Sobhan Khani

Innovation and equity can align with an equilibrium that drives inclusive growth. Neil Lee’s newest book, Innovation for the Masses: How to Share the Benefits of the High-Tech Economy, emphasizes that innovation at its strongest is not just about the radical breakthroughs but rather also demonstrations of collaborative and iterative processes. As he puts it, innovation “is about teams and building on each other’s work, often in incremental ways and at different scales.” Lee draws attention to three types of institutions that contribute to the success of public innovation policy: generative, diffusive, and redistributive. 1/ Generative institutions, such as leading research universities, help spark new ideas. Capital formation through venture capital directs private funds towards innovation. 2/ Diffusive institutions, including vocational education programs, tech commercialization offices, and local business networks, spread innovation’s benefits by bridging gaps between different sectors of society and industry. Capabilities are shared acrosss domestic industries, connecting key experts. 3/ Redistributive institutions, such as labor market policies and strong public services, ensure that innovation’s gains reach the broader population. Government can have a positive and powerful role in setting the ethos and culture to inspire innovation across all generations. SSTI’s book review is below, shared by the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition. It’s a wonderful synthesis of his key ideas: https://lnkd.in/eTVZWuYa

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AI can be a vital tool in saving energy — and cutting carbon emissions. That’s particularly true in cases where humans lack the capacity to comprehend the flood of data needed to make impactful, real-time decisions. In fact, the technology could be key to helping buildings reduce the stunning amounts of energy they waste from day to day — equivalent to about 30 percent of their total energy use, the Environmental Protection Agency reports. Learn more:

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The potential for driving sustainability through digital transformation is limitless. Innovative organizations looking to build connected products have a huge competitive advantage. There are various sustainability use cases, such as reducing manufacturing scrap, monitoring the supply chain for disruption, enabling electric vehicles and more. #climatetech #data #climateVC

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👉An interesting overview #BusinessAngels #VentureCapital #LPs #GPs #Innovation #InnovationManagement #CorporateInnovation #CorporateStrategy #DigitalTransformation #StartUps #StartusInsights #InnovaticGroup InnovaticGroup. Create the Future Now

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🌍 The world has officially tipped in favor of #climateaction. 🌍 What was once the work of a committed few has become a global transition. #Companies, #investors, and entire industries have woken up and are taking meaningful steps to #decarbonize, innovate, and reshape the #economy. This isn’t just a pledge on paper—it’s action in motion, it’s projects being funded, technologies being deployed, and #carbon footprints shrinking. We’ve hit critical mass, and the momentum is unstoppable. From #renewableenergy investments to carbon #mitigation, from #policy shifts to corporate commitments—the actions are real, and they’re reshaping what’s possible. The question is no longer if we will decarbonize but how fast we can scale solutions across sectors, regions, and borders. For those who have been on this journey, it’s rewarding to see the vision becoming reality. For those new to the table, there’s no better time to participate. We are no longer aspiring to shift the economy; we’re actively transforming it in real time. Let’s stay relentless. Let’s push harder, invest smarter, and lead the way. The world is responding to the climate call, and together, we’re driving the change we need. #gigacorn #gigacornhunter #climatecapitalist #optimist

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We are living in a world that embodies our Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology investment thesis at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions & Great Power Competition; The Climate Crisis & Severe Weather; Consumer Behavior & Demographics. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital

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At Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference, an engaging discussion shed light on the evolving venture capital (VC) landscape. One of the key takeaways was the underscore of vibrant growth of the VC sector, with the number of firms soaring from 6,000 in 2013 to about 60,000 today. This surge in competition is driving VCs to innovate and refine their fundraising strategies, creating a dynamic environment for investment opportunities. Additionally, the session touched on how family offices provide flexible capital for smaller investments while emphasizing the thorough scrutiny required for larger funds. An emphasis on candid conversations among VCs and limited partners highlighted a commitment to fostering a more collaborative and forward-thinking investment community. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/gHjJbtr3 Fortune Allie Garfinkle Branded Hospitality Ventures Hospitality Headline Newsletter #VentureCapital #Investment #hospitality #community Clara Shih Paulo Rosado #BrainstormTech Christine Moseley Rick Rose

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We are living in a world that embodies our Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology investment thesis at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions & Great Power Competition; The Climate Crisis & Severe Weather; Consumer Behavior & Demographics. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital 

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Here we go BibanGlobal! See you ALL tomorrow. Big thanks you to our partners at parachute16 | برشوت16, IFC - International Finance Corporation, Flow Accelerator ,and Innovative Private Sector Development Project!

