Singularity University (SU) was established to assemble, educate, and inspire a new generation of leaders who strive to understand and utilize exponentially advancing technologies to address humanity’s grand challenges. One of SU’s flagship programs is a 10-week summer session for graduate and postgraduate students. The 2012 program generated 3,000 applicants for 80 class openings.
In 2010, Salim Ismail, executive director of Singularity University spoke at Filene’s big.bright.minds meeting. Two years later, CUNA’s National Credit Union Roundtable (NCUR) analyzed the question: Are credit unions indispensable? Filene eventually linked the Roundtable with Ismail which initiated a larger conversation on developing a 21st century roadmap for credit unions to increase their value to society.
Ultimately, SU and NCUR agreed to collaborate and this report examines how innovation in consumer finance can still be an effective mechanism for solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.