VIRTUAL EVENT
Entrepreneurship in Artificial Intelligence:Mission Impossible?
Thursday, September 25, 2025
12:00pm - 1:15pm ET
Does artificial intelligence represent a fundamentally different kind of technological revolution—one that could reshape not only industries but also the structure of global markets? In past waves of innovation, from social media to e-commerce, technological booms spurred widespread entrepreneurship. Startups flourished, and many evolved into dominant firms, but they emerged from a competitive landscape where new entrants had room to grow. Artificial intelligence may chart a different path. Some analysts argue that AI’s steep economies of scale, vast computational requirements, and the adaptability of its systems could concentrate power in the hands of a few organizations—more akin to the era of mainframe computing in the 1960s, when one firm largely defined the field.
This roundtable discussion will explore:
Concentration vs. Competition: Are the capital demands, data needs, and infrastructure requirements of AI inherently driving the market toward centralization?
Investment Implications: How should private equity investors assess opportunities in an environment where scale advantages may limit smaller entrants?
Policy and Ethical Dimensions: What responsibilities do investors and innovators hold in shaping an AI ecosystem that fosters innovation without amplifying systemic risks of monopoly power?
Lessons from History: What parallels can be drawn between AI today and previous technology cycles, and what can we learn to anticipate future market dynamics?
This event is a series event session, part of the Private Capital and Discovery: Strategic Investing in Scientific Innovation series. Additional session information may be found by visiting nyas.org.
Meet the Panelists
Join us for a dynamic conversation with a panel of expert speakers at the intersection of private equity and scientific research.
These leaders bring deep insight from both the financial and research sectors, offering a rare look into how capital investment is shaping the future of science and innovation.
RAVI KUMAR
CEO, Cognizant
DR. JIANYING HU
Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences Research, IBM
SERIES MODERATOR
JOSH LERNER
The Jacob H. Schiff Professor, Harvard Business School; Director, Private Capital Research Institute
MAYA FRUTIGER
Minnow Venture Partners
DANIEL FEDER, CFA
Senior Managing Director of Investments at University of Michigan
Sponsored by
A special thanks to our Series Sponsor, Ropes & Gray.
About the Presenters
The New York Academy of Sciences is a non-profit organization that drives innovative solutions to society’s challenges by advancing scientific research, education, and policy.
Since its inception in 1817, the Academy has played a critical role in shaping public discourse around science by providing an inclusive forum for the exchange of ideas, where those from multiple disciplines and perspectives all have a seat at the table.
The Private Capital Research Institute (PCRI) is a non-profit organization that seeks to further the understanding of private capital and its impact through independent academic studies.
PCRI’s primary goal is to produce and disseminate high quality academic research, based in large part on the comprehensive academic databases of private capital activity that the PCRI is building.