The Proof Economy

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Salutations, Olio aficionados! 👋

Midweek greetings to all, as we unveil the 153rd chapter of Weekly Olio—a delightful concoction of laughter, insight, and a sprinkle of mystery. Within these pages, you'll discover a handpicked selection of fascinating finds from the vast realms of the internet.

Keep your eyes peeled for this week’s Publisher’s Parmesan, arriving this Sunday!

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The Quote󠀢 💭

The Tweet 🐦

Like vertical SaaS, industry specific solutions using AI are likely to win the battle when it comes to serving businesses and delivering large scale economic impact. The initial burst of venture investment focused on foundational models and Gen AI capabilities but vertical AI solutions are likely to see an influx of investment.

The Infographic 💹

With LLM generated writing replacing human-generated content, high quality written content will become increasingly more valuable. Like the concept of alpha in finance is used to indicate above baseline returns, a similar concept might soon be needed to classify high-quality writing in a world infested with LLM generated content.

StartEngine’s $30M Surge — Own a Piece Before June 26

Private markets are having a moment, thanks to companies like StartEngine.

The leading alternative investing platform is helping everyday investors like you access deals once reserved for VCs and insiders, including exposure to private market titans like OpenAI, Databricks, and Perplexity.¹

How’s it going? In Q1 2025, StartEngine pulled off $30M in revenue, its biggest quarter ever (based on unaudited financials).²

But StartEngine isn’t just a middleman. The company earns 20% carried interest on select pre-IPO offerings, unlocking value for shareholders when these deals succeed.³

How can you tap into this diversification play? By investing in StartEngine.

StartEngine has crowdfunded $85M+ to date, and you can join 45K+ shareholders before the company’s current round closes on June 26.

Invest in StartEngine

_{Reg A+ via StartEngine Crowdfunding, Inc. No BD/intermediary involved. Investment is speculative, illiquid & high risk. See OC and Risks on page.}

The Short Read 📝

From Investment to Savings: When Finance Feeds on Itself - by Hunter Hopcroft

Hunter Hopcroft is an investor and financial writer who specializes in real assets and alternative income. He is interested in companies with a lot of physical assets.

In today's economy, real growth is becoming less important for justifying large investments. Instead, the finance industry focuses more on generating returns for itself, like a snake eating its own tail. This approach might slowly weaken the real economy's ability to grow and innovate. Read more…

The Long Read 📜

The Proof Economy - by Anand Sanwal

Anand Sanwal runs crunchbase.com - the go to database for all things venture. In his recent blog, he talks about a massive shift that is underway catalyzed by the rise of Gen AI. For years, degrees or credentials from top institutions were seen as a strong proxy for capabilities. He calls this the ‘Parchment Economy’. In the last few years, the gears are shifting. There is increasing focus on demonstrated ability versus pedigree and credentials. This transformation began in sectors like tech, design, and media, where platforms such as GitHub, Behance, and YouTube prioritize demonstrable work over formal qualifications. The gig economy further emphasized this trend, with marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr valuing client feedback and completed projects. Even major corporations, including Google and IBM, have reduced degree requirements, focusing instead on proven skills and outcomes.

A decline in trust toward traditional institutions—evidenced by decreasing confidence in government and higher education—has accelerated this shift. As institutional endorsements lose their luster, individuals and employers alike seek direct evidence of ability. Sadly, our education systems continue to be stuck in the same rut. We need to move away from credentials, GPAs, transcripts and instead foster an environment where students can build, create and showcase their capabilities. In the Proof Economy, success hinges not on where one studied, but on what one has accomplished. Read more…

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That’s all for this week. If you enjoyed this edition, we’d really appreciate if you shared it with a friend, family member or colleague.

We’ll be back in your inbox 2 PM IST next Wednesday. Till then, have a productive week!

Peeyush and Mohit

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual.