Written by Angelo Biasi

The intersection of AI, Human Intelligence (HI), and Innovation is reshaping education, workforce development, and global competitiveness at an unprecedented pace. Few understand this better than Michael Moe, founder of ASU+GSV, the premier summit convening the world’s top minds in education and technology. I had the privilege of sitting down with Michael to discuss the current state of learning, the AI adoption gap, the skills of the future, and the role of innovation in driving productivity and opportunity.

Chaos or Dynamic Opportunity?

Angelo: If you had to describe the current state of education and the workforce in one word or phrase, what would it be—and why?

Michael: It’s two sides of the same coin: chaos and dynamic. Chaos, because the world is changing at an unprecedented pace, creating anxiety and uncertainty. Dynamic, because that same change represents enormous opportunity. AI is the catalyst for this transformation—it’s the most exciting time of our lifetime. But it’s also daunting. The challenge is in how we harness the chaos and convert it into innovation and ‘compounding’ progress.

The AI Acceleration Equation

Angelo: Last year, you described the equation: Time Dividend x Knowledge Explosion = Innovation Explosion. Has this played out as expected? What has changed?

Michael: The fundamentals haven’t changed, but the realization of their impact is still developing. AI has created an enormous time dividend, allowing individuals and businesses to focus more on creativity, strategy, and execution. But it hasn’t yet fully transformed productivity in a way that is evident at scale. We are in a transitional phase where innovation is about to hit an exponential curve. The world hasn’t seen it yet, but it’s coming—and fast.

Bridging the AI Adoption Gap

Angelo: Despite AI’s potential, many institutions and companies remain hesitant to adopt it, and, in some cases, view with urgency. What’s holding them back?

Michael: Fear, inertia, and lack of understanding. AI is changing the game, and with that comes uncertainty. Many organizations don’t know ‘how’ to integrate AI effectively, and some are simply waiting to see what happens. But waiting is not a strategy. The companies and institutions that figure out how to harness AI—those that embrace it rather than resist it—will have a significant advantage.

Angelo: As AI takes on more tasks and greater indirect cognitive load, how do we ensure that essential human skills—creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration—aren’t lost?

Michael: It’s not man versus machine; it’s man and machine. AI should be seen as an augmentation tool, not a replacement for human intelligence. The best outcomes will come from “multiplication by division,” where AI handles tasks it excels at—automation, data processing, repetitive workflows—while humans focus on uniquely human capabilities like leadership, creativity, and critical thinking. The key is designing education and workforce systems that emphasize both.

Skills That Will Define the Future

Angelo: Employers increasingly value skills over degrees, or as you referenced in last year’s keynote “knowledge over college.” What are the most critical future-proof skills?

Michael: I call them the Seven Cs:

1. Critical Thinking – The ability to analyze and solve complex problems.

2. Communication – Expressing ideas clearly and persuasively.

3. Creativity – Thinking outside the box and driving innovation.

4. Collaboration – Working effectively with diverse teams.

5. Civics – Understanding societal structures and responsibilities.

6. Character – Integrity, ethics, and resilience.

7. Cultural Fluency – Navigating global and diverse environments.

Measuring AI’s Impact on Productivity

Angelo: Josh Bersin says, “The company with the greatest productivity advantage wins.” What should organizations measure to gauge AI’s impact?

Michael: Outputs matter more than inputs. Historically, we’ve measured education and workforce success with outdated proxies—degrees, test scores, years of experience. But the real metric should be productivity per person, innovation per person, and value creation per person. Companies and institutions must start tracking tangible outcomes: how AI enhances efficiency, how employees leverage it to 4x or 10x their output, and how it translates to innovation and revenue growth.

The Global AI Race

Angelo: AI is at the center of global competition. Who will lead in the coming years?

Michael: It’s not a zero-sum game. AI innovation benefits everyone. That said, China has been aggressively investing in AI for years, and the U.S. has traditionally led in innovation. The real wild card is India, which is integrating design thinking into its education system at scale. The UAE is also making massive AI investments, with G42 emerging as a powerhouse. The key question isn’t just who leads, but who applies AI in the most impactful and sustainable way.

The Future of ASU+GSV

Angelo: The ASU+GSV Summit is a much-anticipated congregation of thought leaders, movers, shakers, discussions, and exchanges, each year. What’s next for ASU+GSV, and what key takeaway should attendees expect this year?

Michael: Our theme is Learning at the Speed of Light. The big idea is bending the curve on human capability. Technology is advancing exponentially, but human learning has historically been linear. We need to accelerate human adaptation to keep pace. This year’s conference will focus on actionable frameworks for making that happen—real-world applications of AI in education, workforce development, and productivity.

The 2025 Crystal Ball

Angelo: Fast forward to December 31, 2025—what will have most excited, surprised, or frustrated you?

