Good morning. You never know what your new hobby may ultimately lead to. In 2016, Kristen Faulkner was a venture capitalist living in New York City who clipped into a bike for the first time at a clinic in Central Park.

On Sunday, Faulkner, who didn’t even technically qualify for the Olympics, pulled off the “upset of a lifetime” and shocked the world by winning the gold medal in the road cycling race. It’s one of the most successful VC exits in years…

THE MUSTS

World

a bit of science for my readers

What do we know about the origin of life?

Dark oxygen isn’t just a great name for a man’s perfume. It’s also what scientists are calling a discovery that could have implications for the critters at the bottom of the ocean and the treasure-seeking, deep-sea mining industry.

In a study published in Nature Geoscience, scientists examined large chunks of minerals called polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean and found they can produce oxygen in total darkness (hence: dark oxygen).

This challenges the long-standing thinking that organisms need light to make oxygen through photosynthesis and could change how scientists view the origin of life.

• Scientists hypothesize that these nodules act as a “geobattery,” emitting electrochemical activity that separates H2O into oxygen and hydrogen.

The human world, it’s a mess: If the study’s findings hold true in further research, it may make the controversial practice of deep-sea mining, which retrieves minerals from the ocean floor (via polymetallic nodules), even more contentious since it could deplete the oxygen source that deep-sea life may depend on. (The study received funding from companies involved in mining.)

But…some see deep-sea mining as necessary since the minerals—mainly iron, manganese, lithium, cobalt, and copper—are crucial for producing green technology like solar panels and EV batteries.

What about the politics?

• UK: The Royal Family's profits as a whole reached US$1.4 billion last year, an increase of almost 150% compared to 2022. (Read)

• Venezuela: In the most hotly contested elections in 25 years, Nicolás Maduro “won” another six years in power with 51.2% of the vote. (Read)

• Europe: Eurozone economy grew by 0.3% in the second quarter, above expectations, despite the German contraction. (Read)

• Portugal: The gold stealer country may become the first European country to have a special visa for Bitcoin investors (at least $50k). (Read)

• Iran: Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh has been assassinated in Iran’s capital, Tehran. (Read)

• Japan: Japanese stocks crash in biggest one-day drop since 1987 affecting the whole market. (Read)

• Singapure: The country has been recrowned with the world's most powerful passport in 2024. Its nationals are now able to visit a record 195 countries visa-free. (Read)

A business called the Olympics

We have officially started the Paris Olympics and for this edition I thought it would be nice to take a look at the games from a business perspective, shall we?

• How do you host an Olympics? In short, the process is long and costly. After countries show interest and go through applications, committee evaluation, candidacy, more evaluation, final presentation, finally a vote by committee members which can take a few rounds. The costs of this stage vary between $50-$100 million, with no guarantee of success.

• Why host an Olympics? In addition to prestige and visibility, the economic reasons range from boosting tourism, creating jobs, developing infrastructure and even pushing the political agenda of those in charge.

• How much does it cost to host an Olympics? Historically, the cost, whether winter or summer, has ranged from $2 billion for the cheapest (Los Angeles - USA in 1984) to $51 billion for the most expensive (Sochi - Russia in 2014). The factor that will most influence the budget is the existing infrastructure. This year, 95% of the games will take place in pre-existing or temporary facilities, greatly reducing development costs.

What about the competitors? The IOC (International Olympic Committee) redistributes 90% of its revenue, meaning that every day the equivalent of over USD 4.2 million is distributed to support athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

The cost of each and every Olympics held to date has exceeded the initial budget - a little due to lack of planning, a little due to corruption and a lot due to the pressure of deadlines which, if not met, in addition to being a global embarrassment, also result in significant fines from the IOC.

What else in on

• Blackrock: Assets managed by BlackRock hit a record $10.65 trillion in the second quarter thanks to rising client asset values and as investors pumped money into the company's exchange-traded funds. (Read)

• Publicis Groupe: Advertising giant has bought Influential, a marketing company that acts as a "middle ground" between advertisers and influencers, for an estimated $500 million. (Read)

• Apple: Sales in India in the last 12 months grew by 33%, generating a record of almost US$ 8 billion in the country and showing how the company has managed to win over Indian customers. (Read)

• Samsung: The company presented its new battery for electric cars with a range of ~1000 km, can be charged in 9 minutes and has a 20-year lifespan. (Read)

• Netflix: Netflix plans to open immersive "Netflix House" shopping complexes in 2025, featuring immersive experiences inspired by popular Netflix franchises like "Bridgerton," "Squid Game," and "Stranger Things." (Read)

Mãeana: Mãeana, the artistic name of Ana Cláudia Lomelino Gonçalves, is a Brazilian singer and songwriter who has emerged as one of the most delightful surprises in recent weeks. Her debut album, Mãeana, released in 2015, features original compositions by two of Brazil's greatest songwriters, Caetano Veloso and Adriana Calcanhotto.

Rather than recommending a specific album, I suggest exploring her music through various playlists that include tracks from both of her albums, as they are equally enchanting. Mãeana's music draws inspiration from tropicalism and femininity, and she has been hailed as a revelation in MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) by numerous Brazilian newspapers.

Despite her primary focus on music, Mãeana incorporates scenic artifice into her performances, offering a broader interpretation of her work. Her blend of quality, aesthetics, and concept represents the best of what Brazil has to offer, I promise you won't regret it.

For those that like Seu Jorge; Caetano Veloso; Joao Gomes; Marisa Monte and Brazilian Music in general. (Rating 9/10)

Hi everyone,

This edition is about something important I haven't had the chance to share yet.

If you know me, you know I hated wearing glasses. Unless you saw me at home or the gym, you likely never saw me with them. I never liked my look with glasses and often felt like I wasn't being myself. Many times, I'd prefer to stay home rather than go out without glasses.

Over the years, my journey with contact lenses also became tricky. Initially, I could wear them for 10-12 hours without issue, but recently, after just three hours, my eyes would feel dry and irritated.

So it is no surprise to anyone that I always wanted to do laser surgery. Since I was fifteen, I'd ask my doctor in Brazil, but I was always told I was too young. When I discovered that ING's private insurance covered the surgery, my desire doubled. One of my dream surgeries, almost for free? I went to the doctor every six months, doing all the tests, but I was never ready.

Finally, after deciding to join Fever, it was my last shot. The stars aligned, and one week later, I received the call: “You are ready”.

My health insurance covered until May 31st, so I scheduled the surgery for May 30th. It was three days of hell with my eyes burning constantly, even in the complete darkness. But after that, it improved significantly, and after a week, the pain was gone. My vision isn't perfect yet, and there's still some recovery to be done, but I'm getting there, and glasses are now a thing of the past.

During my teenage years, people often said, "Micael, just accept that you need to wear glasses. Period." Well, I never accepted. Period. - It might not be the right way to handle life for everyone, but it was my way, and I couldn't be happier that weight is gone now.

With love,

Micael.

P.S.: A huge thanks to my good friend Enzo, who took care of me during those three days, keeping me company, cooking, and listening to my many complaints. I would be lost without you.

Subscribe to Tanamesa for your regular fix of content, entertainment, and my life. Our mission is bring everything you need to know about the most important things happening worldwide, with exclusive recommendations curated by the editor-in-chief.

Take it easy: It lands in your inbox only every second Thursday. And just like me, it is not only free but also kind of addictive.