2025 Agenda
Explore all sessions across three stages on August 14
Date
August 14, 2025
Thursday
Time
8:30 AM | Registration
9:15 AM - 5:30 PM | Main Program
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM | VIP After Party
Location
Werqwise San Francisco
149 New Montgomery, CA 94105
Summit Overview
• The Global Investor Playbook
• Cybersecurity in a Hyperconnected World
• The Future of Work
• Technology for Good
• Smart Cities & Urban Innovation
• Web3 & Decentralization
• Deep Tech & Science Fiction Realized
• The Ethics of AI
• Cross-Border Innovation (Africa, LATAM, U.S.)
✔ 21+ Insightful Panels
✔ Startup & Tech Exhibits
✔ 1:1 Deal Matchmaking Lounge (from 11 am – 5 pm PT on August 14)
✔ Robotics Demos & Art Showcase
Watch Panels Live
Experience the energy, ideas, and big conversations from all three stages, right as they happen!
Livestreaming brought to you by
SVH Capital
Time
Vision Stage – 4F
Deep Dive Stage – 2F
Insight Stage – 2F
9:15 – 9:45 am
Summit Welcome – Vision Stage 4F
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10:00 – 10:45 am
Panel Discussion – Vision Stage 4F
The Global Investor Playbook: What investors want in 2025 and beyond
Moderator: Vivienne Hsu – Founder & CEO, LENDonate
Speakers:
- Rich Moran – Venture Capitalist & Author
- Jack Cassel – SVP, Head of Listings, Nasdaq
- Henry Lin – Founder & CEO, Linnovate Partners
MC: John Busch – Chip Track Co-Chair, Advisor & Mentor, Berkeley SkyDeck
Panel Discussion – Deep Dive Stage 2F
The Role of Technology in Africa’s Economic Transformation – How innovation in healthtech, agritech, and fintech is shaping the future of the continent
Moderator: Alan Alden – General Partner, Thuma Capital Partners
Speakers:
- Marsha Wulff – Co-Founder, LoftyInc Capital
- Almaz Negash – CEO, African Diaspora Network
MC: Phillip Oaks – Co-Founder & CEO, StrategyPlus
Panel Discussion – Insight Stage 2F
Deep Tech: Where Science Fiction Meets the Future – How cutting-edge technologies are turning science fiction into reality
Moderator: Naveen Khugputh – Co-Founder & COO, Werqwise
Speakers:
- Amir Barsoum – Founder, Managing Partner & CEO, InVitro Capital
- Albena Kantardzhieva – Molecular Biologist & Preclinical Scientist
MC: Carlos Reza – Principal, Business Development for Startup Scaling
11:00 – 11:45 am
Panel Discussion – Vision Stage 4F
Cybersecurity in a Hyperconnected World
Strategies for protecting businesses, governments, and communities from evolving digital threats
Moderator: Ahmad Ejaz – Partner, RSM US LLP
Speakers:
- Mark McClain – CEO & Founder, SailPoint (Nasdaq: SAIL)
- Doug Merritt – Chairman, CEO & President, Aviatrix
- Pankaj Patel – CEO & Co-Founder, Nile
MC: John Busch – Chip Track Co-Chair, Advisor & Mentor, Berkeley SkyDeck
Fireside Chat – Deep Dive Stage 2F
The Ethics of AI, Leadership, and Humanity:
A conversation on balancing innovation with responsibility and the role of leaders in guiding ethical AI use in work and society
Speakers:
- Rich Hua – Worldwide Head of EPIC Leadership & Chief EQ Evangelist, AWS
- De Kai – AI Professor & Author of Raising AI
MC: Katharine Earhart – Partner & Co-Founder, Fairlight Advisors; Co Managing Partner, West Coast Angel Network
Panel Discussion – Insight Stage 2F
Business Owners New Capital Frontier: Accessing alternative capital, leveraging AI strategy, building wealth, and protecting legacy for the modern entrepreneur
Moderator: Carlos Reza – Principal, Business Development for Startup Scaling
Speakers:
