On this episode of WellBuilt, Jon sat down with Amir Ansari, serial entrepreneur, technologist, philanthropist, and father. Amir shares the arc of his entrepreneurial journey, from co-founding Telecom Technologies during the dawn of the internet, to helping launch the Ansari XPRIZE, the competition that ignited today's commercial space sector, to building Prodea Systems and holding more than 70 patents. Today, Amir leads XFoundry at the University of Maryland, an innovation engine designed to empower students to solve society's hardest problems through competition-driven, multidisciplinary teamwork. They discussed how moonshot thinking translates into real-world systems: how to train the next generation of solutionists, why universities must evolve in the age of AI, and how XFoundry is preparing students to build companies that can impact everything from mental health to national security to life beyond Earth. The conversation covers: 🧠 Amir's "three-leg journey" of entrepreneurship and the lessons that shaped how he builds companies, teams, and IP. 🏫 Why he believes universities must shift from majors to "personas," and how multidisciplinary collaboration unlocks real innovation. 🛰️ Inside XFoundry's model: competitions, seed funding, NASA partnerships, and the practical training students need for a post-AI world. 🔭 Preparing students for the future of space and human resilience, including NASA's ambitions for 2040 lunar habitation. 👨👦 How becoming a father reshaped Amir's worldview, from early childhood learning to raising adaptable, focused, emotionally resilient kids. 🎾 His fascinating approach to parenting: memory training, attention-building, multilingual exposure, sports, music, and the centrality of time. 🌱 Why the next great innovators must be well-rounded, emotionally aware, and capable of integrating technology with human insight. 🤝 How entrepreneurs, parents, educators, and industry leaders can get involved with XFoundry to support the next generation of problem-solvers. Enjoy!
