“The speed of an airplane, the convenience of a metro, the comfort of an elevator, the cost of a bus ticket”
So, displayed above is the updated slogan for the Hyperloop One organization. Though it may be a slight exaggeration, per what we expect from a marketing campaign, I insist that leaders are those who don’t believe in limits. Thanks to a recent video posted by Web Summit, we are able to glimpse into the minds of two of the current leaders for the Hyperloop concept, Josh Giegel and Shervin Pishevar, and see how they plan to push through boundaries.
The fact is that the Hyperloop One organization grew from being an inside the garage think-tank to a global network consisting of hundreds of employees, all the while managing to raise roughly $160 million for the newborn concept. On the surface, this strikes us business-minded folks as an impressive feat accomplished in such a short period of time. However, thinking bigger-picture, their progress so far is indicative of how even the (seemingly-so) craziest abstracts can boost themselves into becoming projects with true market potential.
“How does one move forward from the initial idea phase?,” the moderator asks. Shervin responds, “by using the same mechanical systems [existent today] in unique ways.”
The technology available for you to complete a certain task are only the initial obstacles, which comprise the external forces. However, maintaining both the vision and will to push through shall precede and outweigh the environment’s circumstances. Shervin Pishevar seems to agree, claiming that the decision to bring Hyperloop to Dubai was based on this exact principle.
In the interview, Giegel takes us on a ride (view the clip below) through another innovative proposal they refer to as the autonomous pod. Essentially, the device should transport you (or the cargo) from set location to a public portal, entering a set of terminals (imagine an airport shuttle bus), which are connected to the Hyperloop.
“You can go from ordering something,” Pishevar explains, “to manufacturing and distributing it all within a 48-72 hour period of time”
The potential benefits for our public transportation system are tremendous in the realms of time and space. More so, at least in regards to administrators and investors, is the proposed economic value of transporting cargo. For starters, think global markets and about all the goods and services we demand on a daily basis.
Ending this week’s update on the Hyperloop with a bit of inspirational advice from Pishevar himself – “Surround yourselves with value creators not value extractors” and you just might make what you want out of any situation handed to you.
