#25 From Cost Center to Catalyst: Rethinking Infrastructure Investment

John Cowan is the founder of Next Wave Partners, a venture studio and investment fund redefining early-stage capital through founder-aligned financing structures. He is the author of Venture Capital 2.0, a widely circulated critique of the legacy VC model and a blueprint for building startups in the post–power law era. 

Next Wave developed the Safer—a hybrid investment instrument that prioritizes revenue-based returns and long-term alignment—offering founders capital without control loss, and investors access to a perpetual fund unconstrained by traditional VC timelines. 

Our conversation dives into why Wall Street and Silicon Valley often overlook infrastructure, where new sources of capital could emerge, and how to ensure that investments unlock the right opportunities for AI, smart cities, and autonomous systems. We examine different modes of investment—from patient capital to community-driven models—and consider how smart city and autonomy initiatives highlight the diversity of funding approaches. 

Moderator:  
Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Committee Chair 

Guest: 

John Cowan, founder of Next Wave Partners and author of “Venture Capital 2.0” 

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Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a global, non-profit, professional association of individuals connected and empowered to build a greater digital future for all. 

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