The Existential Innovation Revolution
The industrial revolutions of the past created billion-dollar industries. The next one will create trillion-dollar ecosystems.
👋 Hello! My mission with Beyond with Yon is to ignite awareness, inspire dialogue, and drive innovation to tackle humanity's greatest existential challenges. Join me on the journey to unf**ck the future and transform our world.
Key Takeaways
1️⃣ The Next Economy Will Be Built on Survival and Expansion
Solving civilization-scale challenges will provide the biggest economic opportunities of the 21st century. Industries like AI, biotech, space exploration, and climate innovation are not just survival strategies—they are trillion-dollar ecosystems that will define humanity’s future. Companies like SpaceX, Neuralink, and Altos Labs are already leading this charge.
2️⃣ From Disruption to Defense: Innovation as Resilience
The 21st century is no longer about convenience-based technologies but building existential resilience. AI shapes global power dynamics; biotech bolsters biosecurity and space infrastructure is becoming a defense and economic expansion pillar. The race to innovate is no longer just about efficiency but about ensuring humanity’s survival and stability.
3️⃣ Existential Technologies Create Exponential Wealth
Companies solving existential challenges today will build the trillion-dollar economies of tomorrow. AI is projected to contribute $4.4 trillion annually by 2030, the space economy will hit $1.8 trillion by 2035, and climate innovation represents a multi-trillion opportunity to reach net zero. The innovators and investors who embrace this shift will shape the architecture of the future.
Existential Innovation isn’t optional—it’s how we thrive.
The Existential Innovation Revolution
For centuries, the biggest breakthroughs in history—electricity, the printing press, the internet—have been about expanding human potential in incremental steps. But now, we’re at a crossroads—the next wave of innovation won’t just change industries but redefine what it means to be human.
We are standing on the edge of some insane predictions:
→ The first trillionaire will be an asteroid miner.
→ AI-driven economies will be bigger than many nations’ GDP.
→ The first human to live to 150 has already been born.
These aren’t hypotheticals. The technologies exist. The funding exists. The revolution is already happening. We’re not just talking about disruption. We’re talking about Existential Innovation—technologies and industries that will determine civilization's survival, expansion, and long-term prosperity.
Everything will change in ways that we can’t even begin to understand.
The Three Laws of Existential Innovation
1) The next economy will be built on survival and expansion
The next great economic revolution won’t come from apps, social media, or incremental efficiencies. It will come from solving civilization-scale challenges and determining whether humanity thrives or collapses.
The companies that extend human life, intelligence, and planetary reach will define the future. These aren’t just industries but also survival strategies that will unlock trillion-dollar opportunities while ensuring civilization's long-term prosperity. This includes:
→ AI is powering the intelligence economy
AI is no longer about replacing tasks but about redefining industries. AI systems are already automating creativity, coding, and scientific discovery. Companies like OpenAI, Google’s DeepMind, and Anthropic are building the foundations of a new intelligence economy where human-machine collaboration accelerates breakthroughs in medicine, energy, and climate modeling. Think of AI not as a “market” or “industry” but as the backbone of the future economy.
→ Biotech is rewriting the code of life
The biotech industry is poised to solve the most pressing health crises of our time while unlocking human potential. Companies like Altos Labs and Calico are pioneering anti-aging research that could extend life expectancy by decades. Meanwhile, advances in synthetic biology will allow us to grow materials, engineer biofuels, and revolutionize food systems. The future of health, sustainability, and resource creation will be built on biotech.
→ Space is the new battle of frontier exploration
The $1.8 trillion space economy isn’t just about exploration—it’s about creating new industries in orbit and beyond. The companies mining asteroids, building lunar habitats, and manufacturing in zero gravity will dominate the next industrial revolution. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and AstroForge aren’t just expanding humanity’s reach but creating new markets that underpin multi-planetary economies. In my recent essay on space, I wrote:
“Investing in space today is like investing in the internet in the 1990s: The commercial space sector has attracted over $338.7 billion in private investment since 2009 (ref. Space Capital). But the most significant investment opportunities aren’t just in rockets—they’re in satellites (86% of investment), AI-driven Earth data analytics, global broadband, and space-based infrastructure.”
→ Energy will deliver an abundance without limits
Energy scarcity has defined human history, but technologies like fusion power, space-based solar farms, and advanced grid storage promise to unlock an era of unlimited energy. Helion Energy and First Light Fusion are racing to commercialize fusion energy, while space-based solar companies aim to deliver continuous power to Earth. The companies solving energy abundance will eliminate bottlenecks for every other industry.
2) Innovation is moving from disruption to defense
The 21st century will not be defined by incremental growth or convenience-based technologies. Instead, it will be a race to build existential resilience against the challenges threatening our survival and stability. AI, biotech, energy, and space are global security and expansion pillars.
→ AI is the new battleground
Artificial intelligence isn’t just about improving productivity or automating workflows—it’s now at the heart of global power dynamics. Countries and companies are racing to build AI systems that enhance national security, predict cyberattacks, and even autonomously manage defense strategies. The rise of generative AI is accelerating real-time threat analysis, autonomous surveillance, and advanced military logistics. Governments that fail to lead in AI development risk losing control of their national security frameworks entirely. That’s why countries like the UK are deploying national AI Action Plans.
