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2025-05-04-the-alpha-bet-workflowy

BrainLift: "The Alpha Bet" Division + Its First 30 Days

*REQUESTING $400K FROM Mon, May 5 - Wed, Jun 4* We note that it will take a few days for legal + HR to onboard contractors, so some of these 30 day experiments will end past June 4th. We will be updating this brainlift regularly based on when people actually get started.

  • Brainlift last updated 2025-05-02
  • Owners
    • Gary Sheng
      • Accountable for overall movement vision and strategy, strategic partnerships, key talent recruitment outcomes, main point of contact to Trilogy executive leadership, main person accountable to all of the departmental goals.
    • Ron Roberts
      • Accountable for partnerships strategy, communications, overseeing high-level relationships, a lot of overall project management & strategy. Gary's right hand man.
  • Purpose
    • Ephor Report Link (https://ephor.ai/join/43d58db1)
    • Purpose of "The Alpha Bet" division: To grow the Alpha Schools movement by executing high-leverage experiments with the world's talent, and scaling validated solutions—delivering superior results with fewer resources.
      • The Alpha Bet division of Alpha Schools operates as a precision strike team, reporting directly to executive leadership and free from departmental red tape. Our work is designed to move quickly, test boldly, and position Alpha Schools as a global education leader.
      • See Charter
    • DEFINITION: An "Alpha Bet" is a strategic, low-cost, high-upside initiative rooted in our unique "alpha"—deep, non-public insights into what really moves people. Others see it as a risky gamble because they lack our inside view, but for us it's low-risk: we know what will work before it's obvious. By placing "Alpha Bets", we uncover hidden opportunities, generate outsized impact, and keep building momentum for the Alpha Movement.
    • Purpose of the BrainLift: To articulate the core strategic reasoning, unique advantages, and foundational Spiky POVs justifying the necessity and specific approach of The Alpha Bet as a necessary new division to unlock Alpha Schools' ability to scale.
    • Out of Scope of "The Alpha Bet" division:
      • We envision this division as equal parts strategy and recruiting. And while we will build out this division, most of the people we will play a role in hiring will be in their own divisions e.g. Lael Alexander with the new school he would start, as well as "Alpha Labs" division that could be created.
  • Initiatives Overview
    • Big picture overview (all to be completed by June 4th, 2025)
      • Over the next 30 days, a team led by Gary Sheng, with Ron Roberts as his right hand, will run eight tightly linked initiatives to dramatically transform every stage of Alpha's student acquisition funnel—from awareness to application to selective admission. Our goal is to radically reduce applicant acquisition costs while making the process more selective, premium, and truly one-of-a-kind.
      • Each initiative targets a different part of the funnel: our social media experiment and Alpha Summer plan will create top-of-funnel awareness; our high-profile summit and Jeffersonian dinner will nurture key relationships; and our admissions approach will be reimagined as a selective, premium process that maintains control over student quality while delivering exceptional experiences that convert parents efficiently.
      • We start by testing our marketing playbook with a social-media experiment, while simultaneously codifying our launch process in Lael's school startup plan.
      • In parallel, we'll design two flagship events—a Davos-style summit and an intimate Jeffersonian dinner—to deepen relationships with thought leaders and funders.
      • We'll also activate a pipeline of future school founders through letters of intent and shape federal grant rules under the AI × Education Executive Order to unlock new funding streams.
      • Together, these efforts demonstrate our execution muscle, validate core processes, and build the network and credibility we need to push into a full-scale roll-out later this year.
      1. Social Media Experiment for Alpha High Austin ($50,000)
      • Big picture overview
        • Launch and grow a new Alpha High Austin Instagram account as a "blue ocean" experiment to prove we can drive real engagement and interest for future school launches
      • Outcomes
        • Reach 5,000 followers, 500,000 impressions, and 50 net new interest-form applications by June 4, 2025
      • Measured by
        • Midpoint (May 20, 2025):
          • 2,500 followers & 250,000 impressions (track weekly)
        • Final (June 4, 2025):
          • 5,000 followers, 500,000 impressions, 50 applications
      • Delivered through
        • Consistent Instagram content (5 or more posts per week)
        • Targeted engagement campaigns and paid promos
        • Weekly analytics summaries and a final slide-deck report
      • Dependencies
        • Onboard Johnny Rapp by May 5 to start creating content
          • Johnny is an exceptional young social media professional specializing in memes, marketing, and business development. He has created and grown online communities with millions of engaged followers by curating memes, activating engagement strategies, producing viral content, and distributing ads for the past ten years. He has developed and grown social media pages for celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Drake Bell, and Terrell Owens. He also delivers next-level marketing campaigns that send more traffic than Super Bowl commercials.
            • The network he manages now reaches billions of impressions across multiple industries. Johnny's celebrity-grade connections as well as his knowledge about viral growth and memetic spreading of ideas among young people will prove crucial in amplifying Alpha High's message.
      • Budget: $50,000
        • Retaining Johnny for a month: $20,000
        • Editors + Ad spend: $30,000
      1. School Startup Plan with Lael Alexander ($75,000)
      • Big picture overview
        • Build a detailed launch plan (budget, timeline, staffing, etc.) and Brainlift for Lael's 2026 Austin science & tech school
      • Outcomes
        • Deliver full written launch plan and Brainlift by June 4, 2025
        • Provide a line-item budget for Fall 2026 launch
      • Measured by
        • Midpoint (May 20, 2025):
          • Outline of core sections (budget template, timeline draft, stakeholder list)
        • Final (June 4, 2025):
          • Complete plan and Brainlift delivered to leadership
      • Delivered through
        • Single consolidated document with executive summary, detailed budgets, timelines, risk register, and a presentation deck
      • Dependencies
        • Onboard Peter C. Han by May 5 to co-lead this with Gary
          • Mr. Han has over 20 years of experience operating as a startup executive, finance professional, angel investor, and consultant. During his career, he has worked with startup companies, private investors, Fortune 500 companies, investment banks, and private equity/venture capital firms. As both an executive and consultant, he has raised and managed venture capital and private equity financing, managed special situations, and created and executed strategic business plans and budgets.
          • Mr. Han is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Alignment Energy Pte. Ltd., a Singapore based tidal and wave energy technology company and Chief Financial Officer of ReelX, a finance platform, as well as an angel investor and Director of several private companies. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer of Wyldwood, LLC, an entertainment company started in conjunction with the actor Zachary Levi (Shazam!, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Chuck), the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Pearpop (www.pearpop.com), a Bessemer Venture Partners Series A funded creator economy and web3 startup. Previously, Mr. Han was a strategy and finance executive at Gloo (www.gloo.us) and a Senior Vice President at HSBC Bank where he worked in the office of the CEO.
          • Prior to HSBC, Mr. Han was the Chief Financial Officer of Open Finance Network/Stillpoint Technologies, Inc., a financial technology startup which provided straight through processing solutions for Registered Independent Advisors. Mr. Han was also the Co-Founder and Vice President of Datamyne, Inc. (www.datamyne.com), an international import-export information and database company which was sold to Descartes Systems Group. He has also worked at Mitchell Madison Group as a strategy consultant in the Global Securities Practice, where he received the fastest promotion to Associate in the history of the company and J.P. Morgan Securities, where he executed over $200 million in fixed income bond and derivative transactions.
          • He received his A.B. in International Relations from Brown University and his M.B.A. in Entrepreneurial Management from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is proficient in both Spanish and Korean and has lived and worked in the United States, South America, and Asia.
      • Budget: $75,000 (retaining Peter Han to own the outcome for a month)
      1. High-Powered Education Summit Plan ($75,000)
      • Big picture overview
        • Develop a Davos-style strategy for an education-renaissance summit—guest list, budget, format, venue—ready to pitch for Q4 2025
      • Outcomes
        • Submit full summit strategy, curated guest list, and budget by June 4, 2025
      • Measured by
        • Midpoint (May 20, 2025):
          • Draft guest list (50 names) and venue shortlist
        • Final (June 4, 2025):
          • Complete strategy doc, budget breakdown, and initial vendor agreements
      • Delivered through
        • Written strategy document plus slide deck covering vision, logistics, budget, audience, and next-step timeline
      • Dependencies
        • Event team to confirm venue availability by May 15
        • Onboard Brooke Joy & Wilson Fong & 1-2 Young Genius Superconnectors to co-create strategy by May 7th
          • About Brooke Joy:
            • Austin-based, 20-year experiential marketing veteran. Brooke led national campaigns as Director of Experiential Marketing at Victoria's Secret Pink, with a portfolio spanning 10,000+ person concerts, international brand activations, and high-touch VIP events. She specializes in designing multi-sensory, emotionally resonant experiences—from curated invites to intentional seating and immersive environments (including scents and sounds)—that align tightly with mission and strategy. Trusted by C-suite leaders, Brooke brings strategic insight and calm, expert execution to the summit.