Michael: AI’s integration into everyday life will be deeper than we anticipate today. We’ll see a significant shift in how skills are assessed, with performance-based evaluation overtaking traditional credentials.

Companies will realize that soft skills—creativity, leadership, adaptability—are the true differentiators. What will frustrate me? If institutions and companies fail to act with urgency and let bureaucratic inertia slow down necessary transformation.

Final Thoughts: What’s Inspiring You Right Now?

Angelo: What book or idea is currently influencing your thinking the most?

Michael: Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s about the history of human networks and how information, communication, and technology shape societies. I don’t agree with everything he writes, but it’s thought-provoking. It’s making me reflect on how AI and human intelligence will evolve together in the years ahead.

As AI reshapes our world, the challenge is clear: How do we integrate AI without losing the essence of what makes us human? Michael Moe offers a compelling vision—not just for the future of AI, but for the future of human intelligence.

The time to act is now. The question is, who will lead the way?

Join the conversation at ASU+GSV 2025 and explore how AI and HI are redefining learning, work, and innovation.

About Michael Moe

Michael Moe is the founder and CEO of GSV Holdings (GSV), a growth-focused investment platform based in Silicon Valley. GSV has invested in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Snap, Lyft, and Spotify. Prior to GSV, he co-founded and was CEO of ThinkEquity Partners LLC, a growth-focused investment firm. He was voted to be on the Institutional All American Research Team and named “Best on the Street” by the Wall Street Journal while heading Global Growth research at Merrill Lynch. He is the co-founder of the ASU GSV Summit, a conference in the education sector that Forbes called the “Davos of Education”.

Michael is the founder of GSV University and GSV MBA, an accredited graduate program for entrepreneurs. He has authored two books, “Finding the Next Starbucks” and “The Global Silicon Valley Handbook,” with his third book “The Mission Corporation…Contemporary Capitalism” released in February 2021.

About the Interviewer

Angelo Biasi is an Ed/Workforce/HRTech Leader, Founder, and certified ScalingUp Coach who has committed most of his career to reimagining teaching, learning, and assessment on a global scale. He recently acquired the award-winning Solvably platform and founded Credably.ai, establishing the first evidence-based, active learning and authentic, AI-powered assessment solution for education and workforce, based on “performance.” For more, visit: www.angelobiasi.com, www.solvably.com, and www.credably.ai.

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See the feature in D Magazine here.

May 31, 2024 (Jackson, Miss.) – Forbes Advisor has named Belhaven University one of the top 10 institutions in the nation for its online MBA in Entrepreneurship program for 2024. This prestigious recognition highlights Belhaven's commitment to providing high-quality, accessible education to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Dr. Roger Parrott, President of Belhaven University, expressed his pride in this significant achievement and said, “We are deeply honored to be recognized by Forbes Advisor as one of the best online MBA programs in entrepreneurship. This acknowledgment is a testament to our dedicated faculty, innovative curriculum, and the success of our students. At Belhaven, we strive to empower future business leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape.”

A flexible online MBA in entrepreneurship prepares aspiring entrepreneurs for business success, allowing them to build advanced skills without quitting their day jobs. Forbes Advisor ranked the 10 best online MBAs in entrepreneurship and highlighted what sets each program apart to help these future business leaders find the best programs.

Belhaven’s notable partnership with Global Silicon Valley (GSV), a leader in the digital learning and innovation sector, has solidified the University’s reputation as a leader in online education and its commitment to student achievement.

This GSV MBA collaboration enhances Belhaven's entrepreneurial offerings, providing students with unique access to cutting-edge resources, industry insights, and networking opportunities within the global tech and startup ecosystem. Parrott added, “GSV's expertise and Belhaven's academic rigor create a robust learning environment that prepares students to excel in the rapidly evolving business world.”  GSV Chief Executive Officer,

Michael Moe, added “The Belhaven GSV MBA partnership will bring to scale a dynamic graduate program for entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing their dreams to market through a business that seeks profit with a purpose.”

Forbes Advisor's comprehensive ranking evaluated 270 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online MBA programs in entrepreneurship across the United States. Schools were assessed based on 16 critical data points within five categories: student outcomes, affordability, student experience, credibility, and application process.

The data was sourced from reliable platforms such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, private third-party data sources, and individual school and program websites. The top 10 universities scored a curved final score of 95% or higher, marking their excellence in online entrepreneurial MBA education.

For more information about Belhaven University's online MBA program in entrepreneurship and its partnership with Global Silicon Valley, please visit Belhaven University's MBA Program.

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By Ryan Scott

• Nov. 2, 2023

The Venture College, an entrepreneurship training and development program at Texas A&M University-Commerce, has recently partnered with Global Silicon Valley (GSV) to provide educational resources for aspiring student entrepreneurs.

Housed within the College of Business, Venture College is open to all A&M-Commerce students, helping them connect to a community of like-minded students, mentors and the capital needed to launch their idea or vision.

