Aakash Parekh

Chief Commercial Officer, Pixxel

Aakash is Chief Commercial Officer at Pixxel, a space data company building the world's first and highest resolution commercial hyperspectral constellation. He heads the growth functions of the business including global sales, marketing and customer success. Aakash has set up programs to facilitate access to Pixxel’s hyperspectral datasets and geospatial data platform to both government and commercial customers. Aakash has spent the past decade in frontier technology sales and is passionate about bringing breakthrough innovations to new markets. Prior to joining Pixxel, Aakash led business development in international markets for various startups in the AgTech and PropTech domains. Aakash has completed several courses in data science and remote sensing to supplement his business background and to ultimately bridge the knowledge gaps between commercial and engineering teams for his clients.

Aaron Hsu

General Partner, Actual VC

Aaron Hsu is a General Partner at Actual VC, where he focuses on supporting founders who are building innovative companies aimed at changing the world. With a background in technology and venture capital, he identifies and invests in early-stage startups with high potential impact. His role involves mentoring entrepreneurs and driving investments in transformative technologies.

Aaron Slodov

Co-Founder & CEO, Atomic Industries

Aaron Slodov is the Co-Founder and CEO of Atomic Industries, the world's first AI-powered tool and die maker based in Detroit. Atomic's mission is to replicate high-skill trade knowledge into AI that powers manufacturing systems which are orders of magnitude more productive. The company has raised a $25M Series A and previously a $17M seed led by Narya. Aaron studied physics, pursued a PhD in power systems engineering, worked at Google as an operations engineer, and co-founded Remesh, an AI market research startup that raised over $40 million.

Adam Draper

M.D., Boost VC

Adam Draper is the founder and Managing Director of Boost VC, a San Mateo-based pre-seed venture capital firm and accelerator with approximately $200 million in assets under management, specializing in "deep tech" and "sci-fi" innovations across crypto, space, biotechnology, AI, robotics, climate, defense, and frontier fields—providing the critical first $500K checks to audacious founders turning impossible ideas into reality, from exoskeletons and jetpacks to de-extinction and orbital manufacturing. A fourth-generation venture capitalist and son of Bitcoin pioneer Tim Draper, Adam launched Boost VC in 2012 with co-founder Brayton Williams after entrepreneurial ventures including co-founding Xpert Financial during his UCLA years and early angel successes in breakout companies like Coinbase (where he was an initial investor), Amplitude, and Plangrid. Inspired by a personal dream of building an Iron Man suit, comic book collector passions, and family lessons chronicled in his co-authored book Breakfast with Pops: A Venture Capital Handbook, Draper has raised multiple funds—including over $87 million in 2025—and backed unicorns like Colossal Biosciences while championing relentless innovation through his Substack newsletter, demo days, and a philosophy that no idea is too crazy for humanity's sci-fi future.

Adrian Killan

Mango Medical

Adrian Killan is a professional at Mango Medical, where he is involved in medical technologies, as indicated by his participation in biotech-related events. He has spoken at the Ligandal Biotech Summit, demonstrating his expertise in the biotech sector. His work likely contributes to innovations in healthcare based on available context.

Ahmed Diallo

Program Director, ARPA-E

Dr. Ahmed Diallo is a Program Director at the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), where he spearheads high-risk, high-reward initiatives to accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy through transformative R&D, overseeing portfolios that bridge innovative diagnostics, materials, and power plant technologies to enable grid-scale electricity from fusion. A Distinguished Research Fellow and Principal Research Physicist at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) since 2009—where he previously headed the Advanced Diagnostics Development Division and served as Deputy Director of the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) public-private partnership—Diallo has pioneered laser-aided, X-ray, and other cutting-edge diagnostic tools advancing magnetic fusion plasmas, high-energy-density physics, microelectronics, and quantum computing. Born in Burkina Faso and inspired by the quest for abundant clean energy in underserved regions, he earned a PhD in physics from the University of Iowa after earlier studies in Burkina Faso and Montana, followed by postdoctoral work at the Swiss Plasma Center and Australian National University; honored with the DOE Early Career Award, Oppenheimer Fellowship, and over 140 publications, Diallo passionately drives the fusion ecosystem toward rapid milestones for a sustainable energy future.

Ainur Nygmet

Faberge Labs

Ainur Nygmet is a professional associated with Faberge Labs, where she holds a role in the deep tech sector. She has spoken at the Ligandal Biotech Summit, indicating her involvement in biotech-related discussions. Her expertise is inferred from these engagements, focusing on advanced technologies in biotechnology.

Alder Riley

Founder, Small Steps & Giant Leaps

Alder Riley is the Founder of Small Steps & Giant Leaps, a company involved in events related to aerospace innovation. They have moderated panels at aerospace-focused gatherings, such as Giant Step VC x SSGL: Aerospace Night, demonstrating their expertise in facilitating discussions on deep tech topics. Riley's role highlights their commitment to advancing conversations in the aerospace sector.

Alex Kling

Senior Research Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center

Alex Kling is a planetary scientist and aerospace engineer specializing in Mars atmospheric modeling and terraforming research, currently a researcher at the Astera Institute—a Berkeley-based nonprofit accelerating high-leverage science for human progress—where he develops innovative tools for planetary habitability, including an open-source screening platform to evaluate aerosol particles' greenhouse warming efficiency on Mars, aimed at enabling sustainable biospheres through engineered nanoparticles that forward-scatter sunlight while blocking infrared. Previously affiliated with NASA's Ames Research Center and the Mars Climate Modeling Center, Kling graduated from the French Institute for Aeronautics and Space (ISAE-SUPAERO) with expertise in space systems engineering, authored publications on Martian dust dynamics, gravity waves, ice-covered lakes in Gale Crater, and transient effects from rover landings, and collaborated on high-performance computing simulations for global and regional climate models. Passionate about multi-planetary futures, he contributes to interdisciplinary efforts blending atmospheric physics, flight dynamics, and geoengineering to unlock living worlds beyond Earth amid Astera's broader missions in climate intervention and space exploration.

Alexander Hammer

Co-Founder, Dunia Innovations

Alexander Hammer is the Co-Founder of Dunia Innovations, where he contributes to the company's initiatives in innovative technology. He has spoken at the Accelerated Science event, demonstrating his involvement in advancing scientific discussions.

Alexander Kernbaum

SRI

Alexander Kernbaum is associated with SRI International, a prominent research institute known for its work in advanced technologies such as AI and robotics. He has participated in panels at events like The Embodied Age, where discussions likely focused on embodied technologies. His involvement suggests expertise in fields related to robotics and AI based on the context of his speaking engagements.

Ali Tamaseb

General Partner, DCVC

Ali Tamaseb is a General Partner at DCVC (Data Collective), a prominent Silicon Valley deep-tech venture capital firm managing over $4 billion in assets, where he invests in transformative startups across crypto, fintech, healthcare, biomedicine, materials, electrification, mining, and construction—backing multiple billion-dollar outcomes while serving on boards and leadership roles at global companies with thousands of employees. An Iranian-American entrepreneur-turned-investor, Tamaseb previously founded and scaled a hardware startup to millions in revenue, holds degrees from Imperial College London in biomedical engineering and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, authored five academic papers on machine learning and AI, and earned accolades including the Imperial College President's Medal and British Alumni Award. Celebrated for his bestselling book Super Founders: What Data Reveals About Billion-Dollar Startups (2021)—drawn from the largest-ever dataset of 30,000+ points debunking unicorn myths like founder age or elite pedigrees—he runs the Superfounders Club, networks talent ecosystems, and champions data-driven insights into what truly drives outlier success in entrepreneurship.

Allison Waters

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Waters Lab develops and tests innovative brain measures and electrical neuromodulation strategies to optimize neuropsychiatric care. Our aim is to supercharge rehabilitation efforts for individuals battling depression, OCD, and various neurological disorders. In both my research and clinical practice at Mount Sinai, I am dedicated to a future where psychotherapy and neurotechnology converge seamlessly. Biometric tools, advanced neurotech, psychedelics and cool gadgets are increasingly accessible to consumers; it is now critical that we identify the physiological signals that offer actionable insights to those seeking transformative change in their lives.

Alon Cohen

CEO, QuamCore

Co-founded Mobileye's EyeC-Radar business unit Intel Achievement Award 2021 2x head of 8200 award Head of AMAN award >40 patents Ex-Broadcom/Intel/Mobileye with 23 years of expertise in mixed-signal chip and system design SIGINT/COMM/Radar.

Andre Saraiva

Head of Solid-State Theory, Diraq

André Saraiva is a Brazilian-Australian solid-state physicist and quantum computing expert best known as Head of Theory (or Head of Solid State Theory) at Diraq, an Australian startup pioneering CMOS-compatible silicon spin qubit technology for scalable, fault-tolerant quantum processors. Joining Diraq in 2022, he leads the theoretical design and modeling of large-scale systems aiming for millions to billions of qubits on a single chip. Previously a professor of physics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, with senior research roles at UNSW Sydney and Silicon Quantum Computing, Saraiva holds a PhD in Physics from UFRJ and has over 3,900 citations for work on spin qubits, quantum dots, and valley physics in silicon.

Andre Watson

CEO & Founder, Ligandal

Andre Watson is the CEO and Founder of Ligandal, a company involved in biotechnology as indicated by his participation in events like the Ligandal Biotech Summit. His role focuses on leading innovations in the biotech sector, drawing from his position alongside other industry experts. Watson's expertise is evident through his speaking engagements and associations in the field.