I keep going back to one of the most striking quotes from Henry Kissinger's book The Age of AI and Our Human Future (co-authored with Eric Schmidt and Daniel Huttenlocher) that touches on AI's power dynamics:
“AI’s rise will reorder human values and the balance of power across the world, as decisively as the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution once did.”
Kissinger’s quote reinforces that AI is not just a technological shift but a transformative force that will alter global hierarchies, reshape societal norms, and challenge the frameworks through which power and progress are understood. It also underscores AI’s position as a civilization-defining force with geopolitical, economic, and ethical implications on par with humanity's most pivotal revolutions. We already see it playing out between the US and China.
→ Biotech is driving biosecurity and human resilience
Biotechnology is transforming from a tool for innovation into a critical line of defense. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the devastating impact of biosecurity vulnerabilities. Companies like Moderna and Ginkgo Bioworks are leading efforts to create AI-driven vaccine platforms, rapid genetic sequencing, and biomanufacturing capabilities to prepare for future pandemics. Beyond pandemics, breakthroughs in human enhancement and synthetic biology will bolster physical and cognitive resilience in ways fundamentally altering global health systems.
→ Space is the next major frontier for defense and expansion
Space has become the next frontier for global security. Satellite constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink provide secure communication channels for defense applications, while anti-satellite weapons and orbital militarization introduce new risks. The companies building space-based infrastructure—from defense satellites to orbital factories—are not just contributing to economic expansion but are creating a strategic advantage for nations and corporations that cannot be ignored.
In my recent essay on space, I wrote:
The future of space will be defined by who gets there first: Space governance is at an inflection point. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 promised space as the “province of all mankind,” but today, it’s dominated by a few powerful nations and corporations. The Artemis Accords have created a U.S.-led framework for lunar exploration, but China and Russia have rejected it, developing their own lunar alliance. The absence of enforceable international laws means that, right now, space is effectively ruled by whoever gets there first—with the best funding and technology. If governance doesn't evolve fast enough, this could lead to resource monopolization, geopolitical tensions, and even militarization.
→ Cybersecurity is the core digital defense layer
As economies and governments digitize, the risks of cyberattacks have reached existential proportions. Global cybercrime costs are estimated to surpass $15 trillion annually by 2029. Innovations in quantum computing, blockchain, and AI-powered defense tools will shape the future of secure, decentralized digital systems that underpin global stability.
This shift from disruption to defense is reshaping our thinking about innovation. The next wave of technological progress will not be judged by how much it entertains us but by how effectively it protects, empowers, and expands humanity.
3) Exponential technology creates exponential wealth
The companies solving existential challenges aren’t just reshaping industries but building the next trillion-dollar ecosystems. These are the businesses that will define the future of human civilization by addressing problems once thought unsolvable.
→ AI as a wealth multiplier
AI is not just automating tasks but unlocking entirely new economic paradigms. With AI projected to contribute $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy by 2030, the opportunities lie in new markets that didn’t exist five years ago. Think AI-powered drug discovery platforms, autonomous logistics, and synthetic media. Builders and investors who spot the AI-driven shift from labor-based to intelligence economies will ride the next wave of wealth creation.
In their research from 2019, Daron Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepo argue:
Technological advancements, particularly automation, often displace labor in existing tasks but simultaneously create opportunities for labor in entirely new tasks. The net impact of automation on employment and wages depends critically on the rate at which new tasks are created to offset the displacement caused by automation.
This means that the dual impact of automation on labor markets requires us to foster technologies and policies that create opportunities for workers rather than solely focusing on efficiency and cost-cutting.
→ Biotech will redefine value
Biotechnology is revolutionizing the economics of health, agriculture, and materials. Companies focused on longevity, regenerative medicine, and synthetic biology will lead markets estimated to grow into the trillions. Biotech is creating value chains where none existed before, from lab-grown meats to genetically modified crops that resist climate extremes. The first trillion-dollar biotech company will not just treat disease—it will engineer health and sustainability at scale.
→ Space as an infinity market
The space economy represents an infinite opportunity for economic expansion. Asteroid mining, lunar colonization, and orbital manufacturing will create new industries. The companies that commercialize these resources will unlock trillions in value and ensure that Earth’s physical limits do not limit humanity’s economic growth. The first company to establish scalable asteroid mining could alone be worth trillions.
In my space essay, I wrote:
Space isn’t just a destination - it reflects who we are and what we value. Today’s decisions will determine whether we use this frontier to unite humanity or divide it further. From the Artemis Accords to the innovations of SpaceX, we are shaping the infrastructure of a new era. But infrastructure is only as good as the intentions behind it. To make space a force for good, we need modern global governance, accessible technologies, and ethical stewardship, so we can preserve space as a shared heritage and opportunity for future generations.