- Paul Ratner – Vice President, Marble Bridge Funding Group
- Paul Kelley – Founder & CEO, CandaceAI
- Rahul Puranmalka – Founder, Legacy Pursuit
MC: Carlos Reza – Principal, Business Development for Startup Scaling
12:00 – 12:45 pm
Panel Discussion – Vision Stage 4F
Technology for Good: How emerging technologies can solve global challenges
Moderator: Diego Mariscal – Founder, CEO & Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International
Speakers:
- Adam Nash – CEO & Co-Founder, Daffy
- Moaz Hamid – Founding Partner, MVMT Ventures
- Brian Meewes – Co-Founder & CEO, Shift Health
MC: John Busch – Chip Track Co-Chair, Advisor & Mentor, Berkeley SkyDeck
Panel Discussion – Deep Dive Stage 2F
Latin America’s Tech Boom:
- Unlocking growth in a rapidly expanding digital economy
- How fintech, e-commerce, and AI are transforming the LATAM market
Moderator: Ignacio Gonzalez – Founder, Bluo
Speakers:
- Yana Yasevich – Partner, Alter Global
- Felipe Carrera – VP of Business Development, Onetree
- Sebastian Politi – Head of Tax, Lazo
MC: Carlos Reza – Principal, Business Development for Startup Scaling
Panel Discussion – Insight Stage 2F
Global Dreams, American Soil: How international founders are reshaping U.S. innovation
Moderator: Steve Maggi – Managing Partner, SMA Law Firm
Speakers:
- Daniel Idźkowski – Chief Investment Officer, I.D.I.T. Single Family Office
- Alicia Partee – Founder & CEO, Authentigrate
MC: Katharine Earhart – Partner & Co-Founder, Fairlight Advisors; Co Managing Partner, West Coast Angel Network
1:00 – 1:45 pm
Panel Discussion – Vision Stage 4F
The New Playbook for Running and Growing Businesses
Moderator: Stephen Baiter – Executive Director, East Bay Economic Development Alliance
Speakers:
- Shalabh Gupta, MD – Founder, Chairman & CEO, Unicycive Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UNCY)
- Mark McNally – Founder, Nobody Studios
- Cesar DOnofrio – CEO, Making Sense
MC: Karen Traversi, SHRM-CP – Management Consultant, Traversi and Partners
Panel Discussion – Deep Dive Stage 2F
The Future of Smart Cities:
- Blending innovation with livability
- How technology, infrastructure, and policy shape the cities of tomorrow
Moderator: Randy Peers – President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Speakers:
- Liang Chao, PhD – Mayor, City of Cupertino
- Mo Hamzian – CEO, VEL
MC: Jeanie Colclough – Travel Advisor & Incentive Travel Specialist, Riveting Trips
Panel Discussion – Insight Stage 2F
Building Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: Skills, Systems, and Strategic Thinking for Startup Success
Moderator: Sam Wong – Investor, Band of Angels
Speakers:
- Natalia Bielczyk, PhD – Founder & CEO, Ontology of Value
- Andreas Ramos – Bestselling author & Professor, California Science and Technology University
MC: Brett Bunnell – Partner, Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP
2:00 – 2:45 pm
Panel Discussion – Vision Stage 4F
Emerging Technologies: How and what innovation will impact everyone’s life
Moderator: Ross Gibby – Co-Founder, CRDC MATERIALS
Speakers:
- Alex Dantas – Founder & CEO, Circuit Launch
- Shaloo Garg – Managing Director, Late Stage Startups & Unicorns, Microsoft
- Dominique Dwyer – SVP Ecommerce, Old Navy
MC: Karen Traversi, SHRM-CP – Management Consultant, Traversi and Partners
Panel Discussion – Deep Dive Stage 2F
Creative Code: Where AI, Art and the Future or Creativity intersect
Exploring how technology is reshaping how we learn and create
