I'm testing a new format this week for the digest.

Last Week

A new NexusTek Winners Circle podcast landed.

How to Build a Tech Foundation for What’s Next

What does it take to build a technology foundation that can keep up with nonstop change? In this fourth episode of Winners Circle, Jay Cuthrell, Chief Product Officer at NexusTek, explores why cloud, cybersecurity, AI, and data strategy aren’t standalone initiatives—but deeply interdependent layers of a modern digital foundation.
As many organizations struggle with disconnected systems and siloed priorities, Jay explains how to move from IT fragmentation to foundation. He shares his “-ibles” ...

Also, NexusTek continued an award-winning streak.

NexusTek Recognized at No. 114 on CRN's Fast Growth 150 List for 2025

/PRNewswire/ -- NexusTek, a top national cloud, managed IT services, and cybersecurity provider, announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company®,...

This Week

Once again, I'll be traveling and the newsletter daily posts will be done from 37k feet, airports, hotels, etc. ✈️ 💺

Hot Fudge Daily Digest

📈 Markets Monday for 2025-08-04

My first attempt at a screener. I'm not happy with it yet, but it was time to start somewhere:

🔥 Hot Takes Tuesday for 2025-08-05

💰 Funding for AI and quantum computing companies continues to be a trend.

• Reflection AI (AI open-source LLMs): $1B+
• Luma AI (AI video): $1B+
• Runway (AI video): ~$500M
• Clay (AI sales automation): $100M
• Uzum (AI fintech): $65.5M
• Alaan (AI spend management): $48M
• QuamCore (quantum computing): $26M

🤪 Wacky Wednesday for 2025-08-06

🔙 Throwback Thursday for 2025-08-07

Similar to my prior Markets Monday format change, I'm working on a historical format change for Throwback Thursday.

More soon...

✅ Final Thoughts Friday for 2025-08-08

I believe the biggest story this week was electrical power grid resilience and the law within data center friendly states like Texas.

Techmeme: A Texas law enacted in June, inspired by the 2021 winter storm in which 200+ died, lets the state's grid operator cut electricity to data centers in emergencies (Caroline O'Donovan/Washington Post)

By Caroline O'Donovan / Washington Post. View the full context on Techmeme.

In modern data center site selection, the electrical power grid has become increasingly important. However, the ability to self-generate power in the form of on-site generation is becoming essential to operational excellence.

🔮 Sneak Peak Saturday for 2025-08-09

Friday arrives and the bury begins, or was it stage craft with storytelling savvy?

August 8

Techmeme: Sources: the US has started issuing licenses to Nvidia to export H20 chips to China following weeks of inaction, after Jensen Huang met Trump on Wednesday (Financial Times)

From Financial Times. View the full context on Techmeme.

Considering the theatrical notion of so-called backdoors, kill switches, etc. the coverage timing of value chain companies (TSMC, etc.) and the expedient outcome (capitulation?) of export policy logjams — the arguably sudden resolution for NVIDIA interests is a bit on the nose.

To see what I mean, let's start by backing the news truck up a bit by [ checks notes... ] a whole week...

August 7

Techmeme: SoftBank reports Q1 net profit of $2.87B, vs. ~$850M est., boosted by its Nvidia investment, and says Vision Funds had a “late-stage portfolio valued at $45B” (David Keohane/Financial Times)

By David Keohane / Financial Times. View the full context on Techmeme.

August 6

Techmeme: Nvidia says its GPUs do not contain backdoors, kill switches, or spyware, and hard-coded, single-point controls like kill switches undermine trust in US tech (David Reber Jr/NVIDIA)

By David Reber Jr / NVIDIA. View the full context on Techmeme.

August 5

Techmeme: White House OSTP Director Michael Kratsios says the US is exploring software or physical ways to track the location of AI chips, as part of its AI Action Plan (Bloomberg)

From Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.

August 3

Techmeme: Shares of Hong Kong-listed Chinese chipmaker InnoScience closed up 31% on August 1, after Nvidia named the company as a supplier for its 800V HVDC architecture (Felix Tam/Bloomberg)

By Felix Tam / Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.

August 1

Techmeme: Sources: thousands of US export license applications, including for Nvidia's shipments of AI chips to China, are stalled due to US Commerce Department turmoil (Reuters)

From Reuters. View the full context on Techmeme.

#OpenToWork Weekly

I participated in a #NeverSearchAlone #JSC after rebooting Cuthrell Consulting and joining NexusTek.

I added those #OpenToWork from my LinkedIn network to this newsletter. Over time, we've grown an Alumni 🎉 section for those that transitioned to their next career adventure.

Alumni 🎉

• Congrats Kelly Britt 🎉
• Congrats Tamera Rousseau King 🎉
• Congrats Thomas Chatham 🎉
• Congrats Dan Kelleher 🎉
• Congrats Jarrod Weise 🎉
• Congrats Karl Edwards 🎉
• Congrats Paul Lysko 🎉
• Congrats Bob Lima, PMP 🎉
• Congrats Rich Green 🎉
• Congrats Sheri Gearhart 🎉
• Congrats Shianna Maxwell 🎉
• Congrats Richard Arnesen! 🎉

Those in my network that are #OpenToWork:

• Trevor Schulz - 20+ Years in Tech Sales | Loyal, Dedicated, and Ready to Work Today
• Brian Booden - Ranked #1 in the UK for Qlik and DataViz Content
• Elizabeth Quintanilla - Fractional CMO, Digital Marketing Consultant & Coach, Marketing Gunslinger
• Barbara Hadley, EdM, SPHR - Strategic HR Leader | Employee Engagement Expert
• Andrew Webber - Proven Leader | Consumer Product Innovation & Scaling
• Lida Tohidi - Award-Winning Product & Marketing Leader | Startup Advisor
• Nathan Clyker - Strategic Sales & Business Development | IT Solutions Expert
• Gina (Gina Minks) Rosenthal - Global Product Marketing Manager | Technical Content Strategist
• Janel Van Beek - Business Strategist & Master Coach | Leadership & Change Expert
• Greg Phillips - Cloud Platform & Strategic Marketing Leader
• Ricardo Perez - Virtualization Architect | PowerFlex & VxRail Specialist
• Mike Berteletti, CISSP - Experienced IT Professional | Infrastructure & Security
• Chris Mojica - Technical Sales & Solutions Architect
• Matthew Leib - Data Center, Cloud & Storage Architect | Technical Writer & Analyst
• Michael Joffe - Global Technology Leader | P&L Management | SaaS & OEM
• Colleen Coll - Event Technology & Digital Media Specialist | Live Reporting
• Sam Aiello, Ph.D. - Cybersecurity & Technology Strategist | Pre-Sales Leadership