The first two weeks of a major event are critical, capturing over 90% of global attention before it rapidly declines. Adversaries and state-sponsored media like Al Jazeera and RT exploit this by building long-term credibility with factual reporting on mundane topics, then deploying targeted misinformation during these key windows.
The 25-year software-dominant investment cycle is ending, giving way to a new golden era for hardware. This shift is driven by the maturation of technologies like silicon photonics and the immense demand from AI data centers, robotics, defense, and the strategic re-onshoring of manufacturing.
The US has weakened its global strategic position over the past 20 years and remains highly susceptible to information warfare, which weaponizes American values like freedom of speech. A more inwardly-focused, selective foreign policy is advocated to rebuild domestic strength and resilience.
Effective venture capital, particularly for deep-tech, requires moving beyond 'vibes-based' assessments of founders. It demands a rigorous, specific analysis of outlier traits relevant to the company's domain, analogous to assessing a chess player's ELO rating, and understanding the credibility of the person providing the reference.
Keep pulling the thread on Shaun Maguire.