David Blivin: Crossing the Cactus and Growing Innovation Outside Silicon Valley

The Authority Company · Oct 8, 2025 · 47m

Joe Pardavila sits down with David C. Blivin, Founder and Managing Director of Cottonwood Technology Funds and author of Crossing the Cactus: A Blueprint for Tech Commercialization Success Outside Silicon Valley.With over 30 years of experience investing in hard science startups, David shares why breakthrough ideas don’t only come from Silicon Valley, and how communities across the U.S. and Europe can keep innovation, jobs, and economic growth close to home.Dave also explains how his approach flips the script from “money follows management” to “management follows money,” and why workforce…