Bradley Tusk is a cofounder of Tusk Venture Partners, which invests in early-stage technology companies operating in highly regulated industries.

Bradley was also Uber's first political advisor and instrumental in developing their strategy to disrupt the incumbent taxi monopolies.

This is one of the most fascinating stories in the recent history of regulatory hacking.

In this episode, we're demystifying political misconceptions and looking into practical advice for entrepreneurs on navigating regulatory roadblocks and changing them for their benefit.

Key Takeaways:

* Every policy output is the result of political input. Every politician makes every decision solely based on reelection and nothing else.

* The vast majority of companies are regulated in some way. Rather than avoid dealing with regulations, run with the mindset that you'll figure it out. 

* To hack the regulatory system, you need to take into consideration that:

* 1) The level of government really matters—focus on doing things on a local or state level rather than a federal level;

* 2) Get your customers to advocate for you

More about Bradley's work:

* bradleytusk.com

* Tusk Venture Partners

* Podcast – Firewall

* Book – The Fixer: My Adventures Saving Startups from Death by Politics

What if you could choose the set of laws under which your company is regulated?

Honduran reformers have developed a model to facilitate collaboration between foreign capital and local institutions in Honduras, leveraging external resources and expertise to develop an alternative to the levels of instability, crime, and corruption that prevailing institutions have been unable to address sufficiently.

But how do you encourage foreign investment in a country with this high-risk level?

That's where Próspera's framework comes into play. It protects property rights effectively and gives entrepreneurs flexibility over how they’re regulated.

No "one size fits all" law exists for all industries and businesses, so this flexibility is crucial, especially in industries like medicine, where regulatory approvals and licensing requirements vary widely between countries and pose significant barriers to entry.

This system allows products approved in one country, practitioners licensed in another, and innovative procedures from yet another to have an easier path to acceptance within Próspera's framework, fostering rapid business and technology development.

Moreover, Próspera aims to redefine standards of constitutional governance. It integrates best practices of common law from centuries past with novel elements like regulatory elections, medical reciprocity, 3D property rights, and air rights resolution mechanisms. This comprehensive approach is a step toward advancing governance for the 21st century and beyond. 

If you're an entrepreneur interested in taking advantage of this regulatory framework for your business, please fill out this form!

Further links:

* Infinita VC

* Vitalia City

In this conversation, we're discussing with Vitalik the connection between longevity and Ethereum, what he's looking to build, frontier technologies, and how pop-up or startup cities can supercharge the longevity movement.

In the early days, when crypto started as a new frontier technology and experienced a Cambrian Explosion—rapid and transformative development and growth—How can the longevity movement experience something similar as it emerges?

This discussion highlights potential similar obstacles, key distinctions, and pivotal moments for longevity to experience a burst of innovation compared to crypto potentially.

The lessons from the crypto space offer valuable guidance for longevity researchers and enthusiasts alike. By fostering a culture of innovation, patience, and practical application, the journey towards unlocking the full potential of longevity technologies can be accelerated, bringing us closer to a future where age may no longer limit human potential.

If you liked this episode or article, please consider supporting the “Stranded Technologies” publication (podcast + blog) to help us continue producing high-quality material.

Further links:

* Infinita VC

* Vitalia City

“What’s more important than living forever?” 

At Vitalia, Naval Ravikant outed himself as a longevity maximalist. 

This is a compilation article with 7 key takeaways from the Fireside Chat with Niklas Anzinger at the AI & Technological Progress Conference, a summit in Roatán, Honduras.

#1 | The Future Is *Actually* Brighter.

“It just takes one person to make a breakthrough for humanity.

One person who invents the steam engine, one person who discovers relativity, one person who discovers an anti-aging solution.”

Technology is the scaling mechanism for individuals to benefit the world at large.

People are smart on their own and even smarter together.

We collaborate across cultures by sharing stories and traditions and joining organizations to achieve big things.

