The Foundry

A Crucible For Transformative Action

"That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse"

— Walt Whitman

The Foundry, our impact lab, is strategically located on the Clos de Gaye property. It is a crucible where we will melt together our and our joiners’ expertise and initiative into tangible, world-changing initiatives.

Collective action is the solution to our era’s lack of perceived agency. We understand that "to act" is both to perform and to take action: we do both with intention and impact. Here, new metrics for progress will be born, conventional boundaries will dissolve, and the entelechy of the human imagination will find its fullest expression.

The Foundry will bridge the critical gap between high-level ideation and practical execution. We will use each summit's seed funding — sourced directly from retreat fees — to empower a dedicated team of exceptional builders: designers, project managers, engineers, monitoring and evaluation specialists, grant writers, fundraisers, journalists, lobbyists, community organizers, and subject-matter experts.

Implementation Architecture: From Theory to Impact

The 12-Month Journey

We will follow an agile framework designed to maintain momentum while ensuring deep community engagement and sustainable, long-term impact. Our retreat visionaries remain integral partners throughout, meeting monthly with our implementation team to iterate, refine, and amplify their original vision.

Project Timeline
Phase 1

Foundation & Discovery

Months 1-2

The project manager works on-site with retreat participants to crystallize the Theory of Change into a comprehensive implementation proposal. This living document will be a north star, guiding technical execution, funding applications, and stakeholder engagement. Through intensive collaboration with subject-matter experts, we will transform abstract vision into concrete, actionable plans with measurable outcomes.

Phase 2

Prototype Design

Months 3-4

Our community organizers co-design solutions with local stakeholders while engineers and designers build the first prototype. Writers craft compelling narratives for funders and the public, as our team aligns on success metrics and resource allocation. We will work and live as a cooperative where every voice can have an impact on decision-making.

Phase 3

Pilot Implementation

Months 5-6

Midway through this year-long journey, we will test our solutions in real communities. Our team manages on-ground relationships, tracks progress against KPIs, and collects the stories that will inspire broader change. This is where theory encounters practice, and both are refined through the encounter.

Phase 4

Evaluation & Iteration

Months 7-8

We measure impact against our defined metrics, refine methods based on community feedback, and prepare mid-term reports that engage policy circles and funders. Learning and adaptation are tantamount for sustainable change.

Phase 5

Scale & Advocacy

Months 9-11

Solutions expand beyond pilot communities as we build coalitions, engage media, and push for legislative support. Our writers and lobbyists communicate strategically to secure long-term financial and operational sustainability.

Phase 6

Sustainability & Transition

Month 12

We document lessons learned, transfer knowledge to local champions, and establish pathways for continued growth. The final impact report becomes both a testament to achievement and a blueprint for the next phase of transformation.

Resource Allocation:
Strategic Investment for Maximum Impact

Our seed funding is strategically distributed to ensure both immediate impact and long-term sustainability:

  • Human Capital (50-60%): Supporting our diverse team of builders and visionaries

  • Implementation (20-25%): Materials, infrastructure, and technological development

  • Community Engagement (10-15%): Workshops, participant support, and local capacity building

  • Communications & Advocacy (5-10%): Amplifying impact through strategic storytelling

  • Operations (5%): Ensuring smooth execution and compliance

Sustainability: Building Movements, Not Moments

The Foundry's vision extends far beyond individual projects. We are creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of change where each initiative feeds into a larger movement for global transformation. 

  • Funding Evolution

    While each project begins with seed funding from retreat fees, our grant writers immediately engage with government agencies, foundations, and impact investors to secure long-term support. The initial year serves as proof of concept—demonstrating viability, measuring impact, and building the evidence base necessary for scaled investment.

  • Integration Pathways

    We actively seek opportunities to integrate successful pilots into existing government initiatives and partner organizations. By aligning with established infrastructure and policy frameworks, we ensure our innovations achieve systemic rather than isolated impact.

  • Knowledge Transfer

    Every project generates insights, methodologies, and tools that benefit the broader social innovation ecosystem. Through documentation, open-source resources, and strategic partnerships, we ensure that learning compounds across initiatives and geographies.

The Future: A Permanent Home for World-Changing Innovation

Our vision for The Foundry extends beyond individual projects and into a community fixture and model for a sustainable Innovation Ecosystem at large. 

The Living Laboratory

We envision The Foundry evolving into a residential innovation hub, housing both passionate young builders and experienced consultants. This multigenerational, multiskilled  community will create an intense, cooperative environment where emerging changemakers can pursue their vocations for social impact while learning from seasoned practitioners.

Talent Development Pipeline

Through partnerships with top universities, gap-year programs, and post-graduate fellowships, we will cultivate a continuous stream of talented individuals who combine technical excellence with unwavering commitment to social change. These young visionaries will work alongside subject-matter experts, creating a dynamic exchange of fresh perspectives and deep expertise.

Public-Private Partnership Model

We are actively pursuing public funding and institutional partnerships to establish The Foundry as a permanent center for social innovation. This sustainable funding model will allow us to offer transformative experiences to a broader range of participants while maintaining our commitment to excellence and impact.

Network Effects

As The Foundry grows, it will become a nexus for global changemakers—a place where ideas cross-pollinate, collaborations emerge organically, and movements gain the momentum needed to reshape our world. Each project strengthens the ecosystem and the ties between those who implement it.The Foundry's vision extends far beyond individual projects. We are creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of change where each initiative feeds into a larger movement for global transformation. 

The Foundry represents more than an implementation mechanism—it is a bold reimagining of how transformative ideas become transformative realities. Here, in the heart of the French countryside, we are building the infrastructure for a new world order based on collaboration, creativity, and profound commitment to human flourishing.

For those ready to move beyond discussion to action, beyond vision to implementation, The Foundry offers both the resources and the community necessary for genuine impact. This is where your verse in the powerful play of human progress will be written, refined, and amplified until it resonates across the globe.