Building AI-native platforms for the physical economy.
Global Innovation Institute builds and scales AI-operated businesses across restaurants, retail, services, and real assets—where AI becomes the core decision-making layer.
The largest AI opportunity may be in the real world.
Restaurants, retail, services, and real assets represent massive, fragmented markets. Many are built on repeatable, multi-unit models—exactly the kind of architecture AI can scale.
The Problem
Physical businesses are often managed through disconnected systems, manual decisions, and limited real-time visibility. As locations grow, complexity compounds.
- Fragmented operating and financial systems
- Limited real-time P&L visibility
- Labor-intensive workflows under margin pressure
- Difficulty scaling consistent execution across units
The Shift
AI is becoming the operating system for the physical world—moving businesses from manual coordination to data-driven execution.
- Manual decisions → real-time AI-driven decisions
- Isolated tools → integrated operating systems
- Single-location management → network-level intelligence
- Human-only execution → AI-augmented operations
Operator mindset. Investor discipline. AI-native execution.
GII exists to build and scale AI-native platforms that redefine how the physical economy operates.
Operator + Investor
We focus on building real businesses and scalable platforms, not only advising from the outside.
AI-Native by Design
AI is embedded into daily operations from the beginning—not layered on after the fact.
Physical Economy Focus
We operate where complexity is highest and where AI can create measurable operational value.
Dr. Cervantes Lee
AI-native operator-investor with 20+ years across investing, restaurants, real estate, and platform building.
Co-Executive Directors
The platform is led by Dr. Cervantes Lee and Nancy Wong, J.D., Co-Executive Director, combining operator, investment, and legal expertise across innovation, governance, and capital markets.
Nancy Wong, J.D.
Email: nwong@giinow.org
LinkedIn Profile
Two integrated business lines.
GII combines platform building with ecosystem development to create a continuous pipeline of ideas, operators, talent, and deployment opportunities.
AI-Native Commerce Platform
We build and scale businesses where AI becomes the core operating layer across restaurants, retail, services, and real assets.
- Revenue optimization and demand forecasting
- Labor planning and workflow automation
- Site selection intelligence and market clustering
- Procurement optimization and vendor intelligence
Innovation & Ecosystem Platform
In collaboration with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, GII connects founders, universities, operators, and investors to accelerate real-world AI deployment and capital markets readiness.
- Accelerator programs and founder support
- Industry summits and operator engagement
- University collaborations and applied AI projects
- Talent, partnership, and innovation pipeline
In partnership with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
GII is developing a cross-border innovation and capital markets platform with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center—connecting founders, operators, universities, investors, and mentors from business formation through scale and capital markets readiness. This initiative is co-led by Dr. Cervantes Lee and Nancy Wong, J.D., who serves as Co-Executive Director, bringing legal, governance, and capital markets expertise to the platform.
Nasdaq Center Accelerator
A flagship intensive program designed to prepare growth-stage companies for capital markets readiness, including IPO readiness, governance, investor relations, operating systems, and strategic scaling.
Milestone Makers
A structured program supporting Series B–D entrepreneurs as they define key U.S. market milestones, strengthen execution discipline, and prepare for global company-building.
Cross-Pacific Entrepreneurship Platform
Conferences, founder programs, and executive networks designed to strengthen U.S.–Asia innovation ties and elevate Asian and Asian American entrepreneurship.
AI Business Academy
Modular programs helping founders and operators identify AI use cases, implement workflow automation, improve revenue operations, and build AI-enabled business systems.
From operator to capital markets platform.
GII uniquely integrates AI-driven operations with institutional pathways to capital markets—bridging the gap between real-world execution and global scale.
Build
Develop AI-native operating systems across multi-unit businesses and real-world deployment environments.
Scale
Expand platforms through repeatable, data-driven execution across locations, markets, and partner networks.
Access Capital
Connect founders and operators to mentors, investors, and capital markets education through Nasdaq ecosystem programs.
Different sectors. Same operating system.
GII focuses on AI-native physical economy platforms where data, automation, and network-level intelligence can improve execution across many locations.
Restaurants
Multi-unit restaurant systems optimized by AI-driven operations, labor planning, ordering, and customer intelligence.
Retail
Data-driven and autonomous retail networks where merchandising, pricing, inventory, and customer flow become intelligent.
Services
Location-based service platforms enhanced by AI workflow automation, scheduling, dispatch, and productivity systems.
Real Assets
AI-enabled site selection, market clustering, asset intelligence, and physical network expansion strategies.
AI turns operations into a repeatable scaling engine.
Across physical businesses, AI can improve labor efficiency, productivity per location, revenue optimization, and operational consistency.
Labor Efficiency
Smarter scheduling, automation, and workflow design reduce dependency on manual coordination.
Revenue Optimization
Dynamic pricing, demand forecasting, and customer analytics help each location perform with more intelligence.
Faster Expansion
AI standardizes operations, improves site selection, and makes each new location easier to launch and manage.
Partner with GII.
We collaborate with operators, founders, investors, and institutions building the next generation of AI-native physical economy platforms.
Areas of Collaboration
- Platform partnerships
- Strategic collaborations
- Cross-border expansion: U.S. ↔ Asia
- Innovation and accelerator programs
Global Innovation Institute
Los Angeles, California
Email: clee@giinow.org
Nancy Wong: nwong@giinow.org
Phone: +1 323 356 0628