Originally appeared in TechCrunch, August 8, 2015 We recently had the opportunity to participate in two important conferences focused on thefuture: one on the on-demand economy (On Demand Economy 2015) and the other on mobile communications (Rutberg Future Mobile 2015). While each conference covered a range of fascinating topics, if taken together, one can develop from the conversations and presentations a clear picture of the future ofmobility. This future, creating both gre

FORTUNE: Bringing cheap, low-carbon energy to the developing world means rethinking how we finance technology. We noted in an earlier piece that Bill Gates’s “moonshot” investments to stop climate change, while well intentioned, are misdirected. We do need an Apollo Project for clean energy but it should be an effort that focuses on global deployment of technologies we already have—not on new invention. When it comes to clean energy innovation, today we are where the informat

FORTUNE: The well-intentioned billionaire is investing heavily in Hail Mary technologies to fight climate change. What we really need is more capital for already existing technologies. Bill Gates recently announced a $1 billion increase in his investments to address climate change. He intends to focus on long-shot solutions—i.e., safer nuclear reactors and carbon-capture technologies—he believes can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In doing so, Gates joins a num