SFI was among a select group of future-thinking non-profits who presented their work recently to approximately 300 Silicon Valley entrepreneurs during a unique event, “Breakthrough Philanthropy: Giant Leaps for Humankind,” hosted by the Peter Thiel Foundation. Watch SFI's presentation by Chris Wood (5 minutes)
The invitation-only event, held in San Francisco on December 7, 2010, featured a series of brief presentations by representatives of eight non-profit organizations, each of which works to develop and advance innovative technological approaches for many of humanity’s unaddressed challenges.
Founded by PayPal founder and philanthropist Peter Thiel, the Thiel Foundation promotes personal, economic, and political freedom. Among other projects, the Foundation sponsors innovative scientific research and new technology development that empowers people to improve their lives.
“Traditional philanthropy tends to deliver well-established solutions to more people, but the world also needs philanthropy that looks to the future, creating radical innovations," Thiel said to the audience. "For those whose fortunes have often been built on disruptive and positive change in the for-profit sector, a similarly disruptive approach to philanthropy should have immense appeal.”
Speakers included Chris Wood of SFI, Neil Jacobstein of Singularity University, Ben Goertzel of Humanity+, Michael Vassar of the Singularity Institute, Christine Peterson of the Foresight Institute, Mike Kope of the SENS Foundation, Patri Friedman of the Seasteading Institute, and Peter Diamandis of the X Prize Foundation.
“These innovative, big-thinking nonprofits are woefully underfunded compared to the potential benefit they can bring to humanity,” said Patri Friedman, opening speaker and executive director of The Seasteading Institute. “We need more visionary philanthropists like Peter Thiel who look to the long-term and invest in breakthrough technologies."
Thiel added that these groups nurture "the right big ideas that can change the world."
More information about the Breakthrough Philanthropy event
Video: Watch the Thiel Foundation's introductory presentation at the event (8 minutes)
Video: Watch all Breakthrough Philanthropy presentations
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