The Hidden Balance Sheet: Measuring the New Capital of the Platform Economy

In today’s platform economy, the assets that create the most value – data, algorithms, and learning systems – rarely appear on financial statements. Ross Franks (MBA Kellogg, CFA) introduces Cognitive Capital: an organization’s capacity to learn, adapt, and reuse information faster than competitors. This talk presents a structured framework – Cognitive ROI = Data Utilization × Decision Velocity × Learning Retention – to help finance leaders measure and prioritize the investments that build this capability.

Drawing on global, cross-border experience in M&A, private equity, and strategic finance, Ross demonstrates how technology-enabled feedback loops and intelligent systems are reshaping how organizations create and sustain advantage. Attendees will learn how to map their “hidden balance sheet,” evaluate learning-based assets, and integrate these insights into capital allocation frameworks.