The critical metals gap on the road to net-zero
The transition to net zero will require extensive electrification, with batteries, electric motors, and smart grids all playing a key role, each powered by renewable energy. Each of these vital pieces of hardware need specific metals to work, making these indispensable to the transition to net-zero.
4 years into Giant: the 10 commandments of our investment philosophy
In the past four years, we’ve learned so much. Cameron, co-founder of Giant Ventures, took some time over the summer to reflect on the Investment Philosophy of Giant. So, here they are: the “Ten Commandments of Giant’s Investment Philosophy.”
Beyond carbon: why businesses need to wake up to water resilience
There is an expected 40% gap between water supply and demand by the end of the decade. This will not just impact drinking water, it will also put new pressure on businesses to continue delivering products and services. In this piece, we explore the three types of water risks - physical risks, stakeholder risks, and regulatory risks - and why understanding water use is no longer a nice-to-have, but business critical.
The college dropout fallacy and ageism in entrepreneurship
The co-founder of Giant Tommy Stadlen argues that VCs like to be sold the dream, and they find it easy to project those dreams on blank canvases rather than more mature, sometimes imperfect resumes - but it shouldn’t be this way.
The Century of Biology
The 20th century was the century of chemistry and physics. Harnessing the physical properties of atoms and molecules, scientists and engineers produced ammonia fertilizer, refined petrochemicals, unleashed energy from hydrocarbons, created novel plastics, and built the atomic bomb. The 21st century will be one of biology.
Why the NHS should embrace virtual wards
The world is low on hospital beds, and the most obvious solution is to add more beds. But this is expensive, and will not single-handedly solve issues facing the NHS, like staff burn-out. We need a new approach to increasing healthcare capacity that works for medical practitioners, patients, and society. Are more hospital beds the answer? We discuss the rise of virtual wards to solve the NHS’s capacity issues.
The future of food - the fight for arable land
The world’s population is growing, while arable land is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. How can we ensure that we feed our growing population and reduce GHG emissions at the same time?
Through innovation in the food system.
The bottleneck of biomanufacturing
Synthetic biology (or “synbio”) is the design and engineering of biological systems to create components that do not already exist in the natural world. We believe this is the decade of biology but challenges, particularly around the nascent infrastructure, need to be overcome for it to fulfil its promise.
Companies that care: Lessons from a unicorn founder and his purpose-driven investor
Doing good may also be a good investment—and potentially transformative for the world. Two leaders on the front lines discuss the current landscape and what’s next.
Q&A with angel investor Tommy Stadlen
The most successful start-ups are often those that divide early opinion. It’s difficult — and vital — to reject groupthink and Fomo when picking investments.
Silicon Valley faces a revolt after losing public trust
Technology executives risk attracting an opprobrium often reserved for bankers.
Companies must clean up their act or the scandals will continue
Businesses must engage with societal demands.
Climate skeptics
Every successful advertising executive understands that effective campaigns offer the promise of a better, more attractive life. Yet climate change communications remain stuck in the dark ages, attempting to scare and shock the public into action.