Spirit of Innovation
Spirit of Innovation members are a small group of donors who provide the seed capital used to design, fund and launch X PRIZEs and X CHALLENGEs as well as support the ongoing mission of the Foundation. Becoming a Spirit of Innovation member allows you to also participate with your ideas, passion and connections. To find out how you can help support the X PRIZE Foundation by becoming a Spirit of Innovation member, please click here.
Life Sciences
Peter Farrell has served as ResMed's Executive Chairman of the Board since January 1, 2008. He has been a director of the Company since June 1989 and served as Chief Executive Officer from July 1990 until December 2007. From ResMed’s inception until September 2004, Dr. Farrell was also ResMed’s President. Effective January 28, 2011, the Board appointed Dr. Farrell to serve again as Chief Executive Officer and President.
From July 1984 to June 1989, Dr. Farrell served as Vice President, Research and Development at various subsidiaries of Baxter International, Inc. (“Baxter”), and from August 1985 to June 1989, he also served as Managing Director of the Baxter Center for Medical Research Pty Ltd., a subsidiary of Baxter. From January 1978 to December 1989, he was Foundation Director of the Center (now Graduate School) for Biomedical Engineering at the University of New South Wales where he currently serves as a Visiting Professor.
He holds a B.E. in chemical engineering with honors from the University of Sydney, an S.M. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and bioengineering from the University of Washington, Seattle and a D.Sc. from the University of New South Wales.
Dr. Farrell was named 1998 San Diego Entrepreneur of the Year for Health Sciences, Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001 and US National Entrepreneur of the Year for 2005 in Health Sciences. He has been a member of the Executive Council of the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine since 1998, and was named Chairman on July 1, 2010. In addition to his responsibilities with ResMed, Dr. Farrell is a director of NuVasive, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed company that develops and markets products for the surgical treatment of spine disorders, and is the non-executive chair of QRxPharma, a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company listed on the ASX. He is a Fellow or Honorary Fellow of several professional bodies.
Peter Farrell has served as ResMed's Executive Chairman of the Board since January 1, 2008. He has been a director of the Company since June 1989 and served as Chief Executive Officer from July 1990 until December 2007. From ResMed’s inception until September 2004, Dr. Farrell was also ResMed’s President. Effective January 28, 2011, the Board appointed Dr. Farrell to serve again as Chief Executive Officer and President.
From July 1984 to June 1989, Dr. Farrell served as Vice President, Research and Development at various subsidiaries of Baxter International, Inc. (“Baxter”), and from August 1985 to June 1989, he also served as Managing Director of the Baxter Center for Medical Research Pty Ltd., a subsidiary of Baxter. From January 1978 to December 1989, he was Foundation Director of the Center (now Graduate School) for Biomedical Engineering at the University of New South Wales where he currently serves as a Visiting Professor.
He holds a B.E. in chemical engineering with honors from the University of Sydney, an S.M. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and bioengineering from the University of Washington, Seattle and a D.Sc. from the University of New South Wales.
Dr. Farrell was named 1998 San Diego Entrepreneur of the Year for Health Sciences, Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001 and US National Entrepreneur of the Year for 2005 in Health Sciences. He has been a member of the Executive Council of the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine since 1998, and was named Chairman on July 1, 2010. In addition to his responsibilities with ResMed, Dr. Farrell is a director of NuVasive, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed company that develops and markets products for the surgical treatment of spine disorders, and is the non-executive chair of QRxPharma, a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company listed on the ASX. He is a Fellow or Honorary Fellow of several professional bodies.
Education & Global Development
Naveen Jain is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and a technology pioneer. He is a founder and CEO of Intelius, a company that empowers more than 15 million consumers with information to make intelligent decisions about personal safety and security. Prior to Intelius, Jain founded InfoSpace, a successful dotcom company and innovative developer of mobile software and application services. Jain took the company public in 1998 on the NASDAQ and served as CEO until December 2002. Before starting InfoSpace, Jain was a senior executive at Microsoft Corporation.