              • She leads a seasoned team of experiential producers with deep experience in high-stakes events, delivering seamless, high-impact experiences even under intense time pressure.
              • Brooke will also be instrumental in planning and executing the high-profile Jeffersonian Dinner as part of her 30-day trial period for The Alpha Bet.
              • Onboard Brooke Joy to co-lead with Gary Sheng and Elle Liemandt
          • About Wilson Fong:
            • Wilson is a digital builder, brand strategist, and investor with 25+ years of experience across tech, e-commerce, and creative ventures. He is the Managing Partner of Contino New York, a boutique creative consultancy known for emotionally resonant storytelling and premium design. He led work for Dior, Nike, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, invested in and helped grow Threadless.com to over $60M in annual revenue, and co-founded venture studios while backing early-stage startups like Figment (Web3 infrastructure) and CFX Labs (fintech remittances).
              • He has helped launch category-defining brands, worked with Fortune 500 innovation labs, and built founder-focused ecosystems. His background spans law, nightlife, startup building, and operating global creative teams. He brings a global lens, a founder mindset, and a long-term view on building brand value with clarity and soul.
              • You can see more at Wilson Fong and recent work at Contino Case Studies.
      • Budget: $75,000 (salaries for the planning team)
        • Brooke Retainer covered in #6
        • One month of Wilson Fong retainer: $35,000
        • One month of young genius superconnector retainer: $20,000
        • One month of young genius superconnector retainer: $20,000
      1. Activate Aligned Leaders for School Launches ($10,000)
      • Big picture overview
        • Map and secure mission-aligned future school founders through letters of intent—building our pipeline
      • Outcomes & financials
        • Deliver a report of key high-value people and 5 signed letters of intent by June 4, 2025
      • Measured by
        • Midpoint (May 20, 2025):
          • List of 10 top prospective founders identified
        • Final (June 4, 2025):
          • 5 signed letters of intent collected
      • Delivered through
        • Written report with profiles, outreach status, and scanned LOIs
      • Dependencies
        • Onboard Ron Roberts by May 5 to refine candidate criteria and help onboard leaders
        • Email templates and outreach support from marketing by May 7
        • Intro calls scheduled with prospects by May 12
      • Budget: $10,000 (Maintain a small travel fund for Gary and Ron to meet partners, scout talent, and seize high-impact opportunities)
      1. Capitalize on Trumps AI × Education Executive Order ($60,000)
      • Big picture overview
        • Develop and pitch a strategy for shaping federal grant rules under the new AI × Education Executive Order
      • Outcomes & financials
        • Deliver Brainlift with policy analysis, grant-shaping tactics, budget projections, and hiring plan by June 4, 2025
        • Secure at least one meeting with a senior administration official by June 4, 2025
      • Measured by
        • Midpoint (May 20, 2025):
          • Draft policy analysis and potential influence points
        • Final (June 4, 2025):
          • Complete Brainlift and confirmed meeting on calendar
      • Delivered through
        • Research brief, budget model, recommended hires table, and scheduled advocacy meeting
      • Dependencies
        • Access to key political contacts from Justin Horwitz, Dr. Denise Mitchem, and Samuel Armes by May 12
          • About Justin Horwitz
            • Justin is one of the top political strategists on the Democratic side, with deep connections across the Republican and independent political spectrum. He is a top confidant and strategist for Alexis Giannullius (Secretary of State of Illinois and likely future mayor of Chicago), and a top media adviser to JB Pritzker (Governor of Illinois and one of the wealthiest individuals in America). Justin is also well connected to Andrew Yang, a leader in the nonpartisan independent movement, and is close friends with Matthew Boyle (Managing Editor of Breitbart), with direct ties to JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., and Jack Posobiec—collectively, a group with the ear of the president.
            • Justin has a gigantic media presence, with about 5 million followers across his social platforms and a reach of 20–30 million through his aligned left-leaning media network. He is one of the most influential figures in independent left-leaning media. Justin's bipartisan reach, strategic insight, and media influence make him a critical asset for Alpha Schools in maximizing Executive Order opportunities and securing major government grants.
          • About Dr. Denise Mitchem
            • Dr. Norma Denise Mitchem is a government relations expert, strategic advisor, and superconnector with deep experience in federal policy, education, and technology. With advanced degrees from Howard University, American Intercontinental University, and Harvard, she currently leads the Step IT Up America program as VP of Corporate Relations for UST-Global. Dr. Mitchem has advised top institutions, built high-impact coalitions, and facilitated key government relationships—including access to senior administration officials. For Alpha Schools, she will help shape Executive Order opportunities and federal grant strategies at the intersection of AI and education.
          • About Samuel Armes
            • Samuel is a Florida-based Political Strategist, hyperconnected in the domain of US politics (esp., within Florida and among major conservative lobbying groups) and with extensive experience mobilising resources for and pushing forth innovative policies (e.g., Florida Bitcoin Reserve, multiple laws passed in cooperation with governor Ron DeSantis, incl. an anti-CBDC law). Samuel's political expertise and connections will help us establish a legal basis for mass adoption of the Alpha Model by the state and federal governments.
        • Legal review of EO provisions by May 15
      • Budget: $60,000 (hiring Justin, Dr. Mitchem, and Samuel at equal one more retainers of $20,000)
      1. One Jeffersonian Dinner That Helps Grow The Alpha Movement ($30,000)
      • Big picture overview
        • Host a small dinner for 10-12 powerful and/or hyper-wealthy (net worth $100M+) and Alpha leaders—to catalyze new school launches
      • Outcomes
        • Host event by June 4th, 2025
        • Produce a post-event insight report highlighting next steps
      • Measured by
        • Midpoint (May 20, 2025):
          • 7+ invitees confirmed, venue booked
        • Final (June 4, 2025):
          • Dinner executed and report delivered
      • Delivered through
        • In-person dinner, facilitator guide, and written insights document
      • Dependencies
        • Onboard Brooke Joy to co-lead with Gary Sheng and Elle Liemandt
        • Elle being free to collaborate on this (she expressed interest, and is free after APs are over on May 17th)
        • Venue availability confirmed by May 12
        • Final attendee RSVPs by May 25
      • Budget: $30,000
        • $14,000: Retaining Brooke for one month
        • $16,000 Venue, catering, etc
        • Brooke Retainer covered in #6
      1. "The Alpha Bet" Leadership Budget—Per Month and Ongoing ($100,000)
      • Gary Sheng—Chairman: $50,000/month
      • Ron Roberts—Head of Strategy: $50,000/month
        • For the first month, add on a ~$17k relocation bonus (aligned with the Gauntlet relocation bonus)
      1. Alpha Summer 2025 Plan ($TBD by May 11)
      • Big picture overview
        • Develop a comprehensive plan for the most extraordinary summer program in education history, creating an experience so compelling that parents and students alike will consider no other alternative.
      • Outcomes
        • Deliver a detailed summer school plan with programming, staffing requirements, and full budget by May 11, 2025
        • Include media team requirements to capture every transformative moment throughout the summer
        • Begin marketing the summer program by May 18, 2025
      • Measured by
        • Comprehensive program outline, including:
          • Experience design for students of different age groups and interests
          • Daily/weekly schedule structure with key experiential moments
          • Staffing plan identifying world-class mentors and guides
          • Complete media strategy for capturing and leveraging content
          • Marketing and enrollment approach to attract elite students
          • Budget breakdown covering all program elements
      • Delivered through
        • Complete written plan with executive summary
        • Detailed budget spreadsheet
        • Media capture strategy document
        • Marketing materials ready for immediate implementation
      • Dependencies
        • Collaboration with current Alpha High leadership team
        • Input from experienced summer program designers
        • Media production expertise to develop capture strategy
      • Budget: To be determined by May 11, 2025, with separate allocations for:
        • Programming and student experience
        • Elite mentors and guides
        • Professional media capture team
        • Marketing and recruitment
    • TOTAL FOR FIRST 30 DAYS: $400,000 (Mon, May 5 - Wed, Jun 4 ) + Summer School Budget (TBD by May 11)
    • Overall Department-Wide Dependencies
      • Onboarding Ron ASAP—Ideally with a May 5th Start Date.
      • Baseline Funnel Cost Data: Collaboration with Finance and Operations teams by May 10th to establish current benchmark costs for each stage of the student acquisition funnel (awareness, application, conversion, enrollment) to accurately measure cost reduction progress.
    • SOME MAJOR COSTS TO FORECAST FOR FOLLOWING 11 MONTHS:
      • These are all estimates that will be fleshed out over time. And the intention is not for many of these costs to even fit inside The Alpha Bet division.
      • High-Powered Education Summit: $2.5M-$5M (BUDGET TO BE FLESHED OUT IN MAY)
      • Other Movement Building Events: $2-3M (BUDGET TO BE FLESHED OUT IN NEXT 60 DAYS)
      • Lael Alexander Annual Salary To Work Full Time For Alpha: $15M-20M (REQUIRES ALPHA EXEC APPROVAL / NEGOTIATION)
      • Political Strategy Execution That Helps Alpha Shape Trump Executive Order + Win Govt Grants Long-Term: $2-5M (REQUIRES ALPHA EXEC APPROVAL / NEGOTIATION)
      • Alpha Summer 2025: $2M+ (BUDGET TO BE FLESHED OUT BY MAY 11)
      • An Alpha School Reality Show That Grows the Movement: $?M (REQUIRES BUDGET PROPOSAL / ALPHA EXEC APPROVAL / NEGOTIATION)
  • DOK4 - Spiky POVs

    • Alpha High in Austin could be a model high school of the nation.

      • The current "Factory School" system is failing billions – it's the ultimate missing force multiplier holding back progress. It is a profound tragedy that potential world-changing geniuses—future Einsteins discovering new laws of physics, future Ramanujans intuiting deep mathematical truths—are likely trapped and having their unique potential extinguished by the homogenizing, compliance-focused structure of the industrial-era school model.
        • "Factory School" is an outdated, conformity-driven educational model that prioritizes passive learning and standardization. However, in the world radically reshaped by AI, the premium is on agency, creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving. This requires a new educational paradigm — the "Founder School", exemplified by Alpha School's current AI-enabled model.
        • More on this shift in education in my recent reflection.
      • Alpha High has built a functioning model that can scale nationwide, due to:
        • Proven Education Model. While others theorize about educational reform, Alpha has built a functioning model based on an innovative '2 Hour Learning approach' that consistently produces exceptional results:
          • Standardized test performance:
            • The school's average SAT score ranges from 1410–1470, placing its students in the 94th+ percentile nationally (source 1; source 2), compared to Texas's average of 978 and the U.S. national average of 1024. (Texas, National).
            • On AP exams, approximately 94% of Alpha students score 3 or higher (source), well above the national average of about 60% (source), with many scoring the highest marks (4 or 5), including a remarkable 100% of students achieving a 5 in AP Computer Science.
            • Additionally, Alpha students exhibit extraordinary academic growth, progressing at least 2x faster than peers nationwide, with the average student scoring in the 98th–99th percentile on nationally normed MAP assessments (source).
          • Case studies of exceptional kids and their projects, showcasing how Alpha is truly a 'Founder School'. Below are some examples of high-agency youth Gary's discovered while exploring Alpha School:
            • Grace Price, who produced the documentary 'Cancer: A Food-Borne Illness' (5.2M views on X), exploring the links between diet, epigenetics, and cancer prevention.  
            • Elle Liemandt, who created AskElle, an AI-powered dating advice app to assist teenagers in navigating relationships (40,000+ downloads), and has amassed a following of 180,000+ on TikTok.
            • Rhett Jones, who founded Station Mountain Bike Park, raising over $350,000 from scratch to build the Texas' largest bike park while still in high school.
          • Students Love School. In a recent survey of Alpha's student body, 96% of students reported that they "love attending Alpha".
        • Scalable Methodology. Alpha's '2 Hour Learning' educational approach is inherently more scalable than traditional models precisely because it centers student agency rather than teacher-driven instruction.
          • By focusing on unleashing intrinsic motivation, self-direction, and digital-first/AI infrastructure Alpha's model can be adapted across diverse contexts and cultures with vastly fewer resources than required by traditional education systems.
        • Vast High-Profile Network: Alpha ecosystem's (Joe's, MacKenzie's, etc.) existing relationships grant access to both the apex of current power structures and the wellspring of future talent (Alpha students), a combination few, if any, others can claim. This enables a truly intergenerational collaboration crucial for validating, optimizing, and scaling the Alpha model with maximum efficiency.
          • Conversations with Joe and people within his Alpha School network have highlighted extensive connections across multiple industries:
            • Joe himself has explicitly mentioned in conversations that he knows the founder of Chick-fil-A, Mark Zuckerberg, and high-level executives at Amazon. He has also met with Bill Gates and knows Michael Dell.
            • Through discussions at Alpha School, I noted Joe's connections extend to a significant pool of next-generation talent.
            • Notably, Joe's daughter is acquainted with numerous Gen Z millionaires, several of whom I personally recognize as exceptionally intelligent.
      • Joe could build and have a stake in multiple school archetype brands.
        • Alpha High won't be the only model school type. Since different kinds of students flourish differently (e.g., a very science-focused student might not resonate with Alpha High's current model), each kind of students will need different kinds of schools, such as:
          • Entrepreneurship schools for business-minded students
          • Engineering schools for technically-oriented learners
          • Performing arts schools for creative talents
          • And many other specialized focuses based on student aptitudes and interests
          • For instance, Lael Alexander is building an 'MIT for 4 through 12' using his own tech, curriculum, philosophies and school buildings.
        • Moreover, having multiple distinct brands allows each school type to build its own identity, reputation, and deep expertise within the specific domain it targets (like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard each having their own strong brand—in STEM, entrepreneurship, and law/policy, respectively).
        • Even for the same focus area we might want to experiment by funding multiple competing school brands in the same domain so that the best theoretical model can be selected through practice.
          • This creates a natural selection process for identifying the best educational models, as healthy competition drives excellence and running multiple experiments in parallel reveals what works most effectively.
        • The through line across all of Joe's school investments should be enabling different types of students to flourish.
          • Conversations with Matthew Sanders, a top advisor to the Catholic Church for AI and human flourishing helped me appreciate a fundamental truth: there can't be a "one-size-fits-all" in education—whether in curriculum, teaching methods, or school infrastructure. Each student's path to flourishing is uniquely their own and must be shaped around their individual interests, needs, and biology. Whether through entrepreneurship, arts, sciences, or other domains, each student needs the space and support tailored to develop their unique talents and interests on their path to excellence.
          • Thus, the overarching message conveyed by all schools in Joe's portfolio should be their commitment to tailoring education to a student's unique profile—carefully factoring in parental input—to ensure every child thrives in alignment with their family's vision of flourishing.
        • We Must Map and Secure Our Network of Future School Founders Now
          • The success of Alpha's multi-school vision depends on identifying and activating the right leaders who can bring these specialized schools to life. We already see promising examples emerging:
            • Ashley Lynn in DC, who could create the premier school for political leadership
            • Lael Alexander's vision for an 'MIT for 4 through 12' leveraging his revolutionary technologies
          • By systematically mapping our network of potential school founders—complete with their unique visions, preferred locations, and specific expertise—we create a powerful foundation for rapid, strategic expansion. This is not just a list; it's a living document of committed pioneers ready to extend Alpha's mission into new domains and territories.
          • Securing letters of intent from these high-caliber individuals now, while the opportunity is still emerging, ensures we have a strong pipeline of mission-aligned leaders ready to activate when the time is right. This proactive approach to talent pipeline development is both cost-effective and strategically crucial for maintaining quality as we scale.

    • This requires major work to build Alpha's brand, awareness, and substance.

      • Alpha Needs Top Talent to Become the Most Compelling Model.
        • Fundamentally, this is an HR problem: we must recruit world-class talent to help Alpha High become the most attractive and substantive model school for the Alpha Schools ecosystem and in general.
          • Ron Roberts believes that Alpha's biggest blind spot is the absence of a world-class marketer who can drive scalable customer growth across the portfolio. Post-acquisition, the focus has been on retention and operational efficiency—but not breakout user acquisition. Testing a content wizard through the Alpha Schools account could be the proving ground to identify the kind of growth operator who can eventually own marketing playbooks and best practices across the full portfolio.
          • There is a significant opportunity to reduce unnecessary expenditures across Alpha Schools' different functions.
            • The current situation mirrors what's often seen in rapidly growing organizations (e.g., Google, from Gary's experience) - where speed of growth can lead to redundant systems and inefficient processes popping up throughout. The key is to identify where multiple departments might be duplicating efforts or where resources aren't being optimally utilized.
            • This must be approached very strategically and methodically to avoid unnecessary cuts that might inadvertently harm the organization rather than enhance its efficiency.
            • Thus, the most sensible strategy is to run small, non-disruptive—but valuable—experiments that directly compete with existing corporate functions. Once these experiments demonstrate clear efficiencies and measurable results, we can confidently move forward with more substantial scaling or restructuring of the business functions under review (insight from Ron Roberts).
          • Additionally, the best way to de-risk onboarding new talent at Alpha Schools is by giving new hires a short trial period with clearly defined outcomes for them to own, providing them the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities through tangible results.
            • So, instead of immediately hiring someone we believe is highly capable, we should aim to implement a standard operating procedure (SOP) requiring a minimum 30-day evaluation window. This period allows other potential candidates the opportunity to match or surpass the initial candidate, ensuring Alpha Schools consistently selects the best available talent rather than settling prematurely on someone initially perceived as good.
        • It's equally crucial to attract and meaningfully integrate the best young people in the country in these early days of Alpha.
          • When exceptional young people like Grace Price create viral documentaries or Elle Liemandt builds widely-adopted apps, they provide living proof of Alpha's effectiveness. Their successes create a powerful feedback loop: they validate Alpha's approach, attracting even more top-tier young talent who further amplify and reinforce its effectiveness.
          • And again, to attract the very best young people, we must first recruit exceptional adult talent capable of designing apprenticeship programs for them to develop their specific inner talents and serve as an example of Alpha Successful model.
      • Alpha Needs a Protocol to Launch Model Schools.
        • Scaling education presents fundamentally different challenges than scaling technology. You can't simply copy-paste a successful school - each new location brings unique challenges, different student populations, and varying cultural contexts. Yet without a systematic approach, each new school launch becomes a very resource-intensive experiment with high risk of failure. Moreover, the cost of getting it wrong isn't just financial - it affects real students' futures and Alpha's credibility in the education space.
          • Without documenting core launch processes, successful practices remain trapped in people's heads rather than becoming institutional knowledge. The current lack of standardized protocols and processes makes quality control nearly impossible at scale.
          • A meta-protocol is crucial for rapid, reliable scaling. It defines a core foundation—from governance and quality benchmarks to key operational checklists—that every school builds upon, ensuring consistency required for quick scaling even across vastly different contexts. By packaging these essentials into clear, modular guides, we streamline setup and training, drive down overhead, and eliminate redundancies. This organized, repeatable approach minimizes risk and waste, so each new model schools launch on solid ground, cost-effectively and with predictably successful outcomes.
          • Thus, rather than starting from scratch, new school launches can experiment within a proven framework. Successful innovations can be quickly documented and incorporated into the standard process, while failed experiments provide structured learning without endangering the entire system.
        • To initiate this, we should begin systematically documenting the launch process for a new school from scratch—such as Lael's planned Austin science school launch in 2026—to capture essential insights, establish baseline practices, and inform the development of our launch protocol.
      • Alpha Needs to Reshape the Culture.
        • Put simply, most people today don't truly think for themselves. They like what they're told to like and do what they're told to do. The same goes for most youth—rarely questioning what's popular, they follow the algorithms, trends, and influencers placed in front of them.
        • Alpha clearly embodies ideals that differ from those most people actually live by. It champions agency, originality, and deep thinking. But fighting the current head-on means positioning ourselves in direct opposition to the majority—which doesn't align with our goal of achieving national and ultimately global scale.
        • Within that reality, Alpha isn't fighting the current—it's redirecting it. We're giving people the next thing to want—only this time, it's something that will genuinely improve their lives and move society forward.
        • For This, Alpha Content Must Become Ubiquitous.
          • To maximize cultural penetration, there should eventually be readily available ways to consume high-quality Alpha content throughout the day, "every waking hour". (insight from Johnny Rapp)
            • The goal is to, over time, establish Alpha in the public imagination as both cool and clearly effective, as something that visibly leads to student success.
          • We need to give parents the opportunity to experience Alpha Schools from within firsthand before enrolling their children. They should witness how current students flourish, allowing them to envision how their own child could thrive in this new system. Without this, many parents may hesitate to choose Alpha Schools for their children.
          • We Can Unlock Unprecedented Growth By Running a 'Blue Ocean' Social Media Experiment.
            • Rather than trying to compete with or restructure existing approaches, Alpha needs to identify and dominate untapped social media territories. The launch of a dedicated 'Alpha High Austin' account represents a strategic "blue ocean" experiment—an opportunity to build engagement and interest for future school launches in a lean and efficient way, while documenting scalable marketing processes, free from existing preconceptions.
            • This experimental approach, led by world-class talent like Johnny Rapp (who has grown social communities reaching billions of impressions and developed pages for celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Drake Bell), allows us to:
              • Test and validate new content strategies in a controlled environment
              • Build a replicable social media playbook for future school launches
              • Generate substantial measurable interest and applications while maintaining full creative control
              • Document best result-driven practices that can be scaled across the Alpha Schools ecosystem
            • By starting fresh with a new account, we can establish the foundational elements of Alpha's social media presence—setting the tone, visual language, and engagement strategies that will define how we tell the Alpha story to the world.
          • A Show About Alpha Has Huge Potential to Scale.
            • To shape the culture at scale, we need to normalize the idea of Alpha being on the screens (i.e., making Alpha's day-to-day and success stories public, visible, and aspirational). We want families across America to see what Alpha looks like and to believe, without question, that this is what an ideal educational path should be for their kids.
            • Creating a show about Alpha High is our first strategic move in that direction. It allows us to introduce Alpha into the mainstream culture in a format that feels familiar—reality TV—but repurposed to celebrate real agency and future-defining actions (i.e., 'Activation TV')
              • Activation TV > Traditional Comms/Reality TV.
                • Interactivity, a major aspect of a successful movement, must be a central part of the New Level Movement to truly achieve the desired global adoption of the Alpha model.
                  • Thus, 'American Alpha' has to become a part of the movement vs. a passive entertainment/viewing experience, which means it must allow the viewers to meaningfully interact with the Alpha ecosystem. This can turn into tangible support like:
                    • External grants for talented Alpha students,
                    • Financial support, new talent and student recommendations for Alpha schools,
                    • Starting new schools in diverse locations (by lending a name / providing funding / facilities),
                    • Advocating for large-scale adoption of the 2hr learning approach,
                    • Persuading foreign governments to consider and implement the Alpha school model in their country.
                  • A real-time, aspirational show about 'Alpha High' is strategically superior to traditional methods (PR, newsletters) and standard reality TV.
                    • By integrating calls to action (CTAs) and showcasing real results fueled by viewer participation, it becomes "Activation TV", where viewers don't just watch aspirations, they actively help manifest the goals (funding projects, providing feedback, joining the movement, etc.), creating a uniquely powerful feedback loop for impact and engagement.
            • The proposed format allows us to test the show's core concept and get the Alpha ecosystem comfortable with reality TV without having to disrupt the existing processes of current students.
            • Even more importantly, the show becomes a media flywheel. Its content can be endlessly repurposed into streaming episodes, viral YouTube clips, and short-form TikToks and Reels. This will help ensure Alpha is omnipresent across all the channels today's youth engage with most.
      • Alpha Needs to Secure the Support of Key Power Players.
        • If Alpha is to truly scale nationwide—winning hearts and minds, while also shifting policy, redirecting capital, and rewiring entire systems—we must bring the most influential players to the same table. That includes bold public sector leaders (at both state and federal levels, such as: Ted Cruz, Vivek Ramaswamy), the giants of global business (Apple, Nvidia, Tesla), and one-of-a-kind experts, such as Lael Alexander (construction, physics, sciences), Dr. Denise Mitchem (superconnector), or John Monopoly (discovered and managed Kanye and other massive artists).
        • Strategic Government Engagement Can Unlock Massive Scale for Alpha
          • The intersection of AI and education represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape federal policy and secure transformative funding. By engaging with the right stakeholders early—particularly around executive orders and department grant-making rules—Alpha can position itself to win substantial government support for its innovative education model.
          • Our unique advantage lies in our assembled team of bipartisan political strategists:
            • Justin Horwitz brings unparalleled reach across the political spectrum—from Democratic leadership (advising Governor JB Pritzker) to direct MAGA influence (through connections to Donald Trump Jr. and JD Vance)
            • Dr. Denise Mitchem's expertise in federal policy and education, combined with her access to senior administration officials, enables us to shape grant frameworks at their source
            • Samuel Armes' track record of pushing innovative policies with conservative state governments (particularly in Florida) provides a proven model for state-level adoption
          • This coordinated approach to policy influence—spanning both parties and all levels of government—dramatically increases our chances of securing major government grants and establishing Alpha's model as the standard for AI-enabled education.
        • A well-produced event with 100 high-profile attendees who can advance each other's goals is far more valuable and efficient than 100 separate one-on-one meetings.
          • Strategically gathering the current and future most powerful people is the single fastest way to accelerate a major change. History confirms that pivotal summits serve as essential crucibles for establishing new frameworks and consolidating the consensus required for large-scale action (e.g., Continental Congress forging the nation, Bretton Woods architecting a new global economic order post-WWII, Philadelphia Convention re-founding the US). A meticulously crafted, high-stakes summit is therefore essential, not merely helpful, for achieving Joe's ambitious mission and timeline.
            • The proposed summit structure – an American Davos focused on this mission – represents the right (or one of the only right) strategic architectures for this acceleration, providing leverage unavailable through other means, just as previous historical congresses provided the necessary forum for their respective transformations (Vienna establishing balance in post-Napoleon Europe, Lahore laying the ideological foundation for Pakistan's independence).
              • Efficiency & Impact: The summit format counters the inefficiency of Joe repeating his vision in countless 1-on-1s, enabling simultaneous understanding, alignment, and mobilization among key players – a necessary function observed in historical convenings facing complex challenges (e.g., coordinating diverse colonies).
              • Power Projection & Network Effects: Convening individuals collectively controlling trillions in capital and influence creates an undeniable field of gravity. It signals the movement's power and inevitability, making participation and contribution highly desirable and fostering emergent collaborations, similar to how the Congress of Vienna consolidated Great Power alignment or how the First Zionist Congress unified a global diaspora.
              • Execution is Non-Negotiable: The potential payoff is immense, but failure is costly. Mediocre events are worse than none. Success demands flawless execution – tasteful, highly curated, demonstrably valuable, and logistically seamless – to respect attendees' time and stature and achieve the legitimacy required, learning from both the successes and failures of past high-stakes gatherings (insight from Brooke Joy and Gary's event organizing experience).
              • Role of Secrecy/Exclusivity: Like elite salons during the Enlightenment or strategically secretive societies (e.g., Carbonari, Filiki Eteria, Katipunan), careful application of exclusivity or controlled information-sharing can protect participants, facilitate sensitive planning, increase attendee engagement, and maximize the concentration of influence necessary for transformative action.
            • Related insights:
              • Historically, high-stakes summits are most impactful when they focus on establishing new frameworks, rules, or institutions during critical transition periods.
              • Complementing the large-scale summit, intimate Jeffersonian Dinner gatherings (15-20 carefully selected billionaires and power players) can serve as high-leverage catalysts for specific school launches. These curated, action-oriented conversations create the trust and alignment needed for key decision-makers to commit resources and influence toward expanding the Alpha model. (isights from Gary Sheng and Brooke Joy)
            • Historical References:
      • Operational Excellence is Non-Negotiable. (insight from Ron Roberts)
        • The operational inefficiencies and lack of pragmatic execution at Alpha Schools present unnecessary reputational risk for Joe and Alpha. When bold vision isn't grounded in disciplined systems and real-world execution, it creates openings for cultural erosion, stakeholder misalignment, and failed student outcomes.
        • The priority must be ensuring the vision cast is not only inspiring—but achievable. This means pressure-testing assumptions, tightening feedback loops, bringing in world-class experts to identify and plug every gap before it compounds into structural risk.
        • This systematic approach to operational excellence is about safeguarding the culture, the outcomes, and the long-term credibility of Alpha and Joe's legacy.

