Physics is like an epic saga that began accelerating in the 17th century with the Scientific Revolution. Think of Galileo and Newton as the trailblazers who mixed raw observations with elegant math, kickstarting modern physics. Fast forward to the Industrial Revolution: this period was a hotbed for discoveries in electromagnetism, mechanics, optics and more, fueled by the era’s tech hunger.
The 20th century turned the heat up with game-changers like quantum mechanics and Einstein’s relativity. These theories weren’t just intellectual gymnastics; they demanded cutting-edge experiments for validation, showcasing the dynamic and fruitful tension between the abstract and the tangible in scientific discoveries.
Today, this adventure continues. Physics is on a quest to meld the worlds of quantum mechanics and general relativity, a challenge akin to merging the conceptual (theoretical physics) with the tangible (experimental physics). It’s a thrilling, ongoing journey where the abstract brilliance of theories dances with the gritty reality of experiments.
Post-WWII, the world buzzed with tech innovations. Picture this: 1947, the transistor pops onto the scene, igniting a revolution in electronics and computing. Smaller, smarter devices begin to emerge. Then comes the Space Race, turbocharging tech advancements and shooting our capabilities to new heights. Silicon Valley? That’s where the magic happens — a hotbed of ideas, flush with venture capital, driving forward both hardware and software innovations. The cherry on top? The personal computer’s debut in the late ’70s and ’80s, shifting us from manual skills to a brain-powered, tech-centric world. It was a thrilling journey from post-war recovery to a technology-dominated everyday life!
Globalization shook up the world’s economies like a whirlwind, with manufacturing zipping off to China in a big way. This massive shift didn’t just dial down local, hands-on industries — it practically flipped the script in many countries, causing full-on deindustrialization. As traditional industries waned in OECD nations, a new star rose: the service sector, glimmering with opportunity. Developed countries found themselves in a major makeover, trading factories for office spaces. And here’s the catch: while local manufacturing seemed to take a back seat, it revealed a vast, often unseen web of global hardware production. So, while service jobs were stealing the spotlight, the world was quietly depending more than ever on a complex, international tango of manufacturing magic.
In the 1980s, a tech drama unfolded between two giants: IBM, the heavyweight champ of hardware, and Microsoft, the rising star with a software twinkle in its eye. IBM dominated the scene with its mainframes and later, personal computers. Enter Microsoft, marching in with a game-changing mantra: it’s all about the software, baby! They started cooking up user-friendly operating systems for IBM’s machines, and bam! The spotlight shifted. Suddenly, the real power in computing wasn’t the hulking hardware, but the clever code that made them tick. This was a seismic shift in the tech world. We were moving from a world obsessed with nuts and bolts to a universe where smart software called the shots, laying down the red carpet for an era dominated by digital wizardry and service-oriented sorcery. Think less clunky machines, more brainy bytes!
Envision the late 20th century’s dot-com boom as a digital gold rush, a wild era where software and services skyrocketed like never before. This was a rollercoaster ride, showing just how unpredictable the world of knowledge-based economics could be, especially when stacked against the sturdy, enduring world of manufacturing.
Then comes the cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) revolution, changing the game entirely. It’s like software took a magic pill and ballooned, making the hardware seem almost invisible to everyday users. Now, you’ve got this immense computing power at your fingertips, no bulky machines in sight. It’s a bit like a tech magic trick: immense power, but where’s the box?
This shift subtly downplayed the craft and skill behind hardware development. As people marveled at the sleekness of software, the intricate art of building the machines that powered it all started to fade into the backdrop. Welcome to the era of digital dominance, where the wizardry of software often steals the show!
Now enters AI, where our silicon-brained buddies are muscling in on jobs that used to need a human touch. But here’s the twist: as AI flexes its brainpower, there’s a newfound love blooming for good old-fashioned handiwork and craftsmanship. It’s like we’re rediscovering the magic in the human touch that AI just can’t mimic.
Imagine this: homes built with the meticulous care of a master craftsman, engineering marvels shaped by the steady hands of a seasoned pro, or a piece of bespoke furniture that tells a story in every curve and joint. In these realms, the mastery of manual skills isn’t just cool — it’s irreplaceable.
We’re witnessing a comeback, a renaissance of sorts, where the art of human craftsmanship is strutting back into the spotlight, striking a chord against the backdrop of AI’s intellectual prowess. It’s a dance of man versus machine, where the intricate, nuanced steps of human artisans are more valued than ever in our high-tech world. Welcome to the balancing act of the future: high-tech AI brains and the timeless beauty of human hands.
In the dawn of the AI era, where algorithms reign supreme, we find ourselves rediscovering the charm of the human touch. As technology leaps forward, our fondness for artisanal skills and human craftsmanship only grows stronger. It’s a dance of man and machine, where AI’s advancements amplify our craving for the warmth and intricacy only human hands can offer. No nostalgia here; it’s about striking a balance. As we march towards an AI-driven future, the artistry and dexterity of human craftsmanship stand as vibrant, essential parts of our world, symbols of enduring human creativity amidst a sea of digital wonders.
Welcome to the future, where the human spirit shines bright against the backdrop of skyrocketing AI!
We’re not just investing in innovation; we’re championing a hardware renaissance in the bustling world of early-stage startups, especially in Medtech, Impact, and Deeptech. We see hardware as the hidden gem of venture capital, ripe with opportunity and innovation. Our mission? To lead, not follow, by investing in robust hardware solutions that power the future of essential sectors like Healthtech and Deeptech. In a software-dazzled world, we invest regardless of the product being a hardware or software unlike the vast majority of other investors which give no-gos to hardware without even looking.