Keynote Conversation: Backing the Mavericks and Mad Scientists the Nation Needs Now

Panel Description

In this conversation we’ll explore the current state of disruptive innovation and how the next generation of solutions could emerge from unconventional channels to include non-institutional entrepreneurs, mad scientists, and basement hackers.  Michael is the author of the book Paper Belt on Fire and currently a general partner at the 1517 Fund. Prior to that he established the Thiel Fellowship program which paid young adults to work on disruptive ideas instead of attending college. Notable awardees of the Thiel Fellowship include Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum inventor) and Dylan Field (CEO of Figma).

Matt Devost, CEO, OODA
Michael Gibson, author of Paper Belt on Fire and founder of the 1517 Fund

Panelists Biographies

Matt Devost is the CEO & Co-Founder of OODA LLC. Matt is a technologist, entrepreneur, and international security expert specializing in counterterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, intelligence, risk management and cyber-security issues. Matt co-founded the cyber security consultancy FusionX from 2010-2017. Matt was President & CEO of the Terrorism Research Center/Total Intel from 1996-2009.

By or featuring Matt Devost:

• OODA Almanac 2023 – Jagged Transitions
• OODAcast:  Michael Gibson Wants to Light the Paper Belt on Fire
• OODAcasts and Original Analysis at OODA Loop by Matt Devos
• Global Freqency

X: @MattDevost | LinkedIn

Michael Gibson  is co-founder and general partner at 1517. If the rust belt has come to define the hollowed-out industries of the Midwest, in the next ten years the paper belt will come to define the paper-based industries from Washington DC to Boston. In DC, they print money, visas, and laws on paper. In Delaware, companies incorporate on paper. In NYC, they print media on paper. And in Boston Harvard and MIT print diplomas on paper. Michael is dedicated to lighting the paper belt on fire.

X: @William_Blake | Michael Gibson at LinkedIn

By or featuring Michael Gibson:

• Paper Belt on Fire: How Renegade Investors Sparked a Revolt Against the University by Michael Gibson
• Thiel Fellowship program
• Blog site
• Articles – Former Forbes Contributor
• 1517 Fund 

Additional OODA Loop Resources

OODAcast Conversation – Michael Gibson Wants to Light the Paper Belt on Fire:  This OODAcast features a fascinating conversation with Michael Gibson, the author of the book “Paper Belt on Fire” who is also the co-founder of the Thiel Fellowship program and the 1517 Fund, both of which focus on identifying unconventional ideas and individuals that can drive disruptive innovation in technology, arts, and science.  In this interview we dive into the establishment of the Thiel Fellowship which attracted a lot of attention and detractors with a grant program that paid $100k to college aged students to skip the degree and work on passion projects. Michael followed this up with the formation of a venture capital fund that had a comparable investment thesis and has successfully invested in entrepreneurs emerging through unexpected channels and without college degrees.