After the conversations: Notes from the road
The GIA team is back from the road after completing the first leg of our U.S. business tour during May 2025. This marks an important step in the early rollout of the Global Innovators Alliance. Over ten days, we hosted free networking meet-ups in Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York, meeting founders, investors, and executives who understand the importance of face-to-face business conversations.
These gatherings were built around meaningful conversations in relaxed, carefully chosen settings. As is the foundation of GIA, when people connect in person, ideas move faster, and you gain insights that often don’t come through on a screen.
One standout moment from the tour was reconnecting in person with someone we’ve known for two decades. It was our first face-to-face meeting since before the pandemic. That conversation solidified how different discussions can be when they happen in the same room. While remote work offers flexibility, even a few shared office days can open the door to entirely new exchanges.
On the tour, we debated how products launched in one region often follow very different paths when introduced elsewhere. One conversation highlighted a fintech tool that scaled rapidly in the U.S. with a bold, high-growth approach, while its European counterpart took a more deliberate, locally embedded route. These approaches sometimes align, sometimes diverge, and occasionally meet head-on. Understanding that dynamic is becoming essential for companies looking to scale across regions.
Several attendees discussed building globally from the outset. Rather than launching locally and considering international expansion later, they design products and platforms with a global audience in mind from the outset. This shift in mindset is becoming a key differentiator.
These events also give us early visibility into where innovation is heading. Through our growing network, we are discovering early-stage businesses and spotting patterns in what’s coming next. Being close to these ideas helps us stay ahead of broader market trends.
What stood out most was the diversity of perspectives in the room. Different industries, different nationalities, and different growth stages came together. The conversations will full of intent and substance, shaping the tone of the entire tour.
We’re now preparing for our next bi-annual gathering in September, and interest is already growing for the next leg of our North American tour. This first chapter helped set the rhythm for what’s ahead. If you’re curious about what we’re building or considering joining us in the next round, we’d be glad to talk.
