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THE FOUNDERS
The Human Intelligence Project has been launched by two people rooted in different continents, different generations, and different perspectives. What we share is a commitment to nurture the human and natural environment at a time of unprecedented challenges. We look forward to building a diverse team to advance the Project's mission.
Jon Ward
Jon was born in the UK in 1950, grew up in London, and graduated from Cambridge University. After a period of social work and teaching, he launched his business career as the principal writer for Pentagram, Europe’s premier design company. In 1992, he emigrated to the United States where he built his brand consulting practice. As a business writer, he contributed to several books, including
work by the monetary expert Jim Rickards and a major book by one of the world’s leading design thinkers, Bruce Mau. While in the US, he also created Braincat, a process and software tool to help people think through complex information. In 2025 he moved to Vienna, Austria, where he is working on a new version of Braincat, a publishing venture called Sheviock, and The Human Intelligence Project. Jon is a published essayist and poet.
Felix Krainer
Felix was born in Austria in 2001. He is a social entrepreneur and environmental activist exploring how human creativity, digital culture, and collective intelligence can drive real-world change. He is the founder of Planet Matters, a global movement addressing plastic pollution through both hands-on cleanups and viral storytelling. What began as local action has grown into a
community of over 3 million followers and active waste collection in more than 30 countries. A Forbes 30 Under 30 listmaker, Felix has been featured by CNN, Euronews, and the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative He won the Austrian SDG award for pioneering new ways to transform climate anxiety into meaningful action. At the intersection of technology, media, and ecology, Felix’s work demonstrates how human intelligence can be amplified through storytelling and collective action, turning environmental protection into something not only necessary, but empowering and engaging.