Over a thousand startups are attending CES in the hopes of showing off their products and earning support from investors, but amid “the slew of layoffs in the tech industry and an economic landscape” impacted by inflation and interest rates, “many may be met with cautious investors looking for products that can deliver quick returns instead of hype.” Analysts are saying CES 2023 has “somewhat of a muted tone compared to prior shows,” with many companies eschewing “pie-in-the-sky projects that never saw the light of day,” instead showing less “flamboyant” items. Creative Strategies president Carolina Milanesi said, “The economy – and I think the mood in general – is a little bit negative around tech...It’s really getting companies to focus on real value for customers.”