The mission behind Shadow Summit, from our CEO

The purpose of Shadow Summit is to gather people from around the world who care about improving the built environment, to learn what’s actually happening in the world of tech -- instead of what you think is happening.If you work in the built world, you’re shaping and crafting the planet for everyone who occupies it. There’s a level of permanence involved. It’s essential for you to know what technologies are working, and what’s not, in real firms, on real projects, today. You come to Summit to get that knowledge.

The risk of leading edge

In this current innovation hype cycle, we all hear messages like, “If you’re not doing AI, you’re done.” Maybe not. Adopting technologies too soon can be just as dangerous as adopting them too late. Summit is your opportunity to collaborate with innovation leaders from every sector of our industry, to get a reality check on the best technical decisions you can make for your firm.So much of this stuff is just so new, it can be difficult to get the timing right. In 2011, I wrote a book on BIM. 8 years later, I'm still getting royalty checks. My book should be irrelevant by now. What that tells you is 8 years later, people are just getting started. If you would have adopted BIM in 2011, ahead of your time, you would have wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars.At the same time, doing nothing is not an option. So instead of getting caught up in the buzz and hype, Summit helps you focus on things that are achievable and executable.[caption id="attachment_567" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

The Summit happy hours are a great chance to network with innovative owners, builders, developers, and investors interested in improving the built world.[/caption]

A glimpse into the future

Take, for example, Thornton Tomasetti, who you’ll hear from at Summit. They’re a 1,500 people firm and a leader in technology and innovation in structural engineering. You can’t expect a 50 person firm to do the things they do. But it’s important for you to learn what they’re doing now because, in the next 3-5 years, you’ll need to be heading in the same direction. It’s okay for giants like Thornton Tomasetti and HKS to be 5 years ahead of the market -- they can afford it. That doesn’t mean you do nothing. It means you look to these folks to understand what’s working, and what’s not. This information can become your north star.We’ve also been very deliberate in bringing leading technologists to Summit who know zero about the built environment. It’s crucial we learn from people playing in broader industries and what’s happening there, versus us talking amongst ourselves, so we’re continually looking ahead to what’s next and what we need to be thinking about.[caption id="attachment_566" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]

Panels include experts in industries like commercial real estate and construction, and technologies like AI, blockchain, and the cloud[/caption]

Better, together

Part of the reason we host Summit in September is to help you set your innovation agenda (and budget) for the next year. You’ll receive a deep understanding of the subjects we cover, versus just high-level takeaways. I want you to walk away from Summit feeling fulfilled. I want to arm you with enough knowledge to plan the next 12 months of your business or your career. I want you to walk away with your brain hurting. If you happen to have a good time, that’s fine.Luckily, our industry is highly collaborative around a single mission: everyone wants to do better. Sharing best practices is a big part of how we work. Summit will help you collaborate across silos to learn about the latest innovations, technologies, and markets all in one place. By buying a ticket, you’re investing two solid days of your time with us, and we take that commitment seriously. Together, we’re investing in a better build world. I hope you’ll join us.- KP ReddyFor tickets, click here.