Andrew Duggleby

Co-Founder & CTO, Venus Aerospace, Venus Aerospace

Dr. Andrew Duggleby is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Venus Aerospace, a Houston-based startup pioneering reusable hypersonic flight technologies to enable one-hour global travel—allowing passengers to fly from anywhere on Earth and return home for dinner—through groundbreaking innovations like the VDR2 rotating detonation ramjet engine, which has achieved historic U.S. flight tests, supersonic demonstrations, and partnerships with DARPA and NASA for high-efficiency propulsion at Mach 6+. A rocket scientist with a PhD in mechanical engineering, Duggleby previously led launch operations at Virgin Orbit (hotfiring the first dual-mode 3D-printed rocket engine with NASA), contributed to early programs at Virgin Galactic, taught mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University, conducted turbomachinery research at Virginia Tech, and serves as a Lieutenant Commander Engineering Duty Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve supporting the Defense Innovation Unit's space portfolio. Inspired by long-distance frustrations while stationed in Japan with his wife and CEO Sassie Duggleby—whom he co-founded Venus with in 2020 amid the pandemic—he has scaled the company to over 100 employees, raised tens of millions from investors like Prime Movers Lab and Airbus Ventures, and relentlessly advances sustainable, runway-takeoff hypersonic platforms for commercial, defense, and space applications to shrink the world dramatically.

Andrew Hessel

Biotechnologist, Futurist, and Founder of the Human Genome Project-Write, Genome Project-write

Andrew Hessel is a biotechnologist and futurist known for his work in synthetic biology and genomics. He is the founder of the Genome Project-write, an initiative aimed at synthesizing the human genome, and has contributed to advancements in biotechnology through various research and speaking engagements. In his current role, he continues to explore the future applications of genetic engineering and biotechnology.

Andrew Holland

CEO, Fusion Industry Association

Andrew Holland is the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Fusion Industry Association (FIA), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit trade organization representing over 40 private fusion companies and 100 affiliates worldwide, dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of fusion energy through advocacy for supportive policies, public-private partnerships, regulatory certainty, and equitable treatment alongside other clean technologies to deliver abundant, safe, carbon-free power in the coming decades. With more than two decades at the nexus of energy policy, climate change, national security, and international strategy—including prior roles as Chief Operating Officer of the American Security Project (where he authored a seminal 2013 report outlining a 10-year plan for U.S. fusion leadership) and legislative aide on energy and environment for Senator Chuck Hagel—Holland has been instrumental in shaping fusion's rise from government-led research to a vibrant private industry, influencing milestones like separate NRC regulations for fusion, increased federal funding, and global collaborations. A holder of an MSc in International Strategy and Economics from the University of St. Andrews and member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, he frequently speaks on fusion's transformative potential at forums like the IAEA and pens op-eds urging infrastructure-scale investment to secure American leadership in this revolutionary energy frontier.

Andrew Peterson

CEO, Array Labs

Andrew Peterson is an American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Array Labs, a Palo Alto-based startup launched in 2021 that develops distributed radar satellite constellations using formation-flying clusters of small satellites to generate high-resolution, real-time 3D imagery of Earth—achieving over 60x better quality than traditional methods for applications in defense, autonomy, climate monitoring, agriculture, and insurance. A Y Combinator alumnus with prior roles leading remote sensing projects at Moog Space and Defense, General Atomics (on Video SAR algorithms), and contributions to the Vera Rubin Observatory, Peterson holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona and an MS from San Diego State University. Under his leadership, Array Labs has launched demonstration satellites, secured Air Force contracts, partnered with entities like Raytheon and John Deere, and advanced toward operational clusters capable of sub-20cm resolution spotlight imaging.

Andrew Ryan

President, Far

Andrew Ryan is the President of Faraday 1867 Holdings LLC, the world's largest producer of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) tape. Through its subsidiary Faraday Factory Japan, the company has delivered over 7,000km of HTS tape to fusion projects worldwide, supporting tokamaks, stellarators, levitating dipoles, and magnetic mirrors. In 2023, Faraday partnered with Coherent Corp. to scale HTS tape manufacturing for mass deployment of nuclear fusion reactors. The company has been recognized in the Financial Times Awards and Nikkei Top-500 rankings for high-growth companies in Asia-Pacific.

Ankit Somani

Co-founder & CEO, Conifer

Ankit Somani is the co-founder of Conifer, a startup developing rare-earth-free electric motors using ferrite magnets for mobility, tools and equipment, and industrial applications. After roles at Google and CPO of HireVue, he launched Conifer to address supply chain and sustainability challenges in mobility. The company raised a $20 million seed round, with investors including True Ventures, MFV Partners, MaC Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

Ara Knaian

CEO and co-founder, Acceleron

Ara Knaian is the CEO and co-founder of Acceleron, a company focused on advancing fusion energy technology. With a background in engineering and physics, he has played a key role in developing innovative solutions for sustainable energy. Under his leadership, Acceleron aims to bring fusion power to commercialization.

Aravind Srinivas

CEO, Perplexity

Aravind Srinivas is the co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, a groundbreaking conversational "answer engine" that combines large language models with real-time web search to deliver accurate, cited responses, challenging traditional search giants like Google by prioritizing truth-seeking, transparency, and user curiosity in an AI-driven era. Born in Chennai, India, in 1994, Srinivas earned a dual degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras—where he self-taught AI despite his major—followed by a PhD in computer science from UC Berkeley under renowned advisor Pieter Abbeel, before gaining research experience at OpenAI, DeepMind, and Google. In 2022, he launched Perplexity, rapidly scaling it to process hundreds of millions of monthly queries by 2025, securing investments from Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and others, launching innovations like the AI-powered Comet browser, and forging major partnerships while navigating debates on content attribution and web crawling. A vocal advocate for on-device AI as the future disruptor of data centers, Srinivas continues to push boundaries in making knowledge accessible and actionable worldwide.

Arne Laucht

Head of Quantum Measurement, Diraq

Arne Laucht is Head of Quantum Measurement at Diraq, a startup company building silicon-based quantum computers. His research interests include quantum physics, spin quantum computing, donor atoms in silicon, and nanoscale device engineering. Arne completed his PhD with summa cum laude at the Technical University of Munich, focusing on semiconductor quantum optics.

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.

Ash Kumra

Head of Community, The GenAI Collective

An award-winning speaker, event producer, and radio show host, Ash has been honored by the White House with the EMPACT 100 for his contributions to entrepreneurship. Currently, he serves as the Head of Events and Community for The AI Collective, the world’s largest AI movement boasting 70,000+ members across 25+ global chapters.

Augustus Doricko

Founder and CEO, Rainmaker

Augustus Doricko is the founder and CEO of Rainmaker, a next generation cloud seeding company. He is a UC Berkeley dropout, Thiel Fellow, and member of the El Segundo hardtech scene. Rainmaker uses weather resistant drones to increase precipitation, and novel radar hardware to measure how much man-made precipitation is created. Our first priority is reversing the desertification of the American west, and ultimately we will terraform deserts into abundant, green, arable land.

Avi Loeb

Director of the Institute for Theory & Computation, Harvard University

Abraham (Avi) Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University and a bestselling author (in lists of the New York Times,Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, L'Express and more). He received a PhD in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel at age 24 (1980- 1986), led the first international project supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative (1983-1988), and was subsequently a long-term member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton (1988-1993). Loeb has written 9 books, including most recently, Extraterrestrial and Interstellar, as well as over a thousand scientific papers (with h-index of 130 and i10-index of 615) on a wide range of topics, including black holes, the first stars, the search for extraterrestrial life and the future of the Universe. Loeb is the Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (2007- present) within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and also serves as the Head of the Galileo Project (2021-present). He had been the longest serving Chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy (2011-2020) and the Founding Director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative (2016-2021). He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. Loeb is a former member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) at the White House, a former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies (2018-2021) and a current member of the Advisory Board for "Einstein: Visualize the Impossible" of the Hebrew University. He chaired the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative (2015-2024) and served as the Science Theory Director for all Initiatives of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. In 2012, TIME magazine selected Loeb as one of the 25 most influential people in space and in 2020 Loeb was selected among the 14 most inspiring Israelis of the last decade. In 2024, Loeb was ranked number 3 in publication record and impact of research among all astronomers worldwide over the past 5 years by ScholarGPS. Loeb’s latest TED talk was among the top five most popular TED talks in 2024.

Ayub Ansari

Principal, Anthesis Group

With a background in environmental engineering and extensive experience in venture capital and private equity, Ayub specializes in advancing energy systems and sustainable infrastructure solutions. His work focuses on guiding cutting-edge technologies—such as carbon capture, microgrids, and energy transition innovations—from concept to commercialization. He has led technical due diligence and developed financing strategies to scale pre-commercial technologies in the clean energy space, ensuring their alignment with market needs and investor priorities. By working at the intersection of engineering and investment, he helps bridge the gap between deep technical expertise and scalable, impactful solutions. Committed to driving the energy transition, he collaborates with stakeholders to design decarbonization strategies, integrate sustainable practices, and accelerate the deployment of transformative technologies in energy-intensive industries.

Balaji Srinivasan

Founder, Internet Legend, The Network State

Balaji S. Srinivasan is an Indian-American entrepreneur, angel investor, and futurist visionary renowned for co-founding groundbreaking companies like Counsyl (genomic screening, acquired by Myriad), Earn.com (acquired by Coinbase, where he served as the first CTO from 2018-2019), and Teleport (acquired by Topia), while investing early in crypto protocols including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and many others during his tenure as General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. A Stanford-trained polymath with BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Chemical Engineering, he authored the Wall Street Journal bestselling book The Network State: How To Start a New Country (2022), outlining a blueprint for digital communities to crowdfund territory, build aligned societies, and achieve sovereignty as successors to traditional nation-states. In 2024-2025, Srinivasan advanced these ideas by acquiring a private island near Singapore, launching The Network School—a three-month program in Malaysia for technologists, founders, and innovators to prototype "network nations"—and speaking on crypto's emerging "privacy era" at events like Binance Blockchain Week, advocating zero-knowledge proofs and decentralized governance to enable financial sovereignty amid global shifts toward digital-first societies.

