Welcome to Objective Function: Building a Better Future from the Ground Up
Our world is facing unprecedented challenges: climate collapse, resource depletion, growing inequality, and political polarisation. These are not isolated problems; they are interconnected symptoms of deeper, systemic flaws in the way our societies are organised and governed.
For many, the scale of these challenges feels overwhelming. There’s a growing sense of helplessness, nihilism, and disillusionment as people feel powerless to influence a world driven by forces beyond their control. Many believe that meaningful change is impossible—that the problems are too big, the systems too entrenched. But that’s not true. Change is possible. One of the most impactful things we can do is to help people realise this: there are workable solutions, and with the right collective effort, we can create massive, positive change.
Why Are We Here?
The issues we face today—climate change, inequality, societal disconnection—are not inevitable. They are the result of the systems and ideas that govern our world. At Objective Function, we believe that to solve these problems, we must focus on their root causes. This means questioning the underlying ideas and incentives that drive human behaviour, governance, and technology.
Our world is built on systems that prioritise narrow metrics like GDP and profit, often ignoring their harmful consequences. This focus creates perverse incentives and traps us in a cycle of competition and exploitation. As nations, corporations, and individuals act in their immediate self-interest, they often harm the collective good—what’s known as the “multi-polar trap.” Breaking free of this cycle requires us to rethink what we value and how we measure progress.
A Vision for Change
We believe that by redefining progress, we can move beyond a world dominated by growth-centric capitalism. True progress isn’t just about economic expansion; it’s about fostering human connection, ecological balance, and holistic well-being. By focusing on systems-level solutions, we can create incentives that reward actions benefiting both people and the planet.
This is where the concept of reputational markets comes in. By creating frameworks that measure and reward sustainability, ethical behaviour, and long-term thinking, we can incentivise organisations to act in ways that align with a better future. These solutions don’t require top-down control or utopian idealism—they leverage the interconnectedness of our global systems to drive change at scale.
The Mission of Objective Function
Objective Function exists to enable individuals and communities to take highly effective actions toward positive impact. Our mission is to empower people to move beyond surface-level solutions and focus on the systemic changes that truly matter. We believe that the answers to our biggest questions can only come from collective exploration, learning, and action.
Through this community, we aim to create a space for collaboration, questioning, and innovation. Together, we can uncover the most effective ways to address root causes, design scalable solutions, and build a future where humanity and all life on Earth can thrive.
Join Us
This is a pivotal moment in history. The challenges are great, but the opportunities for transformative change are even greater. Together, we can redefine the systems that shape our world and create a future worth fighting for. Let’s get started.