Can we really make America's manufacturing great again?

Hey friends,

It has been a busy but exciting few weeks. This newsletter continues to grow, and I am currently evaluating a few sponsorship opportunities. If you or your company would like to sponsor a future issue to connect with a diverse, tech savvy, and engaged reader base, feel free to reach out!

If we haven’t met before - hi, my name is Ilona, and I have a lot of opinions. Here’s just a few of them. This newsletter usually arrives in your inbox in Tuesday but as you’re about to see, it’s been quite a busy week!

🏭 From Steel to Sillicon: What Manufacturing Can Teach Us About the Future of Innovation

In both my latest Forbes article on AI-powered proptech and recent investor conversations in New York and Philadelphia, a common thread emerged:

We are applying advanced software to physical systems that were built for a different era. Sometimes it works. Other times, it reveals just how fragile the foundation is.

Take U.S. manufacturing. Nearly half of the country’s 50,000 plants are over 30 years old. Many were built in the 1970s or earlier. After decades of underinvestment, regulatory friction, and slow modernization, factory output has declined by nearly 40% since the 1960s.

Yet investor appetite for industrial tech is growing. Venture funds see the promise of AI, automation, and digital twins to reinvent how physical goods are made and moved. The ambition is high, but the infrastructure is often outdated and under-resourced.

These same tensions came up in meetings last week. One hedge fund manager noted how tariff policy is already reshaping allocation models. A recent Barron’s piece pointed out that retail investor fatigue is setting in. Per the article, “Brain-imaging studies show that monetary losses can activate threat responses in the brain akin to physical danger.”

Yikes.

Three takeaways I am reflecting on:

1. Physical infrastructure must evolve with digital tools. Technology is not a cure-all if core systems are still analog.

2. Macro conditions shape startup momentum. Founders operate in broader ecosystems. Policy, supply chains, and market sentiment matter.

3. Innovation thrives in unexpected overlaps. Some of the most compelling ideas emerge at the intersection of design, behavior, and technology.

☁️ Subscriber exclusive: In my recent Forbes interview, Guy Adam Ailion, co-founder of Mattoboard, shared a personal insight that brings this theme to life:

His journey—from South Africa to London, from tactile design to digital innovation—captures the power of creative reinvention. As software reshapes how we design, manufacture, and build, it also changes how we imagine the future.

🌐 Website Launch + Speaking Gigs

After months of tinkering, I am launching a new personal website soon to bring together my investing, writing, podcasting, and speaking under one roof.

Also, if you are planning an event, conference, or internal offsite—I would love to join as a speaker.

Here are a few topics I cover:

🎤 Fintech and the Future of SMBs
🎤 Emerging Markets Investing
🎤 The Intersection of Storytelling and Venture Capital
🎤 Building an Authentic Personal Brand as a Professional

Just hit reply or DM me on Instagram (@ilonaonthemoney) if you’d like to collaborate.

🎙 Content Recap

This week’s Money Memories is a re-air of one of my favorite episodes: my conversation with Alejandra Lozano, a Financial Wellbeing Coach at Operation HOPE based in South LA.

Alejandra shares how her childhood memories of “la caja de los zapatos” reflect the distrust many communities feel toward financial institutions. Her stories of transformation through HOPE’s programs are powerful reminders of what financial inclusion can look like in practice.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the ribbon cutting at Operation HOPE’s new HOPE Inside center, where I saw firsthand how they provide free financial literacy coaching to individuals and small businesses.

It made me reflect on a different event I attended—Visa’s product showcase—where they introduced new SMB-focused tools designed to scale globally.

Together, these moments captured something full-circle about my work. From community-rooted financial coaching to global fintech infrastructure, I was reminded of the interconnectedness of the ecosystem—and the importance of bridging ground-level realities with big-picture innovation.

A special thank you again to Operation HOPE for inviting me to witness your work in ac

📍 Where I’ll Be

If you are attending any of these upcoming events, let me know. I would love to find time to connect:

• May 21 - 22: I’m moderating a panel on the women’s digital health investment landscape for cardiovascular and neurological solutions, featuring the founders of Aware Health and Soundable Health. If you’re interested, sign up here.

• I’m also exploring attending webSummit in Vancouver (May 27 - 30) and / or Money 20/20 Europe (June 3 - 5). Reach out if you’re attending and interested in partnering.

• June 10: I’m hosting my own networking event for founders and investors in Los Angeles. Sign up here to attend and / or share with a friend.

I am always looking to meet thoughtful founders, fellow investors, and curious readers. Just reply to this email or drop me a DM on IG (@ilonaonthemoney), I’d love to make it happen!

🔗 Other Interesting Reads & Listens

Normally I share links here, but sometimes, a picture really speaks a thousand words. Cal-Maine is the nation’s largest egg producer:

As always, I would love to hear your feedback. Is there something you want to see more (or less) of? Just hit reply and send me your thoughts—or DM me on IG.

Till next week!
💛 Ilona