New utopia?

One of the best parts about my job at Secfi is that I get to know brilliant and interesting people at startups all over the Bay Area and world. I am always humbled by the intelligence and drive of our clientele and I’m very lucky that my job is to help them.

I meet some awesome people and end up being friends with some of them. Today, I spoke to a long-time friend of Secfi who has been working with us and giving us feedback for about 2 years now. He’s been great and is now in need of assistance with his options. It’s always great catching up with him, but today he told me that he left his job as he’s looking to start a new city.

Yes, you heard that right. A city. Not a startup, but a new city.

As most, I was initially really taken aback by this. Did my friend lose his mind? Is he trying to start a cult? What the fuck?

The crazy part? The more I listened to him, the more the idea started to make more sense.

Perhaps city is not the right term. My friend is looking to start a community that may one day grow into a city. These types of communities exist already, they’re called communes. He wants to create a new community built around tech and an economy around remote work. This community may one day grow into a town, and perhaps one day a city. Not so crazy anymore is it?

Sometimes when we hear grandiose ideas, such as starting a new city, we tend to dismiss these things ideas for the simple fact that it is just inconceivable at this point in time. Most are also quick to dismiss how far society has come along. Internet with you at all times at all places seemed inconceivable just 15 years ago.

Perhaps in 15 years, I’ll look back at this blog post in my buddy’s new utopia community/town/city and laugh at the day.