#2 | Why Would Someone Want To Live Longer?

“Longevity is not for everyone.” – Naval.

The idea of "making death optional" shows a push to extend life, challenging the established paradigm that death is inevitable.

This seems like common sense. Life is good.

So why do people fear the idea? Naval thinks it could be negative feelings about ourselves. 

#3 | What Comes First: Scientific Theory or Entrepreneurial Tinkering?

Both! They build on each other. 

Theoretical thinkers give us important concepts, but most progress happens when people try things out and solve problems.

AI can help put together information we already have, but real creativity means coming up with new ideas and tinkering in the real world. 

People are really good at connecting different things creatively, in ways in which AI is still very limited (so, no, AI is nowhere near to replacing humans)!

#4 | Be Optimistic On The General Things And Be Skeptical About Specific Things.

David Deutsch talks about the "fun criterion," saying that exploring what excites us leads to better understanding. The general things we care about we can hold with optimism.

But it's also important to be careful and question things, ensuring we're focused on the truth. If you’re not skeptical about the specific details, you won’t execute or pick with precision.

Broadly: remain open-minded.

Narrowly: question everything.

#5 | Regulation and Innovation in Healthcare.

In sectors like healthcare, regulations meant to reduce risks can slow down new ideas and progress.

The problem is that these rules ignore the potential benefits that new ideas can bring, such as life-saving treatments.

As the founder of Angellist, Naval once succeeded with the “voice” strategy to lobby the government to change investment laws. However, now he believes it’s too hard, and it’s better to do an “exit” to make progress on longevity and new medical treatments.

#6 | How Do You Find What's True In A World Full Of Wrong Ideas?

Through trying things and getting real feedback!

Nature and free markets are great examples of systems that give honest feedback.

Even though society sometimes spreads wrong ideas, people must stay open-minded and change their beliefs when they get new information.

Being sure of something but willing to change your mind helps us learn and grow.

Biotech is an especially hard field because we don’t know the first-principle engineering that went into creating the human body. 

That’s why only a system of continuous feedback and rapid innovation can lead to the key breakthroughs in longevity biotech.

#7 | Rethinking Traditional Ways To Do Things.

Philosophy and science is about “ideas having sex”. (Matt Ridley)

Maybe you don’t need a Ph.D. to be a scientist; being curious and careful matters more.

There can be more decentralized ways to fund and organize science, like using the internet to get patron support directly instead of large bureaucracies. 

There are better ways to do things than we're used to always doing.

If you liked this episode or article, please consider supporting the “Stranded Technologies” publication (podcast + blog) to make it possible for us to make high-quality material.

Further links:

* Infinita VC

* Vitalia City

How compatible are two very different giants in the longevity movement? 

Aubrey de Grey, the iconic and highly academically decorated bioscientist, paved the way for the early stages of scientific development, and Bryan Johnson, the software mogul turned one-man experiment and chief meme officer of longevity, focuses on the intersection of lifestyle and research.

Do their very different approaches go together?

They do! Let’s explore how they overlap with each other and how they are giving shape to the longevity movement. 

They navigate the intricate landscape of scientific advancement, with Aubrey opening the area of possibility through scientific progress and Bryan developing broader accessibility of solutions.

Advancing From Early Stage Discovery

In society, when someone demonstrates what's possible, it inspires others to follow suit. “My goal is to shift the current trend from being offensive, weird, and eccentric to being amazing through Blueprint.” – Bryan Johnson

Change is inevitable because humans tend to doubt new technologies initially, but once they're available and add value to people’s lives, adoption grows, and it becomes the new normal. This is a recurring pattern in history; therefore, we should question our initial skepticism.

Collaborations With The Traditional Clinical Sides

Working together with clinicians is crucial. PhDs and MDs have different approaches, but they both understand the end goal: reducing human suffering. The process from lab to clinic is rocky and time-consuming, but there are pathways to streamline and accelerate. 

