Top Resources for Futures Thinkers

So there it is! I’ve put down on paper my list of favorite resources as a futurist living in Silicon Valley. The list is non-exhaustive and evolving. Please feel free to share your own – I’d be happy to consider additions!

Noticeable companies

• Google X, the moonshot factory (American semi-secret research and development facility and organization founded by Google): https://x.company/ 
• SpaceX (company founded by Elon Musk which designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft): https://www.spacex.com/ 

Institutes and consultancies

• Institute for the Future (Silicon Valley-based not-for-profit research group and think tank focused on Futures Thinking): http://www.iftf.org/home/ 
• Singularity University (company that offers executive educational programs, a business incubator and innovation consultancy service within the NASA Research Park): https://su.org/
• Creative Strategies (Silicon Valley based market research firm focused on the global technology market): https://creativestrategies.com/ 
• Mission 2 Mars Academy (Silicon Valley-based online accelerator that helps global startups and corporations to innovate successfully): https://www.mission2mars.academy/ 
• Silicon Valley Future Academy (Silicon Valley-based global education and consulting company that helps companies and leaders design/execute innovation, technology and business solutions): http://svfacademy.com/en 
• The Hive (VC Fund, Co-creation Studio for Startups & Think Tank focused on AI and data): https://hivedata.com/ 
• Fabernovel (Global innovation agency focused on digital transformation, Paris HQ): http://www.fabernovel.us/

Meetups and conferences

• Europe v Silicon Valley / Innovation Ecosystem Design (weekly research seminar by Burton Lee at Stanford): http://www.stanfordeuropreneurs.org/ 
• Silicon Valley Space Startups & Satellites (meetup designed for private aerospace companies, NASA, VCs, startups, press, anyone interested in space commercialization and to be involved in space exploration): https://www.meetup.com/Silicon-Valley-Space-Startups-Satellites/ 
• Global Open Innovation Network (Series of events / tech meetings organized by Choose Paris Region USA in Silicon Valley, Paris HQ): https://www.eventbrite.com/o/global-open-innovation-network-7914468164 
• FTC 2020 (Future Technologies Conference 2020, world-wide gathering of academic researchers, Ph.D. and graduate students, top research think tanks and industry technology developers): https://saiconference.com/FTC
• FWFE 2020 (Future of Work, Future of Education 2020 brings together experts and practitioners in work and education to inspire and design hopeful futures for everyone): https://fwfe2020.org/ 

Online resources

• The Future of Everything (Podcast and radio series by Stanford School of Engineering): https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazine/future-everything 
• Gates Notes (blog of Bill Gates): https://www.gatesnotes.com/ 
• Medical XPress (web-based medical and health news service): https://medicalxpress.com/health-news/ 
• Future of X (podcasts focused on the future of health and future of the workplace): https://www.ozy.com/future/ 
• Techcrunch (American news website reporting on the business of technology, startups, venture capital funding, and Silicon Valley): https://techcrunch.com/
• Geekwire (American technology news website that covers startups and established technology companies): https://www.geekwire.com/ 
• Wired (print and online magazine focused on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics):  https://www.wired.com/
• American Scientist (American bimonthly science and technology magazine by prominent scientists and engineers from molecular biology to computer engineering): https://www.americanscientist.org/ 

Professional groups

• International Futurist Forum (LinkedIn group bringing together credible Futurists from around the world to partake in free, objective and open exchange on Futurist subjects): https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6719917/ 
• The Futurist Group (LinkedIn group for people who have an interest in the future and wish to understand the role of the futurist in organisational life): https://www.linkedin.com/groups/67379/ 
• Futuristic Innovator – Futurist – Express your Vision ! (LinkedIn group for people who want to explore deep discoveries and some hidden thoughts): https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3725997/ 
• Playing with the Future(s) (LinkedIn group focused on design thinking):  https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7000233/