just a pause in an ongoing power play for both parties to re-strategize?

A. “Hard Place” by H.E.R. – Both countries feel stuck between economic pain and political pride so this truce isn’t about love or trust — it’s about choosing the lesser evil in a tough moment
B. “The Man” by Aloe Blacc – This agreement could be about asserting control as each side wants to look like the rational leader on the world stage, but beneath it, there’s resentment over who holds the real power in the system
C. “Only For A Moment” by Lola Marsh – The short-term relief feels good, but there's danger beneath the surface due to unresolved tensions and mutual mistrust that could bring the pain back

What are your thoughts on this? Tune in next Tuesday to see which jam captures the prevailing sentiment!

A  |  B  |  C

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Last week’s results are in and it seems people think Rwanda may be taking in more than ‘Dirty Laundry’ by housing U.S. deportees

China’s Retreat On Bonds Could Push U.S. Mortgage Rates Higher                                                       

CBX Vibe:

Foreign investment particularly from China has played a stabilizing role in the U.S. housing finance system by propping up demand for mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae. But recent shifts suggest Beijing may be pulling back. Early indicators point to China reallocating capital into hard assets like gold and decentralized stores of value like Bitcoin. With China holding a significant amount of an estimated $1.3 trillion in U.S. MBS, this potential sell-off could have massive ripple effects on American mortgage rates and housing affordability at a time when the market is already strained. 

2025 MET Gala's Economic Impact From Black Dandyism                                                       

CBX Vibe:

The 2025 MET Gala's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," inspired by Monica L. Miller’s groundbreaking book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, marks a pivotal moment for Black fashion, especially Black menswear. Dandyism is "a literary and artistic style of the latter part of the 19th century marked by artificiality and excessive refinement." This celebration of Black dandyism showcases the artistry and tenacity Black men displayed through style during the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Vibes of the Week

It’s all “ Joy” as females lead in FemTech. Voices of Fire and Pharrell Williams tell it in our CBX Vibes!