Dark Matter Labs

Introducing Hard Imagination & Adjunct Futures How can venture capital fund a better world? By expanding its horizons—and embracing what we call Hard Imagination. Today, we’re excited to announce Accept & Proceed's collaboration with Dark Matter Labs and Hard Art on a project that challenges the limits of current venture capital thinking and offers a vision for a freer, larger future. The starting point? Marc Andreessen’s 'Techno-Optimist Manifesto' and its critiques. But this is not a critique for the sake of critique—it’s a call to action. Our newly released “dark white paper,” Hard Imagination, asks VCs to think beyond their extractive, short-term cycles. Together, we propose a framework for investments that cultivate long-term, radical possibilities—designed to outlast 5-year fund horizons and product-based returns. Indy Johar of Dark Matter Labs describes it perfectly:  “This future requires hard imagination, and it cannot be constrained by capital—but the structures of capital must serve the plausible and the necessary.” A&P founder David Johnston adds: “Hard Imagination invites individuals, communities, and industries to reimagine what is possible and step boldly into the future. This is not a solitary endeavour. It is a collective movement, driven by alliances and collaborations that strengthen our shared human experience. To design for the future, we must describe the future we are designing for. This project challenges us to awaken to a new reality, one where imagination is not just inspiration but a blueprint for tomorrow.” At Accept & Proceed, this mission is close to our hearts. Our 'Design for the Future' promise to the world seeks to bridge imagination and action. Our partnership with Dark Matter Labs and Hard Art—an electric blend of design, systems thinking, and cultural disruption—is born from that ethos. We launched Hard Imagination on January 22nd at Hard Art in Mayfair. A space once used for exclusivity is now home to radical thought. This is not just a paper—it’s a call for bold futures, a Together World. 🌍 One where venture capital dares to invest in life-changing, interconnected progress. Let’s design that world together. Download the full report and join the conversation. #HardImagination #DesignForTheFuture #TogetherWorld #AcceptAndProceed #DarkMatterLabs #HardArt #VCTransformation

𝐈𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬? Many of us are working in different ways to try and shift elements of a complex system. But if we are honest with ourselves, do we really understand how our interventions will play out? The Cornerstone Indicators Framework seeks to lean into this tension with humility and curiosity. The non-linear, contextually grounded indicators help us to look at multiple interacting factors when considering outcomes. They also invite us to think with a relational mindset, to provoke adjacent conversations and to question existing measures of impact. We are delighted to share the Framework in this new website which includes a full open source toolkit for the Cornerstone Communities element of the work. We will continue to add indicators as the wider Cornerstone ecosystem continues to grow, including new ecological contexts. We hope that they provide a source of inspiration and would welcome your thoughts and feedback. Emily Harris, FCA Vlad Afanasiev https://lnkd.in/gj3Znsam

🥁 ♻️ 🪵 Aan de slag met E-learning Circulaire houtbouw! Houtbouw past heel goed in een circulaire economie: een manier van bouwen die is gebaseerd op natuurlijke, hernieuwbare materialen die zich uitstekend lenen voor hergebruik en recycling. Maar hoe veranker je houtbouw in het beleid van jouw overheid? Dat leer je in onze e-learning: ‘Circulaire houtbouw onder de Omgevingswet’. Hoe? https://lnkd.in/eMZqUfrH Met dank aan: Built by Nature en AMS Institute #elearning #houtbouw #biobased #circulair #beleid Metropoolregio Amsterdam Building Balance DGBC (Dutch Green Building Council) Urban Land Institute NEPROM Lente-akkoord 2.0 Circulair Industrieel Bouwen

HARD IMAGINATION & Adjunct Futures Marc Andreessen’s Techno-Optimistic Manifesto and its critiques inspired us to reflect on how venture capital shapes our perception of the future—and limits it. Current structures, like the 2-and-20 model or 5–7-year fund horizons, narrow the futures made visible and viable, prioritizing relatively narrow product based returns over long-term, transformative possibilities. These capital allocation frameworks are not only insufficient for creating the futures we need perhaps but have also possibly blinkered us to the futures that are both necessary and available. This they have fostered a passive path dependency, narrowing our sense of what is viable and possible. This work aimed to expand the field of imagination—what is both necessary and possible—while simultaneously making visible the adjacent futures emerging from our current path dependencies. We think the challenge lies in navigating the space between these worlds and intentionally designing futures that break free and evolve from our path dependencies. And inherently designing perhaps a new capital allocation strategy for unleashing a bigger future. Welcome a conversation below as to how we expand these futures ascribed… This work by Dark Matter Labs was developed in collaboration with David Johnston from Accept & Proceed, with invaluable support and critique from Clare Farrell of Hard Art. It would not have been possible without the foundational conditions created by the Hard Art community.