Naveen Jain is Co-Chairman of Education and Global Development at the X PRIZE Foundation where he is focused on finding entrepreneurial solutions to address the global challenges in education, poverty, agriculture, health, and clean water. Naveen is currently focused on finding ways to use advances in science to solve problems that, on the surface, look like infrastructure problems. He is exploring a challenge to develop “Digital Doctor,” an AI-based expert system that aims to improve access to primary care physicians around the world. He is determined to find ways to use neuro-plasticity to create better learners and develop neuroscience-based multi-sensory video games that are effective and additive for teaching students skills like math, science and history.
Naveen Jain is a trustee of the board of Singularity University, an interdisciplinary university whose mission is to educate and inspire leaders to address humanity’s grand challenges through innovative technologies and also a member of Pacific Council on International Policy.
Naveen Jain has been awarded many honors for his entrepreneurial successes and leadership skills including “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year”, “Albert Einstein Technology Medal” for pioneers in technology, “Top 20 Entrepreneurs” by Red Herring, “Six People Who Will Change the Internet” by Information Week. His success with Intelius has earned such accolades as “Best New Company” by the American Business Awards, Puget Sound Business Journal’s “One of Washington’s Top Three Best Workplaces”, “Rising Star” in Deloitte & Touche’s Technology Fast 500 Program, “America’s Top 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies” by Inc. Magazine and has been listed amongst the top 15 Corporate Philanthropists in the community. Most recently, Red Herring presented him with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his continued leadership in the technology industry and his support of other entrepreneurs.
Naveen Jain and his family are actively engaged in many philanthropic activities and have generously contributed to an assortment of organizations dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship, and education. Many organizations have benefitted from their charitable activities including; The X PRIZE Foundation, The The Intrepid Museum, United Way of King County, Seattle Children’s Hospital, HopeLink, Bellevue LifeSpring, Treehouse for Kids, Boys and Girls Club, America India Foundation, Vedic Cultural Center, Seattle Art Museum, Children Rights & You and the University of Washington.
"The X PRIZE Foundation is a unique group of thought leaders who personally get involved and contribute to solving the largest challenges in the world. I find that working alongside these various experts, and funding X PRIZEs inspires creative innovation and rewards these bigger bets of exponential breakthroughs that are stifled in some vertical industries today. Just imagine that anyone has a chance to take their idea and prove their concept in an X PRIZE and change the world as we know it. This is entrepreneurship open to all scientists, college kids, graduates, PhD’s who have amazing ideas and need funding to realize these dreams." - Naveen Jain
Naveen Jain is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and a technology pioneer. He is a founder and CEO of Intelius, a company that empowers more than 15 million consumers with information to make intelligent decisions about personal safety and security. Prior to Intelius, Jain founded InfoSpace, a successful dotcom company and innovative developer of mobile software and application services. Jain took the company public in 1998 on the NASDAQ and served as CEO until December 2002. Before starting InfoSpace, Jain was a senior executive at Microsoft Corporation.
Naveen Jain is Co-Chairman of Education and Global Development at the X PRIZE Foundation where he is focused on finding entrepreneurial solutions to address the global challenges in education, poverty, agriculture, health, and clean water. Naveen is currently focused on finding ways to use advances in science to solve problems that, on the surface, look like infrastructure problems. He is exploring a challenge to develop “Digital Doctor,” an AI-based expert system that aims to improve access to primary care physicians around the world. He is determined to find ways to use neuro-plasticity to create better learners and develop neuroscience-based multi-sensory video games that are effective and additive for teaching students skills like math, science and history.
Naveen Jain is a trustee of the board of Singularity University, an interdisciplinary university whose mission is to educate and inspire leaders to address humanity’s grand challenges through innovative technologies and also a member of Pacific Council on International Policy.
Naveen Jain has been awarded many honors for his entrepreneurial successes and leadership skills including “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year”, “Albert Einstein Technology Medal” for pioneers in technology, “Top 20 Entrepreneurs” by Red Herring, “Six People Who Will Change the Internet” by Information Week. His success with Intelius has earned such accolades as “Best New Company” by the American Business Awards, Puget Sound Business Journal’s “One of Washington’s Top Three Best Workplaces”, “Rising Star” in Deloitte & Touche’s Technology Fast 500 Program, “America’s Top 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies” by Inc. Magazine and has been listed amongst the top 15 Corporate Philanthropists in the community. Most recently, Red Herring presented him with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his continued leadership in the technology industry and his support of other entrepreneurs.