    • Gary Sheng and Ron Roberts are Uniquely Qualified to Lead "The Alpha Bet".

      • As a chairman and director of the Alpha Scale Division, Gary Sheng offers a distinct blend of relevant experience:
        • Designing and executing high-caliber, unconventional events;
          • Zuzalu, Montenegro (2023):
          • ZuConnect, Istanbul (2023):
            • 2-week popup community event in Istanbul, Turkey with over 300 participants (incl. technologists, researchers, and entrepreneurs) across multiple domains (longevity, AI, blockchain, biotech, etc.) to explore themes such as decentralized social networks, governance, and digital public infrastructure.
            • A blog by an attendee of ZuConnect.
          • Edge City Denver (2024):
            • 7-day convergence of cutting-edge builders and innovators at the crossroads of Crypto, ZK, AI, Health Tech, Governance, Art, and Public Goods. It attracted approximately 3,000 participants throughout the week.
            • An article about Edge City Denver.
          • Edge Esmeralda (2024, now recurring):
            • Month-long pop-up village in Healdsburg, CA, uniting ~1,300 participants—including families, technologists, and artists—to collaboratively explore innovative ways of living and working. The event featured over 550 sessions, with 93% organized by attendees, covering topics such as longevity, neurotechnology, decentralized governance, and sustainable living.
          • My reflections from the time organizing these events:
        • Building authentic relationships across generations, industries, and demographics;
          • Including connections to influential figures like Zachary Levi (actor and mental health advocate), Brooke Joy (high-stakes event producer), and a growing network of youth empowerment leaders such as Arjun Khemani (17 yo high school dropout, podcaster), Zelda Poem (founder of Nautilus, funding self-directed youth), Sigil Wen (angel investor backing exceptional Gen Z talent + helping them move to the US).
        • Deep understanding of community dynamics (both successes and critical failure points);
        • Ability to identify, recruit, and orchestrate world-class execution talent (like Brooke Joy).
        • Ability to architect the necessary integration of technology platforms and specialized teams to deliver an unprecedentedly connected and valuable attendee experience, far beyond typical conferences.
          • With a strong track record in software engineering (incl. a B.S. in Computer Science from Duke University, several years leading frontend teams at Google, and a recent graduation from Gauntlet AI), Gary is now able to lead teams in developing highly useful applications for connecting and enhancing attendee experiences in significantly shorter timelines.
        • Lifelong dedication to identifying and empowering young talent ensures philosophical alignment with the educational core mission.
          • Gary has built large, youth-centric communities like Civics Unplugged, which equipped over 4,000 young leaders across 100+ countries, and Dream DAO, which trained Gen Z to harness blockchain for social impact.
        • Deep understanding of how to enhance efficiency within existing, entrenched systems without breaking them:
          • This expertise was developed through years of direct experience with both large technological and religious institutions. At Google, Gary observed firsthand how even trillion-dollar companies struggle with efficiency—where often just 1 out of 10 people drive the majority of valuable work, while institutional culture actively discourages outstanding performance for fear of making others look bad. This early exposure to systemic inefficiencies in high-performing organizations shaped his approach to organizational transformation.
          • This unique perspective led to his role advising the Catholic Church/Vatican on efficiency restructuring. His approach focuses on identifying and eliminating inefficiencies while respecting existing culture and frameworks—a delicate balance that's particularly crucial when working with ancient, complex institutions.
          • The key insight driving Gary's method: organizational transformation isn't just about identifying and tackling inefficiencies—it's about understanding how to implement changes without triggering cultural antibodies that often reject efficiency improvements.
      • As Head of Strategy and Co-Director of Alpha Scale, Ron Roberts brings a rare blend of strategic precision, cultural fluency, and executional depth shaped by years at the helm of transformative projects for some of the most influential figures in the world. From engineering partnerships and campaigns for global icons like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande, to advising on institutional design and civic impact, Ron has consistently operated at the intersection of power, perception, and purpose.
        • What sets Ron apart is not just his ability to build high-stakes partnerships—it's his instinct for context. He understands that opportunity diligence isn't just about surface metrics or static data, but about reading the room, the moment, and the unspoken drivers behind decisions. His strategic approach is grounded in a deep sensitivity to timing, human dynamics, and cultural undercurrents that often elude more linear thinkers.
        • Ron specializes in helping organizations—and people—sequence transformation. His mantra is "We can do everything, but not all at once." He advocates for low-friction experiments that prove value early, then scale based on trust, clarity, and momentum. Whether diagnosing institutional bottlenecks or designing high-leverage hiring pathways, he brings a rigorously pragmatic process orientation informed by years of pattern recognition.
        • His greatest strength lies in his ability to translate vision into alignment—especially among high-powered stakeholders. Having worked with A-list talent and mission-driven founders alike, Ron excels at ego management, narrative cohesion, and creating the conditions where ambitious ideas take root and grow.
          • Perhaps Ron's most valuable insight comes from managing relationships with high-profile individuals: "half the battle in creating successful partnerships lies in ego management". Through working with A-list celebrities, he's learned that when dealing with accomplished individuals—whether entertainment stars or educational leaders—success requires both acknowledging their existing greatness and deeply understanding their vision for their legacy. This expertise in navigating high-profile personalities will be essential for Alpha Scale's work on the securing the support of key power players during the summit and beyond.
        • With The Alpha Bet, he's now channeling this expertise to build a next-generation system of talent, strategy, and structure—starting with the flagship Austin campus and expanding nationally and globally. His work isn't just about scaling schools; it's about scaling wisdom.
        • Ron's lifelong track record of scaling organizations and driving transformative impact spans multiple domains:

          • Appointed at age 12 to the board of Union Rescue Mission under CEO Andy Bales, demonstrating early commitment to servant leadership and community transformation. Contributed to programs serving 1,200+ daily meals and expanding family services in LA's Skid Row.​