Global Silicon Valley, a venture capital firm, regularly sponsors events such as the Texas Cup, a competition where university students pitch their business ideas to a judging panel in four minutes or less.

This year, a pair of A&M-Commerce students and Venture College Fellows, Shivani and Sachi Dodamani, took home third place in the competition with their start-up “Racquet Armor,” an innovative and inclusive prosthetic solution for athletes that lowers barriers and provides opportunities to enjoy playing racquetball, pickleball, tennis, ping pong and other sports.

Venture College Coordinator Jacob Pouttu says events like these and the yearly Lion's Innovation Showcase initiated the dialogue between A&M-Commerce and Global Silicon Valley.

“Global Silicon Valley got on our radar last spring after our showcase,” Pouttu said. “Since then, I have kept in touch with their director, Catherine Merrick, and jumped at the opportunity to develop a partnership with GSV as they are expanding to include their own entrepreneurial education programming.

Pouttu adds that the firm offers “GSV Boot Camp,” a seven-week program design to teach students how to generate start-up ideas, how to pitch those ideas, how to network and more. This aligns closely with the Venture College Fellowship program, which also educates students in these areas.

“Through this partnership, we will have access to GSV resources, and our students will have an opportunity to participate in the boot camp,” Pouttu said. “They will be able to earn an official credential from Global Silicon Valley that they can apply to their resume, adding more impact to our fellowship program.”

Another perk to this partnership is that the Venture College will now receive an annual invitation to the Texas Cup, allowing A&M-Commerce students more opportunities to see their ideas shine on a larger stage.

Pouttu said he is optimistic about the opportunities this partnership can provide.

“The partnership with GSV can give our students better access to mentoring, investors and many more networking opportunities that are extremely important to starting any business or nonprofit,” Pouttu said. “Venture College strives to help students help themselves. Global Silicon Valley perfectly aligns with this mission.”

Catherine Merrick, director of the GSV Bootcamp, expressed her hope that students can get a better chance to succeed in their business endeavors thanks to this partnership.

“We believe that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not, and the GSV bootcamp gives aspiring entrepreneurs free and open access to material that is crucial to understand while starting a business,” Merrick said. “By providing content and connections through this program, we hope that we can equip the next generation of entrepreneurs with all the tools they need to succeed!”

Venture College is open to all current A&M-Commerce students of any major. Read more about Venture College and Global Silicon Valley.

CHICAGO and NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GSV and Google for Education are thrilled to unveil the Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship's pilot year, a groundbreaking program that fosters collaboration and innovation in education.

The program provides a platform for engaging in critical discussions and addressing the most pressing issues at the intersection of instructional impact education and technology. Through leadership seminars, keynotes, executive coaching, and collaborative sessions, participants will have the opportunity to tackle challenges head-on and develop strategies to ready children and educators for the future.

The Google GSV Fellowship is also proud to announce the 25 imaginative and forward-thinking leaders in K-12 education selected for the inaugural cohort of fellows:

• Dr. Rahesha S. Amon, NYC Public Schools

• Frances Baez, LAUSD

• Dr. Kyle Barrentine, Shenandoah School Corporation

• Mary P Beck, Chicago Public Schools

• Stephen C. Bigelow, Ph.D., Bay City Public Schools

• Dr. Linda Chen, Boston Public Schools

• Djeneba (DJ) Cherif, University Prep Schools

• Dr. Kelly Coffin, Farmington Public Schools

• Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Ph.D., Lynwood Unified School District

• Cameron Fadjo, PhD, Pleasantville Union Free School District

• Zandra Jo Galván, Greenfield Union School District

• Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D, Lynwood Unified School District

• Jade Grieve, NYC Public Schools

• Sonja James, West Bloomfield

• Dr. Michael Karner, Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy

• Mark LeNoir, Val Verde Unified School District

• Patrick Malley, Bay City Public Schools

• Michael R. McCormick, Val Verde Unified School District

• Naomi Norman, Washtenaw ISD

• Dr. Leslie Torres Rodriguez, Hartford Public Schools

• Natasha Trivers, Democracy Prep Public Schools

• Tommy Welch, Ed.D., Boston Public Schools

• Dr. Simone Wright, Denver Public Schools

• Dr. Matthew Wunder, Da Vinci Schools

• Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, Ypsilanti Community Schools

For more information about the fellowship and to stay updated on the program's progress, please visit asugsvsummit.com/google-gsv-fellowship.

About GSV

GSV is a global platform that supports and invests in education and workforce skills innovation. Its mission is to ensure that ALL people have equal access to the future with the belief that scalable innovations in 'Pre-K to Gray' learning and skills are crucial in achieving this goal. The platform includes GSV Summit with its flagship convening the annual ASU+GSV Summit as well as an India-based Summit launched in 2023. The annual ASU+GSV Summit, held in April in San Diego, welcomed over 7,000 in-person registrants and 10,000 virtual attendees. GSV Ventures, the investment arm of the GSV platform, is a multi-stage venture fund backing innovative entrepreneurs across the global "Pre-K to Gray" landscape. GSV Ventures manages $950M in assets across three funds and several SPVs. Investments include Degreed, ClassDojo, Physicswallah, Clever (exited), Nearpod (exited), Guild, Course Hero, Gradescope (exited), and QuillBot (exited) amongst other notable investments.