Naveen Jain and his family are actively engaged in many philanthropic activities and have generously contributed to an assortment of organizations dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship, and education. Many organizations have benefitted from their charitable activities including; The X PRIZE Foundation, The The Intrepid Museum, United Way of King County, Seattle Children’s Hospital, HopeLink, Bellevue LifeSpring, Treehouse for Kids, Boys and Girls Club, America India Foundation, Vedic Cultural Center, Seattle Art Museum, Children Rights & You and the University of Washington.
"The X PRIZE Foundation is a unique group of thought leaders who personally get involved and contribute to solving the largest challenges in the world. I find that working alongside these various experts, and funding X PRIZEs inspires creative innovation and rewards these bigger bets of exponential breakthroughs that are stifled in some vertical industries today. Just imagine that anyone has a chance to take their idea and prove their concept in an X PRIZE and change the world as we know it. This is entrepreneurship open to all scientists, college kids, graduates, PhD’s who have amazing ideas and need funding to realize these dreams." - Naveen Jain
In 1994 Atul Jain founded TEOCO – an abbreviation of ‘The Employee Owned Company’ – with a dream of building a successful business model, not just a successful business. His goal was to build a company founded on the idea of principled entrepreneurship and employee ownership.
Today, TEOCO is a market leading multi-national organization – with operations in the US, Israel, India, and the UK – providing cost, routing, revenue and network management solutions to top communications service providers worldwide. Fueled by industry leading expertise and innovative technologies, TEOCO saved its 50+ customers several hundred million dollars last year alone.
With increasing profits and a major growth trajectory TEOCO has been ranked in Inc. Magazine's List of the fastest growing privately held companies on three separate occasions.
In 1994 Atul Jain founded TEOCO – an abbreviation of ‘The Employee Owned Company’ – with a dream of building a successful business model, not just a successful business. His goal was to build a company founded on the idea of principled entrepreneurship and employee ownership.
Today, TEOCO is a market leading multi-national organization – with operations in the US, Israel, India, and the UK – providing cost, routing, revenue and network management solutions to top communications service providers worldwide. Fueled by industry leading expertise and innovative technologies, TEOCO saved its 50+ customers several hundred million dollars last year alone.
With increasing profits and a major growth trajectory TEOCO has been ranked in Inc. Magazine's List of the fastest growing privately held companies on three separate occasions.
John Raymonds is currently the Manager, CIO of Raymonds Capital, LLC. His original background is in the rigid plastic packaging industry leading the successful growth of two private businesses - one domestic to the US and one in Europe. Combined with strong organic growth, acquisitions played a key factor domestically by growing the business while always focusing on integration and synergistic results. The first two acquisitions were performed while being a sole owner and three more used the resources of a Private Equity partner. In the end, the top line sales grew to almost seven times that of the base business and profitability rose to ratios that were amongst the highest for our type of conversion processing. The current focus in Europe is taking advantage of recapitalizing key parts of our process while growing a management team to successfully lead organic expansion while tacking on key acquisition targets.
In addition to the legacy core operating business units there is always a search for specific and unique direct investment opportunities which have a story that can be told through the tough economic times we are currently in providing significant head winds to most traditional ventures. Recent work includes being the lead investor bringing back the Reading Rainbow brand at RRKidz.com as well as a founding partner at Bron Studios in Vancouver, BC.
On the philanthropic side Education has always been a focus. In 1986 John graduated from MIT with a SB - Bachelor of Science in Course 6.1 - Electrical Engineering and in 2005 the John Raymonds (1986) Scholarship fund at MIT was started. Outside of higher education John served on the Board of Trustees for an NAIS school for 8 years and in his personal life self-development is always a point of focus. Mr. Raymonds believes in living a balanced life, focusing on family and friends, and where appropriate helping them to grow their own lives. He is a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, a Level II certified flier with both the Tripoli Rocketry Association, Inc. and the National Association of Rocketry. He is also a photographer and video enthusiast who loves to capture life as it happens - even on roller coasters or underwater while SCUBA diving!
