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Good morning. This week is about turning the unexpected into an unfair advantage. We’re breaking down how to turn disaster readiness into a profit strategy, why this week’s inflation data could force your next pricing move, and what a new U.S. and China AI chip deal means for your margins.
Plus, you’ll discover where startup money is flowing right now and how to position yourself to catch it. Let’s get into the moves that matter.
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BUSINESS PULSE
Economy: U.S. stocks dipped as markets hold tight ahead of inflation data. Investors are cautious, awaiting Tuesday’s key CPI report. July inflation is expected at 2.8% year-over-year, up from June’s 2.7%. Small businesses are already feeling the heat, facing supplier-driven price increases up to 30%, especially on imported goods.
Source: AP News
AI: Nvidia and AMD agreed to hand over 15% of their AI chip revenue from China to the U.S. government under a rare export licensing deal.
Source: Financial Times
Startups: TechCrunch reports that ex-OpenAI executives just raised $200M at a $1B valuation for a materials-science AI startup backed by a16z.
Source: TFN
DISASTER GAINS
Stop Surviving. Start Growing During Disasters.
Most owners treat disaster prep like a fire drill they hope to avoid.
But here’s the blunt truth: the companies that grow fastest in the next decade will be the ones that stay open when the rest of the market goes dark.
Wildfires in California, hurricanes in Florida and the Gulf, tornadoes in the Midwest means disasters are no longer seasonal. They’re constant. NOAA expects another above-average hurricane season this year, and insured losses from extreme weather have already crossed $100 billion annually worldwide. If you’re waiting for a “normal year” to come back, you’ll be waiting forever.
The smart operators are done playing defense. They’re turning resilience into a growth engine.
Why resilience pays like a growth investment
When disaster hits, demand doesn’t disappear, it shifts. If you’re the last one standing, you win market share overnight. HVAC companies in Florida after Hurricane Milton didn’t just keep their old customers; they picked up everyone their competitors couldn’t serve.
Reliability also commands a premium. B2B buyers and critical-need customers will pay more for guaranteed delivery when the rest of the market is scrambling.
Prepared businesses also keep their people. If you can keep paying salaries, protect staff, and give them the tools to work from anywhere, you’re not just avoiding turnover, you’re becoming a talent magnet.
And resilience doesn’t just impress customers and employees. It’s a selling point with insurers, lenders, and procurement teams. Many enterprise and government contracts now require continuity plans before they’ll sign.
Practical ways to turn resilience into growth
Audit your weak spots
List every way your operations could fail for a week. Power, data, supply chain, staffing, cash flow. Fix the easiest risks first.Build redundancies that sell
Backup servers, generators, or supplier agreements aren’t just safety nets. They’re features you can advertise to customers.Secure continuity funding now
SBA disaster loans, R4R grants, and mitigation credits can fund upgrades without draining your working capital.Buy disaster recovery insurance
While this type of coverage pays quick recovery cash when your home is damaged in a disaster, many business operate near or from the home.
Train for the “first 48”
Have a playbook for the first two days after a disruption. Who calls customers? How do you reroute orders? How do you keep cash moving?Turn your plan into a pitch
Share your preparedness publicly. It’s not bragging. Instead it’s proof you’re a safe bet.
The mindset shift
Disaster planning isn’t a sunk cost. It’s an acquisition strategy, a retention tool, and a brand moat.
The next time your competitors scramble, you’ll be open, shipping, and taking their calls. That’s not luck. That’s resilience and it’s the most underrated growth lever you have right now.
Step | Action | Growth Payoff |
Audit Your Weak Spots | Identify operational vulnerabilities: power, supply chain, data, staffing, cash flow. Fix the easiest first. | Prevents prolonged downtime, keeps revenue steady. |
Build Redundancies That Sell | Invest in backups—generators, secondary suppliers, cloud storage—and position them as customer benefits. | Attracts customers seeking reliability; commands premium pricing. |
Secure Continuity Funding | Use SBA loans, R4R grants, and mitigation credits to upgrade without draining cash. | Expands capabilities without heavy capital strain. |
Train for the First 48 | Create a 48-hour disaster playbook: customer communication, order rerouting, cash flow management. | Keeps operations moving while competitors scramble. |
Turn Your Plan Into a Pitch | Publicly share your readiness to build trust with customers, partners, and investors. | Differentiates brand and wins contracts requiring continuity plans. |
RIVET RECOMMENDS
From Italy to a Nasdaq Reservation
How do you follow record-setting success? Get stronger. Take Pacaso. Their real estate co-ownership tech set records in Paris and London in 2024. No surprise. Coldwell Banker says 40% of wealthy Americans plan to buy abroad within a year. So adding 10+ new international destinations, including three in Italy, is big. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.
Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.