F&G’s Post

I recently watched an insightful discussion between Aaron Bastani and Yanis Varoufakis on the economic power of Big Tech. Varoufakis highlights how modern economies heavily rely on cloud services provided by a few U.S.-based companies, which significantly impacts business competitiveness. With the rise of AI, this dependency will only intensify, concentrating vital tools in the hands of even fewer companies. While Varoufakis offers a critical view of this new economic infrastructure, I believe we must consider the following: - In a liberal economy, it's normal for risk-taking companies to open and dominate new markets, profiting significantly. Without this dynamic, the free market wouldn't thrive. Companies mentioned in the video have invested heavily in terms of money, resources, and labor to reach their current positions. - If such a dependency is so harmful, what's stopping EU governments from investing heavily in similar tech infrastructure or supporting qualified companies to do so?  When we needed resources to address pandemics and wars, we found them. The stakes are just as high in this case. -Advanced technologies being made intuitively available across business and government ecosystems should be seen as a massive opportunity. It can renew industries and create new value categories in the EU and beyond. Without a clear strategy to develop such infrastructure, at least facilitating the creation of new business categories and renewing the European industrial excellence should be prioritised. For a deeper dive, watch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/g4qMf2ke

I want to recommend to my colleagues on LinkedIn the attached podcast about the new book, ‘Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism’ by Yanis Varoufakis. It presents an interesting point of view about the power of global tech companies over finance and technology. ☁ Here are some noteworthy quotes that emphasize the point: "If you're Jeff Bezos, the owner of Google or Apple, or if you're Elon Musk, then you own this new form of cloud capital, which allows you to extract huge quantities of rents and surpluses from the rest of society, not only from proletarians but from everyone else as well." "This manner of extraction reconstitutes a form of feudalism. The difference is that instead of the original feudalism, which is a system based on private ownership of land producing rent, now it's private ownership of cloud capital." ☁ "The cloud is capital; it's not some cloud up in the sky. Every time you buy something from Amazon.com, 40% of what you pay doesn't go to the capitalist who is selling you that stuff; it goes to Jeff Bezos. That's a cloud rent, and he is a new form of feudal lord." Enjoy listening on your way home or during the weekend. Have an excellent weekend! Let me know if you enjoyed... 👍 👍 👍 #cloud #finance #technlogy #cfo #founders #ceo #weekendmood Yanis Varoufakis

Approximately 97% of enterprise software companies – and therefore investment opportunities – are in private markets. At CAIS Live DC, Martin Taylor, Co-Head of the Foundation Fund and Senior Managing Director, highlighted the growing opportunity set in the enterprise software sector, fueled by the continued digitalization of our global economy and the rise of new technologies like generative AI. Learn more about our investment strategies here: https://bit.ly/4e4IHIz

🚀 Vote for "Navigating Super Tech: Aligning with Public Values" at SXSW PanelPicker® 2025! The rapid pace of technological innovation is reshaping our world, presenting both incredible opportunities and significant challenges. As we navigate societal shifts, sustainability crises, and tech disruptions, it's crucial that we align these advancements with public values. Join us for an insightful session where we'll dive into how policymakers can craft user-centric policies that foster creativity and innovation in this new era. Our expert panelists, Melchior Kanyemesha, Verity McIntosh, and Mariëtte van Huijstee, bring a wealth of knowledge from national and international policy research. Key Takeaways: Grasp the complexities of supertech convergence for policymakers. Explore innovative policy solutions from around the globe. Engage in a critical dialogue on responsible tech development. 🗳️ Your vote matters! Help shape the future of tech and policy by voting for our session. Click here to cast your vote: PanelPicker® Voting Link: https://lnkd.in/eSJAqPUn Let's ensure technology serves the public good. See you at SXSW 2025! 🌟 #SXSW2025 #TechPolicy #Innovation #PublicValues #VoteNow

Takeaways for SaaS businesses: #1. There Are So Many Unicorns, We Have a 25 Year IPO Backlog #2. AI Deals Are Only 3% of VC Deals But Consuming 15% of Total VC Capital #3. SaaS and Software Multiples Are at Near All-Time Lows — Because Growth Has Slowed #4. Software Growth Will Bounce Back, With AI As the Accelerant #SaaS #Growth #AI #Conference #numbers

