In December 2025, the GeekWire Gala celebrated its annual Uncommon Thinkers honorees. These individuals, drawn from diverse industries, represent extraordinary talent reshaping our world. As a European entrepreneur based in the deeptech sector, I’ve always been fascinated by innovators who challenge norms while addressing pressing global issues. This year’s honorees embody that spirit, and their stories inspire lessons relevant to startup founders and business owners globally.
Meet the 2025 Uncommon Thinkers
The honorees are not just experts in their fields; they are individuals driven by a vision that transcends conventional business goals. Here’s a closer look at their accomplishments and how they reflect current global trends.
1. Jeff Thornburg – Portal Space Systems
Jeff Thornburg is developing a spacecraft that uses sunlight for propulsion. This eco-friendly approach could be the backbone of Earth-Moon logistics, enabling sustainable lunar exploration. Thornburg’s work signals growing interest in space commerce tied to environmental sustainability. For startups exploring deeptech, his focus on reviving and advancing NASA concepts is a compelling case for blending legacy ideas with innovative execution.
2. Anindya Roy – Lila Biologics
Anindya Roy designed a revolutionary AI-driven process to develop cancer treatments. By combining machine learning with synthetic biology, Lila Biologics increased drug discovery efficiency by up to 20%. For biotech entrepreneurs, this highlights the importance of integrating cutting-edge technology to address critical issues, such as disease treatment. Roy’s practical advice echoes for founders: embrace progress, but start with a clear mission.
3. Jay Graber – Bluesky
Jay Graber tackled social media’s centralization problem with Bluesky, a decentralized platform that gives users full control over their content. This approach reflects the rising demand for user autonomy and data privacy. Startups entering platform-based ecosystems should take note, offering users empowerment and flexibility can deliver long-term credibility and growth.
4. Kiana Ehsani – Vercept
Kiana Ehsani’s AI agents are challenging traditional human-computer interfaces by creating responsive systems that act more like coworkers than tools. She envisions transforming the way we interact with machines, making her work critical in defining usability trends. As someone mentoring tech startups via the F/MS Startup Game, I see how these ideas can inspire early-stage companies focused on user-centric solutions.
5. Brian Pinkard – Aquagga
Using technology originally meant for chemical-weapon disposal, Brian Pinkard pioneered a method to eliminate toxic PFAS chemicals. His commitment to tackling environmental challenges speaks to the growing role of environmental technology in the startup ecosystem. For entrepreneurs, this kind of scientific repurposing underscores how meaningful solutions often come from creative thinking across disciplines.
Trends Driving Change in 2025
This year’s Uncommon Thinkers illustrate some clear patterns:
- Sustainability as a Foundation: Whether it’s space travel or clean water, integrating environmental responsibility is a global priority for innovators.
- Decentralization and User Sovereignty: From social media platforms to interdisciplinary AI, user control and transparent systems are shaping business spaces.
- The Age of AI: Advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping industries like healthcare and engineering, enabling startups to achieve results that were previously unattainable.
These trends underscore a shift towards proactive problem-solving with tangible global impact.
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn
Here’s how you can use these insights to refine your business efforts:
- Collaboration is Key: Many of this year’s honorees succeeded by working across disciplines. Unicorn companies often emerge when you merge expertise from seemingly unrelated sectors.
- Focus on Scalability Early: Thornburg’s spacecraft and Graber’s decentralized protocol both aim for scale and longevity from the outset. Because scaling later is difficult, design products for widespread adoption from day one.
- Don’t Dismiss Niche Solutions: Aquagga’s PFAS technology shows that niche solutions built for highly specific problems can have enormous financial and moral payoff when applied correctly.
- Communicate Your Mission Clearly: Whether in biotech or sustainable rockets, strong communication of vision to stakeholders helps build community and trust around your venture.
Mistakes to Avoid as a Founder
Building ventures like the ones led by the 2025 Uncommon Thinkers honorees isn’t without challenges. Avoid these common pitfalls:
- Ignoring Market Context: Category-defining innovations fail without early responsiveness to regulations (a clear concern in space tech or chemical processing).
- Too Much Focus on Technology Alone: A great product isn’t enough. Jay Graber’s focus includes collective development and empowering users, lessons all tech companies should apply.
- Neglecting Partnerships: None of these honorees worked alone. Surround yourself with partners, advisors, and collaborators who add depth.
Where Does This Leave Us?
The lessons from 2025 are crystal clear: Today’s biggest challenges, from environmental impact to ineffective healthcare, demand bold, thoughtful solutions. What works is a mix of tangible sustainability, user empowerment, and cross-functional cooperation. For those of us building startups, it’s proof that staying nimble while maintaining focus on global relevance can pay massive dividends.
One final takeaway: regardless of industry, hone your ability to adapt. If cancer treatments, PFAS tech, and decentralized protocols have taught us anything, it’s that the future belongs to entrepreneurs who can solve tomorrow’s problems today.
FAQ
1. Who are the Uncommon Thinkers honorees of 2025?
The 2025 Uncommon Thinkers honorees include Jeff Thornburg, Anindya Roy, Jay Graber, Kiana Ehsani, and Brian Pinkard. These individuals have made significant contributions across various fields, from space technology to AI and sustainability. Meet the 2025 Uncommon Thinkers
2. What innovation is Jeff Thornburg known for?
Jeff Thornburg, founder of Portal Space Systems, developed a spacecraft powered by focused sunlight for propulsion. His work aims to support sustainable Earth-Moon logistics. Dive into Jeff Thornburg's work
3. How is Anindya Roy revolutionizing cancer treatment?
Anindya Roy, founder of Lila Biologics, uses AI and synthetic biology to increase drug discovery efficiency, enabling breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Discover Anindya Roy's impact
4. What is Jay Graber's contribution to decentralized social media?
Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky, developed the AT Protocol, which empowers users with full control over their social content and data. Learn more about Jay Graber's vision
5. What innovation is Kiana Ehsani spearheading in AI?
Kiana Ehsani, co-founder of Vercept, creates AI agents that act more like collaborators than tools, pioneering conversational computing. Explore Kiana Ehsani's journey
6. How is Brian Pinkard addressing environmental challenges?
Brian Pinkard, CTO of Aquagga, adapted technology designed for chemical-weapon disposal to destroy toxic PFAS chemicals, tackling a critical environmental issue. Learn more about PFAS elimination
7. What trends are showcased by the 2025 Uncommon Thinkers?
Key trends include sustainability, decentralization/user sovereignty, and the rise of AI transforming industries like biotech, social media, and environmental tech. Understand the broader trends
8. What makes the Uncommon Thinkers event significant?
Hosted at the GeekWire Gala, the event celebrates bold innovators driving global changes. It highlights emerging technologies and solutions addressing critical problems. Learn about the GeekWire Gala
9. What lessons can entrepreneurs derive from these honorees?
The honorees exemplify collaboration across disciplines, scalability from the outset, niche problem-solving, and clear communication of mission to stakeholders. Find key entrepreneurial takeaways
10. Where can I hear interviews with the honorees?
Honoree interviews are available on this week’s GeekWire Podcast episode, where they share insights and visions for the future. Listen to the GeekWire Podcast
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.