Over the next 30 years, we will encounter some of the greatest transitions that any generation has ever had to face. Technological disruption is affecting every part of our lives...every business, every industry, every society. We believe that by leveraging exponential technologies, we have the opportunity to solve humanity’s biggest challenges. That’s what we call impact.
At Singularity University, we are working to facilitate a future of endless possibilities that is free from global problems. We believe that by catalyzing an exponentially transformed, engaged, and activated community of inspired solvers, startups, corporations, development organizations, governments, academic institutions, and investors, we can better address systemic problems we face globally today.
“SU was created to enable everyone to create exponential impact together… someone, somewhere is hoping for the positive impact you can bring to the world!”
—Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom
Chief Impact Officer, Singularity University
Our Impact Strategy
SU uses a methodology called the Theory of Change (ToC) to map out our strategy for impact. It helps us understand, in a very tangible way, how we make impact in the world, and directs our efforts and resources toward activities of highest impact. The ToC breaks down business goals and activities into four segments: inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact.
Inputs
Inputs are everything we do: our programs and initiatives that attract people to our community, transform their lives, enable them with tools and skills, and finally scale our mission globally.
Outputs
Outputs are the people we educate and transform. They are the amazing individuals who go out into the world and improve it every day.
Outcomes
Outcomes are the actions these people take, in the name of bettering our future. We call these outcomes “impact initiatives.”
Impact
Impact is the measurable change those outcomes bring about in people’s lives by providing basic needs, significantly improving quality of life, and mitigating existential risk in the global grand challenge categories.
Impact Initiatives
SU’s direct impact is through the educational programs and content that we provide to bring about exponential and abundant mindsets. As a result, our key measure of success is through the impact initiatives the SU community creates as evidence of their transformation.
SU tracks six types of impact initiatives:
- New companies
- Business innovation
- Research and development
- Policy creation/change
- Education and awareness
- Resource mobilization
That:
- Leverage exponential technology
- Have potential to impact billions of lives
- Address a global grand challenge
How We Measure and Report Impact
We’re constantly learning and experimenting with new ways to accurately measure and report impact in a rapidly changing world. Our online dashboard shows a live visualization of the data we collect, always available and always transparent. And our annual Impact Reports and Benefit Corporation Reports provide a handy reference to the work we’re doing and our adherence to state Benefit Corporation guidelines. We keep improving the data we collect as well as the impact metrics we can report on, and hope to be a model to others trying to create measurable impact.
View the Impact Dashboard
View our Annual Benefit Corporation Reports
Track Our Progress Toward Impact
See the impact that our community is having on the world
Our 2020 Goals
Our short-term goals that relate to our 5-year plan (and current results) are:
150
countries and territories participated
1,000,000
educated through our programs
1000
impact initiatives reported
Fostering Impact
We are building a global community that positively impacts billions of lives. That audacious vision can’t be achieved without providing support and recognition for impact everywhere we see it, and by equipping a new generation to shape the future in ways we haven’t yet dreamed.
SU Impact Scholars
The SU Impact Scholars Program is a unique opportunity to identify accomplished impact-driven individuals from around the globe who can serve as catalysts and instigators of exponential thinking and an abundance mindset in regions, disciplines, and communities we have not yet reached. SU Impact Scholars also have the opportunity to attend the SU Global Summit free of charge.
Impact Challenge for California
Our home state of California has a spirit of innovation. We embrace that spirit in an annual Impact Challenge, co-sponsored by a partner in the State of California, that frames a global challenge within a local context. The competition is open to anyone in the world and rewards highly scalable and transferable ideas that have potential for global reach.
Global Grand Challenge Awards
To demonstrate the potential for exponential technologies to solve humanity’s global grand challenges and create a future of abundance, we’re putting the world’s most promising social impact technology companies in the SU spotlight. We teamed up with development organizations and companies like charity:water, American Red Cross, the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology, SAP, Genentech, and many others to identify and showcase companies with great potential for human and economic impact in all 12 GGC companies.
Youth
Activating the next generation is critical to achieving our impact goals. We’re working with partners around the world to develop hands-on experiences, global challenges, and deeply integrated curriculum that teaches an exponential mindset and empowers young people to tackle the challenges that stand in the way of creating an abundant future.
Join Our Global Community
Now that you’re aware of how we foster, measure, and report impact, we welcome you to join our community to find others who share your commitment to creating positive impact in the world!
Get involved