"Hey, how was that AgroTech project in Jersey today?" Grace Li asked. AgroTech was the project Aiden Thompson had gone to evaluate. Grace had initially learned about it through her network—it was an innovative vertical farming startup in a rapid growth phase, actively seeking funding to scale up.
"Well, you know, I've got most of the research done. I'll start prepping the investment proposal in the next couple of days, and then we can go over the details together." Aiden replied.
"Great. I want you to present it at the investment committee meeting." Grace said.
Aiden chuckled. "Wow, does this count as special treatment?"
He had only been with the firm for six months. Normally, someone at his level would just assist a VP with research and prep work. AgroTech was an exception—Grace had handed it off to him at the end of last year when she was overloaded with work. But he hadn't expected to skip the usual chain of command and present it himself.
Grace turned to face him, her expression serious. "Aiden, I'm not giving you any favors. You're genuinely outstanding. Your perspective, logic, and analytical skills—even with all my years of experience, I'm often impressed. You deserve a bigger stage to showcase your talent. You chose Nova Capital, and as your manager, it's my responsibility to make sure the firm sees what you're capable of."
Her words struck a chord with Aiden. He'd been praised plenty throughout his life—he had always been that kid, the one teachers, coaches, and mentors pointed to as the model. But this was different. This wasn't just praise; it was recognition.
Aiden rested his hands on the balcony railing, loosely boxing Grace in between his arms. "You really think I'm that good?"
"Absolutely. You're exceptional." Grace said without hesitation.
Aiden smirked. "You know, that almost sounds like a love confession."
Grace rolled her eyes. "I'm being serious here."
"Alright, alright, Grace, you win." Aiden said, grinning.
Grace shook her head with a small laugh before continuing. "So, I'll support you on AgroTech, but you're leading this. How do you feel about that?"
"Sure, I'm in." Aiden answered without hesitation.
"One more thing—company policy requires projects to be led by a VP or above, so officially, this will be under my name. That means if this deal goes through, the credit, bonuses, and everything will initially be attributed to me. But as you know, at Nova, it's common practice to distribute performance bonuses to the team. That said, your payout might not fully reflect your contribution. Are you okay with that?"
"Nah, I don't mind. And besides, between us, what's yours is… still yours." Aiden joked.
Grace let out a soft laugh. "Alright then. Just bring your A-game at the investment committee meeting. The firm is really interested in innovative projects like this. If you nail it, you could be in line for bigger deals—and maybe even equity incentives down the road."
The meeting was scheduled for Friday—coincidentally, Valentine's Day. At Nova Capital, a powerhouse in New York's investment scene, these meetings were high-stakes affairs. At least once or twice a week, top executives gathered to review potential deals. Attendees included Managing Directors (MDs), key decision-makers, and the full project team. Sometimes, even Limited Partners (LPs) would join to weigh in on investment decisions.
Normally, Grace led her team's presentations, occasionally giving junior members a chance to participate. But today was different—this was Aiden's show. He would take full ownership of the presentation, answering whatever questions the execs threw his way.
Dressed in a sharp, tailored Italian suit, Aiden looked effortlessly confident—like he was born for the boardroom. His deep-blue tie, patterned with subtle geometric designs, added just the right touch of personality without being flashy. As he stepped up to the large presentation screen, he radiated a quiet, commanding presence that turned heads the moment he spoke.
Despite this being his first time presenting at such a high-level meeting, there wasn't a trace of nerves. He carried himself with the kind of composure that made it seem like these high-stakes discussions were second nature to him.
Grace, as the official project lead, opened the meeting with a warm yet professional introduction. "Good morning, everyone. It's a pleasure to be here today to introduce a very promising investment opportunity—AgroTech. We've been closely evaluating this company, and I'm excited to have one of our most talented team members, Aiden Thompson, walk you through our findings."
With that, she stepped aside, giving Aiden the floor.
He took a brief moment to scan the room, meeting the eyes of the firm's top decision-makers. Then, with a confident nod, he began.
"Good morning, esteemed executives and colleagues. I'm honored to be here today to present this exciting project on behalf of our team. As we all know, the United States, with its large and diverse population, has a significant and growing demand for food and agricultural products. Our analysis of historical data shows that the U.S. currently produces about 80% of its food domestically. While this is a strong figure, many developed nations have adopted highly advanced agricultural models, enabling them to exceed 100% self-sufficiency and even become major exporters.
One of the key differences lies in how agriculture is structured. While the U.S. is home to both small and large-scale farms, many operations still face challenges in scalability, efficiency, and sustainability. By leveraging innovation, there is a major opportunity to enhance agricultural output while reducing environmental impact.
This is where AgroTech comes in. Founded in 2019, AgroTech is leading the way in vertical farming—a revolutionary approach that maximizes efficiency in food production. The company has already established 200 state-of-the-art, climate-controlled greenhouses, each spanning about an acre. While this footprint may seem small compared to traditional farms, the true power of vertical farming lies in its rapid growth cycles, climate resilience, and exceptionally high yields—up to 200 times greater than conventional agriculture..."
Aiden Thompson spoke with his hands gently raised, using natural gestures that reinforced his words. His delivery was clear and engaging, with a logical flow that held the audience's attention.
The attendees listened intently, their focus unwavering as they absorbed his insights. A few executives nodded in approval, a sign that his presentation was making an impact. From the side, Grace Li watched with quiet admiration, proud of how he carried himself with confidence and authority.
Aiden smoothly flipped to the next slide and continued:
"Currently, AgroTech's high-quality agricultural products are distributed through three main channels: online grocery platforms, which account for 46% of sales, supermarkets at 42%, and restaurants at 12%. Over the past three years, revenue across all three channels has grown consistently at approximately 30% per year. Notably, this growth has persisted despite challenges in scaling production to meet rising demand."
Half an hour later, Aiden Thompson gracefully concluded his presentation, and the stage was set for the all - important question - and - answer session with the executives.