→ Climate technology will evolve from cost to asset
The narrative around climate solutions is shifting from "cost" to "opportunity." Carbon capture, renewable energy, and circular economies create profitable pathways to net zero. Companies like Tesla redefined transportation, but the next wave of trillion-dollar climate tech companies will reinvent entire supply chains, infrastructure, and energy systems. No one expresses the climate tech opportunity better than Chris Sacca, co-founder of Lowercarbon Capital:
Fixing the planet is just good business. Shame and guilt won’t get us there, markets will.
Those who recognize these exponential shifts early will be the architects of the future. Just as industrial revolutions created unprecedented wealth for those who built the foundational technologies, the Existential Innovation era will reward those bold enough to bet on solutions that matter for the next century. And these companies won’t just create new industries—they’ll create the foundation for entirely new economies. This is what an exponential transformation looks like.
The bottom line is that existential innovation is a necessity. Companies, builders, and leaders who embrace it will mitigate risks, create a thriving future for humanity, and reshape civilization.
Existential Breakthroughs: Unf**king the Future
History doesn’t belong to those who wait. It belongs to those who build. The future will be shaped by bold thinkers, builders, and investors who are ready to tackle the biggest challenges of our time. Here’s where the most transformative breakthroughs are happening:
The Intelligence Revolution: AI & Human-AI Integration
AI is no longer just a tool—it’s becoming the foundation of entirely new economies. Here’s what’s next:
→ Neural interfaces and AI synergy: Imagine humans thinking at the speed of AI. Companies like Neuralink and Kernel are pioneering brain-computer interfaces that could blur the line between human cognition and machine intelligence.
→ AGI and autonomous organizations: AI is already creating content, writing code, and designing drugs. What happens when entire companies are run by AI systems, optimizing processes at speeds no human could match?
The Biotech & Longevity Revolution
Biotechnology is rewriting the rules of life itself. It’s not just about curing diseases anymore but enhancing and extending human life. Here’s what’s next:
→ Regenerative medicine and life extension: Bank of America predicted that the anti-aging industry would exceed $600 billion by 2025, driven by gene therapies and cellular reprogramming breakthroughs. Imagine a future where aging becomes a treatable condition.
→ Biomanufacturing and synthetic life: We’re shifting from mining resources to growing them. Lab-grown meat and bioengineered crops could revolutionize agriculture and construction, making sustainability scalable.
→ Biosecurity and pandemic prevention: The COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have cost the global economy $28 trillion in lost output. With AI-driven early detection systems and rapid vaccine platforms, we can prevent the next pandemic before it starts.
Space Colonization & A Multi-Planetary Future
The greatest wealth of the 21st century won’t come from Earth—it will be created in space. Here’s what’s next:
→ Lunar and Martian colonization: Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Axiom Space are laying the groundwork for off-world settlements. These are the beginnings of entirely new economies.
→ Asteroid mining and space manufacturing: Companies like AstroForge are developing the tools to harvest rare metals and build infrastructure in orbit. The first trillionaire may be the one who mines an asteroid (unless Elon gets there first).
→ Energy abundance and Dyson swarms: The sun emits 3.8 x 10^26 watts every second, and 99.99% of it goes unused. Space-based solar power and Dyson swarm concepts could make energy scarcity a thing of the past.
The New Climate Economy
Climate change is one of the greatest existential challenges of our time, but it’s also a massive economic opportunity. Here’s what’s next:
→ Geoengineering and climate repair: Carbon capture, stratospheric aerosols, and next-gen renewable technologies are shaping a trillion-dollar industry focused on reversing climate change at scale.
→ Synthetic ecosystems and bioengineering: From rebuilding coral reefs to engineering climate-resistant crops, bioengineering enables us to terraform our planet and repair damaged ecosystems.
→ Circular manufacturing and the carbon economy: Imagine turning carbon emissions into valuable assets. The companies leading in circular economies could define the next industrial revolution.
The Future of Reality & Human Perception
As technology evolves, so does our understanding of reality itself. What happens when perception becomes programmable? Here’s what’s next:
→ AI-driven mixed reality: The next generation of augmented and virtual reality will be driven by neuroscience. It will adapt to real-time cognition and fundamentally change how we create, learn, and connect.
→ Consciousness research: We might be on the brink of decoding consciousness. This breakthrough could redefine how we think about intelligence, identity, and even human rights.
→ Reality as a service: Imagine a world where reality can be designed, customized, and experienced on demand.
Will You Own A Piece of the Future?
For investors, this is the biggest opportunity in human history. We’re looking at the emergence of several trillion-dollar ecosystems:
→ AI & Automation: $4.4 trillion by 2030 (source)
→ Space Economy: $1.8 trillion by 2035 (source)
→ Biotech & Longevity: $3.6 trillion by 2040 (source)
→ Climate: $10 trillion is needed annually (2031-2050) to reach net zero (source)
Those who fund, build, and scale breakthroughs in these ecosystems will make the biggest fortunes of the 21st century and will play an instrumental role in transforming our world for generations to come.
And this is just the beginning.
We are on the cusp of a civilization-level transformation. The industrial revolutions of the past created billion-dollar industries, and the next one will create trillion-dollar ecosystems.
Existential Innovation isn’t optional—it’s how we thrive.
Thanks for reading,
Yon
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AI assistants were used to help research and edit this essay.