MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – August 13, 2017 – Singularity University SU, a global community with a mission to educate, inspire, and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies to help solve humanity's grand challenges, has graduated 80 entrepreneurs from 40 countries from its flagship Global Solutions Program (GSP) in 2017.During the GSP, participants are challenged to develop solutions to solve humanity’s grand challenges: water, energy, environment, food, shelter, disaster resilience, space, security, governance, health, learning, and prosperity. For the 2017 program, entrepreneurs focused on how to solve the challenges facing our climate and environment.During the nine-week GSP, participants learned how to take their innovative ideas to the next level by discovering the latest developments in exponential technologies, as well as applying SU’s proven tools and methodologies to build key skills. They networked with each other and the SU faculty, and learned how to leverage the 200,000-strong SU global community to advance innovations they believe have the potential to positively impact billions of people. The GSP consists of the SU core curriculum taught by world-class faculty, including hands-on training workshops, interactive group discussions, behind-the scenes tours at emerging startups, and contributions from the growing network of SU partners, mentors, and advisors.
Since 2009, the GSP has gathered innovators from highly diverse backgrounds, geographies, perspectives, and experiences to create moonshots that will help solve the world’s greatest challenges. Ideas created by the GSP 2017 cohort include:
"GSPs were the first programs we launched at SU and are perhaps the most vivid example of the passion that exists worldwide to solve critical problems, using ingenuity and exponential technologies,” said Nathaniel Calhoun, Managing Director of GSP at Singularity University. “The GSPs are always eagerly anticipated and upon their conclusion, the commitment of these global change agents inspires all of us to ensure their breakthroughs reach fruition.”One of the key elements of SU programs is the great degree of diversity among participants, in geography, gender, and experience. The GSP Class of 2017 was predominantly female; 70 percent had entrepreneurial experience, and 60 percent had worked in various technology fields. One-third of participants also had previous experience working to solve a global grand challenge.Forty participants had competed in and won SU’s Global Impact Challenges (GICs). Each year, Singularity University, in partnership with SU alumni, foundations, non-profits, corporations, and governments in local regions, launch GICs to identify promising entrepreneurs and innovators to enter the GSP program. Hundreds of entrepreneurs from 25 countries competed to receive fully paid tuition (valued at $30,000 USD) to attend the 2017 GSP.
The Global Solutions Program and Global Impact Challenges are entry points to a longer entrepreneurial journey that is inclusive of SU’s global innovation ecosystem. Upon completion of GSP, selected teams may have the opportunity to enter SU Ventures, an immersive program that transforms early-stage innovations with the greatest potential for success into startups with viable products. Once these startups gain traction, teams may apply to gain access to additional SU Ventures programs that propel startups through a series of bootcamps that open up access to capital, customers, and connections.ABOUT SINGULARITY UNIVERSITY (SU)Singularity University (SU) is a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tackle the world’s biggest challenges and build an abundant future for all. SU's collaborative platform empowers individuals and organizations across the globe to learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions using accelerating technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital biology. A certified benefit corporation headquartered at NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley, SU was founded in 2008 by renowned innovators Ray Kurzweil and Dr. Peter H. Diamandis with program funding from leading organizations including Google, Deloitte, and UNICEF. To learn more, visit SU.org, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @SingularityU, and download the SingularityU Hub mobile app.MEDIA CONTACT:Singularity University: Diane Murphy, diane.murphy@su.org