Lightning
where Inspiration lives.
Lightning is dedicated to harmonizing the timeless wisdom of ancient philosophy with the transformative power of modern technology to cultivate vibrant communities, nurture personal and collective growth, and ignite the flames of inspiration. We believe that by seamlessly integrating the profound teachings of the past with the cutting-edge tools of the present, we can create a dynamic environment where individuals and groups can thrive. Lightning is to be a catalyst for connection, growth, and enlightenment, offering innovative solutions that bring people together, empower them to reach their full potential, and infuse their lives with purpose and inspiration.
From Our Founder
It’s Time to Build,” says Venture Capitalist Marc Andreesen. He’s not wrong. But the summons to create and to break through complacency can only go so far if we do not heed another summons before, after, and alongside it: “It’s Time to Inspire.” In another moment, riffing on Heidegger, I might have said, “It’s Time to Dwell.” But Dwelling sounds a little bit too chill. We aren’t chill. We are on a search. In-spire: breathing in, breathing out, huffing from the sense that there is more to life than materialism (nihilistic metaphysics), utilitarianism (nihilistic ethics), and small-talk (nihilistic speech). That is why I’m starting Lightning, an Inspiration-as-a-Service Company.* Lightning is a digital-first learning community; an immersive Encyclopedia that competes with Penguin, Wikipedia, and Kindle; a curator of sages, living, dead, and AI-resurrected; and, above all, an actual treasure hunt, threading tech and IRL, allowing you to choose your own learning adventure over the course of decades. In 10 years, anyone who reads the Great Books will be reading them on Lightning. Anyone who wants to chat with Socrates, Hammurabi, Keynes, Anselm, Virginia Woolf, Thucydides, Walter Benjamin, Marie Curie, Rabia, Rumi, Spinoza, or Suzuki, will be doing it on Lightning. Anyone who wants to travel the world, guided by the great texts and ideas of their destination will do so with Lightning in their pocket. The PhDs and would be PhDs who cannot make tenure or no longer want to because Humanities Departments are done for will work for Lightning—as spiritual Uber drivers, Charons taking you just beyond the bend of the familiar. Would-be rabbis, imams, gurus, llamas, senseis, priests, and shamans who seek to promote meaning-making for committed practitioners and curious travelers alike will join our platform, our “everything store” for the soul. Fortune 500 Companies, largely remote, and hybrid, will hire Lightning to help them keep their knowledge workers loyal, moved, challenged, and up-leveled. Patrons who support the Met and the Opera will be edging to become honorary hosts of Lightning salons. Ambitious high school and middle school students will use our learning tools to supplement or replace their English and History classes. A nomad stuck in a rural part of the world with no library and no Amazon Prime will log into Alexandria and find 10,000 of the best books in the world to choose from—for free.
-Zohar Atkins
