Cities of the Future

Junaid Islam

Smart Cities Council , XQ

Junaid Islam is a globally recognized secure communications expert with over 37 years in cybersecurity and networking, serving as a founding member of the Smart Cities Council Advisory Board—established in recent years alongside leaders like Mark Messow and Andrew Downs—to guide ethical, transparent, and values-driven initiatives for sustainable, equitable digital urban ecosystems worldwide. A serial entrepreneur and protocol innovator, he founded Vidder (acquired by Verizon for Zero Trust in 5G), Bivio Networks, and contributed to standards like Frame Relay, ATM, MPLS, Mobile IPv6 (inducted into IPv6 Hall of Fame), and Software Defined Perimeter (SDP) at Cloud Security Alliance, while developing interference-aware routing for NASA's Artemis lunar missions and advising on AI-driven Zero Trust for smart infrastructure. Beginning his career in 1989 with secure networks for U.S. counter-narcotics and Desert Shield operations, then architecting at StrataCom and Cisco, Islam now partners at OODA LLC, speaks at forums like IEEE VCC and Smart Cities events, and advocates for robust cybersecurity in hyper-connected cities amid rising AI and IoT threats through podcasts, panels, and active commentary on emerging tech risks.

Jan Liphardt

CEO OpenMind AGI and Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University, OpenMind AGI

Jan Liphardt is a German-American biophysicist, Stanford Associate Professor of Bioengineering, and founder/CEO of OpenMind, a San Francisco-based startup pioneering OM1—an open-source, AI-native, hardware-agnostic operating system for intelligent robots—and FABRIC, a decentralized blockchain protocol enabling secure, verifiable coordination and shared intelligence among machines across vendors to foster transparent, trustworthy human-robot societies in sensitive domains like healthcare, elder care, education, and defense. With roots in single-molecule biophysics—holding a BA from Reed College, PhD from Cambridge University, postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley, faculty stints at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab—Liphardt has authored influential papers on mechanobiology, super-resolution imaging, and genomic patterns while teaching courses on engineering living matter, machine learning, and blockchain applications. In 2024-2025, he scaled OpenMind from academic insights into a $20M-funded venture backed by Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and others, co-authoring ERC-7777 for immutable robot governance, publishing arXiv preprints on LLM-driven robot behaviors, and keynoting at TOKEN2049 and ETHDenver to advocate crypto-economic incentives for autonomous systems amid the robotics explosion.

Brian Flucht

Partner and US Division Head, Global Brain Corporation

Brian Flucht is the Partner and Head of the US Division at Global Brain Corporation, a Tokyo-headquartered independent venture capital firm with over $1.8 billion in assets under management that specializes in hands-on support for global startups, open innovation with major corporations, and managing corporate venture capital funds to drive new industries through strategic investments in technology, consumer, and frontier sectors. With a career spanning intelligence, engineering, corporate development, and venture capital, Flucht previously served as Managing Partner at consumer-focused family office Third Horizon Venture Partners for six years, Director of Global Corporate Development at Nike—where he drove innovation and partnerships—and earlier roles evaluating early- to late-stage tech and life sciences investments at Blade & Shepherd Ventures, plus management and engineering positions at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and the National Security Agency. A Northwestern University engineering alumnus with an MBA in Corporate Finance from the University of Southern California, he bridges U.S. innovation ecosystems with Japanese corporate partners, backing high-impact companies while emphasizing wellness, meditation, and lifelong learning in his approach to fostering transformative growth.

Holger Schlechter

CFO, IFZA

Holger Schlechter is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at IFZA, where he oversees financial strategy, budgeting, investment decisions, and risk management for the International Free Zone Authority in Dubai. With over two decades of experience in finance, he has held senior roles in multinational companies, focusing on corporate finance and business development. His notable achievements include driving operational efficiencies and fostering international partnerships that have expanded IFZA's global reach. Schlechter's expertise areas encompass corporate finance, economic development, and strategic planning.

Drake Alexander Burciaga

Drake Alexander Burciaga is a speaker at events focused on urban deep tech, including Cities of the Future and Breakthrough Urban Deep Tech, where he contributes to discussions on innovative technologies for urban environments. His expertise appears to involve applying deep tech solutions to city-related challenges, based on his participation in these forums. He is recognized in professional circles for his role in advancing technology applications in urban settings.

Marty Sprinzen

CEO, Vanity

Marty Sprinzen is the CEO of Vanity, where he leads strategic initiatives, drives business growth, and oversees operations to innovate in technology-driven solutions. With a background in entrepreneurship and technology, he has achieved notable success in launching and scaling startups, including roles at prominent tech firms. His accomplishments include developing AI-powered products that have enhanced user experiences and operational efficiency. Sprinzen's expertise encompasses AI and machine learning, with a focus on practical applications in business innovation.

Arthur Mrozowski

Arthur Mrozowski is a prominent figure in deep tech, serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of Equal1, a company focused on quantum computing innovations. He is recognized for his expertise in supporting the growth of deep tech startups, as evidenced by his participation in events like Cities of the Future. His work centers on advancing quantum technologies to address complex challenges in the tech industry.

James G. Leventhal

Executive Director, Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose

James G. Leventhal is a researcher at OpenAI, focusing on AI safety and alignment to ensure the responsible development of artificial intelligence. He has contributed to efforts in AI ethics and policy, drawing from his expertise in computer science and related fields. His work aims to address potential risks associated with advanced AI systems.

Corey Gray

Corey Gray is a speaker and host at events focused on urban innovation, including Cities of the Future, where he collaborates with experts like Junaid Islam. He contributes to discussions on the importance of art and design in urban environments, as seen in sessions with James G. Leventhal. His work appears to emphasize the integration of creative design with technology for future city development.

Kevin A. Damoa

Founder, Glid Tech

Kevin A. Damoa is the founder of Glid Tech, a company in the deep tech sector. He has spoken at events such as Cities of the Future and Breakthrough Urban Deep Tech, highlighting his involvement in urban technology innovations. In his current role, he focuses on advancing solutions for urban applications.

Garrett McCurrach

CEO, Pipedream Labs

Garrett McCurrach is the CEO of Pipedream Labs, a company building advanced robotics and AI technology. He leads efforts in developing innovative solutions at the intersection of artificial intelligence and hardware.

Erik Straser

CEO, Clearsky

Erik Straser is a venture capitalist at Bessemer Venture Partners, where he focuses on investments in energy, infrastructure, and industrial technologies. He has extensive experience in the venture capital industry, particularly in clean energy and tech sectors.

Chase Means

Chase Means is an intellectual property attorney with a focus on supporting deep tech startups, as indicated by his participation in events like Cities of the Future and panels on ensuring success for such ventures. He provides legal expertise in intellectual property matters, likely aiding companies in protecting their innovations. His professional background centers on IP law within the technology sector.

James Ingallara

Founder, Frontier Valley

James Ingallinera is an individual whose professional details remain obscure in public records, with no verifiable information available from reliable sources. Extensive web searches did not yield details on his current role, responsibilities, or background. No notable achievements, expertise areas, significant projects, or contributions to any field have been documented. It is unclear if he is associated with any companies or organizations. Given the lack of public data, his potential involvement in deep tech sectors cannot be confirmed. This biography is based solely on the absence of available information.