Beff Jezos

Founder, Extropic

Beff Jezos, the pseudonymous online persona of physicist and entrepreneur Guillaume Verdon, is the co-founder and leading voice of effective accelerationism (e/acc), a techno-optimist philosophy that advocates accelerating AI and technological progress as humanity's ethical imperative—rooted in thermodynamics, viewing the universe's drive toward greater entropy and complexity as a bias toward ever-smarter, energy-harnessing civilizations climbing the Kardashev scale. A former Google X quantum machine learning researcher who pioneered TensorFlow Quantum and earned a PhD in applied quantum physics, Verdon founded Extropic AI in 2022 to develop revolutionary thermodynamic computing chips that harness probabilistic physics for vastly more energy-efficient generative AI acceleration—raising $14M+ in seed funding and positioning the startup as a challenger to traditional silicon amid exploding data center demands. Doxxed by Forbes in 2023 after building e/acc into a viral counter-movement against AI decelerationists and doomers—attracting endorsements from Marc Andreessen, Garry Tan, and others—Verdon continues blending rigorous science, memetic warfare, and post-humanist vision to propel an abundant, star-faring future through unrelenting innovation.

Ben Bolte

Founder, K-Scale Labs

Benjamin Bolte is a bold AI and robotics innovator, best known as the founder and former CEO of K-Scale Labs, a Y Combinator-backed startup that pioneered affordable, open-source humanoid robots like the K-Bot and Z-Bot to democratize embodied intelligence and accelerate humanity toward a Type I civilization on the Kardashev scale. A Mathematics and Computer Science graduate from Emory University with early research in computational neuroscience, Bolte honed his expertise at Tesla—where he authored CUDA kernels for the voxel occupancy network later adapted for Optimus—and at Meta AI, contributing to robotics foundation models, speech systems, and semantic mapping. Driven by a belief in open-source collaboration over proprietary silos, he launched K-Scale in 2024 from a Palo Alto garage, rapidly building a developer community and shipping initial units before the company ceased operations in late 2025 due to funding challenges; in a final act of principle, Bolte released all hardware and software IP to the public, ensuring his visionary work continues to inspire the next generation of general-purpose robotics.

Ben Kugielsky

Systems Engineer; UAPx, UAPx

Ben Kugielsky is a systems engineer at UAPx, an organization focused on the scientific investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), where he leads efforts in system design, data analysis, and field research. With a background in aerospace engineering and as a certified private pilot, he has contributed to advancing UAP detection technologies through practical engineering applications. His notable achievements include participating in UAP field investigations and developing sensor systems for anomaly detection. Kugielsky's expertise lies in aerospace systems, aviation, and interdisciplinary research on emerging phenomena, making him a key figure in private sector UAP studies.

Ben Nowack

Co-Founder & CEO, Reflect Orbital

Ben Nowack is the Co-Founder and CEO of Reflect Orbital, building a satellite constellation to reflect sunlight to Earth for solar power at night. The company has raised $35.2M in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital, Lux Capital, and Climate Capital. Ben previously worked at Zipline and interned at SpaceX. The first Reflect Orbital satellite unfurls an 18x18 meter reflective surface to extend solar farm operating hours. "The problem is that solar energy is not available when we actually want it," Nowack explains. "It would be really great if we could get some solar energy before the sun rises and after sunset."

Benjamin Kim

Partner, Playground

Benjamin Kim is a Partner at Playground, a venture capital firm focused on deep tech investments. He has moderated sessions at events like Next Gen Compute, indicating his involvement in discussions around advanced computing technologies. His role likely centers on guiding investments in innovative tech sectors, though specific expertise details are based on available context.

Berivan Isik

AI Research, Google DeepMind

Berivan Isik is a prominent research scientist at Google DeepMind, specializing in generative AI with a focus on efficient training and finetuning of large language models, pretraining data valuation, scaling laws, differential privacy, and machine unlearning to advance trustworthy AI systems. She earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2024, where she was co-advised by professors Sanmi Koyejo and Tsachy Weissman, and her groundbreaking work earned her prestigious awards including the Stanford Graduate Fellowship and the Google PhD Fellowship in Machine Learning. With a prolific publication record in top venues like ICLR, AISTATS, and ICML—often featuring oral presentations and collaborations on high-impact topics such as federated learning, model compression, and information-theoretic approaches to AI—Isik has established herself as a leading voice in scalable and responsible machine learning, contributing directly to cutting-edge developments in models like Gemini while advocating for privacy-preserving techniques in the era of massive-scale AI.

Bharath Ramsundar

Founder, Deep Forest Sciences

Bharath Ramsundar is the founder and CEO of Deep Forest Sciences, which builds AI for deep technology applications, and is the lead developer of the DeepChem open source project. Previously, Bharath was the co-founder and CTO of Computable Labs, a venture backed data engineering startup. Bharath founded DeepChem while doing his PhD in computer science at Stanford university where he studied the application of deep learning methods to drug discovery. Bharath was also the co-lead creator of the widely used MoleculeNet benchmark suite. Bharath’s graduate education was supported by a Hertz Fellowship. Bharath received his BA and BS from UC Berkeley in EECS and Mathematics and was valedictorian of his graduating class in mathematics. Bharath is the lead author of “TensorFlow for Deep Learning: From Linear Regression to Reinforcement Learning”, and “Deep Learning for the Life Sciences.”

Bibhrajit Halder

Founder & CEO, SafeAI

Bibhrajit Halder is the Founder and CEO of SafeAI, a company focused on developing AI-driven autonomous solutions for heavy industries such as construction and mining. He has led efforts to enhance safety and efficiency through advanced technology, earning recognition for innovations in autonomous systems. In his current role, he continues to drive the company's mission to revolutionize industrial operations with AI.

Bilal Zuberi

G.P., Lux Capital

Bilal Zuberi is the Founder and Managing Partner of Red Glass Ventures, a Menlo Park-based early-stage venture capital firm he launched in 2025 to invest from formation through Series A in technically ambitious startups at the intersection of AI and the physical world—spanning infrastructure, autonomy, robotics, manufacturing, automotive, construction, defense, national security, health, and energy. Previously a General Partner at Lux Capital for over a decade (until late 2024), where he led investments in transformative companies like Applied Intuition (autonomous vehicle simulation), Desktop Metal (metal 3D printing), Evolv Technology (physical security), Saildrone (autonomous ocean drones), Ironclad (contract management), Nozomi Networks (industrial cybersecurity), and OpenSpace (construction tech), Zuberi built a track record backing paradigm-shifting deep tech amid Lux's $5B+ AUM growth. Before Lux, he was a principal at General Catalyst, co-founded advanced materials startup GEO2 Technologies, consulted at Boston Consulting Group, and earned a PhD in physical chemistry from MIT (under Nobel laureate Mario Molina) with published research and 30+ patents; a passionate advocate for ethical innovation and student entrepreneurship, he continues shaping the future of frontier technologies through thoughtful writing and board roles.

Bilge Acun

AI Research, Meta

Bilge Acun is a leading research scientist at Meta AI (FAIR) on the Systems for Machine Learning (SysML) team, specializing in sustainable AI, machine learning systems, and distributed computing to address the environmental challenges of scaling massive models amid exploding computational demands. A PhD graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—where her work on power-efficient large-scale systems earned recognition including a cover feature in IEEE Computer and multiple patent-pending innovations—she has driven high-impact projects at Meta, co-authoring seminal papers like "Sustainable AI: Environmental Implications, Challenges and Opportunities" and "Beyond Efficiency: Scaling AI Sustainably," while contributing to frameworks for carbon-aware datacenter design, multi-modal generative AI systems, and benchmarks like DataPerf. With thousands of citations, keynote speeches at MLSys conferences, and a passion for optimizing AI's carbon footprint through renewable energy integration and efficiency gains, Acun continues to pioneer green computing solutions that enable responsible advancement of frontier AI technologies at global scale.

Billy Thalheimer

CEO & Co-Founder, REGENT

Billy Thalheimer is the CEO and Co-Founder of REGENT (Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport), building electric seagliders that fly over water at up to 180mph for routes up to 180 miles. The 12-passenger Viceroy is the largest-ever all-electric flying machine. REGENT has raised over $90 million from 8090 Industries, Founders Fund, Japan Airlines, and Lockheed Martin, with a $9 billion global order book. Billy holds BS/MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering from MIT, led flight physics modeling for Boeing's electric air taxi at Aurora Flight Sciences, and is a competitive aerobatic pilot.

Blake Scholl

Founder & CEO, Boom Supersonic

Blake Scholl is the visionary founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, a Denver-based aerospace company he launched in 2014 to revive commercial supersonic travel with sustainable, mainstream-accessible flights—culminating in 2025 when the XB-1 demonstrator became the world's first independently developed supersonic jet to break the sound barrier multiple times, achieving Mach 1.18 and pioneering "Boomless Cruise" technology for quieter overland flight. Inspired by a museum visit to Concorde and self-taught aerospace principles, Scholl—a Carnegie Mellon BS in Computer Science graduate and private pilot—pivoted from Silicon Valley successes: starting as an early Amazon engineer inventing automated ad systems driving billions in revenue, co-founding mobile startup Kima Labs (acquired by Groupon), and holding leadership roles at Groupon and Pelago. With orders for 130 Overture airliners from United, American, and Japan Airlines—designed for Mach 1.7 on 100% sustainable aviation fuel and targeting service by 2030—plus innovations like the Superpower natural gas turbine for AI data centers, Scholl is engineering faster global connectivity, defending U.S. leadership in aviation, and proving private innovation can conquer decades-old barriers for a high-speed, net-zero future.

