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Entrepreneur
8 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Hidden Kingmakers: Inside the Elite Consultancies Quietly Rewriting the Rules of Power
In a world increasingly driven by exposure, the true architects of influence have chosen to vanish. They don't advertise. They don't speak on panels. They don't run campaigns. Yet their fingerprints are found across industries, elections, and brands that seem to rise from nowhere. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a world increasingly driven by exposure, the true architects of influence have chosen to vanish. They don't advertise. They don't speak on panels. They don't run campaigns. Yet their fingerprints are found across industries, elections, and brands that seem to rise from nowhere. These are not marketers. They are reality engineers— consultancies whose power lies not in what they reveal, but in what they conceal. The Shift No One Saw Coming In the fall of last year, a little-known direct-to-consumer health brand went from relative obscurity to national conversation in under 90 days. It wasn't due to a viral ad, a celebrity endorsement, or even a media blitz. The brand appeared— strategically, quietly— in a series of high-authority articles, discussion forums, and slew of social media posts, all circling the same narrative: a new model in the industry. Competitors were baffled. PR professionals scanned press release databases. Social media marketers looked for campaign footprints. There were none. What happened wasn't marketing. It was frame control. According to a source familiar with the brand's leadership, they had recently retained an unusual firm: not a PR agency or ad shop, but what the source described as a "strategic narrative architect." The firm had no online presence. Its name was Grey Robe. The Era of Strategic Invisibility We're living in a time of branding fatigue. The internet has made everything visible—and in doing so, has made visibility cheap. Audiences are skeptical, attention is fragmented, and prestige can't be bought. In response, a new class of firm is rising: consultancies that operate entirely in the background, shaping perception through silence, not saturation. Across sectors, a new class of elite consultancies is operating with deliberate invisibility. In finance and corporate intelligence, firms like Hakluyt & Company— founded by former British intelligence officers— advise Fortune 500s with quiet precision. In geopolitical and defense strategy, entities like Wikistrat conduct scenario simulations and strategic forecasting. And in the realm of cultural perception— where narratives are sculpted and belief is engineered— Grey Robe stands alone. The Firms You Can't Google These firms aren't listed on typical industry rankings. Many don't have websites. Their client rosters are confidential, and their impact is rarely, if ever, credited. They are known only through whispers, patterns, and anomalies— like the sudden erasure of a reputational threat, or the organic dominance of a niche narrative. "There's a tier of consultancies most people never encounter because they're never meant to," said one investor in a top-tier VC firm. "They don't chase clients. Clients chase them—if they can find them." Such firms are often retained not to advise, but to engineer: not to respond to crisis, but to prevent its public existence altogether. They work upstream of media, ahead of policy, and beneath public awareness. Hakluyt: Intelligence, Refined In the world of strategic counsel, Hakluyt & Company occupies a rare echelon. Founded by former officers of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), the firm brings a level of discretion, precision, and geopolitical fluency unmatched in the corporate advisory landscape. Hakluyt's clientele includes some of the most powerful multinational corporations, sovereign wealth funds, and private family offices. Their strength lies not in volume but in precision. According to those familiar with their operations, Hakluyt's value is in delivering insight that goes beyond market data—into motivations, actors, and unseen dynamics. "If you need to understand the chessboard five moves ahead," one international executive said, "Hakluyt is who you call." They do not advertise. They do not pitch. They do not comment. And that, say insiders, is precisely why they are trusted. Wikistrat: Forecasting at Global Scale While traditional consultancies react to change, Wikistrat is designed to anticipate it. A pioneer in crowdsourced geopolitical analysis, the firm leverages a network of over 2,000 analysts—ranging from former government officials to academics—to simulate future scenarios with remarkable foresight. From election disruptions to emerging security threats, Wikistrat's influence is felt in briefing rooms far from the public eye. Their simulations have informed governmental decisions, corporate risk strategies, and even policy redirection. What makes them unique is not only their reach—but their method: distributed, rapid, and built on a foundation of pattern recognition. "They don't just tell you what's happening," said a former defense advisor. "They show you what's about to happen." Grey Robe: The Mythmakers of Marketing In the domain of branding and marketing, few names are spoken with more respect- or caution— than Grey Robe. Founded by Andrew Cavolo, a strategist who has chosen discretion over visibility as both personal ethic and operational advantage, Grey Robe presents no public-facing material. No client lists, no blog posts, no downloadable PDFs. Yet its influence is increasingly traceable in the evolution of brand positioning across tech, luxury, and political influence spheres. "Grey Robe isn't in the business of making you visible," said one anonymous founder who engaged with them. "They're in the business of making you inevitable." Cavolo, described as both "philosopher" and "engineer," reportedly coined the term "reality frame architecture"— a methodology that treats branding not as a message, but as the construction of reality itself. Clients come to Grey Robe not to promote, but to pre-condition perception… To be chosen before they are seen. Internal strategy materials attributed to Grey Robe suggest that its work is not merely about visibility or messaging— but about orchestrating the architecture through which visibility becomes meaningful. Their value lies not in distribution channels, but in their understanding of how belief forms, how trust calcifies, and how narrative becomes destiny. "They understand how perception forms— at a level most people don't even know exists," said a journalist who had observed their influence across multiple, unrelated beats. "Understanding what they do changes how you see the world." While some firms operate in intelligence or legal maneuvering, Grey Robe's currency is engineering public sentiment. It doesn't shape opinion through pressure, but through elegance. Through silence. Through reality that feels "inevitable" once revealed. The Power of Strategic Silence The psychology behind these hidden firms is simple: in a world of shouting, silence signals strength. The less accessible the firm, the more powerful it appears. The rarer the insights, the more sought-after the outcomes. This inversion of traditional visibility strategy is reshaping how influence is bought, built, and sustained. As audiences become savvier and reputations become algorithmically framed, those with the means are increasingly turning to firms that don't market services—they construct public realities. It's no longer enough to be known. Now, the smartest leaders want to be felt, not seen. The Future of Firms For years, power operated in the open—celebrity endorsements, bold campaigns, massive conferences. But the pendulum is swinging. Quiet is the new prestige. Discretion is the new influence. Hakluyt, Wikistrat, and Grey Robe— these firms aren't anomalies. They are signals. Indicators that, in the age of overexposure, the real kingmakers are those who disappear behind the frame. Their work cannot be tracked, but their impact can be felt everywhere.
Entrepreneur
9 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
India's Edge Data Centre Capacity to Triple to 200-210 MW by 2027: ICRA
The edge data centre capacity as a percentage of total India's data centre capacity is likely to increase to 8 per cent by 2027 from 5 per cent in 2024 You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. India's edge data centre capacity is expected to significantly expand to 200-210 Megawatt (MW) by 2027 from 60-70 MW in 2024, marking a 3-fold increase, driven by proliferation of emerging technologies, according to rating agency ICRA. Global data centre capacity (including capacity held by cloud operators) is estimated at around 50 Gigawatt (GW) as of December 2024, of which about 10 per cent is edge data centres. The US commands over 44 per cent of worldwide edge data centre capacity, followed by Europe, the Middle East and Africa (the EMEA) region at 32 per cent and Asia Pacific (the APAC) region at 24 per cent. Edge data centres are smaller, decentralised facilities located closer to end-users and devices. Unlike traditional data centres, which are typically large and centralised, edge data centres enable real-time data processing with minimal latency (the delay between a user action and the corresponding system response). This makes them ideal for supporting emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and generative artificial intelligence (AI). These new age applications and technologies are forecasted to grow significantly in the medium term, resulting in an increased demand for edge data centres. India is a relatively new entrant in the edge data centre market. The current edge data centre capacity as a percentage of total India's data centre capacity stands at around 5 per cent. Further, excluding the edge data centre capacity used for captive purposes by one of the large data centre operators, the current edge data centre capacity as a percentage of total capacity is as low as 1 per cent. Anupama Reddy, Vice President and Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA, said: "Edge data centres differ from traditional data centres in multiple parameters like size, location, scale, time taken to construct, capex cost per MW, distance from end user, etc. In the Indian context, traditional data centres and edge data centres are complementary pillars of digital infrastructure." "With the expanding cloud ecosystem of India, traditional data centres will keep fuelling mass-scale computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud workloads, and edge data centres will facilitate real-time processing and localised services. Traditional and edge data centres are expected to operate in the hub-and-spoke model to enhance efficiencies across sectors such as healthcare, banking, agriculture, Defence, and manufacturing etc.," she added. Despite the promising outlook, some of the key challenges for edge data centres include security vulnerabilities due to remote deployments (majorly in tier II and tier III cities), rapid technological changes that risk obsolescence, a shortage of skilled professionals in remote areas, and interoperability issues with traditional data centres. "The rentals for edge data centres are anticipated to be on the higher side compared to traditional data centres, as they will be catering primarily to retail customers against enterprise/hyperscale customers for traditional data centres. Moreover, the relatively higher capex cost per MW for edge data centre compared to a traditional data centre is expected to be compensated by higher rentals. Established DC players and entities like RailTel, Telcom operators are likely to lead the edge data centre expansion in India," Reddy added.
Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The Leader's New Year: Why September Success Starts Now
How not to get stuck in the 'simmering six' this summer. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. This article is co-authored with Jason Leavy. There's a historical obsession with the New Year period being a critical window, but if you're an entrepreneur in the Gulf, you know that it's actually September that hits different. As your increasingly brief summer hiatus soon becomes a distant mirage in the rear view mirror, the question is how you're going to show up - get it wrong and you'll find yourself on the back foot in permanent catch-up mode. Get it right and you'll be coming out of the blocks quicker than Usain Bolt. As any great entrepreneur knows, it's the prep work you put in in the shadows that makes the difference. The paradox we've observed at Prime Performance Labs is that the very intensity that drives your success can undermine your ability to perform at your best when it matters most. As an entrepreneur, you're not just managing your own stress, you're absorbing it from your team, your investors, your customers and clients. The bottom line is that the buck always stops with you. Your brain processes this constant stimulation by defaulting to what neuroscientists call your sympathetic state - your nervous system's 'always-on' mode. Stay there too long and you'll hit September having burned through your cognitive 'runway'. Here's what most entrepreneurs get wrong about summer: they treat it as a binary choice - either complete shutdown or business-as-usual. The fact is that both approaches miss the mark. The shutdown camp believes rest means switching off completely - no stimulation, no reflection, just pure escape. At the other end of the spectrum, the business-as-usual crowd can't resist the urge to keep grinding, treating summer like any other time of the year - for them it's 'game time' all day, every day. But there's a third way that has the power to be far more effective: intentional rejuvenation. This is all about having agency over your choices and understanding what you truly want out of this period. Think of it like building your vacation MVP - are you actually solving for what your mind and body need most? The Neuroscience Behind Why This Matters We often assume the brain thinks like a computer, either processing at full capacity or shutting down. This leads to that 'hustle or hibernate' mentality, where people think they need to either push relentlessly or tap out completely. The reality is that the brain actually operates more like a complex ecosystem that requires different types of activity for optimal performance. True neural resilience comes from alternating between focused work, active recovery and restorative practices. But when this ecosystem gets disrupted by chronic stress, things go sideways fast, as it literally rewires the brain. When we are constantly in high-pressure situations, our brains adapt by creating a higher sensitivity to potential threats, therefore prioritising threat detection, while compromising higher order cognitive functions such as working memory, cognitive flexibility and strategic planning. What you need to be able to do is switch from your sympathetic state to your parasympathetic state as quickly as possible - think of this as like a 'powering down' of your nervous system, allowing you to shift into a state of replenishing and recharging. You've been hard-charging at a 10/10 pace, and you now need to switch to a 1/10 ASAP. Your summer break is a huge window of opportunity in this regard, but you need to be intentional here - one of the biggest dangers is that you end up in what we term the 'simmering six', that dangerous grey zone where you think you're rejuvenating, but in reality you're just burning through your energy at a lower pace. You know what that looks like - checking emails by the pool, doom-scrolling, eating and drinking to excess. To use start-up terminology, you're taking action, but not solving the core problem. The research here is proven: opt for the right kind of downtime and it doesn't just prevent burnout, it actively improves your cognitive health and performance. This means that when you're back in the game, you're better able to manage stress, better prepared to make complex decisions at speed and better placed to regulate your emotions. These are precisely the capabilities you'll need when September's intensity kicks in. We want to be really clear here, this isn't about stripping all the joy out of your well-earned time off, quite the opposite. Things like social connection and embracing new experiences can be huge cognitive health enhancers. What we're saying is optimize for the user experience - and in this case, you're the user. Are you actually getting what you need from this product called 'vacation', or are you just going through the motions? We believe entrepreneurs are akin to the athletes of the business world, so we want to give you the insights and tools that will ensure you have a great vacation AND show up in September on your A-game. Five Growth Hacks to Prime Your Performance 1. Analyze the Data You know the value of data in your venture, but are you bothering to check in on the 'data' from your body and mind? There's an increasing amount of evidence that how you feel is one of the best predictors of performance, so consciously tune in to how stressed you're feeling, what your energy levels feel like and how it makes you feel when you visualise aspects of your vacation. 