I’m Adam.
I know a little about a lot and am more of a 0 to 1 than 1 to n type of person. I am an infovore and I work through ideas best when I have the opportunity to discuss or explain them to other people.
What keeps me busy right now:
- I’m raising two young boys to be the best possible versions of themselves.
- Βuilding Astylab, an idea machine for better cities – a network of people, projects and tools that turns urban frustration into experiments and solutions (engaging 1000+ urban innovators, researchers and city officials across meetups, digital platforms and programs).
- I also lead Astylab Ventures, an early-stage vehicle backing transformative impact startups, with over €1M deployed to date.
- I write about urban planning, sustainable mobility, philosophy, technology and more on my substack (>120k views). This augments my learning and shares my insights. It experiments with summarizing, reacting to, and highlighting daily thoughts and lessons. I may explore ideas without being sure of their quality and I might change my mind.
- I advise institutions, corporates and startups on innovation, finance & strategy.
Previously (in reverse chronological order):
Opinions & Reflections (strong, weakly held)
- My operating mode is Kazantzakian. ‘Don't be tempted to ask, “Will we win? Will we be defeated?” Just fight!’. Or, don’t judge success by outcomes, rather focus on growth and purpose.
- My biology is Stoic. "In your actions, don't procrastinate. In your conversations, don't confuse. In your thoughts, don't wander. In your soul, don't be passive or aggressive."
- My politics are Rawlsian. “The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.”
- My aesthetics are Solarpunk. “Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”