Inspiring Futures

What Inspiring Futures does

Inspiring Futures is a boutique futures-design and strategic foresight consultancy headquartered in Pully, Switzerland, with a second office in Espartinas, Spain. Founded in 2021 by three co-founders — Isabella De Magny (CEO, political science background in health and responsible innovation), Pierre Rossel (President, anthropologist and former EPFL technology assessment lecturer with 24 years of teaching experience), and Gianluca Misuraca (Vice President International Relations, economist and former European Commission JRC principal scientist) — the firm delivers advisory services to public administrations, private organisations, and healthcare/life-sciences actors.

The firm's core offerings span four service lines: (1) exploration of futures, comprising strategic advice, trend studies, weak-signal analysis, scenario design and evaluation, and white papers on emerging technologies; (2) creative solutions, including augmented-reality experiences for sports, immersive interactive spaces, 'Pokémonisation', positive stress systems, and immersive gaming; (3) responsible innovation, delivered via training, conferences, immersive foresight capsules, and ethics-driven workshops; and (4) digital governance, covering prospective evaluation of innovation strategies, public-sector digital transformation, policy modelling and simulation, and technological diplomacy advisory. Its underlying technology is methodological rather than software-based: a user-centred assessment and guidance framework for evaluating opaque intelligent data mining, AI, and IoT systems, developed through participation in European projects such as Maestro (EU/AAL) and Go Smart Frames.

The business model is direct consulting delivered through bespoke engagements with public administrations and private organisations, supplemented by revenue from intellectual property — most notably the co-authored novel '2050' (with Benjamin D'hont), which introduces the 'biocitizen' concept, and white papers such as 'Governing Algorithms: Perils and Powers of AI in the Public Sector' (Digital Future Society, 2021). Distribution is primarily direct via the firm's website, the founders' professional networks within European institutions and academia, and earned media through conference participation and co-authored publications. There is no disclosed pricing, no external funding, and the firm is founder-owned with 6 employees.

Name

Inspiring Futures

Legal name

Inspiring Futures

Website

https://inspiringfutures.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inspiring Futures is a Swiss-based boutique futures-design consultancy founded in 2021 that delivers strategic foresight, scenario design, responsible innovation, and digital governance advisory services to government, private-sector, and healthcare clients across Europe, anchored by three EPFL-credentialed co-founders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pully

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Inspiring Futures is a futures design consultancy that delivers strategic foresight advisory, trend studies, scenario design and evaluation, and creative technology solutions to public administrations and private organisations. The firm combines futures thinking, responsible innovation frameworks, and digital governance expertise to help clients anticipate technological change and design policies, products, and services for emerging AI, IoT, and health technology contexts. It also produces intellectual property including the co-authored novel '2050' which introduces the 'biocitizen' concept.

