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Cygnus Ventures

Explain Today, Imagine Tomorrow

An advance group of twenty-five Guild members set out on a mission to turn this amazing global network of Guild talent into an institution and set of ventures that could drive ongoing commercial, educational and societal value. After three rounds of validations, five months of effort and a list of 50+ candidate ideas, here are the leading twelve ventures below that we landed on..

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Although quite different in orientation and audience, each venture is driven by: creation of meaningful impact, innovation vs. traditional approaches, co-creative & collaborative brilliance and breakthrough craft-building in the spirit of a post-modern Guild.

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Beyond our Guild values, we want to approach these efforts with member empowerment, meritocracy, simplicity, and "think, plan, act, change" orientation in mind. Audentes Fortuna Iuvat et Dolor - Fortune Favours The Bold & Smart.

 

Venture Swans are Wanted ! Find out how to get involved as a leader, a builder, a partner or contributor below. 

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The Craft-Building Event Series

Launched: April 2022

"Building Our Craft Together"

A 100+ episode learning experience covering the crafts of Futures, Intelligence, Sensemaking, Thinking, History, Change, Innovation, Science, Impact and Technology.

Coverage: Overviews, Context, Different Perspectives, Pivotal questions, New research, Topic Landscapes, Leading Resources, Debates, Recaps.

Examples: Ambiguity & Uncertainty, Adaptability, Attention, Ambition

- Bias & Stereotypes, Belief, Behavior, Biomimicry

- Change & Transition, Cognitive Sceince, Creativity Complexity, 

- Design Thinking, Desirability, Feasibility & Viability, Data Science, Decisions

Formats: Expert Masterclass, Linkedin Live, Clubhouse, Twitter Spaces and Podcast.

What's It All About:   Introducing the 2022/23 Craft Building Series       

Connect if you would like to produce/lead episodes

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Cygnus Sprints

Launched: May 2022

"On-Demand Change Solutions At The Speed of the Future"

Powered by the Guild, a revolutionary new approach to management consulting, change management and advisory with an emphasis on speed, multi-disciplinary collaboration, breadth and depth of experience in an on-demand business model offering seven change-driven sprint deliverables.

Coverage: Seven sprints - Intro, Sensemaking, Scanning, Discovery, Strategy, Innovation and Transformation.

- Offered in Project brief, Training or Performance delivery.

- Can be combined into multi-sprint engagements or customized.

Formats: Feature program - Sprints (3 month delivery windows). Dashes (keynotes), Hurdles (Training curricula), Marathons (longer engagements) & Decathlons (Executive in residence counsel) also available.

What's It All About:  Introducing Cygnus Sprints  Other Info:  Press Release  Care to Become a Cygnus Sprinter: open Casting Every Quarter - Next Time Window - August'22 
 

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Weathervanes Intelligence Group

Launching: May 2022 

Primary & Custom Research and Analysis ... for People Operating Slightly Ahead of Our Time

Going Deeper on Today’s and Tomorrow’s Most Relevant Subject Matter, Probabilities, Possibilities and Wild Cards with our Guild panel of Global Sensemakers.

Coverage:

- Primary research

- Syndicated intelligence panel

- Secondary/research synthesis

- Experimental research designs and platforms

- Co-creation & Open Intelligence

Formats: 4x annual primary research campaigns, Venture Intelligence Boutique, Weathervane Panel, In house support for Cygnus Sprints, Radar Collections & Compendium.

What's It All: About: Upcoming Post.  Become a Global Sensemaker  Swans Wanted.

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Futuregazing - Sensemaking for Teens

Launching: May 2022 

Teens Building Capacity for Themselves, by Themselves, and for Each Other

Our Cygnus social impact effort to provide early teens distinctive opportunities to build resilience, global networks, changemaking motivations, unique opportunities and higher order skills of the future

Coverage:

- Empathy  (Co-/Self Regulation &; Compassion, Collaboration & Listening  )

- Systems Thinking (Complexity & Interdisciplinary Thinking , Futures & Sustainability Thinking)

- Community Engagement (Cultural & Media Literacy, Changemaking, Sensemaking & Action )

- Agency over their Current & Future (Leadership, Ethics  Self-Motivation &  Creativity, Design Thinking &; Embodiment)

Formats: Events, Podcast, Research, Curriculum, Camp, Global Panel, Other Forums Being Considered

What's It All: About: Upcoming Post.  Futuregazers Wanted

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The Grey Swan Guild Podcast Nework

Launching: June 2022 (Ominfutures already launched)

"Big Questions, Deeper Meaning, Undiscovered Patterns, 
Open Possibilities, Leading Minds, Better Futures
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Our multi-channel universe of engaging hosts & leading minds exploring the outer reaches and beyond the superficial, uncovering truths and possibilities.  

Coverage:

- The Omnifuture - Navigating Infinite Potential Futures 

- Intrepid - Deep Explorations of  Subjects That Caught Our Curiosity

- Shifted - What Has Changed & What That Means

- Craft - Learning & Improving at Making Sense of the World

- GSG News Hour - The Month That Was ... Going Beyond the Headlines

- Futuregazing - Conversations by Teens, for Teens

- Book Club - Interviews with the Leading Change Authors of the Day

- Weathervane - Fresh Research form the Universe

Formats: Audio podcast hub and multi-platform syndication

What's It All: About: Upcoming Post.  The Omnifuture. Join - Swans Wanted.