Although people like Bryan Johnson play a significant role in advancing the mainstream medical profession, they intelligently contribute by collecting relevant data to expedite the process of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical innovations, making them accessible to a wider audience beyond just the early adopters.

Why Hasn't There Been A Moonshot For Longevity Yet?

Traditionally, the Far East has been slower to embrace longevity research despite factors like respect for the elderly, demographic challenges, and technological prowess. Recently, this mindset might be changing, and if so, it could pave the way for a significant initiative akin to the Apollo project.

 One hurdle in the West is the centralization of science funding.  Public officials act based on a desire for re-election and public opinion, but the public has a presumption against new technology. The solution could be more independent science funding, such as VitaDAO, and more “direct democracy,” such as citizen science.  

Aubrey's innovation and Bryan's practical focus signify the diverse strategies required for advancement, emphasizing the integration of discovery, clinical application, and societal acceptance of mainstream longevity technologies. Despite cultural and political challenges, this fireside chat underscores the potential for transformative initiatives and the necessity of collective action in propelling the longevity movement forward.

In this fireside chat with Balaji Srinivasan and Niklas Anzinger at the Startup Societies & Crypto Cities Conference in Vitalia, they discussed the importance of longevity and its impact on technologies, as well as a strategy to breakthrough existing systems to develop your project.

This brief article summarizes key points of the conversation, giving you an advisory perspective on how to approach your journey in innovation.

Having More Time To Do More Things

Longevity is the ultimate technology for the core reason that it gives you more time to do everything else. “Look around. All that clutter used to be money. All that money used to be time.” – Unknown.

The impact of longevity in technology falls into the premise that time is money.

* If it’s cheaper, you spend less time buying it, meaning less of your life is devoted to the purchase.

* If it's faster, it takes less time to reach a destination, saving more time in your life.

* If it’s better, it requires less mental effort to understand how it works.

Almost every technology saves you time, whether seconds, minutes, hours, or days of life. On the other side, inflation diminishes your wealth over time, as what you worked for loses value.

That's why longevity serves as our true wealth reserve. With more time in life, you can do more.

Approaching The Challenges To Innovate in Longevity

“If you’re serious about technology, you need your own sovereignty.”

Innovating in longevity comes with a series of obstacles, just as innovating in any other technology does.

Take a look at some current tech conflicts, such as SpaceX vs the FAA, AI being attacked by the NYT, crypto being attacked by the SEC, or biotech being held back by the FDA.

You must be prepared to do whatever it takes to make a change and leave a lasting impact. This doesn’t mean compromising integrity but rather being ready to challenge established systems and barriers. Fundamentally, petitioning an existing government for permission is ineffective. 

Just as Netflix didn't ask Blockbuster for permission, Apple didn't seek Blackberry's approval, and Amazon didn't request consent from Barnes & Noble, the new disruptor aims to replace the old system entirely.

When facing obstacles from established institutions, it's not about seeking their permission but rather acknowledging their presence and negotiating with them if necessary. However, the focus remains on progressing without their permission.

It’s easier to start Bitcoin than to reform the US Federal Reserve, it’s easier to start a new country than to reform the FDA, it’s easier to start a new city than to reform San Francisco. Engage with these entities solely to demonstrate their shortcomings and gather support for positive change.

“Cloud first, land last; but not land never.” – Parallel Establishment

* Parallel Societies: These are physical communities like Prospera, Culdesac, and Cabin. They represent vertical structures from physical presence.

* Parallel Institutions: These are digital entities replacing traditional systems like education and transportation. For instance, cryptocurrency serves as a parallel to traditional finance. These represent horizontal structures from digital presence.

Both the parallel societies and institutions combine in a grid to construct an alternative system that can stand in contrast to existing structures.

While it’s possible to establish a billion-dollar business online, you still need a billion permits to build something in your backyard. This is the tension between “the network” and “the state” that our world goes through day by day.

