The new hybrid work model: Flexetariats + ADQ’s Further Ventures is piling into tech investments
Meet the Flexetariat: Empowered employees with flexibility at core of their working identity. The pandemic has caused people to reevaluate their priorities, with work-life balance and well-being now standing at the top of employees’ list of priorities, nearly in line with pay, according to a 2022 Gallup survey. Major trends that have changed assumptions about the manner in which we go about working, include an increased demand for flexible work and changing attitudes about the daily commute, according to Bloomberg.
Demand for flexible working has soared, giving rise to various four-day workweek trials across the world and hybrid models. If given the chance to work flexibility, 87% of employees said they would take it, according to McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey. Some in the global business community are staunchly opposed to the idea of working from home, including Elon Musk, who demanded that Tesla employees work from the office. His golden quote on productivity while working from home: “They should pretend to work somewhere else.”
Daily commutes are now seen “as a passion killer for workers.” Employees are increasingly viewing commutes as an unproductive waste of time. In response, several offices are moving closer to where workers reside or are getting rid of excess space that has been freed by an increase in remote work.
ADQ-backed Further Ventures goes deeper in tech: Venture building and investment firm Further Ventures, which is backed by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ, has set up a USD 200 mn fund to invest in early-stage startups, Bloomberg reports, citing a statement. The fund is planning to focus on investments in digital assets, fintech, and supply chain technology. The new venture will provide capital for startups throughout the growth process from pre-seed to market entry.
This is part of a concerted push from ADQ to jump on tech startups: Last month, the sovereign fund announced a partnership between its Abu Dhabi Growth Fund and AI firm G42 to launch a USD 10 bn fund focused on investing in tech in emerging markets. These funds and investments are all part of Abu Dhabi’s drive to diversify its economy.