Status (and the grass tax)

Status shows up whenever humans do, and it is the invisible underpinning of our culture. The front lawn was only invented around the time of Columbus. The idea was to demonstrate that you had time and money to waste. You could take useful land and make it non-productive. You could take labor and put it…

Transparency as Strategy: How Kazakhstan’s Venture Funds Are Stepping onto the Global Stage | The Startup Magazine

A new generation of Kazakhstani investors is choosing transparency, legal maturity, and global competitiveness — and not just in words, but in practice. According to data from RISE Research, venture investment in Kazakhstan reached $71 million in 2024. More than 200 projects with roots in Central Asia are now operating abroad — and local funds…