Vision

Bringing about meaningful change in the world through music, art, community and the expression of ideas and creativity.

Mission

Robot Heart Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization formed to support artists and the arts, and to advance public appreciation for both. We aim to create a space for artists, thinkers and doers to thrive, express themselves and inspire others to dream big. We uplift self-created, collaborative or commissioned projects that elevate human connection through community and experiences in art, technology, and music.

Our Work

Community is at our core and has been since our inception over 15 years ago. We care deeply about not only our immediate community, but also having a positive impact and inspiring people worldwide.

We span the globe, we defy genres and borders, we connect dots and champion innovative artistic experience for those in our community and beyond. By giving a platform to the most experimental emerging art(ists) of our time and creating magical moments of sharing, we collectively voyage into the radiant unknown and expand the limits of what is possible.

Below are selected examples of our work in bolstering visionary artists, concepts and transformative experiences.

Robot Heart at Burning Man and Beyond

Our Values

Through our work, we seek to elevate the human experience to a frequency of love and push the boundaries of what is possible. We are always moving forward because we believe that perpetual innovation inspires limitless possibilities, and that transformative artistic, technological and musical experiences propel our collective consciousness.  We’ve been known to go against the grain, to surprise and tantalize by doing the unexpected. When others zig, we zag.

Central to our values is a strong commitment to deepening communities and human connection, locally and throughout the world, by giving generously of ourselves, leading with love and never taking ourselves too seriously.

Leadership

Gary Mueller

Bio Coming Soon

Gary Mueller

President & Board Member

Rob Scott

Robert Scott is a media, corporate finance and general corporate lawyer with a background in public and private securities offerings, media, venture capital and private equity and general corporate representation to businesses of all sizes.

Robert currently practices law as a partner in the boutique New York City based law firm, HBA (hballp.com). He has worked with a variety of public and private companies, start-ups and individuals in connection with business structuring, financings, acquisitions and operations, and from 2017 to 2022 served as General Counsel of The Arena Group (NYSE: AREN), a public media technology company and publisher of hundreds of media brands, including Sports Illustrated, Parade and TheStreet.

After practicing for a number of years in his native Australia, Robert joined the corporate finance department at Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, working on large, multi-jurisdictional financings, representing both issuers and underwriters. He later moved to King & Spalding LLP, where he spearheaded a variety of public and private financings, before launching a boutique practice in New York City servicing clients in the startup and venture capital world and rights owners in media and entertainment.

Robert is a founding member of Robot Heart, and serves as Secretary and a Director of the Robot Heart Foundation. Robert also serves on the Board of Trustees of Hope for Ukraine, a 501c3 public charity supporting the victims of the war in Ukraine. In addition, Robert co-founded forward-thinking lifestyle company Further Future, which has produced large scale festivals combining music and cultural content with talks and workshops by world-renowned thought-leaders in a range of fields including business, science and technology and the arts.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Laws (with First Class Honors) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, and is admitted to practice in New York, New South Wales and Western Australia.

Rob Scott

Secretary & Board Member

Rob Torti

Rob Torti, has over 20 years of experience within the finance industry across trading and risk management, investment banking, private equity, bankruptcy and turnaround management, venture capital, and corporate leadership as a finance and operations professional. Rob began his career as an OTC / NASDAQ trader at Credit Suisse during the 2001 tech bubble crash. He later transitioned to running a proprietary trading book at First New York Securities. The next phase of his career focused on corporate transactions and restructuring: M&A and private placements at Gridley and Company; and then Turnaround, Restructuring and Bankruptcy work at AlixPartners where he worked on AIG during the financial crisis, General Motors, Kodak, and General Growth Properties during their respective bankruptcies. After a successful career as a turnaround professional Mr. Torti began focusing on the earlier corporate lifecycle first as a venture advisor to Chaac Ventures and subsequently as a late co-founder at Authentag, a National Science Foundation funded pharmaceutical track and trace company. In 2020 he co-founded Databased Finance, an inventory finance platform for ecommerce sellers, and currently serves as COO.

Mr. Torti holds a MBA from Columbia University in finance and management and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton in history. He was a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (now lapsed) while he worked at AlixPartners and previously held a Series 7, 3, 55, and 63 (now lapsed).

Rob Torti

Treasurer & Board Member

BENJAMIN ALEXANDER


Benjamin is an Olympic skier and has over 20 years of DJ experience having performed in over 30 countries, across five continents.

Beginning his professional career in tech and then pivoting to finance, he is now a fortune 100 public speaker and global ambassador for diversity in winter sports.

Benjamin received a Bachelor of Engineering from University College London.

Benjamin Alexander

Board Member

Ting Ji

Ting Ji started her career in the modeling industry when she was only 10 years old and had her big break when she was discovered at 15 years old. She went on to work all over the world including in London, New York, LA, Europe and was featured on a TV show that aired all over Asia.

