What do a space explorer, a genomics scientist, an impact investor, a quantum physicist, a filmmaker, a journalist and a limited partner have in common? What is it that connects us?
During SuperReturn 2020 in Berlin, we held an intimate gathering in the home of our co-host Jochen Wermuth, which was about strengthening existing bonds and celebrating new friendships, as the discussions went from globally recognized issues, to impact investing, to stories coming straight from the heart, and from quantum-inspired social modelling to shifting perspectives in society, to what makes us human.
At PHX, we aim to connect the unconnected as an original movement in the tech ecosystem.
Mark Twain famously said, “history doesn’t repeat itself but it rhymes”.
As our co-host of the evening, climate impact investor Jochen Wermuth has mentioned in this regard: faced with the “4th” or “Green Industrial Revolution” underway globally today, the lessons from the past are that every single member of the first-ever Dow Jones Index was wiped out by the time horse-drawn carriages were replaced by cars in large cities.
Similarly, in the coming decade not only 90% of all jobs are likely to be lost, but probably most of the listed companies today will have disappeared and a long-term investor will thus look to invest more in venture companies with technologies addressing the challenges of humanity today.”
We believe that technology will impact all aspects of our lives and we want this to be a force for good, and we think that cross-pollination is essential for transformation and also responsible innovation.
As our good friend and PHX catalyst, Charles Marcus, Principal researcher at Microsoft Quantum and professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, mentioned, “what links these ideas, is the global realization that we are on a small fragile boat and it has come to the point where we recognize that we are all in this together.”
It turns out that when astronauts first see the Earth from space, they have an epiphany - this same realization that Charles referred to: it’s the called the Overview Effect. Dara Dotz has a unique perspective from her journey that took her from building and operating the first gravity-independent 3D printer on the International Space Station, to building an NGO focused on manufacturing humanitarian supplies, using that same 3D printing technology. She shared her powerful story about coming to Haiti, two years after the earthquake hit after the public interest faded. Now some see space as the next frontier, yet there is plenty to think about for us here, today.
Our dinner was prepared and served by Kreuzberger Himmel, a restaurant providing work and educational opportunities for refugees. Sprung out of Be An Angel Foundation, founded by a passionate group of volunteers, led by Andreas Tolke, a former journalist who became active in supporting asylum seekers, housing over more than 500 refugees in Berlin.
We strongly believe in bringing together people around a common set of beliefs and values as opposed to just a specific type of content or topic. Values are stickier and can lead to movements. Similarly, we focus on people, not organizations, allowing them to connect on a personal level first.