Elsa is a synthetic biologist - turned biotech VC- turned futurist, SF author and...cyborg. She lives between London, Amsterdam and cyberspace. She helped build 25 ground-breaking deep tech and science startups as a VC, founded a "cancer moonshot" to develop programmable DNA nanostructures for her PhD and helped 'biologize' one of the world's biggest tech companies as a biofuturist. Technology goes under her skin - she became a 'cyborg' live on stage to tweet via cybernetics. She's passionate about the intersection of biology and technology, be it from design creatures for Mars colonization, to cellular everything-factories to feed, clothe and shelter humanity to solving climate change. In her spare time, she writes science fiction (EA Solaris), speaks about biology as the next great software revolution and loves to push herself with crossfit.
Today, digital products and companies are not just changing the way we live our lives, but also playing an increasingly influential role in public policy and governance. We have reached a point where consumer goods produced by technology industries are beginning to reshape what it means to be Human.
This year, we are going to explore advances in biohacking and transhumanism and their implications for humankind. Will they be to our benefit, further enhancing quality of life? How mindful should we be of the potential social and ethical pitfalls whilst we transform?