While modeling, Ting invested in and co-founded a DJ/Music Production and Visual arts school in New York, L.A. and online.

Ting is a volunteer and a committee member for the Young Adult Institute and has helped fundraise, provide housing, job opportunities, after work programs and coach basketball team for adults with Disabilities. She is still active in the fashion industry and now a full time mother of 2.

Ting Ji

Board Member

Tom Katis

Bio Coming Soon

Tom Katis

Board Member

Clare Laverty

Clare Laverty’s two-decade career began at world class advertising agencies on multi award-winning campaigns for Unilever and Marks & Spencer.

She held a global leadership role at British conglomerate Swire in Asia for their critically acclaimed hotel group including The Upper House in Hong Kong and subsequently for the Property division and opened Brickell City Centre, the $1.05 billion urban center in Miami. More recent roles include FinTech start up Allinfra, a ConsenSys business.

Originally from the U.K., now residing in LA, Clare received a Bachelor of Science from Royal Holloway, University of London and is a licensed California Real Estate agent.

Clare Laverty

Board Member

Jody Levy

Jody Levy is an artist, designer, storyteller, entrepreneur and music junkie whose favorite artistic medium is business. Jody jumped into the business world with the introduction of the world’s first experience design firm and has been creating multi-disciplinary experiences, immersive theatrical events, and interactive happenings for decades. The work is all about sharing sensory stories that leave an indelible impression for causes, products, brands and companies. This work includes large global automotive and technology launches, touring stage shows for top musical bands and DJ’s, interactive museum installations, festival experiences, immersive Broadway theater, Hollywood television sets and much more.

Levy is a partner, the Global Director and Chief Executive Officer of SUMMIT, a brand and series of companies and experiences committed to connecting the global maker economy. Jody is the founder, Director and Chief Executive Officer of a series of companies dedicated to empowering people’s health and happiness including WTRMLN WTR, a brand committed to redefining how and what we drink to nourish our bodies and sustain our ecosystem. Levy is the founder of The Milk Cleanse, a lifestyle product that alleviates symptoms associated with biotoxic exposure including Lyme Disease. Levy created NeuroPraxis, a digital app featuring modules designed to optimize and condition our mental health.

Levy is a partner, advisor and investor in many category-disrupting brands and companies connected to the advancement of creative expression, community, music, health and happiness, and the commitment to empower people to optimize their purpose. This includes companies that focus on professional development and employment, biohacking, clean energy, personalized medicine, alternative wellness, sustainable fitness, clean food and more. Levy is an independent board director of NASDAQ traded company Lifeway Kefir [LWAY], a founding partner in GEM&BOLT Mezcal, investor and advisor in Supermush, The Multiverse, Parsley Health, The WELL, FullCycle Energy Fund, Bulletproof, Thrive Market, Pinata, Noetic Psychedelic Fund, No Sleep Ventures, Public Records, Gospel, Copper Books, Creator Camp and more.

Jody Levy

Board Member

Justin Shaffer

Bio Coming Soon

Justin Shaffer

Board Member

Walter Smith

Walter Patrick Smith, AIA, LEED® AP
Founder and Director, Education Lab Architects, LLC
“Autotroph Logic, Procedural Innovation, Collaborative Community Creativity”

Architect Walter Patrick Smith’s work epitomizes the harmony of nature, the built environment, art, science, and technology. His illustrious career, spanning over four decades, has produced a vast portfolio that includes campus designs, airports, educational and cultural facilities, high-rises, medical facilities, custom interiors, and innovative residences.

Early internships at Ken Thomas Architects, Howard and Porch Architects, and Joseph T. Andrash Architects laid the groundwork for Walter’s extensive design expertise. During his notable 21-year tenure at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP, he established the SOM Education Lab Studio, focusing on reconceptualizing educational spaces to inspire lifelong curiosity and learning. Alongside his wife, Susan, Walter co-founded Education Lab Architects in Stamford, Connecticut. Their firm offers an extensive portfolio for creating award-winning spaces at prestigious institutions such as Cornell University, Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Deerfield Academy, and Waterside School, invigorating the minds of students and faculty alike. His practice is further enhanced by recent projects like the Lavallette Yacht Club and the resilient ‘Sea Glass’ shore home, created in response to Superstorm Sandy.

Walter is dedicated to fostering a dialogue between architecture and art. His collaborations with esteemed artists like Robert Whitman, Leo Villareal, Lawrence Weiner, Bob Breer, and Bob Irwin have rejuvenated public spaces in cities across the US and have been celebrated by venerable institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. His partnerships with Leo Villareal on the Bay Lights Project and ‘Multiverse’ at the National Gallery of Art are considered landmark achievements in public art, and his collaboration with James Turrell for the Baker Barn and Pool project is a significant milestone in his commitment to integrating innovative architectural design with artistic expression.