About Google for Education

Google for Education is a division of Google dedicated to empowering educators and students with innovative tools and technologies that transform the learning experience. With a mission to make education accessible, engaging, and effective for all, Google for Education offers a wide range of products and services tailored to meet the needs of teachers, students, administrators, and institutions. Through initiatives like Google Classroom, G Suite for Education, Chromebooks, and various educational apps and tools, Google for Education aims to create inclusive and collaborative learning environments, foster digital literacy, and inspire creativity and critical thinking. By harnessing the power of technology, Google for Education is committed to shaping the future of education and preparing students for success in the digital age.

By Christine Perez | May 22, 2023|11:10 pm

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Through his growth-focused investment platform GSV (Global Silicon Valley), Michael Moe has invested in disruptors such as Facebook, Twitter, and Spotify. GSV also has several funds that target the digital learning sector, with investments in platforms such as Masterclass.

But Moe is thinking much bigger. He wants to redefine capitalism. And he’s collaborating with SMU to help spark change through a “Mission Summit.”

The sold-out conference kicked off May 22 with an opening discussion featuring Moe, Minerva Project chairman and CEO Ben Nelson, and Rob Kaplan, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. It continues through Wednesday, with a jam-packed lineup of presentations and panel discussions.

Participants include Clark Hunt, CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs; Avery Johnson, partner of Avery Capital; Jennifer Chandler, managing director, Bank of America; Michael Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College; Elizabeth Loboa, provost at SMU; and Mike Hoque, CEO of Hoque Global.

“While capitalism has been the greatest creator of wealth and has raised the standard of living for hundreds of millions of people around the world, it’s also been under attack, especially among young people,” Moe says. “Many polls among Millennials and Gen Z show that socialism is viewed more favorably than capitalism. We think capitalism is still the answer, but it needs a refresh.”

The Dallas event will feature The Texas Cup, a competition in which students from Texas universities will compete by presenting business ideas that combine profit and purpose to create real-world impact. The conference builds on GSV’s acclaimed program with Arizona State University, which has featured presenters that run the gamut from Malcolm Gladwell and Bill Gates to Condoleeza Rice and Barack Obama.

Collaboration With SoGood

After 25 years in the Silicon Valley, Moe moved to Dallas in 2021, believing it to be an ideal home base for promoting his cause. GSV’s work in Dallas also includes a strategic business partnership with Hoque Global in the development of SoGood, a masterplanned urban community south of Interstate 30 that’s surrounded by the Dallas Famers Market, Deep Ellum, the Cedars, and Fair Park. 

Anchored by the GSV Labs innovation center and including residential, retail, and other commercial spaces, SoGood aims to create a culture of creativity and innovation. The alliance with GSV pairs up with Hoque Global’s overall mission to create impact with real estate development and investment, says Mike Hoque, CEO.    

“We are based and focused on Dallas as a center of great business and innovation,” he says. “The Mission Summit is starting an annual platform to bring business and ideas and financing together to bring genuine economic impact to reality.” 

Moe is the author of three books: Finding the Next Starbucks, The Global Silicon Valley Handbook, and The Mission Corporation.

“There is a growing tidal wave of businesses that combine purpose and profits; we call it the Mission Movement,” he says. “We believe the truly great businesses of tomorrow will have the ambition of a for-profit and the heart of a nonprofit.”

For more information on the SMU+GSV Mission Summit, click here.

Dallas-based entrepreneurs Mike Moe and Mike Hoque team with SMU to launch first-of-its-kind business and innovation conference, SMU+GSV Mission Summit.

BY BRIAN KENDALL

MAY 13, 2023

Mike Moe and Mike Hoque

Aconference that combines the spirit of for-profit entrepreneurism with the heart of nonprofit altruism seems right up Fort Worth's alley. After all, the city is well known for its philanthropic innovators and business leaders.

With that said, we'll forgive the upcoming SMU+GSV Mission Summit for making Cowtown residents drive to Dallas for its inaugural conference. The three-day event, which promises to accelerate ideas that combine purpose and profits, is set to take place May 22 – 24 on the SMU campus in Dallas.

While this is technically the first of its kind, the summit — a collaboration between Global Silicon Valley (GSV Ventures) founder and CEO Mike Moe, Hoque Global CEO Mike Hoque, and Southern Methodist University — is a spin-off from the ASU+GSV Summit, an event that has taken place annually in San Diego since 2010. The key difference between the two conferences is the inclusion of Moe's Mission Movement, a "movement that's afoot," according to Moe, "and has the ambition of a for-profit in the heart of a not-for-profit."

