NEAR FUTURE Success STORIES
The Near Future Summit is about making connections, planting seeds and creating synergy. There are hundreds of unique partnerships that have coalesced due to our focus on alchemy. It is hard to pick our favorites but here are a few that illustrate the ongoing nature of our stoked sparks.
Guayaki, ARC, Tesla,
& Two Bit Circus
Scott Budnick’s NFS 2017 presentation on the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) inspired us - in partnership with Tesla - to bring Near Futurists to ARC’s program at Lancaster Prison in 2018. We concluded the visit at Two Bit Circus in LA with a declaration of commitments. Most significantly, Guayaki committed to hiring 10,000 ARC graduates over the next 10 years.
The Ocean Cleanup Interceptor
Boyan Slat unveiled The Ocean Cleanup Interceptor at NFS 2018. This resulted in the 2019 NF/NOW event where we gathered at the Alameda Assembly Yard to see interceptor 001 head out to clean the garbage patch. During our 2021 NF Digital Deep Dive, Slat was able to share his river clean up machine with fellow Family Office members, who are now funding over $1M to the LA River Interceptor 007. Near Futurists will be there this Fall to see the 007 get busy.
MycoMedica
We brought the filmmakers & Near Futurists to the Fantastic Fungi LucasArts screening and Q&A, with a fungi funding reception in 2018. During a NFS breakaway in 2019, in which Paul Stamets spoke, he was able to generate lead funding for MycoMedica. Fast-forward to NFS 2021, Paul Stamets announced MycoMedica, leading to follow-on funding and partnerships. Oh, and, bonus, he gave away mushroom hats to all attendees.
ACCOLADES
“Near Future is my kind of conference, focused on both breadth and depth of important ideas. It was a treat for me to take the stage with Arianna Huffington and Dave Pell for an honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities in the future of media.”
EV WILLIAMS
CO-FOUNDER, MOZI
“I loved the intimacy. I loved the party. I loved that the whole event is like an embodiment of Zem energy, love and positivity. ...Everyone was interesting and not assholes – nearly as important as the food (just kidding).”
SUNIL PAUL
CO-FOUNDER & CEO, SPRING FREE EV
"I just wanted to send along a giant GIANT thank you for having me at the Near Future Summit. It was an amazing experience and I think I left with more new friends and useful contacts than any other conference / event. What an exceptional community!”
JESS LADD
CEO, CALLISTO
“I’m still buzzing from the inspiration and energy of Near Future. I’m speechless. It lit up every circuit in my brain. I found myself near tears during some of the talks to know there are such talented people actually working on and delivering such world-changing feats.”
RODDY RICHARDS
FOUNDER & CEO, WESTLINK
“I have to go to Near Future every year to learn how to live longer, better and how to live better, longer!”
SCOTT PAINTER
FOUNDER & CEO, AUTONOMY
"Last Year's Near Future conference was one of the best and most stimulating that I have attended in 20+ years of venture-funded entrepreneurship.”
JAIME ROCHE
CEO, FLUX
"The Near Future conference changed my life, not just because of the things I learned that I still use to this day, but also because of the people I met that are close friends and mentors.”
RUBEN HARRIS
CEO, CAREER KARMA
“Honestly, it was one of the best conferences I’ve ever attended… from the content, to the crowd, to the execution, to the venue. They nailed it!”
MARK HIGBIE
PRINCIPAL, GREENFIELD STRATEGIES
“The setting, the pacing, and the curation of the talks/demos/performance was terrific. The edge-of-discovery science early captivated me, and I learned a few things that blew my mind. What’s especially cool about the environment you create is that those discoveries happened both watching the talks and chatting at meals. I love that.”
JUNE COHEN
CO-FOUNDER, WAITWHAT