It’s Not All About “US”
By Greg Kahn
Emerging Tech Exchange
Founder & CEO
Published on June 27, 2023
My past two weeks have been a blur of small meetings, large gatherings, music, parties, various languages and accents, deep conversations and light discussions, new faces and old ones.
But now that I’m back in the U.S. after hopping from Tel Aviv to Cannes, I’ve been thinking about the tunnel vision we all fall into at one time or another. It’s a big world, but the centrality of the U.S. as a marketplace, as a prime innovator of business and technology and culture, blinds us to the powerful advancements, from concepts to companies, that are being produced in other places.
No matter how many times I visit Tel Aviv or attend Cannes, so many differences pop out at me. When I arrive home from another part of the world, I’m always reminded of the need to maintain a larger perspective.
The world seems to be pulling back into more narrow definitions of national interest. So the need to remind each other to break out of our respective bubbles — whether they’re technological, media, or cultural — is especially urgent.
When you’re encountering a new technology and where it falls in the hype cycle — is it going to tap into “peak expectations” at the right moment? Is it destined for the “trough of disillusionment?” — there are two things to think about.
It’s not all about “US.”
The rise of TikTok is a perfect example. Its future may be uncertain in the west. But there’s no denying that TikTok’s embrace by younger consumers, creators, and brands the last several years caught American companies sleeping.
Many Americans thought the U.S. was the driver of social media creativity and innovation. But then China’s Bytedance took the world by storm with TikTok. The next big thing is going to be around some atypical corners.
There are big dreams about smart cities being developed in Saudi Arabia. The UAE is opening an AI and web3 campus in Dubai with the goal of attracting over 500 web3/AI companies by 2028. The national governments are committed to making innovation happen.
Japan and South Korea are also pushing hard to be at the forefront of innovation once again.
Despite being a South Korean company, Samsung has never held a Galaxy Unpacked event in its home country. The company usually prefers the US or Europe to launch its flagship products, including the newest flip phones. But that is changing this year - it will be held in Seoul in July.
Relationships and Creativity
How do these two crucial factors in driving entrepreneurial success and technological growth influence the other? I’ve been thinking about that question since my visit to Tel Aviv, where I met with a wide range of companies taking advantage of the current AI boom.
Being in Cannes made me think a bit more about the quality of connections.
Relationships are essential for scaling a business. Trust plays a significant role in business relationships. Developing trust requires being present in the culture; it demands understanding of how people work and how the end user might practically embrace your product, brand, or idea. Once you have those trusted relationships, that’s when the spark of creativity begins.
That’s what separates virtuous cycles from hype cycles. That’s what builds lasting bridges between companies and consumers around the world.
Greg Kahn
Emerging Tech Exchange
Founder & CEO