Bob Boyd

founder and CEO, ATSquared Aerospace

Bob Boyd is the founder and CEO of ATSquared Aerospace, a company focused on developing cargo freight airships to advance innovative air transportation solutions. With expertise in aerospace technology, he leads efforts to create sustainable and efficient alternatives for cargo delivery. Boyd has shared his insights at events such as the Dreams of Steel Closing Party.

Bob Gourley

CTO, OODA LLC

Bob Gourley is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OODA LLC, a leading cybersecurity and technology due diligence consultancy that publishes the influential OODAloop.com platform, delivering actionable intelligence on global security, disruptive technologies, AI risks, and strategic decision-making to business leaders and government officials. A retired naval intelligence officer with operational tours in Europe and Asia, Gourley pioneered cyber threat intelligence as the first Director of Intelligence for the Department of Defense's Joint Task Force-Computer Network Defense and later served as CTO of the Defense Intelligence Agency, earning recognition as one of InfoWorld's top 25 most influential CTOs and Washingtonian's "Tech Titans." Author of the acclaimed book "The Cyber Threat," which draws on his direct experiences countering adversaries in cyberspace, he advises boards on enterprise IT optimization, speaks frequently on AI challenges and cyber defense, and continues to bridge intelligence insights with modern technological innovation through OODA's research, events like OODAcon, and the OODAcast podcast.

Bob Sutor

Managing Director, the Sutor Group

Bob Sutor is a technology executive and author with extensive experience in quantum computing and emerging technologies, having previously served as Vice President at IBM where he focused on these areas.

Brendan Skiffington

Manager of NORCAT Innovation and Investment Manager for the Sudbury Catalyst Fund, NORCAT

Brendan Skiffington serves as the Manager of NORCAT Innovation and Investment Manager for the Sudbury Catalyst Fund, where he specializes in developing support programs and driving technology adoption in the mining industry. He also holds the position of Head of OVIN's Northern Regional Technology Development Sites, focusing on connecting regional mining and manufacturing capabilities to advance the electric vehicle supply chain. His expertise lies in fostering innovation and investment in heavy industries to support technological progress.

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.

Brian Hardin

Co-founder & CEO, Aluminio

Brian Hardin is the Co-founder and CEO of Aluminio, a company involved in advanced materials and manufacturing. He has spoken at events such as Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, demonstrating his expertise in these areas. In his current role, he leads efforts to innovate within the materials sector.

Brian Riordan

Co-Founder & COO, Avalanche Energy

Brian Riordan is the Co-Founder and COO of Avalanche Energy, building micro-fusion reactors (Orbitron) that you can hold in your hands—free of high-powered magnets or lasers, designed to be easily manufacturable and transportable. Brian and co-founder Robin Langtry met at Blue Origin, where both worked on rocket propulsion systems. Brian started his career in deep subsea oil and gas, pivoting to aerospace with side hustles along the way. Motivated by climate change and receding glaciers in his home state of Alaska, Avalanche has raised $45M+ and focuses on mobile power for space and underwater applications.

Bruce Leak

General Partner, Playground

Bruce Leak is a veteran in the technology and venture capital sectors, having contributed as an engineer to the original Apple Macintosh team and later serving as a partner at Kleiner Perkins, where he invested in numerous successful startups. With a strong focus on hardware and deep tech innovations, he has played a key role in fostering technological advancements. Currently, as a General Partner at Playground Global, he continues to invest in cutting-edge technologies that shape the future.

Bryan Johnson

Founder & CEO, Blueprint

Bryan Johnson is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and longevity pioneer renowned for founding Braintree—a payment processing platform acquired by PayPal for $800 million in 2013 after incorporating Venmo—before launching neurotechnology firm Kernel to develop advanced brain interfaces and OS Fund to invest in frontier science. In 2021, he embarked on Project Blueprint, a data-driven anti-aging regimen involving meticulous monitoring of dozens of organs, a strict vegan diet, over 100 daily supplements, rigorous exercise, and experimental therapies, reportedly reducing his epigenetic age by over five years and achieving the slowest aging speed ever measured in a human, all documented publicly and featured in the 2025 Netflix documentary Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever. Shifting focus in 2025, Johnson stepped back from commercializing Blueprint—hiring a new CEO amid plans to potentially sell it—to champion the "Don't Die" movement, a philosophical ideology framing continued existence as humanity's paramount priority in the era of superintelligence, blending biohacking, AI alignment, and species-level survival to inspire global communities toward radical life extension.

Bryce Meredig

Founder, Travertine Labs

Bryce Meredig co-founded Citrine Informatics in 2013, serving as CEO and later Chief Science Officer, helping to grow it into a leading provider of enterprise materials informatics software. Bryce is now an independent R&D consultant, deep tech startup mentor, and faculty member at Northwestern University. His interest spans AI, data, simulation, and automation in materials science, with research contributions in machine learning for materials design, self-driving labs, materials databases and data infrastructure. He works with technical founders and deep tech ventures, drawing on his combined technical and business background (PhD/MBA) to align cutting-edge R&D with real-world impact.

Bud Vos

CEO, MetOx

Bud Vos is the founder and CEO of MetOx International, a company established in 1989 that specializes in advanced materials, particularly high-temperature superconductors. He has a background in physics and has led the company in developing innovative technologies for various applications. In his current role, he oversees the strategic direction and commercialization efforts of MetOx's materials science initiatives.

Cady Coleman

Astronaut, NASA (retired)

Catherine "Cady" Coleman is a retired NASA astronaut, chemist, and former U.S. Air Force colonel who logged over 180 days in space across three missions. Selected by NASA in 1992, she flew as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia missions STS-73 (1995), focused on microgravity experiments, and STS-93 (1999), which deployed the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Her longest assignment was a six-month stay on the International Space Station as part of Expeditions 26/27 (2010–2011), where she served as lead robotics and science officer. Post-NASA, Coleman has become a speaker on leadership, inclusion in STEM, and innovation, while also known for her flute performances in space and consulting on films like Gravity.

Calvin Chin

Managing Partner, E14 Fund

Calvin Chin is the Managing Partner at E14 Fund. E14 Fund is the early stage venture capital firm for the MIT community. E14 Fund invests in deep tech startups that are transforming traditional industries across a broad array of market-ready, scalable innovation in sensors, AI/ML, robotics, health, life sciences and more. Officially affiliated with MIT, E14 Fund builds and supports a vibrant community of founders and companies with resources from across the MIT ecosystem. If you have any past or current affiliation with MIT, please get in touch. We'd love to help.

Cameron Porter

General Partner, Steel Atlas

Cameron Porter is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Steel Atlas, a venture capital fund based in NYC. Cameron serves as a board member to multiple organizations. Prior to Steel Atlas, Cameron was an investor at AlleyCorp, one of the world's leading incubators, and a professional athlete in Major League Soccer. Cameron studied Computer Science at Princeton University with a focus on non-deterministic algorithms and network theory.

Carl Perez

CEO, Exodys Energy

Carl Perez is a French-American nuclear energy entrepreneur and advocate best known as the Chief Executive Officer of Exodys Energy, a New York-based startup founded in 2022 that develops closed-loop, circular nuclear systems to recycle existing nuclear waste stockpiles into clean, abundant energy without additional uranium mining. A Babson College graduate (2015), Perez launched his nuclear journey at age 21 by co-founding Elysium Industries—a molten chloride salt fast reactor company capable of burning spent fuel—after a personal epiphany on the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing shifted him from anti-nuclear views to championing advanced fission for climate solutions and energy equality. Through Elysium Ventures and roles in climate tech investing, he continues pushing for innovative reactors to address global energy poverty and decarbonization.

Carmen Li

Founder, Compute Exchange

Carmen Li is an American entrepreneur and fintech innovator renowned for founding Silicon Data, a pioneering platform often called the "Bloomberg of compute" that brings transparency to the volatile GPU and AI infrastructure market through real-time pricing indexes, benchmarks, and risk management tools. A Harvard Business School alumna with prior leadership at Bloomberg LP in enterprise data alliances, she launched Silicon Data in 2024, raising $4.7M in seed funding from investors like DRW and Jump Trading. In 2025, she expanded her role to CEO of Compute Exchange, unifying efforts to build efficient, commodity-like markets for compute resources essential to AI development.

Caroline Anderson

Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Fusion Industry Association

Caroline Anderson serves as the Head of Public Affairs and Communications at the Fusion Industry Association, where she leads efforts in advocacy, policy communication, and public engagement for the fusion energy sector. She has spoken at events such as the Fusion Energy Landscape, demonstrating her expertise in promoting fusion technology and its potential impacts. Her role focuses on bridging the gap between the fusion industry and broader audiences through strategic communications.

Casey Caruso

Founder, Topology Ventures

Casey Caruso is an American venture capitalist and former software engineer best known as the founder and solo general partner of Topology Ventures, a San Francisco-based early-stage firm she launched in 2024 with a $75 million debut fund focused on frontier technologies including AI, decentralized networks, neurotechnology, aerospace, and robotics. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree (2022), Caruso began writing open-source code at 15, mined cryptocurrency to fund early angel investments, worked as an engineer at Google, served as Bessemer Venture Partners' crypto specialist, and was an investment partner at Paradigm before striking out on her own—drawing backing from notables like Marc Andreessen, an OpenAI cofounder, and Paris Hilton.

Celine Halioua

CEO, Cellectis

Celine Halioua is the CEO of Cellectis, a biotechnology company focused on gene editing technologies using tools like CRISPR and TALENs. She is a leader in the synthetic biology field, driving innovation in genome engineering.

Charles Beyrouthy

Managing Partner, Forma Prime

Charles Beyrouthy serves as the Managing Partner at Forma Prime, where he leads the firm's operations and strategies in deep tech sectors. He has spoken at events like Deep Tech Week x Forma Prime, contributing to discussions on advanced technologies. His role involves overseeing initiatives in emerging tech areas based on the context of his appearances.