🚀Join us in celebrating the best in tech! This is the first in a series of five short videos about why your organization should submit nominations to the first Stevie Awards for #Technology Excellence: https://hubs.ly/Q02xPhr50 🏆The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence recognizes technology-related achievements of entire organizations, teams & individuals. There are a variety of categories across 20 technology-industry groupings to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals, teams and organizations worldwide including: - Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Assistive Technology (AT) - Business Technology - Financial Technology - Green & Clean Technology - Information Technology ...and others 📆 The next entry deadline is May 30

📰 News: 📰 🚀 Red Hat: Open for Business for the Foreseeable 🚀 Hey everyone! Whether you're deep into tech or just dipping your toes, last month’s Red Hat Summit was a goldmine of insights. And trust me, I’ve got the key takeaways right here. First off, can you believe Red Hat is turning 31 this March and hitting 25 years public this August? 🎉 From being a developer-only hub to a global giant, Red Hat has always adapted to the ever-changing industry landscape. Let’s talk about the numbers: - Red Hat has seen --5 different CEOs-- over its journey, each bringing unique flavors to the mix. - The longest-serving CEO, Jim Whitehurst, held the reins for --13 years--, setting a benchmark in leadership. - Now, we have Matt Hicks at the helm, who started as a computer scientist at Red Hat and today is steering the ship into exciting waters, particularly in AI. Curious about what keeps Red Hat ticking? Here’s a peek from my interview with Hicks: “Our focus is back to basics — embracing being a platform company, working with the ecosystem, and chasing new trends like AI,” he shared passionately. Hicks’ journey from porting Perl apps to being the CEO speaks volumes about the opportunities at Red Hat. His authenticity and vision are inspiring, making him a poster child for 'techie-turned-leader’. 💬 Now it's your turn: What excites you the most about Red Hat’s journey and future? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let's dive into a spirited discussion! And don’t forget to follow Bernier Group for more insights and updates! 👇 #AIDriven #Digital #AI #Data #SMB #SME #Strategy #Innovation #Business #ArtificialIntelligence #AnniQ https://lnkd.in/e7N9qf55

We move at the speed of litigation. Call me to discuss your needs. 404-625-8265 or DM directly to set a time. #casepoint #ediscovery #investigations #forensics #DFIR #bigdata #corporatecounsel #litsupport #management #innovation, #

Check out this excellent post from Holly Ensign-Barstow at B Lab U.S. & Canada about why the B Corp certification and benefit corporation statutes (that B Lab - and Holly personally - have helped champion and get enacted across multiple jurisdictions in the US and globally) are such critical foundations for building a more responsible business landscape. Both models offer frameworks that enable companies to prioritize social and environmental impact alongside profit. But as B Lab co-founder Andrew Kassoy recently wrote in the New York Times, citing the example of OpenAI, and as Holly reinforces in this blog, these voluntary frameworks are "necessary, but not enough to transform the system...to achieve the full potential of a system that benefits everyone, we must work toward an economy where positive impact is built into the rules for all businesses." I couldn't agree more. At Omidyar Network, we've been proud to partner with B Lab on their policy advocacy work to shift the rules that govern how all companies make decisions about their impacts on people and the planet. I've been particularly inspired by their efforts in the US to connect B Corp leaders to policy makers to bring to life what responsible business leadership looks like in states and communities across the country. I encourage all those who care about this issue to follow and engage in B Lab's work! https://lnkd.in/ez2wcjAG

🚀 Did you know Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz champion Trump for "Little Tech"? 🤖💼 They plan large PAC donations for his campaign! Thumbs up or down? 👍👎 🔍 Venture capital leaders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz have publicly endorsed Donald Trump as the preferred candidate for smaller technology firms. They argue that his policies could foster a favorable environment for these companies to thrive. 💡 Insight: While this move might seem unexpected, it underscores the complex relationship between politics and tech. For tech professionals, understanding these dynamics can be crucial for navigating future trends and opportunities. 🤔 How do you see political endorsements impacting the tech landscape? Could this influence your business or career decisions in the tech industry? Share your views! #TechNews #Business #Politics #VentureCapital #MarcAndreessen #BenHorowitz #DonaldTrump #Technology 📢 Dive deeper into the discussion or share your thoughts below!