As artificial intelligence and digital innovation continue reshaping the world, WMF 2026 has become one of the leading global platforms connecting technology, business, creativity, startups, and education.
In this exclusive interview with Pump It Up Magazine, Cosmano Lombardo shares his vision for the future of AI, entrepreneurship, innovation, collaboration, and mental wellness in the digital age.
1. What inspired you to create WMF (We Make Future), and how has your vision evolved as the event has grown globally?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“WMF was born from a very simple yet ambitious idea: technology, AI, and digital tools only have value if they can generate a positive and tangible impact on global society.
When we started, the goal was to create a space where education, innovation, and entrepreneurship could come together and generate real change. Coming from the digital marketing world, it was clear how rapidly technologies were transforming industries, communication, and human relationships. At the same time, it was equally clear that innovation, without culture and shared knowledge, risks widening inequalities.
For this reason, WMF was first and foremost created as a project focused on education and the dissemination of digital culture: making knowledge, tools, and awareness around the digital world accessible, so that those who use them every day can do so in a more informed and conscious way.
From this foundation, a broader vision naturally emerged. We Make Future has evolved over time into a global, 360-degree innovation platform: no longer just digital marketing, but an ecosystem that includes technology, research, creativity, institutions, activism, music, and business.
The core idea is that the future can only be built collaboratively, by connecting different worlds and perspectives. With the international growth of the event, this vision has further strengthened: innovation is a global language, but it needs strong local ecosystems and shared human values to truly drive meaningful change.
Along this journey, the focus has also expanded to include business and investment, with a perspective we now define as ‘The Business of Tomorrow’: a way of understanding the economy not only as growth, but as the development of sustainable, inclusive, and future-oriented models.”
2. WMF has become a major international platform for AI and digital innovation — what do you believe truly sets it apart from other tech events today?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“What makes WMF different is that we don’t see technology as an isolated industry. We see it as a tool that impacts every aspect of society: business, education, health, culture, sustainability, and human rights.
Many tech events focus only on products, investments, or trends. WMF focuses on building connections between innovation and society.
Another key difference is our ecosystem approach. At WMF, startups meet investors, creators meet companies, institutions meet innovators, and young talents meet global leaders. It’s not just a conference, it’s an environment where collaboration happens naturally.
And then there’s our multidisciplinary vision. We combine AI, entrepreneurship, music, education, social innovation, and entertainment because creativity often emerges from unexpected intersections.”
3. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries. What are the key shifts that businesses and creators should be preparing for right now?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“The biggest shift is that AI is moving from being a support tool to becoming a strategic collaborator.
Businesses must understand that AI is not only about automation and efficiency. It’s also about redefining workflows, creativity, customer relationships, and decision-making processes.
For creators, AI opens extraordinary opportunities, but it also raises important questions about authenticity, intellectual property, and human value.
The people who will thrive are not those who simply use AI tools, but those who learn how to combine technology with critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity.
Another major shift is speed. Markets are evolving faster than ever, and companies need a culture of continuous learning. Adaptability is becoming more important than specialization alone.
Finally, ethics will become a competitive advantage. Organizations that use AI responsibly and transparently will build stronger trust with people and communities.”
4. WMF brings together startups, global companies, and innovators. How important is collaboration in shaping the future of technology and business?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“Collaboration is essential. No company, institution, or individual can solve global challenges alone anymore. Innovation today is created through ecosystems.
The most powerful ideas emerge when different perspectives meet: startups bring agility, corporations bring scale, researchers bring knowledge, creators bring cultural impact, and institutions can help create sustainable frameworks.
At WMF, we try to create exactly this kind of environment. We believe open innovation is not a trend, it’s the only sustainable way forward.
The future will belong to those who are capable of building networks, sharing knowledge, and co-creating solutions across industries and countries.”
5. The Startup Competition is a key highlight of WMF. What qualities do you look for in startups that have real potential to succeed?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“Technology alone is never enough. Of course, innovation matters, but what really makes a startup stand out is the combination of vision, adaptability, and the ability to solve a real problem in a meaningful way.
When I look at startups with strong potential, I usually pay attention to a few key elements.
First of all, the team. A great idea without the right people behind it rarely succeeds. The most interesting startups are often built by teams with complementary skills, shared values, and the ability to grow together under pressure.
Then there’s scalability and impact. I’m always interested in projects that can evolve beyond a niche and create tangible value, not only economically, but also socially.
Today, innovation has a much broader responsibility. The startups that will shape the future are those capable of improving industries, communities, or people’s lives while building sustainable business models.
Another important quality is resilience. The startup journey is never linear. Markets change, technologies evolve, unexpected challenges appear constantly.
Founders need execution capacity, but also the mindset to adapt, learn quickly, and keep moving forward even during difficult moments.
And finally, curiosity is incredibly important. The founders who continue questioning themselves, learning, and evolving are usually the ones who build something lasting.
In a world changing this fast, the ability to remain open-minded and continuously grow is one of the most valuable qualities any entrepreneur can have.”
6. With such rapid technological change, many professionals feel overwhelmed. How can people use AI and digital tools in a way that supports their growth instead of creating burnout?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“The first step is understanding that technology should amplify human potential, not replace human balance.
We are living through an era of constant acceleration, and many people feel pressure to always be updated, always connected, always productive. But sustainable growth requires awareness and intentionality.
AI should help us eliminate repetitive tasks, improve access to knowledge, and create more space for strategic thinking and creativity.
If technology only increases noise and anxiety, then we are using it incorrectly.
It’s also important to develop a healthy relationship with learning. Nobody can master every new tool or trend immediately. The goal should not be perfection, it should be continuous evolution.
Human skills such as empathy, communication, leadership, and vision will become even more valuable in the AI era.”
7. At Pump It Up Magazine, we focus on empowerment and mindset. How important is mental well-being when building a business or navigating innovation at a high level?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“Mental well-being is fundamental. Innovation requires energy, clarity, creativity, and resilience, and none of these can exist sustainably without balance.
Entrepreneurship is often romanticized, but the reality is that building projects, leading teams, and managing uncertainty can be emotionally demanding.
I believe leaders today must develop not only technical skills, but also emotional awareness.
The ability to manage pressure, maintain perspective, and create healthy environments is becoming a strategic competency.
At the same time, innovation should improve people’s lives, not consume them. If we want to build a better future through technology, we must also protect the human dimension behind it.”
8. Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for WMF, and how do you see it shaping the future of innovation globally?
Cosmano Lombardo:
“My vision is for WMF to become an increasingly global platform capable of connecting ecosystems, cultures, and talents from all over the world.
I want WMF to continue being a place where innovation is not only discussed, but activated, where startups grow, partnerships are created, ideas become projects, and technology is directed toward positive impact.
In the coming years, AI, robotics, biotech, and new digital infrastructures will transform society profoundly. WMF’s role is to help guide this transformation responsibly, inclusively, and collaboratively.
Ultimately, I believe the future should not be something we passively wait for. It’s something we build together.
And that is exactly what ‘We Make Future’ means.”
Learn more about WMF 2026 and the future of AI, business, and digital innovation in our special feature here:
WMF 2026 AI Business Digital Event
