THOUGHTFUL READS1️⃣ The case for asset-backed financing Investors have poured trillions into private credit and infrastructure, but hardtech startups - which need significant funding - face early barriers accessing this capital, largely due to the lack of structures and standardization needed to convert physical assets into investments that can be underwritten. This is where asset-backed financing comes in. Read this piece from the World Economic Forum to learn more. 2️⃣ Hear only what you need to hear The life of a corporate investor involves rotating pitch meetings, internal strategy reviews, "quick syncs," and so much more. According to Bill Taranto, founder and president of MSD Global Health Innovation Fund, the trick to navigating this isn't to absorb everything - it's to only pay attention to what matters. He shares more in this Global Corporate Venturing article. 3️⃣ Who's the real winner in the AI game? OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI companies are raking in the big bucks, but in the long haul, revenue growth at the infrastructure layer doesn't necessarily determine who captures the value the infrastructure enables - and investors are beginning to price in a different question. This article from Forbes dives deeper. 4️⃣ Tech for good isn't dead Global venture capital was up over 150% year on year in Q1 2026, but impact startup investment fell 63% last year to just US$33 billion, its lowest level since 2017. One might interpret this as VCs no longer caring about impact, but according to Alex Stephany, founder and CEO of govtech startup Beam, it's not so much a character problem as it is a capability problem. More about this in this piece from Sifted. 5️⃣ Personal power There are many leaders out there, each using charisma, manipulation, domineering behavior, or their status in the hierarchy to exert control. But there is another type of leader whose power isn't necessarily related to their position - it's their "personal power," rooted in their internal values, and it enables them to drive impact, regardless of where they are in the org chart. This episode of the HBR on Leadership podcast explores this in detail. |