"Capitalism is the best system for advancing society," Moe says. "But it needed a refresh, and that's what this Mission Movement is all about: combining purpose and profits.

"I think that's where we're going to have the greatest scale impact for society, and it's really exciting."

Over the years, the ASU+GSV Summit, of which Moe is the brainchild, has become an increasingly prodigious conference that attracts over 7,000 attendees and top-of-the-line speakers that include the likes of former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Bill Gates, Howard Schultz, Condoleezza Rice, and Sandra Day O'Connor.

Speakers at this year’s SMU+GSV Mission Summit, which hopes to accelerate entrepreneurial ideas that combine "purpose and profits," include CEO of Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs, Clark Hunt; Governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt; former NBA player and Dallas Mavericks coach, Avery Johnson; former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Rob Kaplan; and many more, including Fort Worth Magazine publisher, Hal Brown.

Ultimately, at the conference's core is the idea that amazing things can happen if one gets enough amazing people together in one room.

Another key component of the summit is a state-wide pitch competition for university students who attend Texas schools. Dubbed the Texas Cup, the contest is like a "Shark Tank" for up-and-coming business leaders and entrepreneurs — minus Mark Cuban and the vitriolic swipes. Instead, attendees will see a dozen teams pitch business ideas that combine purpose and profits to create an impactful business or idea that is scalable and sustainable.

"I think startups bring an energy and creativity that is important for community," Moe says. "[The Texas Cup] is such a cornerstone to the summit. You know, we're going to have successful leaders in business, government, entrepreneurship, and finance speaking and attending. But what's super important is having people that have these ambitions, these dreams, and they can get plugged into this, and that's gonna invigorate and catalyze people that have been successful."

One doesn't have to press Moe, whose GSV Ventures fittingly focuses on the global education and workforce skills sector, on why the Metroplex is primed for such an event.

"My whole career has been built on trying to be in front of the future," Moe, who has called North Texas home for two years, says. "As Global Silicon Valley is evolving, I believe this market has an opportunity to be the hub of innovation, growth, and this Mission Movement." Moe operates GSV Ventures out of downtown Dallas' Adolphus Tower, a Hoque-owned and renovated project. Hoque, who Moe affectionately calls his brother from a different mother, met Moe over four years ago — before he arrived in Dallas — when he sought a partner to create an innovation district in South Dallas.

"So, I started thinking about who I should align myself with, who should I talk to?" Hoque says. "And when I started talking to people in education, everybody mentioned Michael Moe." After a meeting followed by three years of working together, Governor Greg Abbott recently designated the pair's development, GSV Labs at SoGood, an Opportunity Zone. The development is slated to serve as an incubator for local startups and entrepreneurs, "providing them with critical business tools and resources needed for their ideas and businesses to grow."

Attempting to revitalize a part of town, Hoque Global, Hoque's investment and development company, also plans to make its mark in Fort Worth. In 2022, Hoque announced plans for a large East Side project at the crossroads of Evans Avenue and Rosedale Street. According to the Hoque Global website, the site will include "urban living and neighborhood retail with gathering and green spaces throughout. Upon construction, the mixed-use development is expected to lead the way for growth and more investment in this part of town."

"I'm a mission-driven real estate guy," Hoque says. "When I first met [Moe], we talked about creating a space where we could create opportunity for people who don't have opportunity. I think that's when we fell in love with each other." Moe and Hoque will be on-hand at the SMU+GSV Mission Summit in two weeks.

For those interested in registering for the summit, tickets are $500 online and $800 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets now, visit smugsvmission.com. If you're interested in attending but don't have the funds, click here to learn more about limited scholarship availability.

Michael Moe, the founder of GSV, has been an early investor in numerous Silicon Valley successes such as Starbucks, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Dropbox, and Coursera.

BY GLENN HUNTER • MAY 5, 2023

After years working as a research analyst for Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch and then as the founder and CEO of investment platform Global Silicon Valley, Michael Moe says he’s developed a “skill set” around putting on conferences. Now he’s bringing that knack to Dallas, where 500 people are expected to attend the inaugural SMU+GSV Mission Summit later this month at Southern Methodist University.

The SMU conference will be modeled on the annual ASU+GSV Summit, which focuses on digital learning and workforce skills. Co-founded by Moe in 2010, that collaboration with Arizona State University has been called “the Davos of Education,” attracting 7,000 attendees as well as speakers including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Gates, Howard Schultz, Condoleezza Rice, and Sandra Day O’Connor.

The Dallas summit, scheduled for May 22-24, has a different purpose: accelerating Moe’s corporate Mission Movement, which contends that there’s a “growing tidal wave” of businesses combining “the ambition of a for-profit with the heart of a nonprofit.”

Moe wrote a book about the trend, titled “The Mission Corporation,” in 2021.

