Insights
Cultural capital is more valuable than financial capital, but Wall Street still counts with crayons
Content properties worth billions while similar audience metrics get zero funding because finance bros don't speak human
The real problem isn't that culture doesn't create value - it's that accountants are still using tools from the Eisenhower administration
Full Recap
Bavette's mahogany-paneled dining room was the perfect spot for twelve operators to completely lose their minds about money versus meaning.
Former streaming platform exec dropped this bomb: "Cultural metrics are becoming more valuable than traditional financial KPIs, but try explaining that to a spreadsheet."
Venture partner across the table wasn't having it. Started throwing around revenue multiples in the entertainment space like he was at a baseball card convention.
Then gallery owner jumps in with the real talk: "We're still using accounting methods from 1950 to measure assets that didn't exist until 2010. That's like using a sundial to time a NASCAR race."
The room went silent because everyone recognized their own horror story in that statement.
Entertainment lawyer who reps people you've definitely heard of shared the evening's knockout punch: major acquisition almost fell through because financial team couldn't model the value of "creative relationships."
What the hell is a creative relationship worth? Apparently everything, but good luck putting that in Excel.
By dessert time, contact information was flying around like confetti and at least two potential partnerships got sketched on napkins because that's what happens when you put the right brains in the same room.
Your Seat at the Table
These insights came from a single conversation. Imagine the opportunities that emerge when you're in the room.
If you're a leader building at the intersection of culture and capital, we invite you to be considered for a future dinner.