My career began in Silicon Valley with a unique challenge during the early days of the tech boom: covering and ranking startups across 16 regions and countries, marking the first wave of venture capital in emerging markets—at a time when the mantra was still “don’t invest beyond 50 miles from the heartland”.
While I brought fame to many founders and fortunes to many investors, I was in but not of it. At the time, I grappled with the chaos of startup valuations, the rapid paradigm shifts in technology, and the elusive nature of true innovation. Along the way, I co-founded a media company with TED’s founder, orchestrated global conferences and summits, scouted startups for blue-chip VC firms from Sand Hill Road to Beijing, and acted as a trusted whisperer among tech founders, venture capitalists, diplomats, and thought leaders. This mosaic of experiences laid the foundation for my current pursuit: Realpolitik in Tech —understanding how power, capital, and technology redefine today’s world.