Accelerating the field of System Financing - Invitation to Co-found: We recognize that many of us have been working to grow the field of system investing—a field capable of addressing the scale of transitions required in this era. While there is a growing demand for this approach—whether for civic infrastructure or bioregional transitions—a critical gap persists: capital allocators who possess the willingness, capacity, and appropriate capital stack to allocate resources to system-scale transitions. To address this gap, we are launching an accelerator dedicated to next-generation capital allocators, focused on financing and operationalizing system-scale assets. Purpose and Vision The accelerator is designed with two primary goals: 1. Seeding New Capital Allocators: Providing seed capital to cover the operating expenses of next-generation capital allocator teams at the setup stage. 2. Building an Open Learning Platform: Developing a shared environment and curriculum for learning, experimentation, and peer exchange to support next-generation system assets, enabling scaling and replication. We believe this platform can help further catalyze the movement, act as a field discovery engine, and help bridge the gap in systemic financing that we collectively face. (More details below) Call for a Co-Founder We (Jen Hooke Leon Seefeld and myself) are inviting a co-founder to join us in shaping and driving this initiative forward. This role will be critical in: • Operationalizing the accelerator, • Mobilizing partnerships, and • Building the architecture for what we see as critical adjacent possibilities—opportunities that can only emerge through deep collaboration and creativity. (See more about this invitation https://lnkd.in/eNADsTRy.) Our Thinking and Invitation This is an evolving concept—just one of many options within the broader field development of systemic financing. We recognize the importance of diverse perspectives, constructive critique, and meaningful collaboration to make this initiative a success. We are not only open to exploring critical adjacent possibilities but are actively inviting partnerships, co-creation, and iteration as we move forward. If this resonates with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and contributions. This accelerator is part of a global field built by so many extraordinary people. A heartfelt thank you to Kirsten Dunlop, Karl "Charly" Kleissner Dominic Hofstetter, Evan Steiner, Imandeep Kaur Melissa Mean Mean to name just a few for your active support, guidance, and challenge in helping us get here - along with the intellectual leadership of so many - we stand on the shoulders of giants.

Building on our joint report with Community Land Trust Network and Dark Matter Labs on Community-Led Stewardship in the context of large site housing developments, we've written a short piece on the 'Lessons for community leadership in large scale housing in the EU' with initial views on the implications for the forthcoming European #AffordableHousing Plan (EAHP). Europe needs to rapidly increase housing supply. However, experience with large-scale housing developments has shown that the design phase, while crucial, is only half the story. The long-term success of housing developments hinge on effective place stewardship. By giving communities genuine ownership and control, we see enhanced long-term affordability, improved environmental sustainability and increased resident satisfaction. The success of new developments will not just be marked by the number of units built—but how these new developments are managed and stewarded to ensure affordability, sustainability, and community are all long term. Read below, and let us know your thoughts! https://lnkd.in/gban-xQw

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗖𝗼-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗭 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 Are you ready to help shape the next generation of capital allocation? The RZ Accelerator is looking for a bold, visionary co-founder to join us in driving the systemic transformation necessary for the next economy. Together, we’ll accelerate the emergence of new capital allocators and next-generation portfolios designed to restore, regenerate, and reimagine our world. 🌱 Who We’re Looking For: • A strategic leader with deep expertise in regenerative economics and system transformation. • A maker who thrives on bringing bold ideas to life and pushing beyond traditional boundaries. • A collaborator who builds trust, fosters accountability, and inspires shared commitment. 🌍 Why Now? The global challenges we face require new approaches to capital allocation. The RZ Accelerator is designed to address this gap, empowering fund managers to drive change across critical domains like water, energy, and social infrastructure. 📅 Start Date: March 1, 2025 Special Note: This role can be structured as a job share, and we welcome both individual and team applications. Think this might be you? Or know someone who fits? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gSxerrXN #Hiring #SystemicChange #RegenerativeEconomy #CapitalInnovation

