☕️ Innovation Espresso #33
Contact lenses that see the "invisible", Gen Z grads don’t want tech jobs anymore, digital dementia debunked, plus Mitsui and Hyundai go startup-hunting!
Welcome to Innovation Espresso, a quick yet powerful dose of curated news, articles, videos, reels, newsletters, and podcasts that I’ve found particularly interesting throughout the week. While I focus on Open Innovation and Corporate Venturing, you’ll find this quick yet potent dose covers more ground. Enjoy with your morning coffee!
Before we start… In case you missed it…
I’m running a short reader survey to better understand who’s here, what you care about, and how I can make this newsletter more relevant (and partner with the right people). It’s anonymous, takes just 1 minute, and in return for the content I share each week, I’d be genuinely grateful for your input.
Thanks for being part of this. Let’s jump in.
💊 Innovation Pills
🤖 ChatGPT’s Flattering Flaw: When AI Becomes Too Agreeable
💰 Salesforce’s $8B Bet: Acquiring Informatica to Boost AI Prowess
🧠 AI’s Impact on Entry-Level Tech Jobs: A Shrinking Opportunity?
📱 WhatsApp Finally Lands on iPad: Fifteen Years Later
🎨 Nick Clegg Warns: Artist Consent Could ‘Kill’ UK’s AI Industry
👁️ Vision Upgrade: Contact Lenses That See Invisible Light
🧪 FDA Milestone: First Blood Test Approved for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
🕵️ AI Ethics in Question: Anthropic Model Caught Simulating Blackmail
🧑🏫 Gen Z grads don’t want tech jobs anymore, instead low-paid careers with plenty of holiday in teaching are all the rage, LinkedIn says
☕️ Your weekly sip of Corporate Venturing News
🌱 Mitsui Chemicals launches a $60m fund to invest in startups advancing sustainability, healthcare, and digital innovation. This second VC fund signals the company’s growing appetite for deeper, more strategic startup partnerships. Source
💡 Fujitsu sets up a $100m fund to back global deeptech ventures in AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. It’s part of the company’s ambition to evolve from a tech vendor into a global innovation catalyst. Source
🧠 Is “gut feel” hurting your startup bets? A new report suggests that replacing instinct with data-driven methods improves venture outcomes—fueling the rise of algorithm-assisted decision-making in corporate VC. Source
🤝 7 in 10 European companies now see startups as vital to their AI strategies. According to Sopra Steria’s Open Innovation Report 2025, most corporates have moved beyond experimentation and now consider startup collaboration a strategic necessity—especially for generative AI. Still, only 22% have scaled these efforts, showing there’s work to be done. Source
🚗 Hyundai launches a $91m fund for early-stage startups focused on EVs, autonomous tech, and smart mobility across Asia. The goal? Speed up innovation beyond internal R&D. Source
⚙️ AI-scaled startups are shaking up venture capital itself. As tools like Opus and platforms like Motive Partners’ spinouts gain traction, VCs debate whether AI-native companies will outpace traditional venture models—or just redefine them. One thing’s clear: disruption is now happening inside the VC world, too. Source
📹 Something to watch
AI and automation are quietly reshaping American factories. This Bloomberg Originals episode explores predictive maintenance, intelligent robotics, and what all this means for human workers.
🎧 Something to listen
OpenAI and Jony Ive are teaming up—maybe to build a gadget, maybe a whole new product category. This week on The Vergecast, Nilay Patel and the crew dissect the mystery device, plus everything AI from Google I/O: Gemini, Search, Project Astra, and beyond. A fun ride through the future of interfaces, gadgets, and—yep—conference calls.
🛠️ Something to try
Vert is a no-frills, privacy-friendly file converter you’ll actually enjoy using. It runs on your device, handles images, audio, and docs locally, and uses ultra-fast servers for video. No ads, no file size limits, and totally open source.
🤔 Did you know?
We’ve heard the warnings: tech is frying our brains, especially for older adults. But a new study suggests the opposite—regular use of smartphones, computers, and apps may actually help improve cognitive performance in seniors. So much for “digital dementia.”
🥐 Espresso is not enough?
The Way of Code by Rick Rubin isn’t just a blog—it’s a meditative deep dive into vibe coding as craft. The first chapter reflects on why software development feels more like storytelling than engineering, and why mastery starts with mindset, not methods.
📣 Want to be featured on Open Road Ventures?
If you’re building a tool, service, or promoting an event in the innovation landscape, check out this page to learn how to sponsor a spot in front of 1,150+ engaged innovators. Let’s brew something great together!
Did you enjoy this edition? Share it with anyone you like and give it a heart. Subscribe to receive it every week.
See you next week,
Davide
Great episode Davide - I loved the understated Vert that shows that even with tools that have been “perfected” there is room for innovation.