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Excited to join the panel discussion next week on the future of smart cities! We'll be exploring how technology, entrepreneurship, and investment are shaping the cities of tomorrow. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the latest trends and innovations driving the smart city revolution. Sign up now to reserve your spot! #smartcities #venturecapital #Frontiertechnology #entrepreneurship #urbaninnovation

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One of the best things about joining Foothill Ventures has been getting to know my partner Xuhui Shao, who is one of the wisest, humblest, and most helpful people I've had the pleasure of working with. His interview is worth watching for anyone interested in starting a company (or joining a start-up). Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gAEXQNii

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Special Futurists #TechWeek Power Walk for AI, Web 3, and Space Tech founders, investors, and developers. 🚀 🍦 ​What We Will Do ​Join us for the very first Futurists walk in NYC, an easy-going and excellent icebreaker opportunity during the heart of tech week. We'll spend an hour strolling along the beautiful Highline on the west side, chatting about our AI, Blockchain, and Space Tech projects, exchanging ideas, and hearing about new business ventures, emerging trends and future scenarios. It's a relaxed affair with no stiff or formal meetings. Feel free to join us for conversation, to listen, or simply to enjoy a walk on the Highline and indulge in some ice cream afterward. ​Bonus Exclusive for those who've joined our power walks, we invite you to join our Futurists WhatsApp group and visit our virtual spaceship! Connect with like-minded individuals who share the experience and have something in common. ​*After Walk Due to high interest in our walk, we're heading to a special ice cream event after the walk where you can mingle and socialize. Note: the ice cream location will be revealed only to walk participants. If you can't make it, feel free to send someone in your place! ​Is This for Me? This event is perfect for you if you actively involved in A.I., Web 3 and/or Space tech: ​An investor ​A creator ​An influencer ​A founder ​Running a startup ​Raising money ​Looking for a co-founder ​Interested in sharing ideas ​Seeking brainstorming opportunities ​Networking ​Looking for new or first customers/users ​Pitching your business ​Seeking a chance to clear your head ​Aiming to get in 2,000 steps ​ Also, check out our virtual events on our space ship These events are filling up quickly, and early bird specials are available. Additionally, individuals with 10,000 or more followers or subscribers on social media (business or private) can get free tickets (limited spaces available  https://lnkd.in/emwmKeMY ) ​Follow us on X https://lnkd.in/eAwMiqfa ​Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/euaJebRW ​ Sponsored by Future Center Ventures (www.futurecenter.ventures) ​This event is a part of #TechWeek Andreessen Horowitz - a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem look forward to seeing you tomorrow. 🚀 🍦 https://lu.ma/0e623t5f

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Mickael Mansard and Yann Toutant's exploration of the "3-10-50 funding" model in Product-As-A-Service is insightful and timely. The model's tiered approach from self-funding through to multi-funder strategies and ultimately, a captive finance solution, provides a clear roadmap for As-a-Service businesses at various stages of growth. It’s particularly compelling how the model accommodates growth through strategic funding, thus enabling businesses to scale without over-leveraging their balance sheets. This piece is a valuable resource for those looking to navigate the complexities of funding in the As-a-Service economy. I appreciate the comprehensive view on evolving funding needs as the business scales and the importance of selecting the right funding partners. Great read for anyone committed to mastering the financial dynamics of their As-a-Service business model.

