Stranded Technologies Podcast Niklas Anzinger

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


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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


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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


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“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.
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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.


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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.


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