Charles Oppenheimer

Co-Founder & CEO, Oppenheimer Project

Charles Oppenheimer is an American entrepreneur, investor, and advocate best known as the founder and co-executive director of the Oppenheimer Project, a nonprofit organization he established to honor the legacy of his grandfather, J. Robert Oppenheimer—the "father of the atomic bomb"—by promoting international scientific cooperation, expanding peaceful nuclear energy for climate and economic security, and reducing nuclear weapons risks through dialogue and diplomacy. A San Francisco Bay Area resident with over two decades in Silicon Valley software development and startups, he has collaborated with entities like the IAEA, published op-eds in outlets including The New York Times and Foreign Policy, and spoken globally on nuclear issues amplified by the 2023 film Oppenheimer. He also invests in fission energy ventures to advance abundant, clean power.

Charlie Jarrot

CEO, Hexium

Charlie Jarrott is an American physicist and clean energy entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Hexium, an Austin-based startup launched in 2023 that revives atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) technology to produce enriched isotopes—starting with lithium-6 and lithium-7—for advanced nuclear fission and fusion reactors, as well as medical applications. With a background in inertial confinement fusion and plasma physics from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2015–2022), prior roles at fusion startup Focused Energy, and degrees from UCLA (BS) and UC San Diego (MS), Jarrott has led Hexium to raise over $12M in funding, partner with LLNL, Oklo, and TerraPower on domestic HALEU production, and address critical fuel supply bottlenecks for the nuclear renaissance.

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.

Chip Huyen

CS Lecturer, Independent

Chip Huyen is a renowned computer scientist, author, and educator whose work bridges machine learning research and production deployment, making her one of the most influential voices in MLOps and AI engineering. A Stanford graduate from a rural Vietnamese village, she created and taught the highly acclaimed course CS 329S: Machine Learning Systems Design, inspiring her bestselling O'Reilly book Designing Machine Learning Systems (2022)—an Amazon #1 in AI translated into over 10 languages—and its follow-up AI Engineering (2025), the most-read title on O'Reilly's platform. Previously, Huyen built production ML tools at Netflix, contributed as a core developer to NVIDIA's NeMo framework, led open-source efforts at Snorkel AI, and co-founded Claypot AI (acquired), a real-time ML platform. Now focused on AI's intersections with storytelling, education, and GPU-accelerated data at Voltron Data, she continues to shape reliable, scalable AI systems while mentoring founders and sharing insights through her widely followed blog and talks.

Chris Anderson

VP, xLight

Chris Anderson serves as Vice President at xLight, where he contributes to the company's initiatives in advanced technologies. He has spoken at events like Next Gen Compute, indicating his involvement in cutting-edge computing topics. His role likely focuses on driving innovation in these areas, based on the available context.

Chris Catoya

Founder, The cadCAD Foundation

Chris Catoya is a San Francisco-based technologist and entrepreneur deeply immersed in open-source complex systems modeling, serving as Executive Director of The cadCAD Foundation—the nonprofit stewarding cadCAD, a powerful Python-based open-source framework for designing, simulating, validating, and operating complex adaptive systems through differential games, Monte Carlo analyses, and parameter sweeping, widely adopted in token engineering, decentralized governance, and web3 mechanism design. With a diverse background spanning mobile gaming, fintech, crypto, VR, medtech, and structured finance (CRE CMBS & CDOs), Catoya previously held roles as Program Manager and Product Manager at BlockScience—where cadCAD originated—before co-founding and advising DNS.xyz, a decentralized naming and social platform empowering creators with on-chain identities and websites. A passionate advocate for scaling self-improving processes, automation across network layers, and shaping web3+ ecosystems, he bridges rigorous systems thinking with practical innovation to enable transparent, verifiable modeling for a more collaborative digital future.

Chris Eiben, PhD

Founder and CEO, GigaCrop

Chris is sowing the seeds for a plentiful future by building deep tech companies solving sustainability challenges. The initial technical insight leading to GigaCrop's photosynthesis mission was drawn from Chris's strong science background. Chris earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley, focusing on synthetic metabolism and protein engineering in Jay Keasling's lab. He has published his academic work in peer reviewed journals including Nature Biotechnology, and ACS Synthetic Biology. Chris has also authored several patent applications for technology he has developed. To complement his science background, Chris pursued two years of entrepreneurial training via the prestigious Activate fellowship.

Chris Kemp

CEO, Astra

Chris Kemp serves as the CEO of Astra, a space technology company dedicated to developing affordable and frequent launch services for small satellites. He co-founded Astra in 2016, leveraging his background in aerospace engineering from his time at NASA Ames Research Center. Kemp previously co-founded Made In Space, where he contributed to pioneering 3D printing in space environments. His expertise includes rocket propulsion systems, satellite deployment, and fostering innovation in the commercial space sector. Under his leadership, Astra has achieved multiple orbital launches, advancing accessibility to space.

Chris Lengerich

Founder, Pioneer Fund

Chris Lengerich is an American machine learning researcher, entrepreneur, and investor focused on leveraging AI to accelerate scientific discovery and eliminate disease. A Stanford alumnus with prior roles as a software engineer at Google X and Meta, he co-founded Context Fund, an initiative building open-source personal AI tools to make scientists and engineers 100x more productive. As a Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund and advisor to firms like ZhenFund, Lengerich invests in early-stage companies across AI, biotech, genomics, and women's health, while advocating for open-source AI and systematic breakthroughs in health and intelligence.

Chris Reyes

CTO & Co-Founder, Material Hybrid Manufacturing

Dr. Christopher  Reyes PhD, is the CTO of MATERIAL Hybrid Manufacturing, which he cofounded in 2023. Born and raised in South Texas, he is a first-generation university graduate. Dr. Reyes created the first, completely 3D lithium-ion batteries at Duke University in 2016, doing so using low-cost off the shelf printers & materials. He then joined the Additive Lab in Rice University where he developed advanced hybrid manufacturing process for industrial partners. In his professional career as a senior device scientist in the e semiconductor industry, he designed and built advanced MEMS and photonic device prototypes utilizing cutting edge technologies.  He has spent the past 7 years developing this technology for commercializing the next generation of 3D-printed lithium ion batteries, culminating with the founding of MATERIAL.

Christian Keil

VP, Astranis

Christian Keil is a co-founder of Astranis, a company focused on building affordable and advanced satellites for global connectivity. He has expertise in hardware engineering and has played a key role in developing innovative space technology solutions. As VP, he currently leads hardware development efforts at Astranis.

Christian Wentz

CEO, Gradient Technologies

Christian Wentz serves as the CEO of Gradient Technologies, where he leads the company's efforts in deep tech. He has spoken at events such as Deep Tech Week x Forma Prime, demonstrating his involvement in the deep tech sector.

Christoph Kohstall

CEO, 1X

Christoph Kohstall serves as the CEO of 1X, a company specializing in the development of AI-powered humanoid robots designed for practical applications. He founded 1X in 2019, building on his background in physics and AI, including a PhD from the University of Innsbruck. Kohstall has led the company to secure significant funding from investors and advance robotic technologies, such as the Eve robot platform. His expertise lies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, with contributions focused on creating versatile, safe humanoid robots for everyday use.

Christophe Jurczak

Partner, Quantonation

Dr. Christophe Jurczak is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Quantonation, a venture capital firm specializing in deep physics and quantum technologies. He holds a PhD in Quantum Physics from École Polytechnique, where he conducted research under the supervision of Professor Alain Aspect on laser cooling of neutral atoms. Prior to founding Quantonation in 2018, Dr. Jurczak held various government and executive positions in the energy and defense sectors across Europe and the United States.

Clea Kolster

Partner, Lowercarbon

Clea Kolster is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, a venture capital firm focused on investments in climate technology and decarbonization efforts. She works on identifying and supporting innovative companies that address environmental challenges, particularly in reducing carbon emissions. Her role involves strategic investments in the energy and sustainability sectors.

Connor Hart, Ph.D.

CTO, Quantum Catalyzer

Connor Hart, Ph.D. is an American quantum physicist and technologist best known as the Chief Technology Officer of Quantum Catalyzer (Q-Cat), a Maryland-based startup studio that commercializes quantum sensing and imaging technologies, including the Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond for wide-field magnetic imaging applications in life sciences, materials, and electronics. A University of Maryland alumnus (B.S. Physics, 2015) and Harvard Ph.D. (Physics, 2020) under Ronald Walsworth, Hart has authored influential papers on NV-diamond magnetic microscopy and advanced protocols like double quantum Ramsey, with over 2,000 citations. He drives Q-Cat's portfolio companies, such as QDM.IO and EuQlid, to translate breakthrough quantum research into practical tools.

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.

Curtis Wu

General Partner, Terran Applied

Curtis Wu is a General Partner at Terran Applied, bringing expertise in venture capital and business strategy with his MBA background. He has spoken at events like the Ligandal: Future of Biotech Summit, indicating his involvement in emerging technologies within the biotech sector. His role focuses on investing in innovative deep tech areas, leveraging his professional experience to support advancements in these fields.

Cyan Banister

Silicon Valley Legend, Long Journey Ventures

Cyan Banister is an acclaimed American entrepreneur, angel investor, and venture capitalist known as one of Silicon Valley's top early-stage investors. A self-taught engineer, she made prescient bets on companies like Uber, SpaceX, DeepMind, Niantic, Postmates, Affirm, and Flexport. After serving as the first female investing partner at Founders Fund, she is now a general partner at Long Journey Ventures, focusing on bold, unconventional founders and ideas.

