Kamil Khan

Billionaire technologist Kamil Khan has his hands in many organizations. As founder and president of Promethea Software, a non-profit dedicated to spreading democracy through technology, Khan often travels to industry trade shows and other events. His lecture, "Hacking Democracy," is very popular, and Khan is often invited to deliver it at a variety of venues.

Khan also operates a global holding company (K2 Enterprises) for his many other corporate properties and technological ventures. Research and develop makes up more than 80% of the operation under the purview of K2 Enterprises. K2 oversees the breadth of these operations through Worlds, Inc., a Seattle-based virtual reality development company. Industry analysts seem convinced Khan is developing some breakthrough VR technology. His yearly game of “corporate shuffleboard” keeps ‘em guessing.

K2 also oversees the non-profit arm (which includes Promethea Software, CyTech PAC and the Chaos Institute) as well as the investment division, K2 Investment Partners (an umbrella corporation for a handful of banks, brokers and financial firms).

Unknown to all but his closest friends and confidantes, Khan has long harbored an interest in the "many worlds" conjectures of quantum physics. He has been secretly experimenting with parachronics at his private Santa Fe facility, making him one of the early theorists and experimenters in the field. The majority of his estimated $300 million personal wealth is sunk into this project. The development and funds are spread out over several companies, making it unlikely anyone would discern Khan’s true focus. Research is restricted to Khan and a few close allies, while development of components occurs in broad daylight, with projects disguised as or riding along with other projects. Components are shipped to Santa Fe, where Khan himself (along with his able assistants) assembles them to construct his prototypes.

Khan is an avid reader of science fiction, and takes pride in his friendship with many noted authors. Through the Chaos Institute, he often awards “research” fellowships and grants to imaginative authors whose work impresses him. Khan also insures

Khan’s zest for democracy and liberty also puts him at odds with corporations, corporatists, and secret cabals. While he is generally quite personable and charming, he is prone to venomous attacks on “companies who attempt to monopolize computer resources in service to their own venality.” He is also sometimes obsessive, and can lose sight of immediate problems as he puts his focus on “the big picture.”

Brief Description of a Few of Khan’s Holdings

Promethea Software. Non-profit organization (founded solely by Khan) dedicated to spreading democracy and liberty through the application of digital computer technologies and education.

CyTech PAC. Political action and lobbying group. Adjunct to Promethea Software. Offices located in Washington DC.

The Chaos Institute. Founded in cooperation with Emily Brandeis and Nikos Poluketes, The Chaos Institute is a private research and education center that is highly interdisciplinary, providing an environment in which scientists from diverse backgrounds can learn from each other.

Worlds, Inc. Virtual-reality programming company. Produces a highly-advanced VR application platform, which can be licensed by other companies for their own products.

Avatar. Lifestyle and fashion company. Company motto: "Be Your Dream. Be Who You Wanna Be." Avatar’s fashion line features ultra-modern designs and products crafted from advanced textiles. Best known item: Avatar Visors, sunglasses designed to your specification, with lens technology that reduces incoming light 300% more efficiently than classical polarization technology.

Bardo Software. Acquired in 2005, Khan bought this company and placed his friend “Fast Eddie” Fries in charge. The company is rumored to be developing a heuristic interactive “real life” simulation game. No schedules, beta test date or other information have been released.