
WHAT IS “FUNCTIONAL FUTURISM”?
The least interesting person at the party is the A-student who ticked all the right boxes in life. Fear not. Over the next decade, we’ll be sandwiched between the grizzled war vet and twice-divorced mother of four. And have they got stories! As will we.
As new technologies (AI, mRNA, CRISPR, nanotech, drones, etc) promise to deliver abundance, longevity, and cyborg lovers, populations in the developed world age and shrink. In a world built for growth, expect “shrinking pains” that complicate the road to abundance.
Functional Futurism is Steve Faktor’s formula for navigating this uncertain period and deciding what role you should play in it. Functional Futurism lives at the nexus of innovation, economics and culture. And Steve’s forecasting record is pretty damn good – and verifiable. Just click the adjacent tab to see 50+ of Steve’s predictions and prescriptions—rated—with all the receipts.
It’s why senior executives at top companies (tech, finance, healthcare, consumer goods and services) hire Steve and IdeaFaktory. They don’t want laundry lists of sanitized “trends” or Stepford Wife obedience. They want real divergent thinking, even when it’s unpopular.
Check out our record. If you can do better, go for it! But if you’re deciding where to invest millions, what company to acquire, what product to build, which market to chase, or a vision to set, you’ll want to give us a call. Even a vision that turns out wrong is better than none at all. It creates a sense of purpose and propels you forward. How else will you justify any long-term investment over a sure-thing ad buy? Or tenth flavor of Frosted Flakes?
So let’s chart your course towards abundance, before we’re too creaky to enjoy it.
Click titles to read our predictions/prescriptions and whether they Happened, are Occurring (on-track), Uncertain, or Not Happening.
Year Made | Our Prediction/Prescription | Status | Category | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2008 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2009 | Occurring | Innovation | Prescription | |
2010 | Occurring | Culture | Prediction | |
2010 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2010 | Occurring | Culture | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prescription | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Education | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Happened | Policy | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Not Happening | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Culture | Prediction | |
2011 | Not Happening | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Startups Will Perfect New Ways to Generate Energy From Thin Air | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction |
2011 | Happened | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Uncertain | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Happened | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Uncertain | Policy | Prediction | |
2011 | Schools and Businesses Should Intertwine to Drive Innovation | Occurring | Education | Prediction |
2011 | Uncertain | Policy | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Education | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Education | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Culture | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2011 | Happened | Entrepreneurship | Prediction | |
2011 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2012 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2012 | Neutralize Empty Jobs With Helping Others, Tangibility & Sensory Stimulation | Occurring | Culture | Prescription |
2012 | Happened | Innovation | Prescription | |
2013 | Uncertain | Innovation | Prediction | |
2013 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2013 | Occurring | Innovation | Prediction | |
2013 | Uncertain | Economy | Prediction | |
2014 | Occurring | Strategy | Prescription | |
2014 | Happened | Education | Prediction | |
2014 | Occurring | Economy | Prediction | |
2014 | Occurring | Culture | Prediction | |
2014 | Companies Will Audition Talent, Not Recruit for Traditional Degrees | Occurring | Education | Prediction |