Today’s entrepreneurs, especially younger ones, want to “feel like what they’re doing is actually helping the world evolve,” he says. “So, having a purpose to what they’re doing is critical. But profit is also important, because that’s how you sustain it, and that’s how you scale and make an impact.”

Moe’s inaugural Mission Summit will build on strategies from the successful ASU+GSV Summit (above). The SMU event will bring together 500 leaders from business, finance, government, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship to advance innovation for the mission movement.

Recruiting the best entrepreneurs

Moe’s partner in the upcoming conference is serial entrepreneur Mike Hoque, CEO of Dallas-based investment firm Hoque Global.

Mike Hoque

Says Moe: “We’re brothers from a different mother.”

The two met before Moe relocated to Dallas from Silicon Valley in 2021. (California had changed, Moe says, and Dallas felt like where “the future” will be.)

Further bolstering their relationship, GSV recently moved its headquarters from Northern California to Dallas and took a space in downtown’s historic Adolphus Tower, which Hoque acquired in 2015 and then renovated.

Moe and Hoque are collaborating on a ‘major innovation district’ in Dallas’ Cedars neighborhood

During an interview at Hoque Global’s office in Comerica Tower, Moe and Hoque explained how they’ve begun working together on Hoque’s SoGood mixed-use development in the Cedars neighborhood, south of Interstate 30. One of several complex real estate projects Hoque has undertaken, the development will become a “major innovation district,” Hoque says, with a first-phase building anchored by the GSV Innovation Center for innovators and entrepreneurs.

“We’re going to recruit the best entrepreneurs and bring them to the district,” Moe says, adding that the Mission Summit is a “fundamental component of how we’re going to get people to understand what we’re doing.”

SoGood Innovation Center

SMU+GSV Mission Summit: Speaker lineup, pitch competition

The Dallas conference, to be held at SMU’s Hughes-Trigg Student Center, with a reception at the George W. Bush Presidential Library, will present a wide range of speakers. They include Clark Hunt, chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs; former Dallas Fed president and CEO Rob Kaplan; Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt; Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell; Jennifer Chandler, managing director, Bank of America; and Stimuli Founder and CEO Taylor Shead.

The Mission Summit will also feature a dozen finalists in the Texas Cup, a pitch competition for college-age entrepreneurs presented by GSV.

With a career that’s “been about connecting the dots,” Moe is convinced the Dallas conference can catalyze the Mission Movement, just as he says the ASU summit jump-started the ed-tech sector.

“I believe Dallas is really the perfect place to be the hub of this mission movement, which is a global movement,” he says.

Clockwise from left: North Texas investors Clarence Bethea, Kat Weaver, Michael Moe, Pialy Aditya, Clarence Bethea, and Allison Ball.

BY SANDRA ENGELLAND • MAR 22, 2023

North Texas has emerged as a prominent hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, drawing a diverse group of investors who now call the region home. Among them are these six relatively new North Texans, comprising seasoned venture capitalists and up-and-coming angels, who bring expertise and capital to the region. Their backgrounds span venture capital, entrepreneurship, and technology, and they’re focused on investing in dynamic growth companies and diverse founders with innovative solutions in emerging technologies such as AI/ML and fintech.

The presence of these investors reflects North Texas’ growing reputation as a leading destination for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment, say local investment leaders. Eager to take “big swings” and make an impact with their investment dollars, they’re contributing to the development of a thriving startup ecosystem—and paving the way for the next generation of successful startups and founders.

Meet the investors

Michael Moe

Founder and CEO, GSV Holdings

Michael Moe

Moe, the mastermind behind GSV Holdings (GSV), a growth-focused investment platform based in Silicon Valley, has a remarkable track record of picking out “the Stars of Tomorrow”. GSV has a portfolio of some of the most successful companies in the digital era, including Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Snap, Lyft, and Spotify, to name a few.

GSV invests in “dynamic growth companies” with a special focus on digital learning companies, according to Moe. The investor’s passion for education is evident in the creation of GSV University and GSV MBA, an accredited graduate program for entrepreneurs. He’s also authored three books, including “Finding the Next Starbucks,” “The Global Silicon Valley Handbook,” and his latest release, “The Mission Corporation …Contemporary Capitalism.”

After living in Silicon Valley for 25 years, Moe moved to Dallas, “because it feels like the future—much like Silicon Valley did when we first moved there.” He cites the city’s central location as an innovation hub, the vibrant culture, and the “can-do” attitude of the people as some of the reasons for his move.

Promise Phelon  

Founder/Managing Partner, Growth Warrior Capital

Promise Phelon

Phelon describes herself as an “underdog—part of the 2% in Silicon Valley.” The serial entrepreneur has raised more than $100 million and transformed, bought, and exited companies. Phelon, a successful woman of color in technology and the Valley, brought “pioneering tech to influencer marketing, human capital management, and web infrastructure,” 

Today Phelon aims to be a “champion of underdogs.” Her company, Growth Warrior Capital, focuses on diverse and female founders at Seed and Series A stages, while building equitable solutions in AI/ML, fintech, and the future of work.

