Over the past six months, I’ve been spending a lot of time with a team that genuinely surprised me. Not because they’re smart investors—that part is expected—but because of how they think, what drives them, and how seriously they take the idea of building something that actually matters. It made me reflect on why I’m still doing what I’m doing.

This didn’t start six months ago

My journey in this space goes back a long way. More than ten years ago, I was already trying to help telcos work with startups—building early corporate accelerator programs and trying, often unsuccessfully, to bring structure to innovation. Some of that worked. A lot of it didn’t.

Then in 2019, just before COVID, we announced the first CPaaS Acceleration Alliance meetup. That was the real starting point of what would become CPaaSAA—bringing people together around a simple belief: we can do better as an industry. Better at connecting innovation and operators, better at turning ideas into outcomes, and better at actually moving things forward.

Six or seven years later, we’re still at it. And in many ways, it feels like things are coming full circle.

Working with a different kind of team

Over the last months, I’ve been working closely with the Sandbox team. What stood out immediately is that they don’t fit the typical VC stereotype. They’re not chasing hype, not optimizing for headlines, and not driven purely by the next deal. They’re grounded, thoughtful, and focused on outcomes.

Of course, returns matter. But there’s something else behind it: a genuine interest in solving hard problems, in complex industries, in a way that actually works. That’s rare.

Seeing our industry through fresh eyes

We’ve taken them into our world—telco events, CPaaS discussions, industry conversations—and their reaction was refreshingly honest. They saw the echo chambers, the repetition of the same narratives, and the gap between innovation talk and execution. But they also saw what I’ve always seen: underneath all of that, this is one of the most important industries in the world.

Why this space matters

Telecommunications is not just infrastructure. It’s how people interact, how businesses operate, and how trust is built—or lost. With AI accelerating everything, that role is only becoming more important. Communication, and how we design it, will sit at the center of what comes next. And that comes with responsibility.

More than technology

We spend a lot of time talking about technology in this industry—APIs, AI, platforms, networks—but not enough about purpose. The impact is becoming impossible to ignore: how AI interacts with people, how identity and trust are managed, and how communication is used—or abused at scale.

There is a positive side to all of this, and there is a darker side too. We’re already seeing the first signs of pushback. Which is why innovation alone is not enough. We need intentional innovation.

Why this combination makes sense

Sandbox comes from industries like healthcare and insurance—complex, regulated, and critical. They’ve helped build real ecosystems, such as the Blue Venture Fund, where 35 Blue Cross Blue Shield companies committed over $1.2 billion across multiple funds. That’s not just capital. That’s structure, alignment, and long-term thinking.

When I look at what they bring, and what we’ve been building with CPaaSAA, the combination makes sense. We bring the ecosystem and the understanding of where innovation actually happens in communications. They bring experience in structuring and scaling innovation in complex environments. Together, it starts to look more deliberate.

What’s becoming clear

What’s been most encouraging is not just the work within this group, but the signal from the industry. Across telcos, CPaaS players, and partners, we keep hearing the same thing: there is a need for something more structured, a better way to connect innovators and operators, and a more deliberate approach to building what comes next. Importantly, there is a willingness to engage.

That matters. Because it tells me this is not just an idea. It’s something the market is ready for.

Why I’m still doing this

This is not the easiest path. It takes time, energy, and often comes without immediate return. But it’s close to my heart, and it always has been.

Over time, I’ve noticed that the different things I’m working on—CPaaSAA, advising telcos and startups, working with partners like Intel on sovereignty and AI—all point in the same direction. Helping companies grow, helping ideas scale, and connecting innovation with real-world impact.

Because in the end, it’s the same challenge: how do you make something actually work in the real world, especially in industries that are complex and slow to change? That’s where I see my role.

Purpose

I believe we have a responsibility here. Not just to build companies or create value, but to shape how this industry evolves.

I have kids. Grandkids. And when I look at where technology is going, it’s clear that what we do now will have long-term consequences.

So yes, this is about innovation. But it’s also about purpose. Not in a big, abstract way, but in doing our part—contributing where we can and trying to make the outcome a little better.

Looking ahead

What we’re building is still taking shape, but the direction is clear. More structure, more alignment, more intent. Connecting founders, operators, and investors in a way that actually works—not as a side project or a one-off, but as something that lasts.

Final thought

Sometimes the most important signal isn’t in the strategy or the numbers. It’s in the people you work with, and the feeling that what you’re building actually matters. That’s what I’ve felt over the last months—and that’s why I’m excited about what comes next.