Why linear thinking fails in an exponential world | Ashot Arzumanyan | TEDxLittle Armenia

In a world that rarely grows in straight lines, Ashot Arzumanyan challenges the way we think about progress. Drawing from his experience in venture capital and early-stage technology, he explores why exponential growth feels counterintuitive, and why understanding it matters far beyond startups and business. This talk invites us to rethink growth as recognizing our unique strengths and placing them where momentum is already building. Ashot shares a simple framework for navigating uncertainty and change, offering a way to position ourselves thoughtfully in a world shaped by compounding forces. Ashot Arzumanyan is a Partner at SmartGateVC, a Los Angeles and Armenia-based venture firm making first-check investments in science-driven, early-stage companies. He focuses on translating frontier research into commercially viable ventures, with an emphasis on physical AI, neurotechnology, and cybersecurity. Since 2018, Ashot has co-led the early investment rounds of 40+ deep-tech startups emerging from leading innovation ecosystems such as Harvard, MIT, EPFL, Meta, and Bosch. These companies have gone on to attract capital from global investors including NVIDIA, Dell, Cisco, and Bessemer. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx