What RethinkX does

RethinkX is an independent, not-for-profit research organization headquartered in San Francisco that produces evidence-based forecasts of technology-driven disruption across global sectors, including energy, transportation, food and agriculture, health, labor, and climate. The organization is co-founded by Tony Seba and James Arbib, with Adam Dorr serving as Director of Research, and operates with an 11-50 employee team. Its analytical backbone is the proprietary Seba Technology Disruption Framework, a forecasting methodology applied for 15 years to predict the speed and scale of sector transformations such as the disruption of internal-combustion vehicles by autonomous electric vehicles, the displacement of animal agriculture by precision fermentation, and the transformation of human labor by humanoid robotics.

RethinkX distributes a portfolio of flagship research reports (e.g., Rethinking Transportation, Rethinking Food & Agriculture, Rethinking Energy, Rethinking Climate Change, Rethinking Humanity, Rethinking Health), books (Stellar, Clean Disruption: 10 Years Later, Winners Take All, The Degrowth Delusion, Solar Trillions, Pattern of Progress), video series (Rethinking Humanity, Brighter, The Great Transformation), and interactive tools (Stellar Energy Explorer Tool, Robotics ROI Calculator, Periodic Table of Precision Fermentation). Core technology assets include the Seba Framework and Pattern of Progress methodology, complemented by an extensive content library spanning two decades.

The business model is primarily a freemium, content-distribution model: core research reports and analyses are provided free of charge via the RethinkX website to a global audience of policymakers, investors, business strategists, and civil society, while select books are sold through the RethinkX publications store and Amazon, and the organization solicits donations through a Support Us page. Go-to-market is content-led and event-driven, relying on the website, email newsletter, social media (LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook), conference presentations, and earned media coverage (BBC, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, Forbes). In May 2025 RethinkX spun out NavigateX as a separate entity to operationalize its research insights into practical action.

Name

RethinkX

Legal name

RethinkX Inc.

Website

https://rethinkx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RethinkX is an independent, not-for-profit research organization that produces evidence-based forecasts of technology-driven disruption across energy, transportation, food, health, and labor sectors using its proprietary Seba Technology Disruption Framework, serving policymakers, investors, businesses, and civil society worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Freely Distributed Research: RethinkX publishes the majority of its research reports, articles, and analysis freely available to the public on its website, fulfilling its mission to provide impartial, evidence-based insights available to everyone, everywhere.
2. Publication Sales: Select publications are sold for purchase, including books such as 'Stellar', 'Clean Disruption: 10 Years Later', 'The Degrowth Delusion', 'Pattern of Progress', 'Brighter', 'Winners Take All', and 'Solar Trillions'. Revenue from book sales supplements the organization's research dissemination activities.
3. Donations and Support: RethinkX accepts donations and support from individuals and organizations to fund its not-for-profit mission of independent research on technology disruptions. The 'Support Us' page invites donations directly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

RethinkX is an independent, not-for-profit research organization that produces and disseminates evidence-based research reports, books, video series, and interactive tools forecasting the speed and scale of technology-driven disruption across global sectors including energy, transportation, food and agriculture, health, labor, and climate. Its analyses are built on the proprietary Seba Technology Disruption Framework and are distributed free of charge to the public, with select books and publications sold through its online store.