Dan Goldin

Former Administrator, Cold Canyon

Daniel S. Goldin is an American engineer, entrepreneur, and visionary technologist renowned as NASA's ninth and longest-serving Administrator from 1992 to 2001, where he revitalized the post-Cold War agency under three presidents by championing the "faster, better, cheaper" philosophy—slashing costs, accelerating development, and launching prolific missions like the Hubble repair, Mars Pathfinder, and contributions to the Chandra X-ray Observatory, Spitzer Telescope, and James Webb Space Telescope—while forging international partnerships that birthed the International Space Station despite constrained budgets. Starting his career at NASA's Glenn Research Center on electric propulsion after earning a BS in mechanical engineering from City College of New York in 1962, Goldin spent 25 years at TRW rising to VP and GM, leading classified national security space programs, before returning to NASA to instill risk-tolerant innovation and commercial opportunities. Today, as founder of innovation advisory firm Cold Canyon and senior advisor to Cerberus Capital Management, he mentors deep-tech leaders, speaks on AI, hypersonics, semiconductors, and national security, and advocates for American technological renaissance through newsletters, awards, and forums like the Space Symposium.

Dan Sutton

CEO, Syntholene Energy

Dan is a multi exit founder with a 20 year career in advanced energy. From Nuclear Technology to Battery Materials, Dan has a track record of delivering returns to shareholders and effectively deploying hard assets. He and his team at Syntholene seek to fuel the deep tech revolution with high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral replacement fuels.

Daniel Oberhaus

Founder, HAUS

Daniel Oberhaus is the founder and CEO of HAUS, a creative and PR agency focused on supporting deep tech startups by providing strategic communication and branding services. With a background as a former staff writer at WIRED magazine, he has extensive expertise in science and technology journalism, covering topics like space exploration and emerging technologies. He is the author of two books published by MIT Press, including 'Extraterrestrial Languages' (2019), which explores interstellar communication. His professional contributions include writing on aerospace and deep tech innovations, drawing from his experience in media and his personal interest in aviation as a private pilot.

Darren Woulfe

Head of Magnet Business, Intel

Darren Woulfe is an American energy sector executive and engineer best known as the Head of Magnet Business at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a leading MIT spinout developing commercial fusion energy through revolutionary high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. Joining CFS in 2021, he oversees the critical magnet program essential for compact tokamaks like SPARC and ARC. Previously, Woulfe served as CFO at Makani (an Alphabet X moonshot for airborne wind energy), led procurement in solar firms like Sungevity and Recurrent Energy, and started his career as a process engineer at Intel. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Darshan Thakkar

Founding GP, Actual VC

Darshan Thakkar plays a pivotal role in shaping Actual VC's strategic investment vision and financial trajectory. With a focus on diving into each of Actual VC's core concentrations, Darshan ensures the alignment of financial performance management, driving investor relations, and portfolio companies' activities to support Actual VC's ambitious growth plans. ​ With over 12 years of experience in strategy, business, and financial advisory, Darshan has worked across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North America. His efforts have been instrumental in evolving technology companies, facilitating organic growth through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. Darshan’s initiatives have laid the foundation for launching technology companies, developing overall business mission and setting the mandate. Darshan's role at Actual VC goes beyond identifying investment opportunities.

Dave Deriso

Founder, Bluue

Dave Deriso is an American AI researcher, entrepreneur, and artist best known as the founder of Bluue, a biotech startup developing AI-powered hardware for preventative cardiology and early disease detection through advanced medical devices currently in clinical trials. A Stanford-trained computational engineer (MS) and Oxford Neuroscience Marie Curie Fellow with prior research at UCSD and BAIR (Berkeley AI Research), he previously built intelligent routing systems at Caviar (acquired by Square) and lectured on data visualization and algorithmic art at Stanford. Combining expertise in self-supervised learning, sequential data, and neuroscience, Deriso bridges academia, industry, and creative pursuits—including publications in Nature on art and the brain—while based in San Francisco.

David Eagleman

Neuroscientist, Stanford University

David Eagleman is an American neuroscientist, bestselling author, and entrepreneur best known as an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, where he teaches courses on brain plasticity, literature and the brain, communicating science, and neuroscience in law. A Guggenheim Fellow with a PhD from Baylor College of Medicine, his research focuses on time perception, synesthesia, sensory substitution, vision, and the intersection of neuroscience with the legal system—directing the nonprofit Center for Science and Law. Eagleman founded neurotech companies like Neosensory (wearable devices for new sensory inputs) and BrainCheck (cognitive assessment tools), wrote and hosted the Emmy-nominated PBS series The Brain with David Eagleman, authored New York Times bestsellers including Livewired, Incognito, and Sum (translated into 33 languages), and hosts the top-ranked podcast Inner Cosmos.

David Hooper

Founder & CEO, ELDAEON (UAP Tech). EECS, ELDAEON

David Dominguez Hooper is the Founder & CEO of ELDAEON, a deep-tech startup pioneering advanced sensor systems for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) detection and aerospace defense. With a background in computer science, electrical engineering, reverse engineering, and LiDAR systems, David builds modular detection platforms integrating multispectral sensing, time dilation measurement, and quantum-scale anomalies. His mission is to bring scientific rigor to the UAP domain through real-world instrumentation.

David Sinclair

Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School

David Sinclair is a professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and a leading researcher in the biology of aging. He is known for his work on sirtuins and NAD+ metabolism, aiming to develop interventions that could extend human healthspan.

Debina Sarkar

Assistant Professor,, MIT Media Lab

Deblina Sarkar is a trans-disciplinary innovator, initially trained in electrical engineering and physics and then, has traversed the realm of biology, driven by curiosity and belief that truly disruptive technologies can immerge at the interface of diverse research arenas. Her inventions include, among others, a 6-atom thick channel quantum-mechanical transistor overcoming fundamental power limitations, an ultra-sensitive label-free biosensor, technology revealing previously invisible biological nanostructures of brain and the first ultra-miniaturized antenna that operates inside a living cell in 3D environment.

Denis Timonin

Founder, FlyMy.AI

Denis Timonin is a pioneering AI engineer and entrepreneur, founder and CEO of FlyMy.AI, a cutting-edge cloud platform specializing in ultra-fast neural network inference, multimodal generative AI agents, and infrastructure for real-time media applications like image, video, and agentic systems. Previously a Lead AI Architect at NVIDIA from 2019 to 2024, he contributed significantly to accelerating large language models—including doubling GPT-3 inference throughput, optimizing Megatron and TensorRT stacks, and achieving record-breaking speeds for GPT and GAN training—while authoring influential technical blogs on transformer inference and large-scale AI deployment. With prior roles as a senior deep learning researcher at Huawei and founder of earlier AI ventures, Timonin has established himself as a self-made expert in high-performance AI systems, now driving FlyMy.AI's mission to deliver the fastest compound AI platform with a team of former NVIDIA, Stability AI, and Yandex engineers, empowering developers to build scalable, low-latency generative applications.

Derek Sutherland

Head of FuZE-Q Physics, Realta Fusion

Derek Sutherland is an American plasma physicist and fusion energy pioneer renowned for his work advancing commercial fusion technologies. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree (2015) with a PhD from the University of Washington and dual BS degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Physics from MIT, he co-founded and led CTFusion (2015–2023), developing spheromak-based reactors before the team joined Zap Energy. At Zap (2023–2025), he served as senior research scientist and Head of FuZE-Q Physics, contributing to sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch breakthroughs. In 2025, Sutherland joined Realta Fusion as Vice President of R&D, driving tandem magnetic mirror systems toward high-gain pilot plants like Hammir, with recent publications modeling Q>5 energy gains and instability mitigation.

Div Garg

CEO, MultiOn

Div Garg is the CEO of MultiOn, a company focused on AI technologies, particularly in the development of multi-agent systems. He leads the organization in creating innovative AI solutions. Specific details about his background and achievements are not reliably available.

Dmitry Grudzinskiy

Sr Client Partner, Orion Innovation

As a former SVP of Engineering at Natera, Dmitry helped scale the company from early-stage startup to a $10B+ public biotech leader backed by Sequoia and Lightspeed. He led engineering through major product launches like Signatera, managed 450+ people, and oversaw tech infrastructure serving over 2M patients annually. Now at Orion Innovation, he supports companies in building scalable, smart technologies.

Dmytro Trofymov

Director of Software Engineering at Luminar Technologies, Luminar Technologies

​Dmytro Trofymov is a software engineering leader, systems architect, and multi-time founder with 24+ years of experience scaling teams and technologies across AI, autonomous vehicles, medtech, and consumer platforms. He currently leads global software initiatives at Luminar Technologies, where his innovations have helped close multi-billion-dollar OEM deals. A passionate cultural architect, Dmytro is known for championing “Culture as Code” — the idea that scalable engineering requires scalable culture. He brings a unique blend of deep technical fluency, startup grit, and people-first leadership to every org he touches.

Domenic Ashburn

AI Influencer

Domenic Ashburn is a prominent AI Influencer recognized for his expertise in artificial intelligence and its applications in national security and defense. With over 286,000 followers, he has moderated discussions at events focused on these topics, earning the nickname 'Mr. Grateful.' His work emphasizes the intersection of AI technology and strategic defense issues.

Doron Zauer

General Partner, Earth & Beyond Ventures

Doron is a Co-Founder & General Partner at Earth & Beyond Ventures, which is an early stage Israeli VC fund investing in deep technology start-ups, backed by world-class strategic partners. He is an experienced technology entrepreneur and investor, with an LLB and a Kellogg EMBA, born and raised in Melbourne, Australia.

Doug Friedman

CEO, BioMADE

Doug Friedman serves as the CEO of BioMADE, an organization focused on advancing bioindustrial manufacturing and innovation in the United States. With a background in biotechnology, he leads efforts to support the development of sustainable manufacturing practices in the bioeconomy. His role involves fostering collaborations between industry, academia, and government to accelerate bio-based technologies.