          • Led the "Thank U, Next Gen" voter registration campaign with HeadCount and Ariana Grande's Sweetener Tour, registering 30,000+ voters. Founded the Braun Youth Fellowship supporting 10+ youth-led initiatives.
          • Organizations & Partnerships:
            • Scaled a fashion brand (Homme + Femme) from $5M to $10M ARR in one year through creative licensing and influencer campaigns, including:
              • Negotiated 3-year exclusive merch deal with the Kentucky Derby
              • Closed major licensing deals with Playboy and Eddie Bauer
              • Cut $300K in fulfillment inefficiencies in first week of employment
              • Grew IG following by 50% in 5 months through 4 major influencer activations reaching 3.2M+ people
            • Led partnerships for a career pipeline program (Creative Futures Collective) for formerly homeless and incarcerated young adults, securing placements at major companies with 60%+ retention at companies like Spotify, World Surf League, etc.
            • Co-created and scaled mental health-themed cartoon IP (Action Figure Miles):
              • Licensed to major brands including Spongebob and Angry Beavers
              • Generated $1M+ in first-year revenue
              • Structured JV with private equity partner to scale retail distribution (Pacsun, UO, Nordstrom)
            • Secured a $1M licensing deal with Universal Music Group to launch its first Gaming vertical
            • Early career experience building global communities:
              • Supported content and growth strategy for YouTuber Louis Cole (2M+ subscribers)
              • Helped build and scale the "Live the Adventure" community
            • Demonstrated consistent ability to identify and eliminate operational inefficiencies while growing revenue and impact
          • Building & Managing High-Profile Relationships:
            • Orchestrated partnerships and campaigns for major artists and brands including Google, Amazon, Target, and Athletic Greens+
            • Managed pre-production for sold-out 25K-capacity arena show (Juice WRLD Day at United Center):
              • Secured livestream deal with Kick
              • Orchestrated merch partnership between 999 and 13 Studios
              • Drove $700K+ in revenue
            • Led strategic brand development for multiple high-profile artists (Grade A Productions), implementing audience growth campaigns increasing fanbases by 50%+ and boosting engagement 40%
            • Successfully scaled multiple creator platforms, including:
              • Grew Jenelle Eliana's TikTok from 340K to 2M followers
              • Increased Instagram from 310K to 1.1M in 4 months
              • Achieved average views of 6.5M per post
              • Secured six-figure brand partnerships with major companies
            • Additionally, contributed to multiple high-impact, NDA-bound projects across entertainment, government, and cultural IP sectors—demonstrating ability to navigate sensitive, high-stakes initiatives with discretion
          • This combination of early leadership experience, proven ability to scale organizations, and expertise in managing high-profile relationships makes Ron uniquely qualified to help Alpha Scale navigate its ambitious transformation and growth plans.

    • Alpha Schools Must Radically Rethink Parent Marketing and Student Selection.

      • Current parent marketing is ineffective despite massive spend. While Alpha currently invests tens of millions per year in parent education and marketing, the return on this investment is not proportional to the spend. The marketing department's current approach requires a fundamental reimagining.
        • The ROI on current marketing spend is indefensible. With dozens of employees and tens of millions in annual marketing budget, Alpha Schools should have millions of followers across all platforms—not just on MacKenzie's account—given how truly extraordinary the student experience is. Instead, the customer acquisition cost is approaching $1 million per new student, which is completely untenable for scaling.
        • Alpha needs marketing leadership with actual expertise and accountability. The current structure has created an environment where marketing specialists can recognize when their superiors don't understand modern digital marketing, creating opportunities for inefficiency without accountability. We need leaders who command respect from social media and marketing experts through demonstrated expertise, not just position.
        • Every marketer must have clear metrics and take ownership of outcomes. The marketing team must establish ambitious but achievable goals—such as growing to hundreds of thousands of followers on primary accounts and millions across all accounts by the end of summer 2025—with individual accountability for delivering results.
      • We need to inspire, not just educate parents. Rather than focusing on educating parents about Alpha's model (which is complex and expensive), we must create inspiring pathways that make them eager advocates. This means showcasing real student outcomes and creating experiences where parents can witness Alpha's impact firsthand.
      • Parents are moved by trajectory, not just current state. When convincing parents to enroll their children, what sells them isn't just Alpha's current reality—it's where Alpha is going. Parents need to see the evolutionary momentum: how Alpha continuously improves, attracts world-class mentors, creates unparalleled networks, and secures extraordinary opportunities. We're selling a network that will be 1000x more valuable than Harvard's.
      • Alpha must become highly selective with admissions. Alpha Schools is not for everyone, and it should not position itself as lucky to have any parent who can pay tuition. Instead, we should create a sense that students must earn their place, making admission an honor rather than a transaction. This exclusivity should extend even to billionaire families—we must be willing to turn away wealthy parents with children who don't demonstrate the potential, grit, and character needed for Alpha's community.
      • The enrollment funnel should be accelerated. We must move parents from awareness to enrollment in weeks or even days, not years. With the right marketing approach and inspirational content, we can dramatically compress this timeline.
      • Summer programming is a critical opportunity to demonstrate our model. By creating an extraordinary summer experience, we can give parents a taste of Alpha's approach without requiring a full-year commitment upfront. This creates an "irresistible preview" that makes the full-year decision obvious.

    • Alpha's Most Valuable Asset is Its Uncaptured Excellence.

      • Alpha has the best educational content, but it's largely uncaptured. The extraordinary moments, breakthroughs, and student achievements occurring daily at Alpha represent our most compelling marketing material, yet much of it goes undocumented.
      • We must invest in high-end content capture across all educational segments. This is not optional—it's essential to building Alpha's brand as the unquestioned leader in education innovation.
      • Every elite product deserves elite representation. Just as luxury brands invest heavily in showcasing their products, Alpha must invest in showcasing its educational experience. The merch we create should be of such high quality that it becomes desirable even for people who don't attend Alpha, creating both revenue and brand awareness.
      • Alpha Schools should be a super-elite brand that must never be diluted. While Joe's educational portfolio may eventually include multiple school types serving different student populations, the Alpha brand itself must be protected and positioned as the pinnacle of educational excellence.
      • Mentors and guides are critical investments, not costs. The guides who work with students must be compensated at premium rates—$100k per year is insufficient for the world-class talent we need to attract. We should consider reallocating marketing budget to secure exceptional guides and establish a residency network of successful professionals who can spend time on campus.
      • Every moment of excellence must be captured professionally. When students create viral documentaries or launch successful apps, these achievements must be professionally documented and shared, creating powerful social proof and inspiration.

    • NEW: The Alpha High Summer 2025 Experience, If Executed By The Right Team, Could Be The Foundation For An Extremely Cost Efficient Movement That Leads To Abundant Demand For Alpha Schools Enrollment