Product overview

Inspiring Futures is a consulting firm specializing in strategic advisory, creative solutions, responsible innovation, and digital governance. Their core offerings include strategic consulting for public and private organizations, trend analysis and scenario design, white papers on emerging technology, creative solutions in immersive technologies, and innovation workshops. Their primary publication is the book '2050' which develops the concept of the 'biocitizen'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Foresight and Scenario Design Consulting Bespoke strategic advice, trend studies, weak and strong signal analysis, scenario design, and evaluation delivered to public and private organisations seeking to anticipate technological change.
• Digital Governance Advisory Advisory service covering foresight and evaluation of innovation strategies, transformation of public governance in the digital age, policy modelling and simulation of alternative options and scenarios, and technological diplomacy deployment.
• Creative Technology Solutions Creative technology offerings including augmented glasses for sports, immersive interactive spaces, 'Pokémonisation' and gaming for the planet, positive stress systems, and immersive gaming, developed for private sector clients seeking technology-augmented product and service concepts.
• Responsible Innovation Workshops and Immersive Capsules Training, conferences, immersive future scenario capsules, simulation workshops on health-related ethical and organisational issues, and personalised accompaniment to transition from simulation to action. Includes the GenDH programme for ethical case workshops.
• 2050 (novel and essay) Co-authored futuristic novel and essay by Isabella de Magny and Benjamin D'hont tracing the lives of characters from 2018 to 2050 as patients become 'biocitizens', serving as both fiction and analytical exploration of technology, medicine, and human autonomy.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Global Shapers Hubs Switzerland — AI Future LabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2022Gianluca Misuraca presented at the AI Future Lab event hosted by Global Shapers Hubs Switzerland on the topic 'Switzerland and public engagement in artificial intelligence', focusing on AI governance and diplomacy.
• Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2022Gianluca Misuraca participated in the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Week organised by the Graduate Institute, presenting on 'Digital transformation strategy for organisations and governments'. This collaboration positions Inspiring Futures within high-level science and diplomacy discourse.
• UTC Compiègne — Health Innovation Technology Master programmeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2022Pierre Rossel delivered a lecture on the Swiss Digital Healthcare Ecosystem as part of the Health Innovation Technology Master programme managed by Myriam Oukkal (President of the eHealth-Paris Council), in collaboration with Moise Gerson of L'Hôpital numérique in Geneva.
• Global Happiness Council / Jeffrey SachscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Gianluca Misuraca served as co-writer of Chapter 6 on 'The Information Society and the Future of Digital Well-Being' in the 'Global Happiness and Well-being Policy Report 2022', an initiative led by Jeffrey Sachs. This positions the firm within global policy discourse on digital well-being.
• Digital Future Society / Mobile World Capital FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Gianluca Misuraca lead-authored the white paper 'Governing Algorithms: Perils and Powers of AI in the Public Sector' published by Digital Future Society (2021), a programme of the Mobile World Capital Foundation. This is a flagship intellectual output establishing the firm's expertise in AI governance.
• European Commission — Foreign Policy Instruments Service (FPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGianluca Misuraca leads the facility support project funded by the European Commission's FPI for establishing an 'International Alliance for a Human Centred Approach to Artificial Intelligence'. This represents a significant institutional engagement at the EU policy level.
• Go Smart Frames (gosmartframes.com)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPierre Rossel participated in Go Smart Frames, an EU-supported incubation process for innovative projects involving IoT and augmented reality systems, as part of his ongoing involvement in European innovation platforms since 2010.
• Maestro (EU and AAL supported project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPierre Rossel contributed to the Maestro project, supported by the EU and AAL, dedicated to evaluating IoT systems for wellness and health, marking one of his early European-level collaborative innovation platform engagements.
• Institut Sapiens — Health and Innovation ObservatoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsabella de Magny is a member of the Sapiens Institute's Health and Innovation Observatory, which aims to influence public debate through analysis and innovative proposals to optimise the health system in the interest of citizens.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte: Global professional services firm with major public sector and AI governance practices (Deloitte AI Institute, Government & Public Services). Competes for the same institutional transformation and foresight work at much larger scale.
• McKinsey & Company: Global management consultancy with practices in public sector, digital transformation, and AI governance (e.g., QuantumBlack, McKinsey Global Institute). A scaled incumbent that competes for the same enterprise and government digital governance mandates.
• Accenture: Global consulting and technology services firm with large public sector and AI/digital governance capabilities. A scaled incumbent that absorbs foresight and scenario work into broader transformation contracts.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Global strategy consultancy with dedicated AI and digital governance practices (BCG Henderson Institute, BCG GAMMA). Competes for the same corporate and public sector technology strategy and foresight work.

Direct peers

• School of International Futures (SOIF): A UK-based futures and strategy organization working with governments and institutions on strategic foresight, policy futures, and governance. Closely comparable to Inspiring Futures' government-facing governance and digital transformation work.
• Fast Future: A specialist foresight research and consulting firm focused on emerging technologies, sustainability, and long-term scenario planning. Comparable as a boutique competitor in the same foresight and futures thinking category.
• Future Today Institute: A strategy and foresight firm founded by Amy Webb that produces annual technology trend reports and advises enterprises on emerging tech, including AI governance. Closely comparable to Inspiring Futures' combination of technology foresight, scenario design, and corporate advisory.
• Toffler Associates: A strategic foresight consulting firm advising public and private sector clients on future trends, technology disruption, and scenario planning. Directly comparable as a dedicated foresight advisory with a similar public/private sector mix.
• Institute for the Future (IFTF): A non-profit futures research organization founded in 1968 that conducts long-horizon foresight, scenario design, and technology assessment for governments, foundations, and corporations. Directly comparable to Inspiring Futures' foresight and scenario-design core offering, with a more established institutional footprint.
• The Futures Agency: A global foresight consultancy that advises organizations on future trends, strategic foresight, and innovation. Comparable as a boutique dedicated to futures thinking and scenario work for both public and private sector clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inspiring-futures-s%C3%A0rl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Inspiring Futures