From Hacked Drones to High-Stakes Strategy
Before I began advising Fortune 500 executives on emerging technology and venture strategy, I launched my first business in high school with a hacked drone and a GoPro. At the time, DJI had just started releasing basic quadcopters, none with high-quality cameras. So I built my own setup and offered aerial photography services to local businesses in my community. It wasn’t perfect but effective – and it taught me how to pitch new ideas, take initiative with unproven tech, and get comfortable hearing “no.” That early experience also sparked my fascination with physical AI—how intelligent machines can interact with and navigate the real world, not just process data behind a screen.
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Lessons from the Field: Sales, Rejection, and Real-World Grit
After that, my first job was going door to door for a roofing company, setting up roof inspections. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me something invaluable: the art of talking to strangers, earning trust quickly, and staying composed through constant rejection. That combination of scrappy experimentation and real-world sales experience continues to inform how I work today.
At Silicon Foundry, I help global corporations navigate innovation, build meaningful relationships with startups, and stay ahead in a world of rapid change. While generative AI dominates the conversation, I’m particularly excited about the rise of physical AI.
The Rise of Physical AI: Beyond the Screen
AI is no longer confined to screens. It’s stepping into the physical world – interpreting, reacting, and making decisions through autonomous vehicles, robotics, and AI-enabled devices. These systems process visual input, environmental data, and spatial cues, often acting in real time without human involvement.
Industries like mobility, manufacturing, supply chain, and retail are already seeing this shift. Vehicles are navigating cities autonomously. Robots are running warehouse logistics. Stores are using AI vision systems that don’t just monitor behavior but adapt to it. This isn’t speculative – it’s already happening.
But hype doesn’t equal readiness. At Silicon Foundry, we stay grounded in what’s practical and near-term. Whether it’s piloting with a startup, pursuing a strategic investment, or building internal capabilities, we help our Members move proactively and with focused momentum – not reactively.
Much of that comes down to people. I’ve lived and worked in Hong Kong, Milan, London, and LA, and built lasting relationships across industries and cultures. The most valuable connections often begin informally – over coffee or dinner, not in a conference room. A strong network isn’t just about access; it’s about understanding nuance, context, and timing.
The corporations that will lead in this new era won’t be the ones chasing every trend. They’ll be the ones that foster a culture of experimentation, move with conviction, and know when to take action. Because innovation isn’t just about spotting the future – it’s about recognizing when it arrives and having the confidence to act.
Turning Vision into Action at Silicon Foundry
That’s exactly the kind of work we’re doing at Silicon Foundry. We help leading corporations discover what’s on the horizon, prioritize where to focus, and engage meaningfully with the broader innovation ecosystem – from startups and VCs to researchers, government partners, and other global innovators.
Our work spans the full innovation and venturing lifecycle. On the front end, we help clients cut through the noise, surface opportunities to leverage emerging technologies, and identify strategic whitespace. From there, we move quickly into execution – supporting proof-of-concept and pilot projects, strategic partnerships, investments, and M&A.
We also design and operate structured innovation and venture programs that enable companies to explore bold ideas, de-risk decision-making, and deliver measurable results. Whether it’s scouting breakthrough technologies, executing pilots, driving investment decisions, or building public-private partnerships, we bring the insight, network, and operational rigor to turn ambition into action.
If you’re exploring how to stay ahead of disruption and build innovation programs that drive real impact, I’d love to connect. The time to build is now.