      • Alpha Summer (what we should probably call the Alpha High summer experience) represents a defining opportunity for Alpha. While the '2 Hour Learning' model is a powerful enabler, the true special sauce lies in what that freed-up time allows: unparalleled access to networks, world-class mentorship, a high-energy environment, and the extraordinary peer group. Summer allows us to showcase this core magic—the experiential elements that truly differentiate Alpha—in a pure, concentrated form, unencumbered by the necessary structures of the regular school year like APs or specific learning assignments that can break flow states. By creating the most epic, inspiring, and transformative summer program in education history, we can establish Alpha High as the unquestionable leader in next-generation education.
      • We must invest whatever it takes to make Alpha High Austin the most exciting campus in America during summer 2025. This is not just another summer program—it's a crucial opportunity to demonstrate our model at its absolute best, focusing on the network, mentorship, and high-agency environment that parents and students truly value.
      • The right summer experience, centered on these differentiating factors, will generate unprecedented parent demand. Our goal is to create such an extraordinary experience that parents worldwide recognize this is the future trajectory Alpha offers—driving demand to either send their children to Alpha High Austin or help bring Alpha Schools to their own communities. People won't ultimately choose Alpha for the 2-hour learning itself, but for the extraordinary life trajectory it enables.
      • Summer 2025 must become a marketing breakthrough moment, proving we can efficiently attract the right families by showcasing the experience, not just the structure. The upcoming summer program provides a unique opportunity to dramatically expand Alpha's digital presence. This is not an aspirational goal but a clear business requirement: we should exit summer with hundreds of thousands of followers on our primary accounts and millions across all accounts—capturing the imagination of parents and students nationwide by highlighting the network, mentorship, and student achievements.
      • Summer programs must set the bar for Alpha's selective standards. We must be highly selective for this summer program itself, making it clear that admission is an honor earned through demonstrated potential, character, and cultural fit. Importantly, just because a student attends our summer program doesn't guarantee them a spot in the fall. Students must consistently demonstrate exceptional potential, character, and fit with the high-agency culture to earn their place in Alpha's community.
      • We should document every moment of Special, Differentiating Sauce—focusing on the mentorship, network interactions, and student collaborations. A professional media team must capture the transformative experiences, student breakthroughs, and community development throughout the summer program, creating compelling content that tells the experiential story and will drive growth for years to come.
      • Hiring for summer programs must follow our incremental commitment model. As we identify talent skilled in fostering these experiential elements (mentorship, community building), we should start with small commitments (like running a workshop) before expanding their role based on demonstrated results with students.
      • Crucially, the Summer program serves as an ideal, low-stakes trial period. It allows us to evaluate potential students for fit, test guides for effectiveness before a full-year commitment, assess media team capabilities, and generally de-risk the onboarding of talent across every dimension needed to scale the Alpha experience.
  • Experts
    • The following experts have not only contributed key insights that shaped this brainlift, but will also be instrumental in executing The Alpha Bet's mission. Their combined expertise spans movement building, project management, recruiting, events, and organizational transformation.
    • For Launching New Schools:
      • Lael Alexander is a groundbreaking inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur (basically a real life Tony Stark) whose work centers on a revolutionary nitrogen-based theory of physics that challenges traditional carbon-centric models. His innovations span multiple industries, including advanced building materials, refrigerant-free cooling systems, and energy technologies that demonstrate principles potentially capable of reshaping our understanding of physical science.
        • Lael's insight and partner support will prove crucial for:
          • Physically scaling Alpha facilities.
            • Lael's revolutionary construction technologies could transform the vision of building a million Alpha Schools from impossible to inevitable. His modular building systems and advanced materials reduce construction time by 90%, while his adaptive reuse expertise enables rapid conversion of existing structures (vacant commercial spaces, empty churches) into state-of-the-art learning environments.
            • These innovations create unprecedented infrastructure deployment capacity—potentially establishing Alpha Schools at 274 new facilities daily while reducing costs by an order of magnitude.
          • Equipping facilities with self-sufficient campus technology.
            • Lael offers an integrated ecosystem that makes Alpha campuses nearly self-sustaining:
              • His refrigerant-free cooling systems function in extreme climates without conventional infrastructure.
              • His energy systems dramatically outperform current renewable tech.
              • His advanced filtration creates superior air and water quality even in repurposed buildings.
              • This comprehensive approach eliminates dependence on dozens of vendors while making Alpha facilities deployable virtually anywhere, even in regions with limited infrastructure.
          • Innovating on science curriculum design.
            • Lael's nitrogen-centered theory represents a potential Einstein-level reimagining of physics with greater elegance and predictive power than existing models. If Lael's scientific frameworks prove as revolutionary as I believe, this partnership positions us at the epicenter of a fundamental shift in human understanding of physical reality, positioning students at the forefront of what may become the next scientific revolution.
          • Additionally, as potentially history's most significant Black scientific mind, Lael's involvement would powerfully challenge entrenched narratives about race and intellectual capacity, showing students—particularly Black students—that world-changing scientific brilliance exists within their community.
        • For deeper insight, check out my reflection from meeting Lael (includes a recorded 2-hour deep conversation + a tour of his facilities).
      • Rob Hanna brings over 40 years of cross-sector leadership experience to the Alpha Bet's team. A system design expert and architect of 24 frameworks focused on scaling social impact and financial sustainability, Rob specializes in public-private partnership strategy across 16 states—most notably in Texas, where his work has driven a 56% reduction in cost for public infrastructure projects and reduced time to completion from 7 years to as little as 18 months. He is a trusted advisor to governments, philanthropies, and mission-driven organizations. For Alpha Bet, Rob will be instrumental in delivering the detailed plan and Brainlift for v1 model school (Lael's Austin-based science and technology school), including a comprehensive budget and re-usable operational blueprint for launch by Fall 2026.
    • Executive Order & Government Relations Strategy:
      • Dr. Norma Denise Mitchem is a highly accomplished government relations expert, strategic advisor, and superconnector whose multifaceted expertise will be instrumental in shaping the implementation of AI and education-related executive orders. Her distinguished academic journey includes an undergraduate degree from Howard University, followed by graduating Magna Cum Laude from American Intercontinental University with a degree in International Business and Marketing. She further enhanced her expertise through graduate studies at Harvard University Divinity School and was selected for a Senior Fellowship at Harvard University School of Business, ultimately earning her doctorate in Philosophy.
        • In her current role as VP of Corporate Relations for UST-Global, Dr. Mitchem leads the transformative Step IT Up America program, an initiative aimed at training and employing 1,000 African American women in technology across 10 cities. Her career spans decades of high-impact leadership roles, including serving as a strategic advisor to the President of Howard University and as a marketing and fundraising consultant for DC's National Center for Black Philanthropy. She has pioneered groundbreaking initiatives as an Event Marketing Consultant for high-profile projects, including Jane Fonda's GCAPP, and served as coordinator for the Andrew Young Foundation. Her expertise in event planning and strategic partnerships culminated in her role as Co-Chair of the Ambassador's Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama's 2013 Inauguration.
        • Dr. Mitchem's unique expertise in government relations, strategic planning, and extensive political network uniquely positions her to help Alpha Schools maximize executive order opportunities and shape federal grant-making strategies. Collaborating with political strategists (like Justin Horwitz and Samuel Armes), she will develop detailed plans to leverage AI and education-related grants across various federal departments. Her proven ability to facilitate high-level conversations with administration officials and secure strategic meetings with influential figures—such as Paula White (Trump's top spiritual advisor with access to every department and cabinet agency head)—will enable Alpha to effectively shape policy frameworks at the intersection of AI and education. Her track record of building successful coalitions across government, education, and the private sector makes her indispensable in navigating the evolving federal education landscape.
      • Justin Horwitz is one of the top political strategists on the Democratic side, with deep connections across the Republican and independent political spectrum. He is a top confidant and strategist for Alexis Giannullius (Secretary of State of Illinois and likely future mayor of Chicago), and a top media adviser to JB Pritzker (Governor of Illinois and one of the wealthiest individuals in America). Justin is also well connected to Andrew Yang, a leader in the nonpartisan independent movement, and is close friends with Matthew Boyle (Managing Editor of Breitbart), with direct ties to JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., and Jack Posobiec—collectively, a group with the ear of the president.
        • Justin has a gigantic media presence, with about 5 million followers across his social platforms and a reach of 20–30 million through his aligned left-leaning media network. He is one of the most influential figures in independent left-leaning media. Justin's bipartisan reach, strategic insight, and media influence make him a critical asset for Alpha Schools in maximizing executive order opportunities and securing major government grants.
      • Samuel Armes is a Florida-based Political Strategist, hyperconnected in the domain of US politics (esp., within Florida and among major conservative lobbying groups) and with extensive experience mobilising resources for and pushing forth innovative policies (e.g., Florida Bitcoin Reserve, multiple laws passed in cooperation with governor Ron DeSantis, incl. an anti-CBDC law). Samuel's political expertise and connections will help us establish a legal basis for mass adoption of the Alpha Model by the state and federal governments.
    • Summit & Events Strategy:
      • Brooke Joy is an Austin-based, 20-year experiential marketing veteran. She led national campaigns as Director of Experiential Marketing at Victoria's Secret Pink, with a portfolio spanning 10,000+ person concerts, international brand activations, and high-touch VIP events. She specializes in designing multi-sensory, emotionally resonant experiences—from curated invites to intentional seating and immersive environments (incl. scents/sounds)—that align tightly with mission and strategy. Trusted by C-suite leaders, she brings strategic insight and calm, expert execution to the summit.
        • Brooke brings a seasoned team of experiential producers with deep experience in high-stakes events, delivering seamless, high-impact experiences even under intense time pressure.
      • Wilson Fong is a digital builder, brand strategist, and investor with 25+ years of experience across tech, e-commerce, and creative ventures. He is the Managing Partner of Contino New York, a boutique creative consultancy known for emotionally resonant storytelling and premium design. He's led work for Dior, Nike, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, invested in and helped grow Threadless.com to over $60M in annual revenue, and co-founded venture studios while backing early-stage startups like Figment (Web3 infrastructure) and CFX Labs (fintech remittances).
        • He has helped launch category-defining brands, worked with Fortune 500 innovation labs, and built founder-focused ecosystems. His background spans law, nightlife, startup building, and operating global creative teams. He brings a global lens, a founder mindset, and a long-term view on building brand value with clarity and soul.
