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Welcome to the latest edition of The Frontline!
A regular dispatch delivering intel, insights, and highlights from the Silicon Foundry global community and collective of professionals.
In this edition, read recent insights on Japan's innovation ecosystem, dive into
why banks may remain central to the future of agentic payments as AI agents begin executing financial transactions autonomously, and explore how corporate venture capital is reaching its tipping point in the midst of the AI boom.
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Japan's Corporate Venture Boom
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Nagisa Sakurai (Director, Japan) and Neal Hansch (CEO) wrote a feature with Global Corporate Venturing, exploring how Japan’s corporate venture ecosystem is evolving from symbolic innovation activity into a more strategic, execution-driven function. The piece highlights the structural and cultural shifts shaping this next phase, from governance and risk tolerance to global ambition and tighter integration with core business strategy. |
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We recently welcomed Nagisa Sakurai, Silicon Foundry’s first Asia-based team member, to discuss her journey across life sciences, venture, and corporate innovation, as well as the future of Japan’s evolving startup ecosystem. With a unique multidisciplinary lens, Nagisa shares her views on emerging technologies, how industrial AI is strengthening, and where innovation is headed across Japan and beyond. |
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As AI agents begin executing transactions autonomously, banks are positioned to become the foundational infrastructure layer powering the agent economy. Christian Jaubert explores why custody, payment execution, and trusted financial data remain core banking assets and how financial institutions can change from legacy intermediaries into necessary partners. |
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Corporate venture capital is at a turning point. Venture Partner Elaine Barsoom explores how the AI boom is exposing a deeper identity crisis within CVCs, as many programs are chasing traditional VC metrics at the expense of their true strategic advantage. The programs that succeed won’t be the ones that mimic traditional VC, but those that fully leverage their strategic edge and align investments with long-term priority goals. |
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We’re excited to welcome Yuki Shirato as a new Venture Partner at Silicon Foundry. Yuki is the Managing Director of Techstars Tokyo and brings expertise in bridging global startup ecosystems. Recently in Crunchbase News, he wrote “Why Japan’s Most Durable Asset May Not Be Made In A Factory,” making a compelling case that Japan’s most durable competitive edge lies not in its factories, but in its creative culture. |
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Why do innovation leaders need stronger peer networks? Ruth Yomtoubian explores the realities of leading innovation inside large enterprises, and why the Innovation Circle creates a more intentional forum for leaders shaping AI and future growth. If you are ready to move beyond surface-level conversations and connect with peers navigating the same challenges, The Innovation Circle is designed for you.
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Silicon Foundry is excited to share the launch of "Hard Lessons," a podcast series exploring the realities of corporate innovation, AI transformation, and lessons from leaders operating at the intersection of technology and enterprise strategy. |
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In the inaugural episode, Pfizer’s Suman Giri shares a pragmatic perspective on operationalizing AI inside large enterprises, discussing organizational design, adoption, workflow transformation, and why successful AI initiatives depend as much on people, incentives, and change management as they do on the technology itself.
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Where We've Been & Where We'll Be |
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Global industry events that our team has recently attended or will be at in the months ahead. Drop us a line to get the inside scoop, hear what we've learned and/or to get together if you will also be at one of these upcoming events! |
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Paris, France
June 17-20th |
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Recent headlines that caught our attention, related to corporate innovation activities, adoption of new technologies, venture investing trends, and key announcements from across our community of partners and members. |
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Many enterprises are realizing that AI pilots alone don’t drive transformation. In this piece from Harvard Business Review, the authors explore why organizations get stuck in “micro-productivity” gains, and what it takes to redesign workflows, operating models, and teams around AI at scale. (Harvard Business Review) |
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As robotics, AI, and automation begin to converge, industrial companies are rethinking what modern operations will look like. Explore how machines are moving beyond repetitive factory tasks and becoming embedded across workflows, reshaping productivity, resilience, and the future of industrial labor. (KEARNEY) |
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As enterprises race to adopt AI, many are discovering that the same systems designed to protect the business can also prevent innovation from taking hold. Alloy dives into why large organizations struggle to move at startup speed, and how companies are rethinking innovation outside the walls of the core business. (Alloy Partners) |
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Lockhart, Texas is emerging as an unexpected destination for founders, investors, and remote workers looking beyond traditional startup hubs. Explore how a new wave of entrepreneurs is reshaping smaller cities through lower costs, lifestyle shifts, and community-driven innovation, signaling a broader rethink of where technology ecosystems can thrive. (WSJ) |
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Silicon Foundry is an innovation advisory firm that catalyzes opportunities and accelerates change to push the frontier of what’s possible. |
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