“I actively invest in, build and buy promising SaaS companies including one startup in our portfolio which is experiencing triple digit revenue growth and has increased in valuation 10X in the last 18 months,” the investor said on Linkedin. Her company portfolio includes Forcemetrics, which aims to improve law enforcement and community interactions using data-driven insights. 

The former Silicon Valley resident recently returned to Dallas, where she double majored in business and religion at SMU.

Kat Weaver  

CEO, Power To Pitch

Kat Weaver

Weaver understands, first hand, “how daunting and overwhelming building and scaling a business can be.” 

Last year, Weaver successfully sold and exited Locker Lifestyle, which offers wearable workout accessories where you can stash valuables. Despite obstacles, including a devastating fire, Weaver scaled the company, landed national media attention, and appeared on Good Morning America.  After what she describes as a rollercoaster acquisition that included four failed attempts to find the right buyer, Weaver landed a six-figure sum in March 2022.

Throughout the journey, Weaver learned to tell her story and make her passion contagious, resulting in winning 22 pitch competitions and securing six figures of capital to scale her business along the way. Her story-telling success led to a viral video on FedEx’s top pitch tips, and founders began seeking her out for coaching.

Now Weaver is on a mission to help pre-seed to seed founders get funded faster through support and resources. The entrepreneur founded her second company, Power to Pitch, to help founders create a winning pitch script, develop a personalized pitch deck, and get directly matched to investors in their industry.

“When it comes to raising capital, you have to start with your story,” says Weaver, who has helped hundreds of founders do just that to drive results and get funded faster. She emphasizes that investors are buy into the founder first, before caring about the idea, product, or service

Weaver also is a NextGen Advisory Board Member for WBENC to help young women entrepreneurs. The investor moved to North Texas from the Chicago area.

Pialy Aditya 

Chief Strategy Officer, Republic

Pialy Aditya

Aditya, an innovation-driven exec with years of early-stage investment experience and an angel investor, is CSO at Republic, an investing platform comprised of global private companies, which are seed and stage agnostic.

Republic’s private capital division operates select funds in areas like deep tech, fintech, climate tech, and blockchain technologies. Realm Metaverse Real Estate, Aptera Motors, and NeXtGen Biologics are a few examples of investment opportunities with Republic. The platform now invests in alternative asset classes, such as art, wine, and whiskey.

With a passion for sharing her knowledge of the tech industry, Aditya frequently appears as a keynote speaker. Recently, she’s spoken on topics such as Web 3.0 at Harvard and delivered a presentation on tech and entrepreneurship to a worldwide audience in Bahrain for Manama Entrepreneurship Week.

Aditya and her husband, artist JM Rizzi, moved to Dallas in 2020.

Clarence Bethea  

Angel Investor and Venture Scout, True Ventures

Clarence Bethea

Seven years ago, Bethea founded Upsie, an insurtech venture, to tackle the issue of predatory warranties with exorbitant markups. These warranties often go unnoticed by customers during checkout and can cost up to 900% more, as Bethea explained in a 2021 Techcrunch interview. By prioritizing the end-user over retailers, Bethea streamlined the process to make it transparent, affordable, and accessible. According to the consumer warranty startup, Upsie saves its customers anywhere from 50% to 90% when compared to competitor warranty plans.

Bethea’s commitment to people hasn’t wavered.

He’s now an angel investor with True Ventures, where the emphasis is on supporting founders as individuals first, and business leaders second. True Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based VC firm that specializes in seed-stage investments in early-stage tech startups, with a focus on companies that aim to make a positive impact on the world.

Bethea says, “We seek out founders who aspire to change the world.”

True Ventures’ culture emphasizes open and honest interactions, enabling founders to feel supported and empowered to be maximally creative. In addition to providing financial capital, True Ventures offers a significant amount of human capital, including guidance and mentorship, to help founders bring their vision to life. The firm’s past successful investments include ventures like Peloton, Fitbit, and Ring.

Bethea and his family moved to Dallas in August 2021 from Minnesota because of North Texas’ diversity. 

Allison Ball 

Partner, Hanover Technology Investment Management

Allison Ball

“Pick your investors wisely,” says Ball. “Think about whether these are the people that you’ll want when you have to make really hard decisions.”

Ball supports tech entrepreneurs at Hanover, helping them maximize customer impact and achieve ambitious growth goals. The California-based venture capital firm focuses on pre-seed to Series A investments in areas like cloud computing, SaaS, cybersecurity, and energy transition.

The firm, which also focuses on enterprise sales and marketing, mortgage origination, payroll, software development, energy, and advertising sectors, has a portfolio that includes supply chain platform Kargo and Flatfile, a cloud data services company.

