“I’ve seen the future”: Five big ways entrepreneurs will change the world

The world will be a very different place by 2030 as entrepreneurs and scientists create a brave new future. Jon Card reports on the most startling innovations he’s witnessed  

Modern technology is rapidly becoming science fiction. A trip to San Francisco last summer convinced me of that. As Ryan Bethencourt, partner at the Indiebio biotech accelerator, put it: “Either you have to make a lot of money, or blow people’s minds”. But it’s not just in Silicon Valley where minds are being blown. In start-up hubs and university labs the world over, humanity is getting a make-over. Life as we know it is about to get, well, rather freaky.

1) FOOD

Let’s start with one of the fundamentals – food. Clean meat – that’s flesh made without the slaughter or use of animals - is a reality, and will soon be in our restaurants. Memphis Meats (pictured), which created the world’s first animal-free meatball, today gained backing from Tyson Foods – one of America’s biggest meat companies. The price of clean meat is falling and, while the first mouthfuls cost thousands of dollars to produce, they will soon be affordable to the masses. Memphis Meats founder Uma Valetti told me he expects his products to be commercially available by 2020.

Entrepreneurs are using artificial intelligence platforms to analyse and reinvent all sorts of food products, making them healthier, more ethical, better for the environment and allergen free. The NotCo, founded by Matias Muchnick, uses an AI platform to reinvent food from existing ingredients. It already has egg free mayonnaise on the shelves of US supermarkets. Make no mistake, the world’s food market faces substantial disruption.

2) MONEY

Cryptocurrencies are on the rise, as is the blockchain technology that supports them. In 2017, start-ups raised over $2bn via Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Some sources say that early stage start-ups are raising more money in virtual currencies than they are from venture capitalists (VCs). But, make no mistake, VC money is pouring into Blockchain and cryptocurrency-focused companies. For sure, Blockchains and cryptocurrencies have been a long time coming and have many critics. However, the cynics should be aware, not just of the vast amount of investment flowing in that direction, but also of the numerous blue chips and national governments running Blockchain projects. If the Blockchain really does turn out to be a turkey, then a lot of people are going to lose an enormous amount of money.

3) AIR

Hopefully, mankind will get better at not polluting the planet in the 2020s, but I’m not laying bets. However, we might start extracting carbon emissions via ‘bionic leaf’ technology. One of the most inspiring technologies I witnessed last year has been created by Arborea, a London-based start-up. Arborea is creating bionic trees – effectively a solar panel filled with micro algae. These panels perform high-powered photosythesis which extracts carbon from the atmosphere and converts it into water and biomass. Arborea, which is led by Julian Melchiorri, has created a bionic chandelier currently on display at the V&A Museum (see picture) in London.

4) TRANSPORTATION

If 2017 didn’t convince you electric vehicles are on the way, then what will? EVs can travel, further, faster, more cleanly and increasingly autonomously. They are connected and, during the 2020s, will become a veritable part of the Internet of Things. They also have powerful batteries, which will not just draw power, but input it, too. But Tesla is by no means the only name. Chelmsford-based Tevva Motors, led by Asher Bennett, has electric freight vehicles on the road. Silverstone-based Meteor Power, founded by Mike Edwards, meanwhile, is developing a superbike that can charge up in four minutes, while providing all the performance of a petrol-powered engine, and then be used to charge up a battery.

5) OUR MINDS

During a trip to Hamburg, I placed my head inside a drone and flew around Necker Island. This virtual experience was provided by Spherie, led by Nicolas Chibac. He and his team have created ‘The VR Drone’, a flying craft fitted with 360-degree cameras. Spherie’s software eliminates the gaps between the cameras, joins the pictures together seamlessly and creates a movie that, when viewed via a VR headset, provides the experience of flying. Sir Richard Branson was so impressed, he invited Chibac to his island home to make the film I saw.

Buckle up. Life is about to get very interesting. JC.

Jon Card is a freelance journalist who writes about entrepreneurs and technology. He is also the co-founder of Full Story Media and is speaking about how entrepreneurs can gain media exposure at events London, Manchester and Brighton

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