Quantum Computing: Fixing SME Lending in Germany

Quantum computing can close the SME credit gap in Germany by resolving systemic data asymmetries that legacy financial institutions and classical machine learning models cannot overcome. In doing so, it could realign ESG-linked capital with high-quality, underfunded industrial firms at the heart of Germany’s economic resilience.[Thinkstorm Thesis] Context: Why SME Lending Is Broken — Especially … Continue reading Quantum Computing: Fixing SME Lending in Germany →

Tactical Notes: Tacit Knowledge — What We Know But Cannot Fully Articulate

research lab for defense, security, resilience

[This is one of the first 'Tactical Notes' - short-format observations that I jotted down some time ago, where I feel that this snippet is enough and no long format essay is necessary] Michael Polanyi’s notion of tacit knowledge (what we know but cannot fully articulate), know-how resides in practice, habits, culture, and embodied skills … Continue reading Tactical Notes: Tacit Knowledge — What We Know But Cannot Fully Articulate →

Stop the “Innovation Theater”! A Case For Infrastructure Memory And Manufacturing Depth

"Innovation Theater" highlights the U.S. tech ecosystem’s focus on temporary initiatives without long-term commitment. This leads to symptoms like abandoned projects and unscalable startups. The importance of “infrastructure memory” and “manufacturing depth” is emphasized, advocating for a dual-track model that balances disruptive innovation with resilient production capabilities.

What if Capacity Building Starts in the Middle? Lessons from Nations with Industrial Memory

The content discusses how Japan, India, and Israel successfully implemented industrial policies through state-led strategies, fostering economic resilience and innovation. It contrasts their approaches with the U.S.'s market-dependent model, suggesting that the U.S. could benefit from a more integrated and strategic industrial policy to enhance resilience and promote long-term growth.

On the Workbench: Portal Space

The content discusses the evaluation of Portal Space, a startup developing maneuverable spacecraft, following their $17.5 million fundraising. The author outlines a five-step analysis framework focusing on competitors, company challenges, investor perspectives, and potential secret weapons. Portal Space aims to revolutionize orbital agility but faces significant strategic vulnerabilities and must succeed in market education to secure investor confidence.

Recycling — A Systemic Narrative Failure

a plastic bin with shredded aluminum waste

Recycling innovation — especially in the mining sector and rare earth elements (REEs) — is held back by a deeply entangled web of technological inertia, misaligned economic incentives, and systemic narrative failures. Not by a lack of venture capital interest per se. The prevailing narrative has long equated recycling with waste management, not strategic resource … Continue reading Recycling — A Systemic Narrative Failure →

Fund Managers: Your Fund Slide Sucks, Too

Concept: If your deck can’t clarify conviction, cadence, and character in one slide, don’t raise yet. Startups founders aren't the only ones with bad pitch slides. Over the years, I’ve written about how a cluttered team slide in a founder deck often betrays deeper issues—misaligned roles, unclear value, or a résumé-driven identity crisis. But fund … Continue reading Fund Managers: Your Fund Slide Sucks, Too →

Tactical Notes: Institutional is Personal

[This is one of the first 'Tactical Notes' - short-format observations that I jotted down some time ago, where I feel that this snippet is enough and no long format essay is necessary] Exceptional managers demonstrate process discipline and high-touch relationship crafting. The myth of institutional vs. personal is a false binary. Sophistication in process … Continue reading Tactical Notes: Institutional is Personal →

Defense is Not a Sector or an Industry

stacked stainless steel raw materials for lathe projects

We often use the term "Defense Industry" in conversations. I've done so, too, when talking about primes and their defense products — where armed forces are their only customers. And I think I am doing a disservice to my LPs. As an investor, it's a bit more tricky: What about militarization of civil infrastructure? Or … Continue reading Defense is Not a Sector or an Industry →

Interrogating AI: A Guide to Maintaining System Integrity

Engaging in natural, fluid conversations with AI often leads us to overlook the intricate context required for such interactions. Striving for a human-like dialogue without tailoring our prompts to the AI's design can inadvertently open doors to subtle manipulations—such as covert subversion, goal misalignment, or strategic deception. This risk escalates with lengthier prompts and extensive … Continue reading Interrogating AI: A Guide to Maintaining System Integrity →