Dear friends,

I’d like to request your support for an endeavor that will benefit the lives of over one billion people within 10 years. 

As you may know, I’m the co-founder and chancellor of Singularity University (SU), now in its third successful year. Each year, SU assembles an international class of the brightest graduate students — top achievers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds — to participate in our unique Singularity studies program.

Over the course of our curriculum, students learn about the game-changing technological and scientific breakthroughs that are shaping society, and that will dramatically alter humanity’s future. Armed with new tools for tracking, analyzing, engaging, and innovating in this space, our graduates emerge from the program as future leaders. Their applied knowledge will impact world affairs and economies, research and development, foundational sciences, entrepreneurism, the media and culture — broadly steering the coming era of ever-accelerating growth. SU challenges students to exploit innovation to solve humanity’s grand challenges.

The students and faculty of the inaugural Singularity University summer graduate studies program in 2009. (credit: Dave Lauridsen)

Our students exhibit incredible dedication. Traveling from over 30 countries, they come together at our Silicon Valley campus for one purpose — to leverage exponentially advancing technologies to improve the lives of over 1 billion people worldwide. 

Recruited from among 2,000 applicants for their academic achievements, leadership skills, and spirited humanitarianism — 80 selected students will soon convene for our 10-week summer program to innovate solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges: poverty, energy, security, education, space, and global health. 

SU is a non-profit institution backed by NASA, Google, Cisco, Nokia, Autodesk, Kauffman Foundation and ePlanet Ventures. 

These organizations cover the baseline operating costs. But we need your help to raise scholarships for these top students to attend our Graduate Studies Program. Please consider donating to help us assemble this amazing group from around the world. For those who contribute $100 or more, you’ll be given a chance to win a free Executive Program ($7,500 value) at the SU campus in Silicon Valley.

Please visit the following website for more information: Singularity University Scholarhsips on Crowdrise

Help us get this next generation of leaders to SU, so that they can launch the breakthrough businesses, innovations, and interdisciplinary understanding that will address the world’s grand challenges.

With my sincerest thanks,
Ray Kurzweil