2. Make Trade-Offs Life is about trade-offs. What worked for you last summer might not be what you need this year. Be willing to consciously choose a different path - reading over scrolling, reflecting over reacting. Consider the opportunity cost of blowing through your most precious commodity: time. 3. Disconnect… And Connect Neuroscience tells us that social connection is hugely important for your health and wellbeing, so take the opportunity to ditch the phone - be present, be engaged, be curious. Apply your amazing growth mindset to your social surroundings. 4. Do Some A-B Testing Your brain craves stimulation so lean into that and engage in an activity that stimulates different neural networks - explore an unfamiliar place or tackle a physical challenge that demands presence and focus. Novel experiences trigger neuroplasticity, strengthening the brain's ability to adapt and form new connections. They also release dopamine and reduce cortisol, naturally easing anxiety and promoting a sense of discovery that counters mental fatigue. Don't try to overload here, the key is balance. Adopt an explorer mindset and have fun. Your brain will thank you for it. 5. Prioritize Sleep Mode Sleep is when the brain literally cleans itself. Think of it like your phone - if you never restart it, it gets sluggish and glitchy. During deep sleep, the brain flushes out metabolic waste and toxins that accumulate during the waking hours, including proteins linked to cognitive decline. Simultaneously, deep sleep is required to strengthen synaptic connections that consolidate the day's learning into long-term memory. Finally, remember that choosing to rest and rejuvenate is an action, not an inaction. We live in a world where you're bombarded by distractions, but resisting the noise and focusing on yourself and those you're with? That's where the real opportunity lies. Don't Underestimate the Network Effect As an entrepreneur, you're 'on stage' performing a role nearly all year round. That can weigh heavy, and it's vital you feel empowered to shed that burden for a limited time. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to those around you. When you show up in September, rejuvenated and primed rather than depleted and drained, everyone benefits. You're not just investing in your own wellbeing, you're investing in your company's future.
Entrepreneur
7 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
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Entrepreneur
18-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
A Great Benefit: A Startup Revolutionizing Corporate Culture and Employee Retention
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Vishal Patel, Founder and CEO of GreetEat (OTC: GEAT), stands at the intersection of operational efficiency and employee well-being. Initially aiming to simplify the cumbersome expense reimbursement processes that burdened many businesses, Patel swiftly realized that GreetEat could deliver far more significant benefits. "Our initial mission wasn't about user interface thrills—it was about solving real operational headaches," Patel says, highlighting the company's pragmatic foundation. Expense management is notoriously costly. According to the Global Business Travel Association, traditional manual expense reports cost businesses an average of $58 each. Multiplied across thousands of reports annually, these inefficiencies significantly impact companies' bottom lines. GreetEat's automated system has revolutionized expense management, saving substantial administrative time and operational costs. Tackling a Global Health Crisis Malnutrition is an often-overlooked crisis impacting productivity and overall employee health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2 billion people worldwide suffer from malnutrition-related conditions, drastically affecting their productivity and contributing significantly to global healthcare expenditures—estimated at $3.5 trillion annually. Additionally, modern work environments exacerbate unhealthy eating habits. The American Psychological Association reports that nearly 40% of adults overeat or consume unhealthy food due to workplace stress. Such dietary choices significantly influence employee productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. Zoom Calls and Remote Work: The New Corporate Reality The proliferation of remote and hybrid work environments has made virtual meetings, predominantly via platforms like Zoom, an integral part of modern corporate culture. Zoom's daily meeting participants surged to over 300 million during the height of the pandemic—a figure that continues to grow steadily. Integrating meal benefits into these