Kian Gohar

Sharp insight here—AI accelerates our creation of possibilities but leaves us swamped at the gates of decision-making. I've explored similar ground in my Substack posts, especially drawing on Bernard Lonergan’s transcendental imperatives, where human insight and judgment remain irreplaceable even as generative tools scale productivity. Our future isn't just producing more, faster—it's redesigning how we discern meaning at AI-driven velocity. How do we design for better decision making? https://lnkd.in/grgKZc22

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"A startup is just a temporary organization... designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model." - Steve Blank Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of keynoting and leading the first day of the Optica Startup Meeting in Washington, D.C. Fellow speaker Tareaz Pegues led Day 2 of the event. One of the main activities during my keynote and workshop sessions was completing a one-page Business Model Canvas (BMC). A BMC is a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool developed to help organizations visualize, design, and innovate their business models on a single page. The now open source tool was introduced by Alexander Osterwalder with the goal of creating a simple, common language for describing business models. The canvas is a visual framework for mapping how a company creates, delivers, and captures value in 9 building blocks: 1. Customer Segments 2. Value Propositions 3. Channels 4. Customer Relationships 5. Revenue Streams 6. Key Resources 7. Key Activities 8. Key Partners 9. Cost Structure The BMC replaced lengthy business plans with a concise, visual, and collaborative tool. Today, it’s used worldwide by entrepreneurs, corporations and educators as a foundation for business design, innovation and strategy. Have you used a BMC before?

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🚀 Universities -- are you ready to unlock the true potential of your campus innovation ecosystem? The venture studio model is rapidly transforming how universities turn research, talent, and IP into real-world impact-but it’s not for the faint of heart. 🔍 Venture studios go beyond accelerators and incubators. They act as company creators-systematically building, validating, and launching startups. But here’s the truth: 👉 The studio model is powerful-but also complex. 👉 It demands clarity of vision, deep integration with university assets, and rigorous execution. The stakes are high, and the path is tricky. 📄 If you’re considering a venture studio, start with the right questions. Our latest guide “37 Essential Questions to Assess Your University Venture Studio,” is a practical framework to help you: 1️⃣ Evaluate alignment with your university’s mission and strategic goals 2️⃣ Design sustainable funding and governance structures 3️⃣ Build processes for idea sourcing, validation, and spinout 4️⃣ Attract and incentivize top entrepreneurial talent 5️⃣ Establish robust metrics and accountability for long-term success Studios are not “one size fits all.” Customization to your institution’s unique strengths and context is critical. And disciplined, data-driven design beats hype. The most successful studios are built on rigorous planning, transparent KPIs, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Ready to explore what a university venture studio could look like for your institution? 👇 Comment for the guide and let’s start a conversation. #VentureStudios #UniversityInnovation #Entrepreneurship #TechTransfer #StartupEcosystem #Commercialization

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Interesting tidbit from the Women in VC Summit at Half Moon Bay. You wouldn’t necessarily think Deep Tech / AI and Consumer investors have much in common—beyond being founder-first. But post-2021/2022, the convergence is real. Across stages and sectors, the shift is toward: • Disciplined unit economics • Proof over possibility Whether it’s consumer or deep tech, the bar has moved from credible possibility to credible execution (credit to deep tech investor Kelly Chen for the phrasing). What that looks like in practice: - Deep Tech diligence → customer calls, pilots, real demand pull - Consumer diligence → channel checks, repeat purchase, retail velocity Different inputs. Same question: does the product actually work? The punchline for founders: everyone is underwriting outcomes now—not narratives. #WomenInVC #VentureCapital #Fundraising #UnitEconomics #StartupExecution #DeepTech #ConsumerVC

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Graham Thompson's "advice for other founders: figure out what customers need and value most." This is always true, but has particular relevance today as the rate of new #AI #startups is rapidly growing. https://lnkd.in/gxwpnMps

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🌐 Just read an article about how digital dollars (CBDCs) and AI tokens are shaping the future. One thing that really stood out to me is that these new forms of money, by themselves, don’t guarantee financial inclusion. 💡 The way we deliver and utilize them is incredibly important. 💳 Many of us in the Caribbean who work with digital wallets, which are like virtual purses that let persons store and spend money using their phones, understand that they are just as essential as the money they hold. ✨ A future where everyone can participate financially is within reach. We just need to stay committed to providing safe 🔒, simple 📱, and accessible 🌍 tools. 📖 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eQxk3h4p #Fintech #CBDC #DigitalWallets #FinancialInclusion #Caribbean #SandDollar

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Boards Grapple, Laws Lag: Effective Oversight of AI requires a mix of education, innovation and accountability. "The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has added yet another layer of complexity and challenge to the myriad oversight responsibilities heaped on the plate of contemporary directors (...) "First, they need to ensure that the organization’s AI strategy is tightly linked with its overall strategy. Second, they must oversee compliance with regulations and industry standards, as well as setting or approving ethical guidelines. Third, they have to make sure the organization has the ability to attract and retain the necessary talent"" I gave this interview to Jeff Buckstein , who wrote this article for the Institute of Corporate Directors. #artificialintelligence #AI #governance #boardofdirector #corpgov

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💡 “Diversity in human perspective is essential to building ethical, innovative, and impactful AI solutions.” This truth reminds us that AI is never neutral. It reflects the values and assumptions of those who shape it. When diverse voices contribute to design and governance, blind spots are reduced, ethical concerns are surfaced, and solutions become more inclusive. Innovation flourishes when perspectives from different disciplines, cultures, and lived experiences intersect. And impact is deepened when technology serves not just the few, but the many. In short, diversity isn’t just a value, it’s the foundation for trustworthy and transformative AI. 👉 What’s one way you’ve seen diversity make a difference in technology or leadership? #AIethics #ResponsibleAI #Innovation #Leadership #Inclusion #FutureOfWork #TechForGood

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