David Orban

David Orban is a globally recognised technology futurist, entrepreneur, investor and keynote speaker, renowned for his expertise in artificial intelligence, blockchain and the future of society. Currently serving as Founder & CEO of Actioneer, Founder & Trustee of Network Society Research, and Managing Director at Beyond Enterprizes, David has become one of the technology industry’s most respected thought leaders. Having delivered more than 100 keynote speeches for organisations including Cisco, Oracle, Accenture and Roche, he is celebrated for translating complex technological concepts into engaging and practical insights. One of David’s most notable achievements came in 2014 when he became the first person to own Ether during the launch of Ethereum, firmly establishing his reputation as a pioneer within decentralised technologies and cryptocurrency innovation.

Born in Budapest and educated in Italy, David developed a strong interest in science and innovation through his background in physics. He began his professional journey as a Product Manager at AISoftware in 1987, where his passion for emerging technologies first took shape. In 1993, he founded Questar, marking the beginning of a long entrepreneurial career that would span multiple industries and technological revolutions. Throughout the years, David founded and co-founded a series of influential ventures including WideTag, Vulcano, Axelera, Futuroid, and Dotwords, consistently positioning himself ahead of major global technology trends. Alongside his entrepreneurial work, he became an active advocate for innovation, human progress and technological advancement, serving on the Advisory Board of the Lifeboat Foundation from 2007 and later becoming Faculty & Advisor at Singularity University in 2009.

As blockchain and artificial intelligence became increasingly influential, David emerged as one of the world’s leading voices on how these technologies could reshape society, economics and business. An active Bitcoin investor since 2010, he helped drive the adoption of blockchain technologies across startups and investment communities worldwide. David has also held a number of prestigious advisory and leadership roles, including Chairman of the Supervisory Council for SingularityNET, Member of the Board of Directors at Humanity+, and mentor for the Thiel Fellowship. His work reflects a strong commitment to responsible innovation and ethical technology development, particularly in relation to human-centric AI. As the author of ‘Something New: AIs And Us’, David explores how artificial intelligence is redefining entrepreneurship, society and the future of human identity. He further shares his insights through his podcasts, ‘The Context’ and ‘Searching for the Question’, where he examines the broader consequences of accelerating technological change.

Event organisers hire David Orban because he combines visionary thinking with genuine commercial and technological expertise. His keynote speeches cover topics such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, decentralised societies, digital transformation, innovation, entrepreneurship and the future of work. David’s presentations are particularly valuable for organisations looking to understand how emerging technologies will impact leadership, strategy and economic growth in the years ahead. Known for his intellectual depth, engaging delivery and ability to simplify highly technical concepts, David inspires audiences to think differently about the opportunities and challenges created by rapid technological evolution. Whether addressing global corporations, technology conferences or leadership summits, David equips audiences with the knowledge and perspective needed to adapt confidently to a rapidly changing world.

Here are some of the key milestones that define David Orban’s remarkable career:

  • 2025 – Appointed Strategic Advisor at RaiseTalks.ai
  • 2024 – Became Advisor at Sensay
  • 2023 – Delivered TEDx talk ‘AI, A Bridge To Tomorrow’
  • 2023 – Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Actioneer
  • 2022 – Advisor for Cheetahx
  • 2021 – Became Managing Advisor at Beyond Enterprizes
  • 2020 – Advisor at The Singularity Group
  • 2020 – Advisor at Emma Group
  • 2019 – Appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Council at SingularityNET
  • 2018 – Member of the Board of Directors at The Singularity Group
  • 2016 – Founded SingularityU Italy
  • 2015 – Founded Network Society Research
  • 2014 – Became the first person to own Ether during Ethereum’s launch
  • 2011 – Mentor at the Thiel Fellowship
  • 2009 – Appointed Faculty & Advisor at Singularity University
  • 2007 – Joined the Advisory Board of the Lifeboat Foundation
  • 1993 – Founded Questar