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The Radar Collection

Launching: June 2022 

"Spotting the Early Signals of the Future" Trend Report Series

 Multi-disciplinary Publications That Provide Tangible Value and Discoveries that People Can Actually Act On (via Subscription/Individual Purchase) 

Coverage (possibilities):

- The Future of Blockchain, Bitcoin & Crypto  

- The Future of Sport & Fitness.

- The Future of Education & Learning

- The Future of Food & Agriculture

- The Future of Cities

- The Future of Entertainment & Media
- The Future of Mobility & Gettng Around 

Formats: 6x per year, (30-60 page report formats, Participatory Panel (linked with Weathervanes)

What's It All: About: Upcoming Post. join -  Swans Wanted.

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The Cygnus Compendium/Compass

Launching: July. 2022

"The Rosetta Stone for Intelligence, Planning, Change & Impact"

The Full Spectrum of Making Sense - Mapping All the Essential Domains for Bringing the World Into Better, Clearer View

Coverage:

- Intelligence, Planning, Change, Impact.

- Past, Present, Future

- Uncertain/Semi-Certain/Certain,

- Discipline/Approach/Tool/Variants

Formats: Interconnected Systems Map, Multimedia Master Schematic, Ongoing Data Evaluation, Tools Wiki Hierarchy & Database, (also linked with Sprints & Masterclass)

What's It All: About: Upcoming Post. Join - Swans Wanted.

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GSG Book Club

Launched: August 2022

"The Smartest Change Agent's Bookshelf"

A Flock, Forum & Festival of Smart Authors, Their Works and Insights. A Dynamic Library & All-Star Collection of Foundational Classics, Fresh Discoveries, Niche Faves and Upcoming Literary Releases for all of our key intelligence & change disciplines

Coverage:

Intelligence, Planning, Change, Impact, Learning, Leadership, Futures, Sensemaking, Thinking and Others (aligned with Craft-building).

Formats: Themed Newsletter, Database, Annual Festival, Podcast, Internal Member Launch Vehicle

What's It All: About: Upcoming Post.Join- Swans Wanted.

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Guild Masterclass Series

Launched: September, 2022

"The Leading Curriculum for Change Agents, Visionaries and Planners"

Put your passion into practice, for practitioners beset by a shifting world and taught by the Guild's Global Experts.

Coverage: Futures Thinking, Sensemaking/Complexity, Strategic Foresight, Applied Innovation/Business Models, Leadership, Transformation, Growth/Scale, Forecasting/Data Analysis, Emerging Technology/Disruption,  Co-Creation/Collaboration, Market/Competitive Intelligence, Social Science/Ethnography and others. 

Formats: Video-based, Group cohort, Coaching, Certification and Workbooks.,

What's It All: About:   Upcoming Post.Join   Swans Wanted.

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Guildstack - Paid Subscription Newsletter

Launched: October 2022

"Brain Food for the Intelligent Mind, Delivered."

A weekly synopsis of fresh perspective from.our best Guild's best analysts, observers, researchers and writers to improve your craft, decisions and thinking.

Coverage: 

- Intelligence and Insight

- Craft and Commentary

- Opinion and Observations

- Sensemaking and Science

- Futures and Foresight. 

Formats: General subscription newsletters, themed subscription newsletters, 

What's It All: About:   Upcoming post.  Join - Swans Wanted

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Thoughts Gallery - Visualization Group

Launched: November 2022

"Get the Big Picture"

Make Sense of, Simplify and Bring to Life a Messy World Through Rich Visualization, of  Concepts, Data, Intelligence, Change and Foresight.

Coverage: Infographics, System maps, Data Journalism, Isotypes, Landscapes, Canvases, Time Series Analyses, Dashboards, Decision Tress, Future Wheels, Visual Sensemaking and Others.

Formats: Visual concept Innovator , Design Group/Support Team, Media Site, eCommerce site

What's It All: About: Upcoming post.  Join - Swans Wanted

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"Making Sense" Playbook

Launching:  December 2022 (publish date)

"Mastering Intelligence - The Collective Guide for Making Sense of the World’s Biggest Challenges & Next Grey Swans"

The Why,s, Hows, Whats & Whens of Getting Smarter in a Complex, Sped Up  World 

Coverage: Futures Thinking. Sensemaking, Strategic Foresight, Critical Thinking, Complexity, Systems Thinking, Forecasting, Data Science, Retrospective, Interpretation, Environmental Scanning, Open Intelligence, Industry Intelligence, Strategic Monitoring. Trend Analysis, Cognitive Science, Market Intelligence.

Formats: 80+ Frameworks Explained from over 40 global-leading contributors

What's It All: About:   Upcoming post.  Join - Swans Wanted

CYGNUS
VENTURES:

 

Explain Today, Imagine Tomorrow
 

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Cygnus Ventures helps individuals, organizations and society understand our current state better and realize a bolder future.

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Our diverse expertise and proven methods show how to make sense of the world,  anticipate scenarios, see patterns and discover meaning.


We assess risks and opportunities and offer guidance and value on how to thrive in the world.

 

Let’s make tomorrow more fulfilling, rewarding and inclusive.

INQUIRE, JOIN & AFFILIATE  WITH CYGNUS

We'd love to hear from you

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