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Where is Masayoshi going to deploy the $100B?
The recent announcement by Masayoshi Son of @SoftBank and President-Elect @realDonaldTrump of a $100B investment pledge in tech and AI promises to create 100,000 jobs and transform the tech landscape in America.
This pledge represents an opportunity to rethink where these investments could go—and the answer lies in the Great Lakes region. Data is the new oil, and the Great Lakes Region is its wellspring.
The Great Lakes region, often overlooked in conversations about tech innovation, is a hidden gem with immense potential for AI development. While Silicon Valley has traditionally dominated tech investments, the Midwest offers a unique advantage: a rich concentration of industries producing massive amounts of valuable data. Manufacturing—the backbone of the region for over 150 years—spans industries ranging from automotive to chemical production. It also has strong footholds in metal goods, healthcare, insurance, and medical devices, creating a data trove ripe for AI applications. Combined with the region’s strong work ethic and labor force, the Midwest is an ideal testing ground for innovations like predictive analytics in manufacturing and AI-driven water management technologies.
The Midwest’s Growing Tech Ecosystem
Over the past decade, the Great Lakes region has experienced significant growth in venture capital, tech accelerators, and innovation hubs. In 2024 alone, great progress has been made in states across the region. (SEE THREAD)
Midwestern states continue to fuel their innovation economies. Meanwhile, leaders like @JDVance, @VivekGRamaswamy, and @berniemoreno, all from Ohio, are set to shape national strategy with a deep understanding of the region’s opportunities. @berniemoreno
The $40B Opportunity
@PitchBook's Q3 2024 report reveals an imbalance of investment dollars. The number of venture deals across the states are balanced 50:50 between tech hubs (Silicon Valley) and non-tech hubs. Of the projected $175B invested in 2024, non-tech hubs will only receive ~$50M, representing 30% of the total. This imbalance underscores a significant opportunity. If dollars invested between tech hubs and non-tech hubs were to be balanced (50:50), it would represent a shift of $40B — capital that could be injected into the American heartland.
If this shift is going to be actualized, many questions are left to be answered: How do we make sure this shift happens in favor of this region? How do we convince investors of the opportunity that lies here? Which university endowments should be investing in the area it's surrounded by? How do we get talented students graduating from those universities to stay in the area? What infrastructure do we need to build? What community needs to be here?
The Time is Now
As another sign of the momentum building in the region, we have seen an incredible response to the launch of the Great Lakes VC Summit. @RefineryVC was a part of the team to kick-off the Great Lakes VC Summit. By fostering a culture of community, connectivity, and trust, we are energizing efforts to keep talent and dollars in the region. @grandvcp @mercuryfund @EgatewayCapital @kdumot
But more is needed.
SoftBank’s $100B pledge is an opportunity and a call to action for the region. The Great Lakes region is ready to lead America’s AI revolution. With its rich industrial heritage, robust talent pipeline, and growing venture capital ecosystem, the Midwest is no longer just the backbone of manufacturing—it’s poised to become the strategic data source of AI.
Now we pose the important question: How are we going to attract that $40B?
#SoftBank #Midwest
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