In 2007, Searching for Solutions Institute (SFSI) conducted a national research project to better understand: 

• What issues “keep the private sector up at night?”
• What do our most respected thought leaders see as the driving issues – and the answers – to create a better society/country?
• Are there processes, strategies, entities, etc., that are addressing this key demographic and how can they work in other similar influencer groups?
• What programs have been successful in addressing these issues?

SFSI met with the leaders of the major issues events in the country:

•  TED
• The Aspen Institute's Ideas Festival
• Milken Global Conference
• POPtech
• EG 

The consensus was:

• Conferences are sold-out a year in advance
• The conferences do not adequately address our target audience
• There is a strong demand for learning/dialogue among leaders on relevant issues
• They openly support our initiative

SFSI interviewed more than 50 national thought leaders and concluded:

• The time is right
• There is strong private sector concern about societal issues
• There is a great need for leadership on all fronts
• Institutions currently in place are not providing actionable answers
• There is growing corporate, foundation and individual support for addressing this leadership need
• There is universal support of our concept

SFSI met with key foundations and major corporations and determined:

• The time is right
• Our focus is of paramount importance
• There is a desire and a willingness to help

SFSI identified and substantiated Mega Trends:

• There is a growing group of incredibly capable people with resources who are underutilized and underserved
• The world has many societal issues that lack clear, long-term solutions
• There is a leadership deficit in addressing societal issues 

SFSI realized that Southwest Florida has a vast and untapped wealth of leadership and resources:

• Southwest Florida has the largest population of seasoned leaders in the United States
• There are no major conferences on the East Coast or in Florida