    • Social Media & Content Strategy
      • Johnny Rapp (aka JRapp) is an exceptional young social media professional specializing in memes, marketing, and business development. He has created and developed online communities by curating memes, activating engagement strategies, producing viral content, and distributing ads for the past ten years. He has developed and grown social media pages for celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Drake Bell, and Terrell Owens. He also delivers next-level marketing campaigns that send more traffic than Super Bowl commercials.
        • The network he manages now reaches billions of impressions across multiple industries. Johnny's celebrity-grade connections as well as his knowledge about viral growth and memetic spreading of ideas among young people will prove crucial in amplifying Alpha High's message.
    • Matthew Sanders is a top advisor to Catholic Church on human flourishing and AI. His work spans the intersection of technology, education, and human potential, partnering with institutions like Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Boston College and the Vatican among many others to develop comprehensive frameworks for understanding and measuring human flourishing in the modern age.
      • Matthew's collaboration with Gary on creating a global human flourishing framework for the Vatican has yielded crucial insights for Alpha's mission:
        • It has demonstrated that one-size-fits-all education models—especially the standard teacher-fronted classroom—are fundamentally misaligned with how humans actually develop and flourish.
        • This provides critical validation for Alpha's student-tailored expansion approach, showing that true educational excellence requires deeply personalized pathways that account for individual differences in learning styles, technological integration, and developmental timing.
    • Joe Liemandt as a force multiplier behind the scenes:
      • He possesses the unique credibility and network reach to assemble a truly diverse and influential group of supporters – spanning politics, industry, finance, and technology – united by the high-common-denominator cause of empowering the next generation and fixing a broken education system. Much like conveners of past transformative summits needed to bridge disparate influential factions (e.g., Metternich bridging European countries at Vienna).
        • Austrian diplomat Klemens von Metternich played a central role in the Congress of Vienna, skillfully bridging the interests of diverse European powers to establish a lasting balance of power after the Napoleonic Wars. (Link)
      • His existing relationships grant access to both the apex of current power structures and the wellspring of future talent (via the Alpha ecosystem), a combination few, if any, others can claim. This enables a truly intergenerational dialogue crucial for long-term vision creation.
        • Conversations with Joe and people within his Alpha School network have highlighted extensive connections across multiple industries:
          • Joe himself has explicitly mentioned in conversations that he knows the founder of Chick-fil-A, Mark Zuckerberg, and high-level executives at Amazon. He has also met with Bill Gates and knows Michael Dell.
          • Through discussions at Alpha School, I noted Joe's connections extend to a significant pool of next-generation talent.
          • Notably, Joe's daughter is acquainted with numerous Gen Z millionaires, several of whom I personally recognize as exceptionally intelligent.
        • Exploring Alpha School, Gary's discovered a range of young talent, such as:
          • Grace Price, who produced the documentary 'Cancer: A Food-Borne Illness' (5.2M views on X), exploring the links between diet, epigenetics, and cancer prevention.  
          • Elle Liemandt, who created AskElle, an AI-powered dating advice app to assist teenagers in navigating relationships (40,000+ downloads), and has amassed a following of 180,000+ on TikTok)
          • Rhett Jones, who founded Station Mountain Bike Park, raising over $350,000 from scratch to build the Texas' largest bike park while still in high school.
  • DOK3 - Insights
    • Educational Model Insights
      • The "Factory School" model is fundamentally misaligned with AI-era needs, where agency and creativity are premium skills
      • Alpha's '2 Hour Learning' approach is more scalable precisely because it centers student agency over teacher instruction
      • One-size-fits-all education actively harms exceptional students by homogenizing their unique potential
      • Student success stories (viral documentaries, app launches, entrepreneurial ventures) create a powerful feedback loop that validates and reinforces Alpha's effectiveness
      • The combination of AI infrastructure and student self-direction creates unprecedented resource efficiency
      • Different types of students require different school archetypes - one model cannot serve all aptitudes effectively
      • Parental input and family vision of flourishing must be integrated into educational pathways
    • Scaling & Implementation Insights
      • Scaling education requires fundamentally different approaches than scaling technology - each new location brings unique challenges that resist simple replication
      • The most efficient path to national scale is through strategic government engagement, particularly around AI and education executive orders
      • Operational excellence and pragmatic execution are as critical as visionary leadership - poor execution creates unnecessary reputational risk
      • Small, non-disruptive experiments that compete with existing functions are more effective than large-scale immediate restructuring
      • The best way to de-risk talent acquisition is through short trial periods with clearly defined outcomes
      • A 30-day evaluation window for new hires ensures selection of truly exceptional talent over initially promising candidates
      • Documenting successful practices as institutional knowledge is crucial for quality control at scale
    • Cultural & Movement Building Insights
      • Fighting cultural current head-on is counterproductive; redirecting it through aspirational content and real success stories is more effective
      • High-stakes summits are most impactful during critical transition periods when establishing new frameworks
      • Careful application of exclusivity in gatherings can maximize influence concentration and facilitate sensitive planning
      • The intersection of AI and education represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape federal policy and secure transformative funding
      • A well-produced event with 100 high-profile attendees creates more value than 100 separate one-on-one meetings
      • Cultural transformation requires omnipresence across media channels youth engage with most
      • Ego management is half the battle in creating successful high-stakes partnerships
    • Network & Influence Insights
      • Bipartisan political reach is essential for maximizing executive order opportunities
      • Access to both current power structures and future talent creates unique intergenerational dialogue opportunities
      • Strategic government engagement must span both parties and all levels of government for maximum impact
      • The combination of youth success stories and high-profile connections creates a powerful validation loop
    • Organizational Transformation Insights
      • Institutional culture often actively discourages outstanding performance to avoid making others look bad
      • Change implementation must account for and navigate around "cultural antibodies" that resist efficiency improvements
      • Transformation requires both bold vision and pragmatic execution to avoid reputational risk
      • The sequence of change is as important as the change itself - "We can do everything, but not all at once"
  • DOK2 - Knowledge Tree
    • DOK2 - Summaries
      • Alpha High's Educational Model
        • Implements '2 Hour Learning' approach focusing on student agency and intrinsic motivation
        • Consistently produces exceptional standardized test results (94th+ percentile SAT scores)
        • Achieves 94% success rate on AP exams vs. 60% national average
        • Students progress 2x faster than national peers on MAP assessments
        • 96% of students report loving the school
      • Scaling Strategy
        • Multiple school archetype brands targeting different student aptitudes
        • Systematic approach to school launches with documented protocols
        • Integration of advanced construction and facility technologies (through Lael)
        • Strategic government and policy engagement framework
        • School Launch Protocol for rapid, reliable scaling across different contexts
          • Initiate this by creating a School Launch Plan for Lael's upcoming school
        • Standardized processes for quality control and consistency
        • Framework for identifying and activating future school founders
      • Cultural Transformation Approach
        • Multi-channel content strategy ("every waking hour")
        • Reality TV format repurposed as "Activation TV"
        • Blue ocean social media experimentation
        • High-stakes summit and Jeffersonian Dinner formats
        • Strategic use of exclusivity and controlled information sharing
        • Integration of traditional and new media channels
        • Focus on demonstrating real student outcomes and success stories
      • Talent & Leadership Strategy
        • 30-day evaluation window for new hires
        • Apprenticeship programs for young talent
        • Focus on operational excellence and pragmatic execution
        • Emphasis on ego management in high-stakes relationships
        • Integration of world-class marketing and growth expertise
      • Infrastructure Innovation
        • Modular building systems reduce construction time by 90%
        • Adaptive reuse expertise for existing structures
        • Self-sufficient campus technology systems
        • Advanced filtration and cooling systems
      • Movement Building Strategy
        • Multi-channel content distribution
        • Activation-focused media approach
        • Strategic summit and gathering formats
        • Youth-led success story amplification
        • Parent engagement pathways
      • Technology Integration
        • AI-enabled educational model
        • Digital-first infrastructure
        • Self-sustaining campus systems
        • Advanced building technologies
        • Modular deployment systems
    • DOK1 - Facts
      • Performance Metrics
        • SAT score range: 1410-1470 (94th+ percentile)
        • AP exam success: 94% scoring 3 or higher
        • MAP assessment: 98th-99th percentile average
        • Student satisfaction: 96% positive
        • AP Computer Science: 100% achieving score of 5
      • Network Reach
        • Justin Horwitz: 5M+ social media followers, 20-30M media network reach
        • Johnny Rapp: Billions of impressions across managed networks
        • Dr. Mitchem: Direct access to federal administration officials
        • Joe Liemandt: Connections to tech leaders (Zuckerberg, Dell, Gates)
        • Political connections spanning both major parties
        • Access to state governors and federal administration
      • Expert Credentials
        • Rob Hanna: 40+ years leadership, 24 frameworks developed
        • Brooke Joy: 20 years experiential marketing, 10,000+ person events
        • Gary Sheng: Led communities of 4,000+ youth leaders
        • Ron Roberts: Scaled organizations from $5M to $10M+ ARR
        • Dr. Mitchem: Harvard fellowship, Obama inaugural committee experience
        • Samuel Armes: Multiple successful policy implementations in Florida
      • Student Achievements
        • Grace Price: Documentary with 5.2M views
        • Elle Liemandt: App with 40,000+ downloads, 180k+ TikTok following
        • Rhett Jones: Raised $350,000 for bike park while in high school
      • Infrastructure Capabilities
        • Lael's construction tech: 90% reduction in build time
        • Capability to launch 274 new facilities daily
        • Refrigerant-free cooling systems for extreme climates
        • Advanced filtration systems for repurposed buildings
      • Event & Community Metrics
        • Gary's Edge Esmeralda: 1,300 participants, 550+ sessions
        • Edge City Denver: 3,000 participants
        • ZuConnect Istanbul: 300 participants across multiple domains
        • Civics Unplugged: 4,000+ youth across 100+ countries
      • Historical Precedents
        • Continental Congress (1774-81): Nation formation
        • Congress of Vienna (1814-15): Post-Napoleonic order
        • Bretton Woods (1944): Global economic framework
        • First Zionist Congress (1897): Movement foundation
      • Technology Capabilities
        • Advanced filtration systems for air and water quality
        • Energy systems outperforming current renewable tech
        • Refrigerant-free cooling systems for extreme climates
        • Modular building systems reducing construction time by 90%
      • Leadership Experience
        • Gary: B.S. Computer Science from Duke
        • Gary: Frontend team leadership at Google
        • Ron: Early board membership at Union Rescue Mission at age 12
        • Ron: Managed 25K-capacity arena events