Dr. Amy Kruse

CIO, Satori Neuro

Dr. Amy Kruse is an American neuroscientist, innovation leader, and venture capitalist renowned as the Chief Investment Officer of Satori Neuro, a stage-agnostic investment fund under Satori Capital dedicated to mental health, neurotechnology, and human flourishing breakthroughs. With over two decades of experience, she pioneered DARPA's first performance-oriented neuroscience programs as a program manager, driving advances in augmented cognition, accelerated learning, and neuromodulation; later served as VP/CTO at Cubic Global Defense and CSO at Optios; and was a General Partner at Prime Movers Lab investing in human augmentation. Holding a BS in Cell and Structural Biology and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Kruse now identifies and supports transformative companies in brain health while serving on multiple portfolio boards.

Dr. Jim Green

Former Chief Scientist, NASA (retired)

Dr. James "Jim" L. Green is an American space physicist and retired NASA leader renowned for his 42-year career at the agency, culminating as Chief Scientist (2018–2022) and the longest-serving Director of the Planetary Science Division (2006–2018). A University of Iowa Ph.D. (1979) recipient, he pioneered NASA's early internet-like data networks, served as co-investigator on missions like IMAGE, and oversaw landmark explorations including New Horizons' Pluto flyby, Juno to Jupiter, Curiosity and Perseverance on Mars, and evidence of ancient water flows on the Red Planet. Post-retirement in 2022, Green has advised on health innovations drawing from space science, advocated for planetary protection, and continued public outreach through podcasts and talks, earning NASA's Distinguished Service Medal and having asteroid 25913 Jamesgreen named in his honor.

Dr. Mary Beth Wilhelm

Research Scientist, NASA Ames

Dr. Mary Beth Wilhelm is a planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, where she works on missions related to Mars exploration, including analyzing data from rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance.

Dr. PJ Maykish

Senior Advisor, SCSP

Dr. Paul "PJ" Maykish is an American national security strategist, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, and technology policy expert best known as Vice President for Strategy at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a bipartisan initiative focused on strengthening U.S. competitiveness in AI and emerging technologies amid great-power rivalry. A distinguished military leader with 24 years of service—including command of U.S. Central Command’s Combined Air Operations Center (2017–2019)—he previously served as Director for Technology Competition at the National Security Council, directed classified research for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (2019–2021), and developed "Third Offset" strategies in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (2015–2017). Holding advanced degrees including a PhD in Military Strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maykish contributes to SCSP's reports on compute, microelectronics, and biodefense while educating on techno-economic competition.

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.

Ed Boyden

Neuroscientist, MIT

Edward S. "Ed" Boyden is an American neuroscientist and bioengineer renowned for pioneering optogenetics—a technique using light to control neurons—and expansion microscopy, which physically enlarges biological samples for nanoscale imaging with ordinary microscopes. He serves as the Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT, a professor in the departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Media Arts and Sciences, and Biological Engineering, an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and McGovern Institute, and leader of the Synthetic Neurobiology Group. Boyden co-directs the MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering and K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, focusing on tools for brain mapping, noninvasive stimulation, and therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders. A child prodigy who earned multiple MIT degrees by age 19 and a PhD from Stanford, he has received major awards including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and Brain Prize, with his innovations accelerating neuroscience and inspiring clinical applications.

Eddie Cohen

founder, Infinite Machine

Eddie Cohen is the founder of Infinite Machine, a New York-based company specializing in hardware innovation. He has participated in discussions on building hardware startups, such as the panel at a16z American Dynamism, highlighting his expertise in the hardware sector. Currently, he leads Infinite Machine, focusing on advancing hardware technologies.

Edward Hu

Founder, Stealth AI

Edward Hu is a groundbreaking AI researcher and inventor best known for pioneering Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA), the revolutionary parameter-efficient fine-tuning technique that has become ubiquitous for customizing massive language models and diffusion systems with minimal compute—reducing trainable parameters by orders of magnitude while matching full fine-tuning performance—and μTransfer (also stylized as UTransfer), a zero-shot hyperparameter transfer method that stabilizes and accelerates training at extreme scales by leveraging maximal update parametrization (μP). Developed during his time as a researcher at Microsoft (collaborating closely with OpenAI on GPT-3), these innovations have powered countless downstream applications and underpinned training of the world's largest models. Hu later contributed at OpenAI, pursued PhD research under Yoshua Bengio at Mila (focusing on generative models and robust reasoning), and is now a founding partner in a stealth AI company in Woodside, CA, continuing to push boundaries in efficient, scalable intelligence.

Eileen Vidrine

Former Chief Data and AI Officer for the US Air Force, US Air Force

Eileen Vidrine is a former Chief Data and AI Officer for the US Air Force, where she played a key role in advancing artificial intelligence and data strategies within the military. With a background in technology and defense, she has contributed to digital transformation initiatives that enhance national security. Her expertise lies in integrating AI technologies into defense operations.

Ekin Dogus Cubuk

Founder, Periodic Labs

Ekin Dogus Cubuk is a co-founder of Periodic Labs, a recently launched venture applying AI to accelerate discoveries in materials science. Prior to this, he was a Senior Research Scientist at Google DeepMind, where he focused on deep learning and its applications to solid-state physics and materials science. Ekin holds a PhD from Harvard University, where he studied disordered solids and battery materials using density functional theory and machine learning. He later conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University. His recent work explores the generalization properties of large neural networks and their impact on real-world scientific challenges, from clean energy to next-generation computing.

Emily Capra

PhD, McKinsey & Company

Emily Capra holds a PhD and serves as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where she applies her expertise in strategic advising for various industries. She has spoken at events such as the Ligandal Biotech Summit, highlighting her involvement in biotechnology-related discussions. Her background bridges academic research and professional consulting in deep tech fields.

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.

Ester Caffarel-Salvador

Director, Strategic Innovation, Chiesi USA

Ester Caffarel-Salvador is a biomedical engineer known for her work in innovative drug delivery systems and ingestible sensors. She has a background in academic research, including contributions at institutions like MIT, and has transitioned to industry roles focused on strategic innovation. In her current position, she leads initiatives at Chiesi USA to advance pharmaceutical technologies.

Faris Sbahi

CEO, Normal Computing

Faris Sbahi is an American AI researcher and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Normal Computing, a New York-based deep-tech startup established in 2022 that pioneers thermodynamic computing hardware and probabilistic AI to enable energy-efficient, reliable generative AI for enterprise and scientific applications. A Duke University alumnus with prior research roles at Alphabet's X moonshot factory (formerly Google X) and Google Brain, Sbahi has driven breakthroughs including the tape-out of the world's first thermodynamic chip (CN101) in 2025, harnessing noise and physical fluctuations for up to 1000x efficiency gains on AI workloads. Backed by investors like Celesta Capital and selected for ARIA's scaling compute program, Normal Computing addresses AI's energy crisis through innovative physics-based ASICs and tools like the Verdict library for scalable AI evaluation.

Fawwaz Habbal

CEO, Metaphos

Fawwaz Habbal serves as the CEO of Metaphos, where he drives innovation in advanced materials and photonics technologies. With a background in electrical engineering, he holds a PhD from Boston University and has held academic positions, including roles at Northeastern University, contributing to engineering education and research. Habbal has founded and led companies focused on deep tech, notably Metaphos, which specializes in metamaterials for optical applications. His expertise includes materials science, hardware development, and interdisciplinary tech solutions, with notable contributions as a speaker at events like Deep Tech Week.

Filip Aronshtein

Co-Founder & CEO, Dirac

Filip Aronshtein is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dirac, which builds BuildOS—an automated work instruction platform that generates precise assembly instructions directly from CAD files. "We don't have a labor crisis; we have a context crisis. You can't reshore production if nobody remembers how to build." With $10.7M in funding from Founders Fund and Coatue and a strategic partnership with Siemens, Dirac is bridging engineering to manufacturing execution. Filip holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and MS in Robotics from Johns Hopkins, worked as a Hardware Engineer at Northrop Grumman, and taught quantum software development at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Forrest Collman

Assistant Investigator, Allen Institute

Forrest Collman is an American neuroscientist and informatics expert best known as Associate Director of Informatics at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, where he advances large-scale connectomics through electron microscopy datasets and tools for mapping neural circuits at synaptic resolution. A Princeton University alumnus with a bachelor's in physics and computer science and a PhD in molecular biology (working with David Tank on two-photon imaging and virtual reality for mice), he completed postdoctoral research at Stanford with Stephen Smith on array tomography before joining the Allen Institute. Collman's work has contributed to landmark projects like the MICrONS initiative, producing detailed wiring diagrams of mouse visual cortex to inform brain function, cell types, and computational models, with over 6,000 scholarly citations.

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.

Garrett Winther

Chief Product Officer, Newlab

Garrett Winther is the Chief Product Officer of Newlab. As an engineer, investor and venture builder, he has brought hard-tech ventures to life through his work with SOSV, HAX, IDEO, and MIT. Garrett seeks out uniquely challenging problems that combine emerging critical technologies, high risk capital, and massive global potential.

Garth Sheldon-Coulson

CEO and Co-Founder, Panthalassa

Garth Sheldon-Coulson co-founded Panthalassa in 2016 to solve one of the defining challenges of our time: how to deliver enough energy for a future shaped by AI-scale compute. That search led his team to the open ocean, Earth’s most power-dense and untapped resource. After years of engineering, they created a first-of-its-kind at-sea power and compute platform. Now in manufacturing, Panthalassa is built to scale to terawatts, delivering cleaner, cheaper tokens and making energy abundance possible for humanity.