Product overview

RethinkX is a not-for-profit research organization that produces impartial, evidence-based research on global technology disruptions. The organization offers a portfolio of research reports, books, video series, and interactive tools centered on the Seba Technology Disruption Framework. Key products include flagship reports on Energy (Understanding Stellar Energy, Rethinking Energy), Food & Agriculture (Rethinking Food & Agriculture, Precision Fermentation resources), Transportation (Rethinking Transportation), Health (Rethinking Health), and Climate (Rethinking Climate Change). The portfolio includes foundational books such as Stellar, Clean Disruption, Winners Take All, and The Degrowth Delusion. Interactive offerings include the Stellar Energy Explorer Tool, while educational video content spans series like Rethinking Humanity (8 episodes) and Brighter (14 episodes). The Seba Framework and Pattern of Progress methodology provide the analytical backbone for all research outputs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rethinking Health: The Health Optimizer Therapy Disruption A flagship research report explaining how GLP-1 receptor agonists, myostatin inhibitors, and next-generation multi-agonist therapies can deliver unprecedented improvements in human health and metabolic function. Intended for policymakers, investors, business leaders, and informed readers.
• Understanding Stellar Energy A research report explaining how solar power, wind power, and battery energy storage can deliver superabundant clean energy at near-zero marginal cost through Stellar Energy systems, for policymakers, energy professionals, and investors.
• Clean Disruption: 10 Years Later A retrospective book by Tony Seba analyzing his original Clean Disruption predictions from the perspective of 2025 and examining how solar, wind, and battery technologies have transformed energy and transportation sectors. For general readers and energy professionals.
• Stellar A book by RethinkX co-founders Tony Seba and James Arbib serving as a guide to understanding the biggest transformation in history and how individuals and organizations can participate. For general readers and decision-makers.
• The Degrowth Delusion A book examining optimism, progress, and the future of environmentalism, critiquing degrowth theories in favor of technology-enabled abundance. For general readers and policy professionals.
• Rethinking Humanity A comprehensive report on five foundational sector disruptions, the lifecycle of civilizations, and the coming Age of Freedom. For policymakers, investors, and civil society.
• Rethinking Climate Change A research report on how humanity can choose to reduce emissions 90% by 2035 through disruption of energy, transportation, and food with existing technologies. For policymakers and climate stakeholders.
• Rethinking Food & Agriculture A seminal research report on the second domestication of plants and animals, the disruption of the cow, and the collapse of industrial livestock farming; coined the term 'precision fermentation'. For food industry, investors, and policymakers.
• Rethinking Transportation A research report predicting the disruption of transportation and the collapse of the internal-combustion vehicle and oil industries by 2030, including the rise of Transport-as-a-Service. For mobility, energy, and policy audiences.
• Rethinking Energy 2020-2030 A research report on how 100% solar, wind, and batteries will transform energy systems by 2030. For energy executives, investors, and policymakers.
• Seba Technology Disruption Framework A proprietary predictive framework used by RethinkX to analyze and forecast technology-driven disruption across global sectors, based on patterns of technological adoption and S-curve dynamics. Available as a published methodology for analysts and researchers.
• Stellar Energy Explorer Tool An interactive online tool for exploring solar, wind, and battery (SWB) Stellar Energy scenarios and their potential for energy independence, resilience, and superabundance. For analysts, students, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Solar, wind, and battery (SWB) technology will disrupt coal, oil, and gas energy systems by 2030, creating superabundant near-zero marginal cost energy
• +7 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• NavigateXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2025NavigateX was spun out from RethinkX in May 2025 as a separate entity. RethinkX remains the parent research organization while NavigateX focuses on applying RethinkX insights for practical transformation and action, representing a strategic extension of the organization's work.
• Perfect DaynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerfect Day is cited by RethinkX as a leading company in the precision fermentation space, particularly for plant-based dairy alternatives. Danone (a major dairy company) has formed a partnership with Perfect Day to produce plant-based dairy products. RethinkX research references Perfect Day as a pioneering company in the precision fermentation disruption of dairy.
• DanonenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanone has formed a partnership with Perfect Day to produce plant-based dairy products, representing a major incumbent (traditional dairy) aligning with precision fermentation technology. RethinkX cites this as evidence of major dairy companies investing in precision fermentation to diversify portfolios and reduce environmental impact.
• Good Food InstitutenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerRethinkX blog posts cite the Good Food Institute (GFI) as a source of data on the alternative protein sector. GFI is a core nonprofit partner in the alternative protein ecosystem that RethinkX's precision fermentation research is part of. The organizations share research alignment on the disruptive potential of precision fermentation and cellular agriculture.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• CleanTechnica: CleanTechnica is a clean-technology news and analysis publication that frequently cites RethinkX research. It is comparable as a free distribution channel for disruption-focused energy, transport, and food coverage, but does not produce original primary research at RethinkX's depth.

Broad incumbents

• Wood Mackenzie: Wood Mackenzie is a global research and consultancy focused on energy, renewables, and resources. It overlaps with RethinkX on energy transition and transport disruption forecasting but serves paying enterprise clients rather than publishing freely.
• World Economic Forum: The WEF publishes widely cited global technology and disruption forecasts (e.g., Future of Jobs, energy transition reports). It shares RethinkX's target audience of policymakers and business leaders but operates at much larger scale and across broader topics.
• MIT Technology Review: MIT Technology Review publishes technology forecasts and analysis across energy, biotech, transportation, and AI. It is comparable to RethinkX as a written, accessible, evidence-based technology disruption publication, with broader editorial scope and a paid subscription model.
• BloombergNEF (BNEF): BloombergNEF is a leading energy and transport research provider covering solar, wind, batteries, EVs, and related disruption themes. It is comparable to RethinkX on the energy and transport forecast dimensions but operates as a paid commercial research desk rather than a free think tank.

Direct peers

• Singularity University: Singularity University educates leaders on exponential and disruptive technologies across energy, food, health, and labor. Like RethinkX, it focuses on technology-driven transformation forecasts and uses a similar audience of executives, investors, and policymakers.
• Good Food Institute (GFI): GFI is a non-profit that produces research and advocacy on alternative proteins, including precision fermentation and cellular agriculture. RethinkX already cites GFI as a partner, and both publish frameworks and data on the disruption of animal agriculture.
• Institute for the Future: Institute for the Future is a non-profit futures research organization producing long-horizon forecasts on technology, society, and the economy. It is a close analogue to RethinkX in mission, format (reports, frameworks), and target audiences.
• ARK Invest: ARK Invest publishes flagship research forecasting disruptive innovation across energy, transportation, food, and healthcare. Its research output is directly comparable to RethinkX's sector-by-sector disruption forecasts, although ARK monetizes through investment products.
• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): RMI is an independent non-profit research and consulting organization focused on clean energy transformation. It overlaps with RethinkX on energy disruption research, transport electrification, and policy engagement, but with more direct implementation work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rethink_x
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBQAC69i3HBvraOMvJEj58g
• Facebookfacebook.com/JoinRethinkX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rethinkx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RethinkX