Recognized by the American Institute of Architects and the Chicago Athenaeum, among others, Walter’s designs are celebrated for their innovation and design excellence. His commitment to community and education is evident through initiatives such as the Run for Waterside, which supports educational programs at Waterside School, and the annual LED technology workshops that engage young minds in the intersection of technology and design. His role as a design critic at the prestigious Cooper Union has allowed him to impart his insights on advancing the dialogue between architecture and art. The founding of BakerIE, a vehicle for providing in-depth support to artists it sponsors to produce and present their most ambitious works, underscores his commitment to nurturing large-scale artistic endeavors.

Immersing himself in the vibrant culture of the Burning Man community, Walter has forged creative alliances with camps such as Disorient and Entheos. These dynamic collaborations have broadened his influence across music, art, dance, and cultural expression. His visionary leadership in founding the Robot Heart collective and the Robot Heart Foundation, in conjunction with the launch of Further Future, has nurtured innovative spaces that encourage cultural exchange and intellectual exploration. These initiatives not only foster artistic and technological synergies but also serve as platforms for sustainable design principles and novel models of social interaction, prompting meaningful community discussions that echo far beyond the temporary city in the desert.

Walter’s scholarly pursuits are equally distinguished. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Environmental Design from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Science in Computational & Advanced Design from DesignMorphine at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Geodesy. His journey into screenwriting at NYU Tisch Film School has added an extra dimension to his design process. As an esteemed member of both the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Green Building Council, Walter is acknowledged as a LEED® Accredited Professional, reinforcing his dedication to environmentally responsible design.

Walter Smith

Board Member

Jason Swamy

Jason has been raising consciousness, creating community and culture around experiences and creativity for the past 23 years, most notably through leadership roles at award winning Wonderfruit, zeitgeist defining Robot Heart and critically acclaimed Further Future. He’s multi-talented, wears many hats and has developed and influenced many brands and artists globally.

His agency Do What You Love has produced, created and curated innumerable experiences working with thousands of industry leaders, from Grammy winners, Michelin starred chefs, Fortune 500 entrepreneurs, wellness gurus, thought leaders and renowned filmmakers, artists and athletes. His client list includes LACMA/UCCA (Art Basel), NetEase, Swire Group, American Express, BitMex, Soho House, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Melco City of Dreams, Edition and much more.

Jason also advises and raises funds for numerous start-ups and projects he is passionate about from wellness tech, Silent Mode, music AI platform Nusic, music education platform FaderPro, digital talent agency Gigwell and The Last Glaciers, a climate change documentary directed by award winning director Craig Lesson, scored by Above & Beyond.

Jason is community board member at Soho House and Art Ambassador at award winning/Michelin starred Duddell’s. He helped launch Point Blank music school in Hang Zhou in conjunction with the Chinese government.

Jason is a director/partner and helped start award winning Wonderfruit which has consistently been labeled one of the best festivals in the world in the eco-consciousness space and beyond.

Separately Jason is an ambassador and director for Seeds/Hypha, a regenerative economy technology platform and community designed to put an end to the wealth gap, re-align incentives and democratize financial incentives to environmentally and society impacting projects worldwide.

He is co-founder of Fever, music eco-system in China with NetEase (4th largest tech company in China, largest music platform in the world) and Bassline is an event/venue SAAS based Data Analytics & Visualization platform.

Over the course of 9 years Wonderfruit has become a world leader and innovator in sustainability, its focus is on raising awareness, impact and activism via measurable action. Wonderfruit has been carbon neutral since 2017. It has banned single use plastics, sources local, created an open source standard in sustainability practices, it is 95% zero-waste via up-cycling, recycling, reusing and composting. Wonderfruit adopts permaculture principles for it’s design, filters all its water via onsite water source and provides carbon offsetting to it’s attendees via carbon calculator and tree planting

He’s a frequent speaker at global conferences, certified plant-based chef, and 500-hour advanced yoga teacher, professional global trotting dj, husband and new father (again).

Jason Swamy

Board Member

Penelope Chester

Hailing from Paris, France and currently based in Los Angeles – but calling Black Rock City home – Penelope is passionate about making the world a better place.

Prior to joining Robot Heart Foundation as Executive Director, Penelope co-founded and has been the Chief Operations Officer and Chief of Staff at March On/Future Coalition, a women-led, intergenerational social advocacy organization dedicated to building and sustaining grassroots power here in the US.

Active and engaged for causes she believes in, Penelope has been sharing her energy with a number of organizations, causes and projects over the years, ranging from working with refugees and survivors of war in Ghana and Liberia, to being a lead in her Burning Man camp for several years, to participating in a neighborhood community garden back home in LA.

Penelope Chester

Executive Director

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