Adam ZuckermanWork

Not everything fits neatly into company, nonprofit or product. That’s fine. I’m more interested in whether the problem is worth solving.

I hold a BA in political science, a JD and an MBA, all from Washington University in St. Louis. I don’t practise law now, but the training never left, and it turns out to be unreasonably useful when the thing you’re trying to understand is a system rather than a product.

Current

Founder
Buried in WorkPractical education, tools and products for estate planning, end-of-life preparation, estate organization and estate administration.
Founder
Heirloom & TellA private platform for organizing and preserving family stories, belongings, relationships, memories and wishes.
Founder
Buried in Work CharitableA 501(c)(3) supporting free public education and projects on death, dying, family preparedness and the end-of-life problems nobody has got round to.
Charitable
End of Life CareersA free resource documenting the professions connected to death, dying, loss, care and estate administration, across six fields.
Jan 2027
RetURN.orgA permanent identifier that keeps a person and their wishes attached to their urn, plus plain information and a directory of providers who help.

Earlier

2020 to 2023
Last Energy · VP, Business DevelopmentInternational business development for small modular nuclear power projects.
2011 to 2018
Discovery, Inc. · Director of Ventures and InnovationEmerging technology, startups, strategic investment, the Consumer Experience Lab, and the company's first voice products.
2011 to now
Fosterly · FounderConnecting entrepreneurs and innovators across the Washington region. Now the vehicle for advisory work and speaking.
2015 to 2018
Variable Labs · Co-founderEnterprise training built on virtual and augmented reality.
2017 to 2020
University of Maryland · Adjunct ProfessorStrategies for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in the Hillman Entrepreneurs Program.
2016
CNBC · Guest analystLive technology and business Q and A segments.
2010 to 2011
JESS3 · VP and General CounselContracts with NASA, Twitter, MTV, Bravo and Red Bull.
2007 to 2010
Hovde Capital Advisors · VP and Associate CounselA hedge fund that peaked around $1.2 billion, an investment bank and a foundation, including the team that took over a failed bank.

Recognition

2018
Zhi-Xing China Eisenhower FellowOne of nine Americans selected that year.
2019
J.T. Tai FellowEisenhower Fellowships.
Twice
Washingtonian Tech Titan
Patent
US11207952B2Presenting virtual reality inside a moving vehicle.