Moderator: Patti Pan – CEO & Founder, RevArt; General Partner, Solaris Venture Partners
Speakers:
- Maya Ackerman, PhD – CEO & Co-founder, WaveAI
- Lisa Watts – CEO, CREE8 ·
MC: Jeanie Colclough – Travel Advisor & Incentive Travel Specialist, Riveting Trips
Panel Discussion – Insight Stage 2F
Web3 and the Decentralized Future of the Internet: Unpacking how blockchain, DAOs, and decentralized identity are redefining ownership, governance, and trust online
Moderator: Eric Kim – Founder, One Degree Labs
Speakers:
- Alex Yastremski – Partner, Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP
- Arto Bendiken – Founder, ASIMOV Protocol
MC: Brett Bunnell – Partner, Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP
3:00 – 3:45 pm
Panel Discussion – Vision Stage 4F
The Future of Work: Navigating Remote, Hybrid, and AI-Enhanced Workplaces
How businesses and governments can adapt to changing work environments
Moderator: Markus Veith – Partner, Grant Thornton
Speakers:
- Hussein Fazal – Co-Founder & CEO, Super.com
- Tatyana Mamut, PhD – CEO, Wayfound.ai
- Javier Diaz – CEO, OSI Engineering
MC: Varun Gupta – Founding Partner, Varun Gupta Law
Panel Discussion – Deep Dive Stage 2F
Public-Private Partnerships: Building Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems
Case studies on successful collaborations between governments and the private sector
Moderator: Rod Hirsch – Senior Advisor, Global Trade & Export Strategy
Speakers:
- David Haubert – Alameda County Supervisor
- Navya Chitimireddy – Co-Chair, Events & Deal Flow, Berkeley Angel Network
MC: Paul Kang – Editor-in-chief & Publisher, Magazine BigC.Works
Panel Discussion – Insight Stage 2F
Cross-Border Insights: Unlocking Opportunities
How governments are working with investors and entrepreneurs
Moderator: Audrea Golding – Partner, Fragomen
Speakers:
- George Panagiotakopoulos – Innovation Ecosystem Lead, UC Berkeley
- Ben Bartlett – Partner, Tackett Bartlett LLP; City Council Member, City of Berkeley
MC: Phillip Oaks – Co-Founder & CEO, StrategyPlus
4:00 – 4:45 pm
Panel Discussion – Vision Stage 4F
Digital Diplomacy & Urban Innovation: Shaping the Future of Global Economies
How cities and nations use technology and policy to drive economic resilience and collaboration
Moderator: Tina Gregory – Consulting CFO, Escalon
Speakers:
- Olivier Avoa – Director General of Digital Transformation and Digitization, Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitization of Côte d’Ivoire
- Micheál Smith – Consulate General of Ireland, Western USA
- Marsha Wulff – Co-Founder, LoftyInc Capital
- Ignacio Gonzalez – Founder, Bluo; Former Consul General of Uruguay
MC: Varun Gupta – Founding Partner, Varun Gupta Law
Panel Discussion – Deep Dive Stage 2F
The Future of Venture:
- How VC is evolving
- What it means for founders and funders
Moderator: Bosuk Han – Founder & CEO, EPIKAR Inc
Speakers:
- Vijay Rajendran – Venture Builder, Investor & Startup Advisor
- Keshia Theobald-van Gent – Partner, BDev Ventures
MC: Paul Kang – Editor-in-chief & Publisher, Magazine BigC.Works
Panel Discussion – Insight Stage 2F
Innovation and Implementation: Making Technology Work
Moderator:
- Mohamed (Mo) Ahmed, Founder & President, Boundless Founder
Speakers:
- Mebeti Dosso – CEO, VITIB
- Mukesh Jain – Generative AI Lead, Amazon
MC: Katharine Earhart – Partner & Co-Founder, Fairlight Advisors; Co Managing Partner, West Coast Angel Network
5:15 – 5:30 pm
Closing Remarks – Vision Stage 4F
5:30 – 9:00 pm
After Party