There is a limit to how much wealth one person can or should ever consume in his or her lifetime. If you have more than you need, giving back seems like the logical course of action. Without going into any moral or psychological underpinnings, I have decided to give the majority of what I have back to society.

Giving back comes with a large responsibility to my mind, which is why I look to the scientific community for guidance on how to give back. I believe that choosing cause areas should not be guided by what makes me feel good or what pulls on my heartstrings, it should be about maximizing the positive impact of my efforts.

The beauty of this science-based approach is that it’s objective and pure. It’s not about my preferences. I will be focusing my time and resources on developing and deploying solutions to some of the greatest challenges that humanity is facing: the climate crisis, pandemics, and disruptive threats of emerging technologies, such as bio-engineering and artificial intelligence.

Global collaboration is a key factor of success in this work. Complex global issues can’t be solved locally in isolation. It is critical that scientists, entrepreneurs, politicians, heads of state, activists and large donors align their plans as much as possible. It is vital for all of us to focus on our common interests as we work towards global solutions, rather than allow our differences to distract us from what truly matters.

Ultimately, the objective is to do what we can to leave this planet in the best possible state for future generations. To get this right, we need to include the people we are doing this for: the young and the most vulnerable. Collaboration with youth organizations and groups most affected by global challenges is therefore of paramount importance.

Making any kind of serious progress towards mitigating risk and creating solutions requires much more than money. Time, effort, and perseverance are needed to make all of the above come to fruition. After a life of entrepreneurship, I believe I have found a new mission in life…

Enough said. Time to get back to work.

Steven