John Raymonds is currently the Manager, CIO of Raymonds Capital, LLC. His original background is in the rigid plastic packaging industry leading the successful growth of two private businesses - one domestic to the US and one in Europe. Combined with strong organic growth, acquisitions played a key factor domestically by growing the business while always focusing on integration and synergistic results. The first two acquisitions were performed while being a sole owner and three more used the resources of a Private Equity partner. In the end, the top line sales grew to almost seven times that of the base business and profitability rose to ratios that were amongst the highest for our type of conversion processing. The current focus in Europe is taking advantage of recapitalizing key parts of our process while growing a management team to successfully lead organic expansion while tacking on key acquisition targets.
In addition to the legacy core operating business units there is always a search for specific and unique direct investment opportunities which have a story that can be told through the tough economic times we are currently in providing significant head winds to most traditional ventures. Recent work includes being the lead investor bringing back the Reading Rainbow brand at RRKidz.com as well as a founding partner at Bron Studios in Vancouver, BC.
On the philanthropic side Education has always been a focus. In 1986 John graduated from MIT with a SB - Bachelor of Science in Course 6.1 - Electrical Engineering and in 2005 the John Raymonds (1986) Scholarship fund at MIT was started. Outside of higher education John served on the Board of Trustees for an NAIS school for 8 years and in his personal life self-development is always a point of focus. Mr. Raymonds believes in living a balanced life, focusing on family and friends, and where appropriate helping them to grow their own lives. He is a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, a Level II certified flier with both the Tripoli Rocketry Association, Inc. and the National Association of Rocketry. He is also a photographer and video enthusiast who loves to capture life as it happens - even on roller coasters or underwater while SCUBA diving!
Energy & Environment
Rena Shulsky David is president and CEO of Shire Realty, a New York City real estate firm that specializes in sustainable development and management of commercial property. She is a former Development Manager for the City of Boston, appointed by the mayor to manage the redevelopment and revitalization of several of Boston's hardest hit neighborhoods.
Ms. David is the founder of Green Seal and serves on its Board of Directors. Green Seal is the first and the most widely respected environmental seal of approval and now appears on major cities, hotel chains and products as well as companies around the world. The EMA-GREENSEAL has set the standards for environmentally sustainable television and movie productions, resulting in a major award each year in Hollywood. Ms. David is also co-producer of an upcoming major television series on global climate change.
Rena Shulsky David was a founding partner of GlobalVision, a New York television production company. The company produced and aired the award-winning program "South Africa Now", the first major television show to focus on the horrors of apartheid. The show was acknowledged on the floor of the UN as being instrumental in the fall of apartheid.
She is a founding member of The Social Venture Network, a network of CEOs committed to running their business in a socially responsible manner. During her tenure as a member of the board of SVN, Ms. David was instrumental in the creation of the organization's International Standards for Corporate Social Responsibility.
During her tenure as a member of the Board of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, her long-time interest in integrative medicine led her to be instrumental in the creation of The Continuum Center for Health and Healing. The Center is the first integrative center associated with a major hospital in New York. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai Hospital, also in New York. This center helps examine the association of childhood diseases with toxic chemicals in our environment.
Rena Shulsky David holds a degree in Political Science from Boston University with a concentration in Soviet Foreign Policy. While still an undergraduate, she was admitted to a graduate program in English literature at Oxford University in England.
Dr. Sami S. David is a world acclaimed expert in holistic fertility and medical director of Fifth Avenue Fertility, the nation's leading integrative fertility center. He is a strong believer in achieving pregnancies without IVF and heavy fertility drugs He is the author of the international bestselling book, “Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program For Maximum Fertility.”
Dr. Sami David has dedicated his life to helping countless women conceive and carry babies to term. At the age of 14, he decided he would become a doctor. By the time a young Dr. David finished his residency, he knew he was destined for a life’s work in the disciplines of infertility and endocrinology.
