Peter Diamandis March 2021 Event – Video and Recap

My hope for the spring of 2021 was to bring clients an expert who could speak first-hand about the potential innovations coming to our lives – especially the innovations accelerated by the pandemic. Plus, we could all use a dose of optimism as we reemerge from COVID lockdowns. With a lot of work and persistence, I got my first choice – Peter Diamandis.

At the onset, Peter exclaimed that “We are living during the most extraordinary time ever!” If even a fraction of his predictions come true, I wholeheartedly agree. During our hour together, these were the biggest themes that could change the world and our lives.

1. The world’s biggest problems are the world’s biggest business opportunities. “We are living in a world of capital abundance.” Even during the pandemic, we had a record year of venture capital, with $88 billion in fundraising. And companies as a whole raised $3.6 trillion in capital. These insane sums are chasing business opportunities that will solve major challenges.
2. Growth is no longer linear; it’s exponential. In 30 linear steps, you would be 30 meters away. In exponential steps, you would be 1 billion meters away or around the planet 26 times. What’s causing exponential growth? The convergence of technologies: sensors, networks, artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, synthetic biology, and blockchain, coming together to fuel innovation.
3. Faster…redefined: The time from “I have an idea” to “I run a billion-dollar company” is happening faster than ever.
4. “The poorest countries in the world are the sunniest countries in the world.” Solar and renewables are here to stay and are growing more economically viable every year.
5. Scientists are cracking the code on our health. Not just treatments, but diagnostics and vaccines for cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and even hair loss.
6. Faster networks, 5G, and satellites will change everything. There are over 1,000 satellites launched through the innovative Starlink program, with over 12,000 planned. These will provide high-speed internet access to the entire planet, in the middle of oceans, mountain tops, and the most remote locations of the globe. There will be over 2.8 billion 5G users by 2025.
7. 3D printing technology is affecting everything from homes to 100-foot rockets to artificial bones.
8. Reusing rockets to bring down the cost of satellite deployment and space travel.
9. Small teams can solve big problems. Peter and the team at XPRIZE are introducing competitions for teams around the world to solve. Some examples:
   • Tablets that can teach children in Tanzania to read, write, and learn math in 15 months.
   • Mapping the ocean floor in greater detail than ever dreamed possible.
   • Alleviating water shortages by pulling it straight out of the atmosphere. The goal? To extract 2,000 liters of water per day at a cost under 2 cents per liter.
   • Feeding the next billion people through a new generation of “stem-cell” and “plant-derived” poultry and fish. Cheaper, healthier, and tastier.

Peter had a lot of great quotes during our time together. As a prime example, “A negative mind will never give you a positive life.” That stuck with me. Even despite a pandemic, innovation is working exponentially to make our lives more positive: healthier, longer, and better.

We also invite you to view some of our recent posts and videos, including one on the reemergence factors I’m watching this spring, and one on the CNN Fear and Greed Index.