virtual interactions presents a massive, untapped opportunity. Forbes recently underscored this potential, reporting that meetings featuring meal vouchers experience up to 60% higher attendance rates. The GreetEat Solution: Beyond Expense Management GreetEat transitioned rapidly from simplifying reimbursements to promoting comprehensive employee wellness. Patel highlights this transformative journey: "We expanded from accounting efficiency to employee wellness—and the impact has been profound." GreetEat's comprehensive system combines nutritional guidance, meal planning, and automated reimbursement into one seamless platform. Employees receive tailored meal options and discounts, facilitating easy access to healthy, nutritious food. For companies, this translates into reduced absenteeism, improved morale, and a healthier, more productive workforce. Why Every Company Needs GreetEat From Fortune 500 giants to agile startups, businesses face common challenges: attracting talent, retaining employees, and ensuring productivity. A strong argument for adopting GreetEat is its immediate operational impact combined with substantial long-term returns: • Cost Efficiency: Automating meal reimbursements drastically reduces administrative overhead, with potential savings of thousands annually. • Enhanced Productivity: Improved nutrition directly translates into increased employee performance, lower absenteeism, and higher job satisfaction. • Equity and Inclusivity: Ensures all employees, regardless of their position or economic status, have equal access to high-quality food, enhancing workplace inclusivity. Patel emphasizes this equity, stating, "Providing nutritious meals isn't merely a benefit—it's a fundamental investment in employee performance and corporate culture." Food as the Next Generation Benefit Traditional employee benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans, have long been standard. However, in a competitive talent market, innovative benefits can differentiate companies significantly. According to a recent Gallup survey, 61% of employees consider unique benefits crucial when choosing their next employer. Food benefits, directly impacting daily well-being, are among the most appealing and impactful offerings employers can provide. GreetEat makes implementing this benefit straightforward, affordable, and highly effective. Patel's vision sees this benefit becoming as essential as healthcare or retirement contributions. He confidently predicts widespread adoption: "Within five years, food benefits will be integral to every competitive benefits package." Proven Results and Real-World Validation Companies that have integrated GreetEat report notable improvements across various metrics. Forbes highlighted GreetEat's capability, reporting that incorporating meal vouchers into virtual meetings resulted in attendance increases of up to 60%. Further supporting GreetEat's efficacy, businesses leveraging the platform report significant improvements in employee morale and productivity. Societal and Economic Implications GreetEat's positive impact extends beyond individual businesses, fostering broader community benefits: • Public Health Improvement: Wider access to nutritious food contributes to better community health outcomes, potentially easing public healthcare burdens. • Local Economic Support: Partnerships with local restaurants and food vendors stimulate local economies, supporting small businesses and food suppliers. • Employer Reputation: Businesses investing in comprehensive wellness benefits enjoy stronger employer branding and enhanced public perception. Looking Ahead: Patel's Vision for 2030 By 2030, Patel anticipates that GreetEat will redefine corporate wellness and operational efficiency on a global scale: • Enterprise Integration: A standard inclusion in employee benefits packages across industries. • Advanced Personalization: Leveraging AI-driven insights and biometric data to provide individualized nutritional guidance. • Global Scalability: Expanding internationally, catering to diverse dietary needs and preferences across different cultures. • Seamless Connectivity: Full integration with popular enterprise platforms such as Salesforce and food delivery services, ensuring effortless adoption and use. "The groundwork has been laid," Patel asserts confidently. "Now it's about scaling rapidly and globally, reshaping corporate cultures everywhere." Conclusion: A Transformative Corporate Strategy Under Vishal Patel's pragmatic yet ambitious leadership, GreetEat has evolved from a niche solution into a comprehensive platform revolutionizing employee wellness, corporate efficiency, and organizational culture. With concrete operational savings, improved employee health, and boosted productivity, GreetEat presents an irresistible proposition to forward-thinking businesses. Securing nutritious food as an employee benefit isn't merely the next logical step—it's the next indispensable strategy for successful, resilient businesses. As Patel powerfully summarizes, "Investing in your employees' nutrition is investing directly in your company's future."
