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Demo Day 2022: It Takes All of Us

December 09, 2022

With democracy at risk, the global economy wobbling, climate negotiations failing, and war testing the world’s resolve, a word began surfacing late last year in the opinion pages of major papers like The New York Times and the Financial Times to describe the state of things: polycrisis. A polycrisis, per the Cascade Institute, is “any combination of three or more interacting systemic risks with the potential to cause a cascading, runaway failure of Earth’s natural and social systems that irreversibly and catastrophically degrades humanity’s prospects.”

In the face of such bleakness, we turn to creativity and beauty, imagination and hope. As we enter 2023, our most incisive leaders understand that our immense challenges can be overcome if we’re audacious enough to push forward, together. Last week at Emerson Collective’s Demo Day 2022 event, 13 visionary problem solvers with expertise fighting the thorniest societal challenges spoke about their work, their visions for a more just world, and their triumphs. Ranging from a healthtech startup founder to a pathbreaking photographer to a voting rights attorney, every speaker challenged the audience to do more in the face of the polycrisis—and delivered messages overflowing with optimism and hope. After experiencing Demo Day 2022, allow us to suggest three words to counter the doomsayers: proximity, inclusivity, and audacity.

From Emerson Collective’s Demo Day 2022

Demo Day 2023 Playlist

1 min
Demo Day 2022: It Takes All of Us
about-us
Watch
92 min
Demo Day 2023: Full Event
Watch
6 min
Demo Day 2023 - Devoted Health
Todd Park
health
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Recidiviz
Clementine Jacoby
technology
Watch
7 min
Demo Day 2023 - OHMCONNECT
Cisco DeVries
environment
Watch
2 min
Demo Day 2023: Garden
about-us
Watch
6 min
Demo Day 2023 - Tennessee House of Representatives
Harold M. Love, Jr.
education
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project
Conchita Cruz
immigration
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Chicago CRED
Necole Muhammad
gun-violence-reduction
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - The Atlantic
Nicholas Thompson
media-journalism
Watch
4 min
Demo Day 2023 - Think of Us
Sixto Cancel
socialInnovation
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - American Journalism Project
Sarabeth Berman
media-journalism
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Switch Bioworks
Tim Schnabel
environment
Watch
21 min
Demo Day 2023 - ARRAY
Ava DuVernay
media-journalism
Watch
7 min
Demo Day 2023 - Trombone Shorty Performance
Troy Andrews
Watch

Demo Day 2023 Playlist

1 min
Demo Day 2022: It Takes All of Us
about-us
Watch
92 min
Demo Day 2023: Full Event
Watch
6 min
Demo Day 2023 - Devoted Health
Todd Park
health
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Recidiviz
Clementine Jacoby
technology
Watch
7 min
Demo Day 2023 - OHMCONNECT
Cisco DeVries
environment
Watch
2 min
Demo Day 2023: Garden
about-us
Watch
6 min
Demo Day 2023 - Tennessee House of Representatives
Harold M. Love, Jr.
education
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project
Conchita Cruz
immigration
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Chicago CRED
Necole Muhammad
gun-violence-reduction
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - The Atlantic
Nicholas Thompson
media-journalism
Watch
4 min
Demo Day 2023 - Think of Us
Sixto Cancel
socialInnovation
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - American Journalism Project
Sarabeth Berman
media-journalism
Watch
5 min
Demo Day 2023 - Switch Bioworks
Tim Schnabel
environment
Watch
21 min
Demo Day 2023 - ARRAY
Ava DuVernay
media-journalism
Watch
7 min
Demo Day 2023 - Trombone Shorty Performance
Troy Andrews
Watch