George Mason University Summit (2018)

George Mason University Event (2018): A Global Dialogue on Startup Societies and Experimental Governance

About the Event

Held at George Mason University in 2018, this landmark event convened leading thinkers, entrepreneurs, legal innovators, and technologists to reimagine how societies are built from the ground up.

The summit explored a new frontier: startup societies—small, experimental jurisdictions designed to test and scale better systems of governance, economics, and infrastructure.

Across panels, fireside chats, and keynote presentations, speakers addressed a diverse set of emerging models—from floating cities to blockchain-based governance, to self-sufficient food production in island nations.

This was more than a conference—it was the beginning of a decentralized, global conversation about how to create resilient and adaptive governance systems for the 21st century.

Watch the Full Playlist on YouTube

All the sessions from the George Mason University Event (2018) are available on our YouTube channel:



🔗 George Mason University Summit (2018)

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Speakers & Topics


1. Joseph McKinney – Opening Speech
2. Derek Magill & Michael Strong – Alternative Education
3. Titus Gebel – Government by Contract
4. John Cronin III – Infrastructure in Puerto Rico
5. Panel Discussion – Puerto Rico, Present and Future
6. Katarina Niedermair – The Age of Startup Societies
7. Russell Ward – 21st Century Agriculture
8. Panel Discussion – The Economics of Puerto Rico
9. Panel Discussion – Blockchain for the Future
10. Michael Strong – Education for Growth
11. Jaime Yordan Frau – Ponce, Puerto Rico
12. Dale Brown – Innovative Security Solutions
13. Rik Willard & Dan Bates – Blockchain Social Impact in Puerto Rico
14. Jesse Levine – Expeditionary Entrepreneurship
15. Erick Bremen – Solving Poverty through Better Governance
16. Tom W. Bell – SEZs in Puerto Rico
17. Lotta Moberg – Economic Zone Promises and Pitfalls
18. Max Borders – From a Mutual Aid Society to a Society of Mutual Aid
19. Matt McKibbin & Joseph McKinney – SEZs and Blockchain
20. Oliver Porter – How to Privatize a City
21. Joseph McKinney, Nathalie Mezza-Garcia, Joe Quirk – Seasteading
22. David Alvarez Geeter – Sustainable Puerto Rican Development
23. Panel Discussion – SEZs, Puerto Crypto, Jones Act
24. Panel Discussion – Securities, Past and Present, in Puerto Rico