In this talk, Chris delivers the latest insights on exponentially growing technologies, the convergence of these technologies and what it all means for you and your business. A critical skill is understanding our pre-disposal to linear thinking and decision making. Exponential thinking helps us unlearn linear thinking and understand the implications of technologies and their potential impact and disruption capacity. Chris will discuss developments from artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, extended reality. We will also hear about new design thinking tools inspired by science fiction, and explore some of the frustrating and troubling technology road blocks to our forward progress.
Chris Cowart is a futurist, design & innovation leader, and venture investor. Over a 14 year career at IDEO, he pioneered the human factors and user research disciplines in the design industry; launched many ‘first of their categories’ like Tivo and Handspring; innovated for big brands like BMW, Medtronic, Pfizer, and Walmart; and incubated a number of successfully venture backed companies. In 2014, Chris joined the Montage Ventures team as a Venture Partner. He engages in deal diligence and across the seed stage portfolio to advise on product, design, brand, and business topics. Chris currently runs an independent innovation consulting practice over the past 5 years and has led innovation initiatives for Change Healthcare, Stanley Black & Decker, Adidas, Mophie, Macy’s, VW, Specialized, The Tour Tracker, Maclean Fogg, Veracyte Diagnostics, and Nike. He serves as design & corporate innovation faculty at Singularity University in Silicon Valley.
Chris received a bachelors degree in Human Factors from Tufts University, and a masters degree in business from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