Tyler Cowen is a professor at George Mason University, creator of the Marginal Revolution blog, founder of the Emergent Ventures grant program, podcast host of "Conversations with Tyler," and author of numerous books, including "The Great Stagnation."

Evaluating Economists and Their Contributions

In Tyler’s latest book, "GOAT: Greatest Economist Of All Time," he explores the contributions of renowned economists like Milton Friedman, John Maynard Keynes, Friedrich Hayek, John Stuart Mill, Malthus, and Adam Smith.

The Post-Great Stagnation Era Has Begun

In his 2011 book, "The Great Stagnation," Tyler Cowen argued that technological progress had slowed significantly since 1973. While initially met with skepticism, this idea gained acceptance over time. Cowen's central thesis was that low-hanging technological fruit had been picked, but optimism emerged from the potential of the internet to drive a new wave of innovations.

However, already in his 2011 book, Cowen believed that society has moved beyond the Great Stagnation due to a new wave of innovation enabled by the internet.. In the past few years, we have seen breakthroughs like mRNA vaccines and AI. 

That is good news. 

However, regulatory challenges persist, particularly in biotech and pharmaceuticals. There is still lots more that can be done through deregulation or innovation in governance.

Small Jurisdictions & SEZs as Governance Experiments.

There’s potential for smaller countries to enact significant reforms and catalyze positive change. Tyler witnessed New Zealand's successful reforms in the early 1990s. 

He views charter cities and special economic zones as great drivers for innovation in governance. A key challenge is the reluctance of governments to permit these experiments, often driven by concerns about their reputation or sovereignty, particularly in less stable regions.

But there are many successes with these zones; the overall record is quite robust, and we now have a clear understanding of how to execute these actions effectively. It's not merely a formula but rather a proven approach, looking at examples from China, Ireland, or the Dominican Republic.

Soon, Tyler is visiting the Próspera ZEDE, a special economic zone in Honduras, for Vitalia – a two-month longevity biotech acceleration camp. If you want to visit us there, apply here →

More about Tyler’s work:

* LinkedIn

* Twitter

* Conversations with Tyler Podcast

* Iyinoluwa (“E”) Aboyeji had an outsized influence on the startup landscape in Africa with Andela and Flutterwave (both top-10 unicorns in Africa)

* Surprisingly, to become a successful startup entrepreneur he had to become a policy entrepreneur and remove regulatory bottlenecks

* With Itana, a charter city in a free zone in Lagos, Nigeria, E is doubling down on creating an enabling policy environment for African’s tech talent

E’s entrepreneurial journey began with a spark of inspiration - watching the movie “The Social Network” and a fortuitous introduction to the world of startups by a friend and finding an early mentor in Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale.

E went on to build one of the first successful tech startups in Africa and cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2019.

Andela: One Of The First Successful Tech Startups In Africa

In its early days, Andela had to establish a new culture in Nigeria. This cultural shift, emphasizing principles such as punctuality and performance, profoundly impacted Nigeria's entrepreneurship and tech landscape. Andela pioneered remote work and empowered technical talent, inspiring other companies to follow suit.

Regulation often presents significant hurdles to innovation, a challenge particularly pronounced during Andela's early days in Africa's startup landscape.

A key lesson from Iyinoluwa's experiences is the paramount importance of aligning with others' objectives and the value of proactive engagement with regulators, e.g. to shape favorable regulations before the business launch proved invaluable.

Itana: Africa’s First Digital Free Zone – Crafting Digital Economy And Financial Services

Itana aims to become a hub for the digital economy and financial services sectors. Unlike traditional free zones primarily designed for manufacturing and trade, Itana focuses on the unique needs of service-oriented and digital businesses.

Itana's innovation operates on two fronts. It creates an inviting policy environment through business incorporation and access to financial services. It also addresses infrastructure gaps, offering workspaces and well-run electricity and internet.

Initiatives like Itana's free zone status are needed to transform Africa. Its entrepreneurs lack stable legal, financial and even physical infrastructure to thrive.

