Will Preble

Met at: Austin, TX (restaurant meeting) Met date: 2025-08-25 Role(s): CEO & Founder of Ascendance (AI growth studio), Founder of Covenant (AI infrastructure platform), Director of Advancement & Founding Board Member of Smart North nonprofit Last interaction: 2025-08-25

Contact Information

• Location: Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ area
• Considering relocation to Austin for better tech community access
• Background: Minnesota native

Professional Background

• Founder & CEO, Ascendance: Innovation studio helping brands unlock potential through AI and emerging technologies
• Founder, Covenant: Developer platform for spinning up open source models, dedicated GPUs, compute providers, DevOps management with encryption capabilities (actively raising pre-seed funding, met with 10-15 tier one early stage VCs)
• Director of Advancement & Founding Board Member, Smart North: Minnesota nonprofit focused on closing digital equity gap through community tech hubs and skills training
• Previous Experience: Data analytics background, machine learning work at Optum (healthcare technology)
• Speaking: Conferences on AI, Web3, blockchain integration with holistic business strategies
• Key Relationships: Mentored by 80-year-old successful businessman "Cam" who runs Christ-centric business group; advised by Eric Ries (writing book on incorruptible companies)

Faith Journey and Worldview

• Christian Foundation: Strong faith-based approach to technology development
• Christocentric Worldview: Believes in Christ as center of reality, not anthropocentric universe
• Logos Philosophy: Integrates Greek philosophical concepts with Christian theology, understanding Logos (John 1:1) as foundational principle
• Denominational Perspective: Critical of denominational outsourcing of truth development, advocates for individual theological thinking
• Truth and Beauty Framework: Uses Christ as lens for defining goodness, beauty, and truth
• Anti-Postmodern: Opposes relativistic definitions of beauty and truth, sees them as forms of anti-Christianity

Technology Philosophy

• Heart-Centered Innovation: Advocates for ethical, human-potential-focused technology development
• AI Ethics: Concerned about AGI worship and dangerous technological concentration
• Open Source Advocacy: Building infrastructure for decentralized AI deployment
• Community Impact: Balances profit with social responsibility through nonprofit work

Current Projects & Interests

• Silicon Sanctuary: New initiative (October 2025) to create Christ-aligned alternatives to Silicon Valley tech networks, focusing on connecting older generation wealth/mentorship with next generation builders
• Covenant Platform: AI infrastructure development for open source model deployment, now with Eric Ries (Lean Startup author) as advisor
• Ascendance Vision: Goal to mobilize 1,000 builders to create Christ-centric companies and communities
• Austin Relocation Consideration: Seeking better tech community and networking opportunities
• Decentralized AI: Passionate about crypto-AI intersection
• Faith-Based Technology: Integrating Christian principles with emerging technology
• Pop-up Sanctuary Events: Exploring Edge City-style gatherings for Christofuturist community building

Key Insights and Quotes

• On Logos: "The metaphor I like is, the Father is like the mind... Christ is the way to truth, the way to life, the way to God"
• On Truth Definition: "That which brings you closer to God in truth. Very easy... all this is not art. This is noise"
• On Technology Leadership: Emphasizes need for Christ-centered rather than ego-driven technological development
• On Denominational Issues: "You're basically turning off your brain, and you're like, OK, what are the rituals?"
• On Wealth Transfer Gap (October 2025): "There's not a lot of mass transfer of wealth influence, like, doors opening to the next generation of builders right now"
• On Vision Deficit: "80-90% representation of all the relevant funds here... no one had any answers... You're the ones allocating capital, you have no idea what you're allocating it towards"
• On Christian Unity: "We're diverse in thought, but we need to be unified in purpose... And at least that purpose being Christ"
• On Discipleship Gap: "Who's getting the discipleship to, if you have technological gifts, where are they being discipled right now?... The answer is no. They're not."

Alignment with Gary's Work

• Truth Management: Natural alignment with Gary's truth management/documentation concepts
• Christian Technology: Shared vision for faith-based technology development
• Anti-Establishment: Both critique current educational and technological systems
• Worldview Documentation: Understands the importance of clarifying foundational beliefs for organizations and individuals

Business Potential

• AI Infrastructure: Covenant platform could integrate with truth management systems
• Consulting Synergy: Ascendance's brand/innovation work aligns with Gary's strategic narrative capabilities
• Nonprofit Experience: Smart North background valuable for community-focused initiatives
• Austin Network: Potential valuable addition to Austin tech/faith community

Personal Characteristics

• Intellectual Depth: Comfortable with complex theological and philosophical discussions
• Practical Application: Combines philosophical understanding with concrete business development
• Community Builder: Experience building nonprofits and community-focused organizations
• Authentic Faith: Lived-out Christianity rather than performative religiosity

Notes

August 2025

Will represents a rare combination of deep technological expertise, genuine Christian faith, and sophisticated theological thinking. His background in AI infrastructure development, combined with his commitment to ethical technology and community impact, makes him a natural collaborator for Gary's truth management and Christian technology initiatives.

His critique of denominational outsourcing of truth development aligns perfectly with Gary's emphasis on individual and organizational worldview documentation. His Covenant platform for AI infrastructure could potentially integrate with truth management systems, creating powerful tools for faith-based organizations.

October 2025 Updates

• Silicon Sanctuary Vision: Will revealed ambitious initiative to create Christ-aligned tech networks connecting generational wealth with emerging builders, addressing critical gap in Christian technology leadership
• Strategic Positioning: Drawing parallels to Turning Point's impact on politics, Will envisions similar movement for technology sector with proper funding and vision casting
• Network Development: Connected to significant capital allocators through mentor Cam, with potential funding for inaugural Christofuturist gathering
• Edge City Model Adoption: Both Gary and Will recognized Edge City's pop-up village model as perfect template for Christian tech gatherings
• Shared Concerns: Deep alignment on threats from transhumanist ideology, Islamic expansion in Europe, and need for bold Christian witness in technology
• African Discipleship Connection: Will mentioned friend from Africa (32 years old, fund manager) who conducts powerful home discipleship with deliverance ministry, causing friction with traditional churches
• Vision for Scale: Ascendance brand aims to mobilize 1,000 builders creating Christ-centric companies, not limited to traditional tech startups

Interaction History

• 2025-08-25: Extended philosophical and strategic conversation in Austin covering Christian worldview, technology ethics, truth management concepts, denominational critique, AI infrastructure, and potential collaboration opportunities.
• 2025-10-01: Strategic video call exploring "Silicon Sanctuary" concept - Christ-aligned tech networks as alternative to Silicon Valley. Discussed Christofuturist vision, trans-denominational collaboration using Edge City pop-up model, need for Christian technologist coordination and power centers. Will revealed mentorship by 80-year-old successful businessman Cam, advisory relationship with Eric Ries (Lean Startup author), and vision to mobilize 1,000 builders for Christ-centric companies. Both aligned on creating "Turning Point for technology" movement with gatherings, funding, and vision casting. Explored concerns about Islamic expansion, European decline, and need for bold Christian leadership in technology. Agreed to continue exploring collaboration on inaugural Christofuturist gathering potentially in Arizona.

Transcripts

Transcript ID	Date	Summary
2025-10-01-gary-sheng-will-preble-silicon-sanctuary-christofuturist-vision	2025-10-01	Strategic dialogue on Silicon Sanctuary concept for Christian tech networks and Christofuturist movement building
2025-08-25-gary-sheng-will-preble-christian-technology-truth-management-dialogue	2025-08-25	First meeting and philosophical dialogue covering faith, technology, truth management, and business collaboration