Investment in AI has fundamentally shifted from vision-driven narratives to operational proof, as our Founding Partner, Patrice Mesnier, recently discussed with Forbes contributor Charles Towers-Clark.
Two years ago, impressive demos could secure funding, but today, investors are demanding evidence of real operational value. As Patrice explains, at Oldenburg, we focus on how AI is actually used in production, real customer dependency and how sticky the product is – especially if pricing changes.
True defensibility emerges when AI becomes embedded in compliance, payments, or logistics systems where replacement is risky and costly.
Read the full article here:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/charlestowersclark/2026/02/19/what-makes-ai-companies-worth-investing-in-today/
Quotes from Oldenburg
"When AI is embedded into compliance, payments, logistics or decision systems, replacement becomes risky and costly. That is where real defensibility emerges.”
"Infrastructure phases always look expensive before they look obvious. The mistake is not investing too early. It is assuming everyone investing early will survive.” AI is not disappearing, but capital is becoming far more selective about which AI companies to support.
— Patrice Mesnier, Founding Partner