Ball, an Austin native who got her start at Goldman Sachs and led multiple teams at Facebook (now Meta), recently moved to Dallas after living in the San Francisco Bay area.

Last year, in a venture capital panel at Venture Dallas, Ball explained that Dallas is an important place to develop sales pipelines and market products, with a collaborative spirit that sets it apart from other tech hubs like the Bay Area, Boston, and New York.

According to Ball, the collaborative environment in Dallas encourages entrepreneurs to come together and build companies, especially in the early stages. ‘The market is not so concentrated and crazy that you have to be quite as competitive [here],” she said. “We really need to use that to our advantage.”

By Jenny Anderson

• Feb. 17, 2005

BLOGGING transformed political commentary, rattled the media business and inundated the Internet. Does it have a place on Wall Street? ThinkEquity Partners, a boutique investment bank in San Francisco, will find out as it introduces a Web log today. The firm, which specializes in technology, health care and other fast-growing fields, is seeking to make its investment research department -- an albatross at most Wall Street firms -- relevant.

ThinkEquity is betting that the blog will attract analysts, bankers, investors, venture capitalists and anyone else interested in talking about growth investing, and in the process, help the company generate ideas. The firm's research is available to all and, once registered, anyone can post feedback on the site. The blog can be found at www.thinkequity.com/blog.

ThinkEquity's co-founder, Michael T. Moe, who is the former director of global growth stock research at Merrill Lynch, compared the idea to the Zagat Survey of restaurants.

"There are all sorts of information sources about where a restaurant is located and what the cuisine is, but that's just information," he said. "What makes Zagat's powerful is you have 100,000 people contributing. Their insight is amazing, frightening and impressive."

Mr. Moe said he did not see an immediate way to make money from the blog, but viewed it as a way to generate ideas -- the lifeblood of research and investment banking.

"Our mission is to identify and partner with the stars of tomorrow, today," he said.

He said he got the idea from Tony Perkins, a founder and former editor of Red Herring magazine who has started AlwaysOn, which is using blogs to discuss business and technology issues.

The blog format can transform research from a document into a discussion. "There can be more insight into decision making," said Anil Dash, a vice president at Six Apart, the company that makes the software ThinkEquity is using for its blog. "They can participate in the conversation."

General Motors recently began a blog for Robert A. Lutz, its vice chairman, so he could have a more nuanced conversation with people about the automotive industry.

For Wall Street, the blog promises both opportunity and potential regulatory challenges. "A blog is not a solution to all the problems facing Wall Street research," Mr. Moe said, "but we think it's a component of the future service offering that research can provide."

The problems Mr. Moe referred to are abundant. After years of promoting Internet and telecommunications stocks, many of which went bust when the technology bubble burst, Wall Street research came under tremendous scrutiny. In 2001, the New York attorney general began investigating conflicts of interest among Wall Street analysts, finding evidence that research was being written solely to win investment banking business. Nearly two years later, a group of Wall Street firms agreed to pay $1.4 billion to settle accusations that they lured investors to buy billions of dollars worth of shares in companies they knew were troubled.

Regulators offered a variety of solutions to these problems, like requiring that analysts certify their reports as their own thinking and altering how banks compensate analysts.

A result, however, has been that most firms have cut research, mainly because it is difficult to get investors to pay for it. (Investment banking previously subsidized it.)

"The research environment is in disarray," Mr. Moe said. Firms that sell research, like investment banks, "are trying to rationalize and come up with a model where they can make a research department make sense," he said.

Some people are skeptical of the blog approach. "The trend in research is to differentiate yourself, especially for a research boutique," said one Wall Street analyst who insisted on anonymity because of the regulatory issues about analysts' discussing their profession. "They will do what they can to make their voice be heard, but I don't know if I would expect it to catch on in the investment banking research world."

Richard X. Bove, a research analyst with Punk Ziegel & Company, called the idea "a bust."

"I don't know of any way to get really serious customers other than contacting them directly," he said.

Perhaps. But the world of information has changed, and getting distinctive insight has become significantly harder. Regulation FD, for fair disclosure, requires companies to disclose material information at once to all investors rather than a select few. That rule stripped analysts of a principal asset: access to management and, ideally, information that management would give to them first.

At the same time, regulators are in overdrive to find violations. In mid-January, NASD fined an analyst at Fulcrum Partners, a boutique institutional research firm, $75,000 for perpetuating a rumor.

Mr. Moe said his firm's compliance officer had vetted the blog and found it did not present any regulatory obstacles.

An official at the Securities and Exchange Commission, who insisted on not being identified, said that the blog did not appear to violate any rules but would probably require more disclosures.

The blog idea may take hold or may go bust, Mr. Moe acknowledged, but he is willing to try it.

"The blog doesn't replace an expert who can dissect a balance sheet and do rigorous financial analysis and can make a judgment on the value of a security, but it will absolutely be a powerful complement to that process," he said.