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟱𝟬? On January 29th at 7 p.m., Arquitectura en Corto will host a screening of Les Matérialistes at the Espacio Arquia of the Fundación Arquia (c/Tutor, 16, Madrid). This screening inaugurates the 2025 short film series. Conceived as a docufiction film, it mixes current data with future forecasts to invite a collective reflection on the change of model needed to move towards a circular economy and carbon neutrality. At the end of the screening, there will be a round table discussion with the participation of architect Alicia Carvajal Rowan from Dark Matter Labs, Lucas Muñoz, designer recognized for the reuse of materials in his projects; and Albert Sagrera Cuscó, architect and environmental consultant, an expert in the environmental impact of materials and the management of construction waste. The film is directed by Jonathan Lapalme, Meggan Collins, Arianna Smaron, Madelyn Capozzi and the wider team outlined here> https://lnkd.in/gnMcCK7A More info on the film> https://lnkd.in/gJRemEDQ Register for the event> https://lnkd.in/dzwVpBHW Saint-Gobain Spain El Croquis. Specialized Magazine about Contemporary Architecture Green Building Council España (GBCE)

𝐔𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚-𝐭-𝐢𝐥 𝐝é𝐣à 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐝 𝐚𝐮 𝐜œ𝐮𝐫 ? Au cours de la dernière année, nous avons travaillé à l'introduction du concept d'indicateurs Cornerstone dans le contexte canadien. Au cours d'un atelier, un participant a déclaré que c'était la première fois qu'il ressentait des émotions positives à l'égard d’indicateurs de performance. En tant qu'indicateurs  intuitifs et multidimensionnels, qui représentent les choses qui sont importantes pour les gens dans leurs contextes uniques, c'est exactement ce que l'élément « communautés Cornerstone» de l'initiative espère réaliser. Ces cinq indicateurs ont été conçus en collaboration avec le comité de citoyens de Milton-Parc et Comm-Un à Montréal, et seront activement utilisés pour faire entendre des voix diverses et faciliter la prise de décisions en collaboration. Qu'évoquent-ils pour vous ? Pouvez-vous imaginer utiliser ce type d'indicateurs dans votre communauté locale ? Si vous souhaitez concevoir vos propres indicateurs, nous avons créé une boîte à outils accessible via le site web Cornerstone Indicator. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ce fut un privilège de collaborer avec de nombreuses personnes talentueuses sur ce projet, notamment la David Suzuki Foundation, le Comité des citoyens de Milton-Parc et Comm-Un à Montréal et Kaitlyn Ashmore de l'Université Wilfrid Laurier. Nous remercions tout particulièrement Katherine Trebeck pour le concept original et Linnea Rönnquist pour le co-développement du premier prototype. Emily Harris, FCA Vlad Afanasiev Nathalia Del Moral Fleury

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 ‘𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦’ 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫? Over the last year we have been working to introduce the Cornerstone Indicator Framework to the Canadian context. During one workshop a participant reflected that it was the first time that they had ever felt warm about indicators of success. As intuitive, multipoint indicators of the things that matter to people in their unique contexts, this is exactly what the Cornerstone Communities element of the initiative is hoping to achieve. These 5 indicators were co-designed with the Citizen's Committee of Milton-Parc and Comm-Un in Montreal, and will be actively used to elevate diverse voices and facilitate collaborative decision making. What do they evoke for you? Can you imagine using these kinds of indicators in your local community? If you are interested in designing your own indicators then we have created an open source toolkit that you can access via the Cornerstone Indicator website.  __________________________________________________________________________________ It’s been a privilege to collaborate with many brilliant people on this project, including the David Suzuki Foundation, the Citizen's Committee of Milton-Parc and Comm-Un in Montreal and Kaitlyn Ashmore from Wilfrid Laurier University.  A special thanks to Katherine Trebeck for the original concept and to Linnea Rönnquist for the co-development of the first prototype.  Vlad Afanasiev Emily Harris, FCA