In the heart of Oslo, from May 31 to June 2, 2023, a uniquely curated confluence of minds gathered at the Katapult Future Fest (KFF) 2023, co-hosted by The Conduit, aiming to redefine the future by addressing the root causes of our world’s grand challenge. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill conference; it was a festival – a celebration of ideas, innovation, and a shared vision for a thriving future society for all’. 

Investor Day: A Meeting of Minds and Missions

The festival kicked off on May 31 with an Investor Day, a programming dedicated to those wishing to explore the genuine pursuit of creating lasting impact. Rather than the usual pitch sessions, this was a forum for sharing knowledge, insights, and experiences, and turning these elements into impactful results. 

Festival Day One Highlights: The Future is Now

Over the course of the festival, attendees were privy to an array of discussions, workshops, debates, and keynotes, all presented by world-leading experts in the realms of impact investing, transformative technology, and future society.

The opening panel, “The Future is Now,” served as a powerful reminder that the future isn’t simply looming on the horizon; it is already here, entwined in our present. This panel, which showcased HRH Constantijn van Oranje, Prince of The Netherlands, Martin Villig from Bolt, and Marie Ekeland of 2050, explored the central role of technology and innovation in shaping this exciting future, spanning from AI to biotech and 3D Printed Food.

Other notable highlights of the day included a fireside chat with Christian Erfurt, co-founder of Be My Eyes, an innovative app that pairs visually impaired individuals with sighted volunteers. The application’s integration of OpenAI’s GPT-4, a multimodal AI model, underscored the potential of AI in fostering equity.

As the day drew to a close, our focus pivoted towards the potential good inherent in quantum computing, a discussion steered by Jim Mainard of XPRIZE. Despite acknowledging the challenges, the dialogue focused on the immense opportunities that quantum computing holds in creating a more sustainable, efficient, and liveable planet.

Festival Day Two Highlights: Power in Unity

Day two of the festival began with a discussion on the power of communities and collaborations. Jean Oelwang, founding CEO and Trustee of Virgin Unite, enlightened us on success stories and pitfalls of creating valuable partnerships and community-built solutions, sharing findings from her book, Partnering.

Afua Hirsch, along with Cristina Archetti and Ka Man Mak, delved into the covert presence of racist narratives within mainstream media. They unraveled the hidden layers of racism that often go unnoticed, exploring their impact on marginalized communities.

The final session of the festival featured a fireside chat with Daniel Pinchbeck. The discussion explored the implications of the rise of AI and AGI on our consciousness, spiritual growth, and our understanding of identity.

A Better Future Begins Now

In the spirit of KFF, let us carry these conversations forward, beyond the confines of the festival. The Katapult Future Fest is more than a festival; it is a movement that continues to spark and grow, inspiring us to take what we have learned and share it, nurturing a global community of change-makers. 

As we look back on Katapult Future Fest 2023, we’re reminded that the future is not just something we wait for; it’s something we create. By connecting minds, sharing ideas, and fostering collaborations, KFF has not just envisioned a better future – it has set the stage for us to build it. After all, a better world is possible, and it starts now. 

Photo: © Jan Khür@jankhur / @studio.abrakadabra

Katapult Future Fest 2023 @katapultfuturefest