OUR STORY

Side-by-side comparison of a woman’s artistic black-and-white sketch in profile on the left and a smiling young man in a suit and tie on the right.

We didn’t party like it was 1999. It was 1999.

Jared was a senior. Erica was a freshman. And at the beginning of every year, the University of Rochester handed out a printed book of student photos — the original facebook. (IYKYK!) Somewhere in those pages, Jared (earring and all) found Erica (lip liner and all).

Twenty-five years later, we're still at it. Partners in life, partners in work, and parents of a Gen Alpha kid who will never know a world without AI — or a world with a physical facebook!

We co-founded Wake the Future because we believe the most powerful response to an AI-driven world isn't a better tool or a faster process. It's a more intentional human. One who thinks independently, knows who they are beyond what they produce, and meets uncertainty with curiosity instead of panic.

We're not just studying this. We're living it. All these years in, one thing hasn't changed: Jared still thinks he spotted a good thing in that facebook. Erica is still deciding.

The Stuff That Actually Keeps Us Human.

Two people wearing helmets and outdoor gear standing on rocky ground in a green, hilly landscape, giving thumbs up.

TRAVEL

Performers on stage during a concert or event with a large audience in an indoor venue, stage lighting, and a curtain on the right side.

ROCKING OUT

A smiling man and woman holding glasses of red wine stand in front of a large heart-shaped sculpture outdoors during autumn.

MUSIC

Two people smiling at a basketball game in an arena with a large crowd. The woman has long dark hair and is wearing a beige sweater and ripped jeans. The man is wearing a blue cap, black t-shirt, and holding a drink. The arena is filled with spectators, and the game is in progress with the score displayed at the top.

SPORTS

Two people bundled in winter clothing lying in snow, one with tongue out and the other with eyes closed, in a snowy outdoor environment.

PLAY

A crowd of people at a large event or concert, with some taking selfies and others cheering, surrounded by green and white confetti falling from above.

WINE

Two people sitting on a rock formation beneath a large natural rock arch in a desert landscape.

NATURE

A man and woman at a crowd event, both wearing sunglasses and holding beer cups, smiling and making hand gestures. The woman wears a black cap, Metallica T-shirt, and casual jeans, while the man wears a dark cap, Grateful Dead T-shirt, and a large watch.

JUST US

A smiling woman in a floral sleeveless dress and a man in a suit with sunglasses holding drinks, standing on a gravel path near the water with a grassy area and benches in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
A couple taking a selfie with a city skyline and harbor in the background.
A man and a woman smiling and hugging outdoors among green bushes. The man is wearing sunglasses and a black shirt. The woman is wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, and has dark hair. Background shows rolling hills, trees, and a clear blue sky.