Independent strategic adviser: technology, investment and government
Working with leaders across the UK, Europe, the US, the GCC and Asia
Leaders in AI, quantum, life sciences, deeptech and space do not just compete on technology. They are judged by governments, investors and institutions that shape markets, policy and access to capital. I advise governments, companies, investors and leadership teams on how they are understood in these environments, and how to navigate them with clarity and intent.
I am Julio Romo, founder of Twofourseven Strategy. For 25 years I have advised senior decision-makers across government, investment and deep tech, building the stakeholder strategies, reputation frameworks and engagement programmes that determine whether a technology company is trusted, funded and given room to operate. Where specialist counsel is needed, I draw on a trusted network of former diplomats, senior civil servants and sector experts to deliver it. Learn more about Julio Romo.
Most investors understand the world is more volatile. The briefings arrive. The risk reports land. The geopolitical picture, multipolarity, fragmentation, the erosion of the rules-based order, is broadly understood. But understanding the risk and being architecturally ready to act on it are two very different things. This piece makes the case for what is missing.
The largest oil supply disruption in history is not just an energy story. It is a trust story. And trust decides where capital goes next.
Why UK professional services needs a positioning strategy, demand-side policy, and not just more capital. Trust is the UK's overlooked competitive advantage.
The Iran conflict has shifted the question driving global wealth flows from tax to safety. As family offices reassess domicile risk, capital is moving from the Gulf to Singapore and beyond. This analysis examines the new decision hierarchy reshaping how mobile wealth chooses where to go next.
JPM Healthcare 2026 is no longer just about deals. It is a signal-setting moment where life sciences, AI, geopolitics and capital converge. What leaders need to understand.
Sir Martin Sorrell is wrong. Reputation is not built through volume and reach — it is built through trust, judgement and behaviour over time. The argument that leadership communications needs.
FIFA’s pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup risks doing lasting damage to football’s reputation in North America. By prioritising short-term revenue over accessibility and atmosphere, FIFA is undermining the fan culture that gives the game its global appeal. In a market where football still competes with established sports, excluding core supporters weakens the live experience, erodes trust, and ultimately harms the long-term business of the game.
Tech IPO valuations are soaring as SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic reshape markets. We need to think whether ambition, narrative and AI hype are driving sustainable value or a growing bubble.
Six signals for 2026 that leaders in government, technology and investment should act on now. A strategic view of geopolitics, trust and reputation as operating constraints.