Innovation’s Broken Compass | Ben Queisser | TEDxDilmun

Описание: What if the fastest-growing startup ecosystems are quietly steering us in the wrong direction?

Ben Queisser delivers a provocative look at the modern startup economy—particularly in the Gulf—and asks a question few are willing to confront: are we innovating for convenience, or for survival?

Drawing from firsthand experience judging startups and advising large-scale innovation and giga-projects, Ben exposes a troubling imbalance—where capital, talent, and attention flow overwhelmingly toward speed, scale, and short-term growth, while solutions for climate resilience, food security, and planetary health are sidelined.

Through sharp examples—from delivery apps to climate tech left unfunded—and a deeply human moment sparked by a question from his young son, this talk challenges the assumption that innovation automatically equals progress. Ben argues that without the right incentives, metrics, and accountability, innovation can accelerate harm rather than prevent it.

Introducing the idea of a Startup Alignment Index, he offers a practical framework for reorienting the innovation ecosystem—so startups are evaluated not just on scalability and revenue, but on their alignment with sustainability, the SDGs, and long-term societal resilience.

This is a call to founders, investors, policymakers, and consumers alike: to fix innovation’s compass before momentum turns into irreversible damage—and to build systems that regenerate, not just disrupt.
Benjamin Queisser is a senior leader at the forefront of the global energy transition. With a career spanning Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East, he has a proven track record of driving innovation and building ventures in complex international markets. From leading technology strategy for Saudi Arabia's giga-projects like NEOM to steering the innovation and ventures division for the Kingdom's national green hydrogen champion, Benjamin excels at bridging the gap between disruptive technology and industrial-scale commercialisation. He specialises in creating self-sustaining ecosystems by forging strategic partnerships between global tech pioneers, research institutes, and national stakeholders, accelerating the adoption of technologies crucial for a sustainable future This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx