UCOT Inc

What UCOT Inc does

UCOT Inc is a San Francisco-based private company and convening platform founded in 2018 by Chris Ategeka with the mission to address the unintended consequences of exponential technology on humanity. Its core technology is not a software product but rather a curated event, content, and community platform. The company operates through five core offerings: the UCOT World Forum (a three-day annual conference drawing 400+ attendees from 40+ countries, with past iterations in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022), UCOT LABS (a four-month seed program in San Francisco for early-stage startups tackling topics like fake news, data breaches, job displacement, and AI bias), CHETI (the Corporate Humane & Ethical Tech Index, a proprietary measurement framework for rating tech companies on humane and ethical operation), the UCOT POD podcast, and a curated UCOT Books collection.

The organization's business model is event-driven and largely transactionally based. Primary revenue derives from tiered conference ticket sales (UCOT2018 priced at $850-1200 USD), supplemented by strategic sponsorship partnerships (e.g., the Knight Foundation as a Spotlight Partner for UCOT2019), application/curation-driven admissions, and accelerator program economics through UCOT LABS. The customer base is highly diffuse and globally distributed, comprising individual technologists, policy makers, futurists, engineers, academics, change-makers, entrepreneurs, investors, and engaged citizens; no enterprise SaaS, multi-year contract, or recurring revenue product was disclosed. UCOT has earned third-party validation via Fast Company's 2019 World Changing Ideas Award, earned media in TechCrunch and Fast Company, and operates a multi-channel presence (website, social, podcast, newsletter, public relations, and a published book by founder Chris Ategeka). Ownership is founder-controlled, with no disclosed institutional funding or parent company.

Name

UCOT Inc

Legal name

UCOT, Inc.

Website

https://helloucot.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UCOT Inc is a San Francisco-based community and convening platform, founded in 2018 by Chris Ategeka, that hosts the UCOT World Forum annual conference, runs a seed accelerator (UCOT LABS), maintains the CHETI tech-ethics index and UCOT POD podcast, and serves global technologists, policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, and engaged citizens across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Ticket Sales: UCOT generates revenue through annual conference ticket sales, with attendance fees ranging from $850-1200 USD for the 2018 forum. Additional revenue streams include sponsorship partnerships and the UCOT LABS seed program which supports startups addressing technology consequences.
2. UCOT LABS Seed Program: UCOT LABS is a four-month seed program in San Francisco that supports early-stage startups solving unintended consequences of technology. While focused on providing support and funding to entrepreneurs, this also represents a revenue-investment model for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UCOT Inc operates a global platform that convenes technologists, policy makers, futurists, academics, entrepreneurs, and investors to address the unintended consequences of exponential technology. The company's principal sellable offerings are the annual UCOT World Forum conference, the four-month UCOT LABS startup accelerator program based in San Francisco, the CHETI (Corporate Humane & Ethical Tech Index) measurement framework, the UCOT POD podcast, and a curated UCOT Books collection.

Product overview

UCOT Inc is a solutions-oriented community organization rather than a traditional software company. Its core offerings include the UCOT World Forum (annual conference series held in various years including 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022), UCOT LABS (a four-month seed accelerator program for startups addressing technology consequences), CHETI (Corporate Humane & Ethical Tech Index - a measurement framework), the UCOT POD podcast, and UCOT Books (a curated bookstore). The organization focuses on research, awareness, and action around the unintended consequences of exponential technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UCOT LABS: A four-month seed program in San Francisco California for startups developing solutions to unintended consequences of technology such as fake news, data breaches, job displacement due to automation, and biases in AI.
• CHETI

Products and services

• UCOT World Forum (Annual Conference)

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ attendees and 40+ countries at UCOT2018 conference
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Knight Foundationspotlight partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnight Foundation was a Spotlight Partner for UCOT2019 conference. The foundation supports journalism and media projects and aligns with UCOT's mission to address technology's impact on society and democracy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Singularity University: Singularity University is a Silicon Valley-based community and education platform focused on exponential technology and its implications for humanity. It is directly comparable to UCOT in mission framing, Bay Area location, and educational event/executive program model.
• TechCrunch Disrupt: TechCrunch Disrupt is an annual flagship tech conference featuring high-profile speakers, founders, and venture investors. It is comparable to UCOT as a ticketed, speaker-rich Bay Area tech event with global attendance and earned-media coverage.
• Aspen Digital: Aspen Digital is a program of the Aspen Institute focused on the impact of technology on society, including AI, platforms, and digital equity. It is directly comparable to UCOT's mission of addressing unintended consequences of technology through convening and research.
• Moonshot by Unitary Fund / The Moonshot Festival: Moonshot convenes technologists, founders, and investors around frontier-tech themes (AI, crypto, longevity) with a ticketed festival format. It is comparable to UCOT as a niche, mission-tied, ticketed tech-and-society conference.
• Aspen Institute: The Aspen Institute hosts the Aspen Ideas Festival and other convenings that bring together leaders across sectors to address societal challenges. It is comparable to UCOT as a non-academic, convening-based organization tackling big societal questions including technology.

Broad incumbents

• Web Summit: Web Summit runs large-scale annual tech conferences (Lisbon, Rio, etc.) that convene global leaders, founders, and policymakers. It is comparable to UCOT in its event-driven, ticket-plus-sponsorship model and its focus on convening voices around technology's societal impact.
• Milken Institute: The Milken Institute runs the Milken Conference and Global Conference convening global leaders across finance, health, and policy. It is comparable to UCOT as a mission-driven convening organization that monetizes through tickets, sponsorships, and thought-leadership content.
• The World Economic Forum (Davos): The World Economic Forum hosts the annual Davos meeting and other convenings focused on global challenges including the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is comparable to UCOT as a high-visibility, invitation-influenced forum on technology's societal consequences.
• TED: TED operates flagship conferences and a massive media platform for ideas worth spreading, including substantial content on technology and society. It is comparable to UCOT as a curated, mission-driven thought-leadership forum with ticketed events and a global speaker network.

Emerging players

• Effective Ventures (Centre for Effective Altruism / 80,000 Hours): Effective Ventures runs mission-driven events, fellowships, and content around high-impact societal issues including emerging technology. It is comparable to UCOT in its community-of-doers model, FYF-style conferences, and audience of thoughtful practitioners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/helloUCOT
• Facebookfacebook.com/helloucot
• Instagraminstagram.com/helloucot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lyfbase

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 UCOT Inc