E’s work perfectly aligns with Infinita’s mission to support founders in overcoming regulatory bottlenecks to unleash a new wave of technological progress.

More about Iyinoluwa’s work:

* LinkedIn

* Twitter

* Itana – Build a global business in Nigeria

In this episode, we debate with two major thinkers with different philosophies but also commonalities about governance and social evolution.

Max Borders, author of “The Decentralist,” "The Social Singularity," and “After Collapse,” (a previous guest on the show) and Michel Bauwens, founder of the P2P Foundation and author of “The Political Economy of Peer Production”.

The definition of “commons” is already a challenge, but we typically refer to inherited and collectively created goods, like air, oceans, and wildlife and shared institutions such as libraries, public spaces or scientific research.

In Michel Bauwens definition, what is peculiar about commons is that they are governed by a community - not by market-only or state-only mechanisms.

Michel is critical of both the market and state-led suppressions of local governance solutions to commons problems, where Max Border has a more proprietarian approach. These differences evolve into a deep discussion.

To Michel, proprietarian solutions aren’t necessarily bad - they can be enabling solutions for commons governance, especially empowered by the internet and blockchain technologies. Max Borders replies that this is a feature, not a bug - proprietarian / libertarian solutions are meant to enable pluralism.

Michel’s vision is one of "cosmo-local" dynamics, depicting a globally connected yet locally optimized system. As an open value network, co-production became pivotal in reallocating value from old systems to new ones through peer-to-peer capacities.

We discuss the role of cryptocurrency for community-focused economic networks, the paradox of "trustless" systems and the importance of peer-to-peer exchange. We also talk about the right "exit strategies", the concept of network states and the importance of building societies that benefit local communities. 

All of us want to encourage more governance experimentation. Experimentation allows us to try out different ideas, and technology empowers us to scale those solutions that work from the local to the global level.

More about Michel’s work:

* P2P Foundation

* LinkedIn

More about Max’s work:

* Underthrow Newsletter

* LinkedIn

Ever wondered where SEZs in Latam are already a backbone of the economy?

It’s in Uruguay, a country with stable governance, clear legal frameworks and many other advantages for export-focused businesses.

Uruguay did many things right to create a business-friendly environment. It’s touted as the safest spot in Latam, and enjoys a high degree of civil and economic freedom.

Now meet David Luftglass, the founder of the “Zenith” (TBD) Special Economic Zone. One of many zones, each with its unique flavor, from industrial science parks to towering structures tagged with the World Trade Center brand.

David illuminates how the SEZ program works. They’re in the works of getting an approved 10-year renewable tax exemption, a great starting advantage for new industrial businesses that already struggle with high capital costs.

It's like a sandbox for entrepreneurs, and the best part?

The process is not a black box like it is for many other SEZs (Honduras had a great advantage there too, but the new government in power is damaging this). There are clear processes, templates, and even law firms to guide you through.

But here's the beauty of it—these benefits aren't exclusive to big players.

David is an experienced founder, but it’s still a new business not backed by $100+ millions like a big corporation. Tax exemptions for income, corporate gains, VAT, and export taxes for a startup. Imagine that!

So, what's the plan? David is building more than just a city; he's building a community that builds many things from ag-tech to health and wellness, from true algae marvels to longevity labs, and even a nod to the cannabis and mushroom enthusiasts—these SEZs can become melting pots.

Think co-working on steroids, with incubators and spaces where dreamers meet doers. And the perks? They're not reserved for the elite. Anyone stepping into the SEZ world gets a taste of the benefits.

So, if you're reading this and your entrepreneurial spirit is tingling, Uruguay is calling. Uruguay's SEZs aren't just zones; they're an invitation to be part of a movement.

Connect with David:

* LinkedIn

Learn more about how Infinita supports founders overcoming regulatory bottlenecks through startup cities, network states, and crypto rails, to unleash a new wave of technological progress.