The first doctor in New York State to perform a successful in vitro fertilization, Dr. David has quickly turned against IVF as the standard method for combating infertility. Noting that traditional fertility drugs simply produce more eggs while doing little to ensure those eggs impregnate and mature, Dr. David focuses his practice on identifying and treating the underlying cause of infertility, thus greatly increasing the chances for a successful pregnancy.
By following a traditional diagnostic medical approach and appropriate treatments, Dr. David has helped create thousands of pregnancies that have gone to term. Among his success stories are women who have failed in vitro attempts and been told by other doctors they were simply too old to conceive.
Dr. David received degrees from Columbia University and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons before completing his residency at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. He went on to complete his training as a reproductive endocrinologist at the University of Pennsylvania and is currently affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he performs any necessary fertility surgeries. Dr. David is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, American Society of Reproductive Medicine and American Society of Reproductive Immunology. He currently resides in New York City.
Rena Shulsky David is president and CEO of Shire Realty, a New York City real estate firm that specializes in sustainable development and management of commercial property. She is a former Development Manager for the City of Boston, appointed by the mayor to manage the redevelopment and revitalization of several of Boston's hardest hit neighborhoods.
Ms. David is the founder of Green Seal and serves on its Board of Directors. Green Seal is the first and the most widely respected environmental seal of approval and now appears on major cities, hotel chains and products as well as companies around the world. The EMA-GREENSEAL has set the standards for environmentally sustainable television and movie productions, resulting in a major award each year in Hollywood. Ms. David is also co-producer of an upcoming major television series on global climate change.
Rena Shulsky David was a founding partner of GlobalVision, a New York television production company. The company produced and aired the award-winning program "South Africa Now", the first major television show to focus on the horrors of apartheid. The show was acknowledged on the floor of the UN as being instrumental in the fall of apartheid.
She is a founding member of The Social Venture Network, a network of CEOs committed to running their business in a socially responsible manner. During her tenure as a member of the board of SVN, Ms. David was instrumental in the creation of the organization's International Standards for Corporate Social Responsibility.
During her tenure as a member of the Board of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, her long-time interest in integrative medicine led her to be instrumental in the creation of The Continuum Center for Health and Healing. The Center is the first integrative center associated with a major hospital in New York. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai Hospital, also in New York. This center helps examine the association of childhood diseases with toxic chemicals in our environment.
Rena Shulsky David holds a degree in Political Science from Boston University with a concentration in Soviet Foreign Policy. While still an undergraduate, she was admitted to a graduate program in English literature at Oxford University in England.
Dr. Sami S. David is a world acclaimed expert in holistic fertility and medical director of Fifth Avenue Fertility, the nation's leading integrative fertility center. He is a strong believer in achieving pregnancies without IVF and heavy fertility drugs He is the author of the international bestselling book, “Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program For Maximum Fertility.”
Dr. Sami David has dedicated his life to helping countless women conceive and carry babies to term. At the age of 14, he decided he would become a doctor. By the time a young Dr. David finished his residency, he knew he was destined for a life’s work in the disciplines of infertility and endocrinology.
The first doctor in New York State to perform a successful in vitro fertilization, Dr. David has quickly turned against IVF as the standard method for combating infertility. Noting that traditional fertility drugs simply produce more eggs while doing little to ensure those eggs impregnate and mature, Dr. David focuses his practice on identifying and treating the underlying cause of infertility, thus greatly increasing the chances for a successful pregnancy.
By following a traditional diagnostic medical approach and appropriate treatments, Dr. David has helped create thousands of pregnancies that have gone to term. Among his success stories are women who have failed in vitro attempts and been told by other doctors they were simply too old to conceive.
Dr. David received degrees from Columbia University and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons before completing his residency at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. He went on to complete his training as a reproductive endocrinologist at the University of Pennsylvania and is currently affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he performs any necessary fertility surgeries. Dr. David is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, American Society of Reproductive Medicine and American Society of Reproductive Immunology. He currently resides in New York City.
