Discover how an instigator and curator of crowdsourced technology is driving social good. Read on to learn how they are turning the impossible into reality.
North America
Core Intelligence Domain: Technology & Innovation
Location: USA | Languages: English
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence
Mick Ebeling is a visionary producer, filmmaker, and the founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, an award-winning technology incubator and content studio dedicated to developing “Technology for the Sake of Humanity.” Named by Fortune Magazine as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, Ebeling has spent over a decade dismantling the boundaries of what is considered possible, leveraging cutting-edge technology and radical collaboration to solve seemingly insurmountable societal and healthcare challenges.
At the core of Ebeling’s success is his proprietary framework built upon the premise of “Commit, then figure it out.” By identifying a single individual facing an impossible challenge, Not Impossible Labs crowdsources solutions that ultimately scale to help the masses. This “Help One. Help Many” methodology has driven technological breakthroughs in prosthetics, accessibility, and social welfare, fundamentally redefining the intersection of technological innovation and corporate social impact.
Ebeling’s pioneering journey gained global prominence with The EyeWriter, an open-source, low-cost eye-tracking device that enabled an ALS-afflicted graffiti artist to draw again. This invention was subsequently named one of TIME Magazine’s Top 50 Inventions and acquired for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). He then launched Project Daniel, establishing the world’s first 3D-printing prosthetic lab in a refugee camp in Sudan, providing custom-fitted arms for young amputees in war-torn regions.
His relentless drive has birthed subsequent world-changing initiatives that merge hardware, software, and human empathy. These include Music Not Impossible, a sophisticated wearable technology allowing the deaf and hard of hearing to experience live music through haptic vibrations, and Hunger Not Impossible, a text-based platform combating food insecurity by connecting vulnerable populations with prepaid, nutritious meals across the United States.
A two-time winner of the SXSW Innovation Award and recipient of the prestigious Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award, Ebeling’s work has been recognised globally for its ingenuity and compassion. He has also secured multiple Cannes Lions for creative excellence. He is the bestselling author of Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn’t Be Done, which serves as a strategic blueprint for corporate leaders, technologists, and innovators seeking to embed purpose into their strategic planning and operational models.
"That was the first time I’ve drawn anything in seven years. I feel like I had been held under water, and someone finally reached down, and pulled my head up so I could take a breath.”
"Mick inspired us with his message that anyone can make a positive difference right now. There was a standing ovation at the end of his talk, and more than a year later I still hear from people that Mick motivated them to do something meaningful, to act, and to make a difference.”