Weekly Recap: October 20-27, 2025
This week I’ve been orchestrating multiple high-stakes ventures across climate tech, digital rights advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
Project Spotlight: Smart Mountains Strategic Pivot
Transformed Smart Mountains from a pure technology play into an operational infrastructure company through innovative partnership structures. The challenge? Securing €2M seed funding while dramatically reducing capital requirements. My solution: exploring strategic partnerships in Italy and Switzerland that could provide non-cash contributions (warehouse facilities, staff, grant writing capabilities, local networks) while opening regional operations in the Alpine area. Created comprehensive stage gate documents and financial models showing 4.5x ROI potential. Also navigated a sensitive co-founder equity restructuring as a condition for proceeding with the venture. Developed an IP protection framework ensuring our system integrator position prevents supplier competition.
Advocacy Moment: Digital Freedom & Privacy
Published a comprehensive essay connecting Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” with an exposé of Facebook/Meta’s toxic culture. The insight? Real resistance must be love-driven, not rage-hate-driven – creating “empty space” around unethical executives while filling it with genuine human connection. Highlighted the story of someone walking away from $850M to create Signal, and the mental health crisis social media causes in young people. This work positions me within the broader community of thought leaders on digital rights and privacy.
Collaboration Highlight: Legal Infrastructure & African Opportunities
Developed integrated contract frameworks with comprehensive NDAs, MOUs, four-tier information classification systems (with graduated penalties), and VAR partnership provisions. Also delivered major project budgets for African initiatives – part of several exciting projects emerging on the continent that connect to my upcoming work there.
Looking Ahead: South Africa – Racing, Workshops & Strategic Partnerships
This week I’m heading to South Africa for what promises to be a transformative trip. I’ll be participating in the Wines2Whales mountain bike stage race, then staying for a few days of partnership workshops. It’s the perfect blend of personal passion and professional purpose – using the race as a catalyst to advance projects, deepen partnerships, and strengthen friendships. These post-race workshops will be pivotal for GReD, FabCampaigns, and Smart Mountains. This week was all about preparation. Though I’ll confess – having spent most of my training time climbing rather than cycling, I might be better prepared for vertical ascents than sustained pedalling. Let’s hope the mountain legs translate to mountain biking legs!
How do you blend personal passions with professional networking? I’ve found some of my best collaborations emerge when we connect as whole people, not just business contacts.