Satoshi Nakamoto is the creator of Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency currently in a frenzy because of valuation surpassing $16,000/BTC. Interestingly enough, Nakamoto is not actually a real person but a pen name. My guess is he’s a millennial.

Nakamoto created the currency in 2008 as an experiment. He created an internet protocol that could facilitate peer to peer transactions. Bitcoin is popular because it’s open source and decentralized. Anyone can own a Bitcoin and there is no government controlling it like the US Dollar. The blockchain makes it all possible. It’s a decentralized list that records every transaction ever made. Bitcoin basically makes the traditional ledger, found in a bank, public knowledge. If you want to spend Bitcoin, it can be sent to anyone on the network. These are where “miners” come into play. Sending Bitcoin requires solving a complex mathematical equation and the miners are the ones who process those transactions. This technology has the potential to open huge avenues for innovation. It solves one of the key problems to making transactions which is trust. Bitcoin takes the human element of trust and converts it into a mathematical formula. This technology is the first of its kind and I predict huge growth in the future.

WeWork is an office space rental company that gives individuals, freelancers and corporations the ability to rent out shared office space. Its popularity has grown especially with young entrepreneurs because it provides a cheap and flexible working space where users can build community, exchange ideas, and collaborate. This idea is great for millennials because the offices are open 24-7 which is perfect for those who need flexible schedules. Along with providing a workspace, WeWork gives access to basic office needs like internet access, conference rooms, and coffee. This idea is perfect for small companies that have few resources.

A big problem that young entrepreneurs face today is finding access to a liquid network. In my experience, one of the roadblocks to starting my own business would be having access to a productive workspace. I could use my parent’s basement but it would be difficult to exchange ideas because of the lack of social interaction. However, WeWork would solve this problem by providing an office as well as provide the people necessary to grow my idea.

Sal Khan is what you would call the perfect student. He was valedictorian at his high school, attended MIT, and became class president his senior year. He later attended Harvard Business School where he earned his MBA. His current endeavor, Khan Academy, is where he gained his fame. It started when he began tutoring his cousin in math using internet videos. He decided to post those videos on YouTube so others could use them. His videos became popular enough to the point that he quit his job to develop Khan Academy.

Today Khan Academy has exploded in popularity. What started out as one man, has grown into a 150-person organization with videos including basic algebra, advanced physics, and even personal finance. Their mission is to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. They recognized a problem with the current educational system. Students who were having trouble learning content quickly were getting left behind. Khan bridged that gap through his videos. They are well organized and easy to follow. If a student is struggling in a tough subject like math, rather than giving up, they can go to Khan Academy (for free) and it will provide them with the extra help they need.

Khan not only tutors struggling students, but also has a revolutionary idea about how to improve education. During a Ted Talk, he floated a fairly controversial idea, which is having an educational system complete that requires subject mastery. I remember when I first heard about subject mastery, immediately the Keystones came to mind. For those unfamiliar, the Keystones are a series of standardized tests in English, Math, and Science that every high school student in Pennsylvania needs to pass in order to graduate high school. Educators flipped out claiming it would be impossible for every student to master those tests. Why? Because the current education system is flawed. Right now, students are tested but when student 1 receives a 95% and student 2 receives a 75%, the teachers move on and leave the knowledge gaps unfilled. Khan argues that if students do not master the fundamentals of math and science, it creates problems when they move on to tougher concepts. Consequently, students without strong fundamental math skills are more likely to switch out of harder level math, engineering, and science courses.

But with technology, every student mastering a subject is possible. Computers and videos can allow a student to work at their own pace and take as much time as they need until they master the concept. To those who say it can’t be done, consider this. It was once thought that 100% literacy was impossible, but we live in a society today where nearly 100% of the population is literate. Complete mastery of a subject for every student is possible, only you need to realize that it takes some longer for some than others.