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Who Will Win the Race for Next-Generation Battery Technologies? The race to dominate next-generation battery technologies is intensifying, driven by venture capital, governments, startups, and established players, all vying to control key innovations and raw materials. https://lnkd.in/gTnUfFz4 Innovative battery technologies are a key focus area for us at Ventioneers #Venture #Capital #Startups #Battery #Ventioneers

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It was an honor to attend yesterdays event hosted by Counterpart Ventures and meet so many other investors working to bring innovation and startups into their corporate spaces. The crew of us defense investors got together for a discussion covering topics such as: industry trends we find engaging, nuances around investing as a government contractor, and (in my opinion) the most compelling topic - investing in dual use or defense tech? I find the discussion thought provoking because of the following questions… do you want to invest in a founder distracted by b2b opportunity? Or do you want to invest in a founder hyper focused, but with the timeline and hurdles of working with the government? I’m not sure there’s one “right” answer, other than “it depends.” What stage is the company, do they have resources to allocate to both directions, how strategically are you investing, and when do you want to see a return? My advice to founders is always to remember the why behind starting your company, and hold true to your core convictions. Before making a strategic pivot of your business plans, make sure you’re still building off your original foundation. Thank you to Sonny Tahiliani, Kerry Chin, Alex Bock, and James for joining Chris George and myself for great times and great conversations! #missionfirst #dualusetech #counterv #corporateventure #VC #SAICVentures #RTXVentures #BoozAllenVentures

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Check out my article in Entrepreneur Middle East, where I delve into the key factors that have driven Silicon Valley to the pinnacle of global innovation.💡 Get inspired and find out what it takes to create a thriving venture ecosystem. 👇 #R136insights

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Sonoma, Ca - Women in CVC Summit! 65 women in CVC gathered together for real, honest conversations about the challenges and complexities in CVC investing versus traditional venture capital. CVCs face challenges such as aligning the interests and expectations of the corporation and the startup, managing the relationship and communication between the two parties, and balancing the trade-offs between strategic and financial returns. But what's truly inspiring is the impact women are having in this space! Female-founded companies exit faster but make up a smaller share of total exit activity. CVCs participated in 17.5% of all female-founder deals in 2023, while more CVC firms have majority female checkwriter representation. Furthermore, female founders closed a record of 22.8% of total VC funds in 2023. We are thrilled to support this vibrant community of women alongside our friends and partners, Counterpart Ventures. Tanvi Narain and Abbie Wolf, congrats on curating such an impactful event. Special thanks to Annemarie Donegan from PitchBook for the data and research she shared with the group. The phenomenal lineup of speakers from corporate and traditional venture capital funds included: ​Amy Daniels Burr, President, JetBlue Ventures Danielle D'Agostaro, Partner, WVV Capital Vivien Ho, Partner, Pear VC Betty Lee (Lee) Bryant, Principal, Woven Capital, Toyota's Growth Fund Savannah Greene, Principal, Workday Ventures Heather Reginelli, Ventures Manager, State Farm Ventures Marie-Christine Razaire, Principal, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures Beth Devin, Scout, Investor & Advisor, HearstLab Priya Saiprasad, Co-Founder and General Partner, Touring Capital Agustina Sartori, Founding Managing Director, Prisma Ventures #WomeninBuisness #VentureCapital #CVC #CorporateVentureCapital #WomeninLeadership TriNet Abbie Wolf Tanvi Narain Patrick Eggen David Haraburda Kim Thomas Matt Mahoney Samantha Santaniello-Lawrence

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That feeling when you watch the macro forces that undergird your Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology investment thesis ⁦‪at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions & Great Power Competition; The Climate Crisis & Severe Weather; Consumer Behavior & Demographics. At most venture capital firms, Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology is a tiny, emerging “area of interest” . . . At REFASHIOND Ventures, it’s our entire world. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital

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In 2024, corporate venture capital (CVC) arms participated in 28% of overall venture deals, consistent with the past nine years, according to a report by Counterpart Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank. Despite challenges and scrutiny from parent companies, CVCs remain a key funding source. Patrick Eggen, cofounder of Counterpart Ventures, emphasized the need for CVCs to have autonomy to succeed. Strategies are shifting, with more CVCs targeting early-stage investments, as the share of pre-seed and seed investments grew from 6% to 13% since 2021. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/eSiGdE37 Yahoo Finance Allie Garfinkle Branded Hospitality Ventures Hospitality Headline Newsletter Michael Brown Brian Requarth Jalak Jobanputra Katie Rae David Tisch #Marketing #Podcast #Ventures #Finance Paul Holland

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