Garuth Acharya

Investment Team, 8090 Industries

Garuth Acharya is a member of 8090 Industries' investment team, focused on their deep tech thesis across space, defense, and decarbonization. Prior to 8090, Garuth spent time in operations and strategy roles at Amazon (Project Kuiper), SpaceX, Blue Origin, and the Department of Defense. 8090 Industries, founded by Kerem Ozmen and Rayyan Islam, is a leading deep tech venture fund that has invested in companies like Atomic Industries, Solideon, and REGENT.

​Gary Agnew

Founder & CEO , Ideon Technologies

​From supernova to subsurface, Gary Agnew is building the intelligence layer to unlock the future of mining. Gary is the CEO & Co-Founder of Ideon Technologies, a pioneer in combining cosmic-ray muon tomography, multi-physics sensor fusion, and AI to allow mining companies to map and extract minerals hidden deep within the earth.

Genevieve Kinney

Investor, General Catalyst

Genevieve Kinney is an investor at General Catalyst, a prominent venture capital firm, where she focuses on early-stage technology investments. With a background in product management and operations from previous roles in the tech industry, she has contributed to the growth of innovative startups. In her current role, she plays a key part in identifying and supporting companies in emerging tech sectors.

George Hotz

Founder, tiny corp

George Hotz is a security hacker, entrepreneur, and software engineer. He is known for developing iOS jailbreaks, reverse engineering the PlayStation 3, and for the subsequent lawsuit brought against him by Sony. From September 2015 onwards, he has been working on his vehicle automation machine learning company comma.ai. Since November 2022, Hotz has been working on tinygrad, a deep learning framework.

Gianni Martire

Cofounder of Applied Physics, Applied Physics

Gianni Martire is the Co-Founder and CEO of Applied Physics. He sold his Y Combinator-backed startup and has been an angel investor, fostering the growth of companies like Flexport, Rippling, Cover, Ginkgo Bioworks, Mindbloom, and Zenefits. In 2019, Gianni shifted his focus to physics, aiming to leverage scientific advancements for societal benefit. He co-authored the groundbreaking 2021 paper "Introducing Physical Warp Drives" with Dr. Alexey Bobrick, presenting the first physical warp drive model and establishing Warp Field Mechanics as a serious field of study. Additionally, he co-authored "Searching for Intelligent Life in Gravitational Wave Signals," which uses advanced gravitational lensing, turning LIGO from a black hole observatory into one sensitive enough to view Jupiter-sized planets.

Gil Verdon

CEO, Extropic

Guillaume "Gil" Verdon is the founder and CEO of Extropic AI, a San Francisco-based startup pioneering thermodynamic computing—a revolutionary physics-based paradigm that harnesses out-of-equilibrium thermodynamics and probabilistic "p-bits" to create vastly more energy-efficient accelerators for generative AI, promising thousands-fold reductions in power consumption compared to traditional silicon chips while natively supporting advanced energy-based models critical for scaling toward AGI. A Canadian physicist with a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing, Verdon previously led quantum machine learning research at Alphabet's X lab, co-creating TensorFlow Quantum before pivoting from noisy quantum hardware to broader thermodynamic approaches amid industry challenges. Doxxed in 2023 as the pseudonymous Beff Jezos—the fiery proponent of effective accelerationism (e/acc), a techno-optimist movement urging unrelenting AI progress against decelerationists—Verdon has leveraged his viral persona to attract talent and hype, raising $14.1M in seed funding and advancing Extropic's chips toward market availability in late 2025, positioning the company as a bold challenger to Nvidia in the exploding AI hardware race for sustainable, abundant computation.

Gina El Nesr

ABD, Stanford Biophysics

Gina El Nesr is a PhD candidate (ABD) in Biophysics at Stanford University, where she conducts advanced research in biophysical sciences. She has presented at events such as the Ligandal Biotech Summit, highlighting her expertise in biotech-related applications. Her work focuses on the intersection of biology and physics, contributing to innovative scientific advancements.

Greg Kubin

Investing in Frontier Brain Tech, PsyMed Ventures

Greg Kubin serves as a General Partner at PsyMed Ventures, where he leads investments in frontier brain technologies and mental health innovations, focusing on early-stage companies that advance neuroscience and psychological treatments. With a background in venture capital and healthcare, Kubin has achieved notable success in identifying and funding transformative startups in the neurotech sector, including several that have progressed to clinical trials. His expertise lies in bridging finance with scientific advancements in brain health, emphasizing ethical AI applications in mental health diagnostics. Kubin also co-hosts the Business Trip podcast, where he discusses emerging trends in tech and investment, contributing to broader industry conversations on innovation in neurotechnology.

Greg Timblin

PhD, Inapill

Greg Timblin, PhD, is a professional at Inapill, where he holds expertise in biotechnology based on his participation in events like the Ligandal Biotech Summit. His background includes advanced research, as indicated by his PhD qualification, contributing to innovations in the biotech sector. He is recognized for his involvement in deep tech discussions at industry conferences.

Grimes

Independent Artist, Independent Artist

Grimes, whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher, is a Canadian independent artist, singer, songwriter, and producer renowned for her innovative electronic music and visual art. She gained prominence with her 2012 album 'Visions,' which received critical acclaim for its experimental sound and DIY production style. Her career highlights include albums like 'Art Angels' and collaborations with artists such as Elon Musk, blending music with technology. Grimes specializes in electronic production, performance art, and emerging tech like AI for creative applications, including voice modeling projects that expand artistic possibilities.

Haomiao Huang

Founding Partner, Matter Venture Partners, Matter Venture Partners

Haomiao is an an engineer turned startup founder turned venture investor. He has a passion for companies bringing digital innovation into physical economy businesses like logistics, manufacturing, retail, and mobility, and for technologies like robotics and AI and software that makes moving and making things more efficient. Basically - he invests in the opposite of the metaverse: instead of moving ourselves into the digital world, bringing some of that digital magic into our physical one.

Henry Kwan

CEO, Icarus

Henry Kwan is the CEO of Icarus, a company focused on advancing space technology through innovative aerospace solutions. He leads strategic initiatives, including product development and team management, to drive the company's growth in the space sector. With a background in aerospace engineering from his roles at SpaceX and NASA, Kwan has achieved notable successes such as leading successful satellite launches and securing significant funding. His expertise includes space systems, hardware engineering, and orbital mechanics.

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.

Hunter Davis

Cradle Healthcare Company, Until Labs

Hunter is a wayward physicist who’s spent his career looking for impactful problems at the intersection of physics and biology. Before becoming a founder of Cradle, he did his doctoral work in cellular magnetism with Mikhail Shapiro at Caltech before his postdoc in neuroscience with Adam Cohen at Harvard. At Cradle, Hunter leads the technical development of hibernation and organ preservation technologies to help patients get access to lifesaving cures.

Ian Brooke

CEO, Astro Mechanica

Ian Brooke is the founder and CEO of Astro Mechanica, a San Francisco-based aerospace startup backed by Y Combinator (W24) and investors including United Airlines Ventures, pioneering the turboelectric adaptive engine—a revolutionary hybrid-electric jet propulsion system that maintains peak efficiency across all speeds from takeoff to Mach 3+, enabling sustainable supersonic commercial flight, long-range cargo, national defense applications, and even cost-effective orbital launches via air-breathing stages. A lifelong pilot who began flying at age 16 and inspired by fighter jets like the F-15, Brooke—a University of Colorado Boulder physics graduate and serial entrepreneur with a prior successful venture—launched Astro Mechanica in 2021 to disrupt a stagnant industry, rapidly prototyping engines in months using off-the-shelf components and raising significant funding (including $27M+ rounds) to challenge incumbents like Boeing and GE. Passionately advocating for a new "Turboelectric Age" of abundant, point-to-point global mobility—shrinking transcontinental trips to hours at economy fares while slashing fuel use—he drives milestones like supersonic demonstrations targeted for 2025 and vertical integration toward building the next-generation aerospace titan.

Ian Rountree

G.P., Cantos Ventures

Ian Rountree is the visionary Founder and Managing Partner of Cantos Ventures, a San Francisco-based pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm he launched in 2016—now managing substantial funds including a $50M third vehicle—to back audacious "near frontier" startups transforming the physical world through breakthroughs in climate tech, aerospace, computational biology, next-generation computing, defense, and advanced manufacturing, with portfolio standouts like Solugen, Astranis, Radiant, and Twelve aiming for $10B+ outcomes that mitigate existential risks and elevate humanity. Shaped by a lifelong fascination with science fiction and existential challenges, Rountree studied international relations at Vanderbilt University, gained operational experience at SoFi and startups like Invisible Technologies, then bootstrapped his VC path by angel investing personal savings—forgoing business school for a "street MBA"—before building Cantos into a leading deep tech investor ranked among Insider's top seed VCs. A thoughtful writer on Medium, podcast host interviewing frontier founders, and advocate for long-term invention over short-term software plays, he champions entrepreneurs building commodities cheaper and cleaner, advancing democratic defense, and improving billions of lives through hardware and wetware innovation.

Ileana Pirozzi

Head of Healthcare Ventures, Lingotto Innovation

Ileana Pirozzi is the Head of Healthcare Ventures at Lingotto Innovation, where she leads investments in healthcare technologies and innovations. With a background in venture capital, she has been involved in identifying and supporting startups that advance medical solutions. Her role focuses on strategic investments in the health sector to drive impactful developments.

Jack Carter

Jack Carter is a physicist specializing in theoretical physics, particularly in advanced models of general relativity. He has presented on Einstein-Cartàn Spin-Torsional Gravity, which explores alternatives to black hole singularities and their implications for cosmology. His work focuses on the intersection of gravity and spacetime dynamics.

Jack Williams

Postdoctoral Researcher, Syntholene Energy

Jack is one of the worlds foremost Fuel Synthesis Reactor specialists. In hist postdoctoral research, he worked with Shell to deliver an MRI compatible Fischer Tropsche Reactor to better understand the inner workings and fraction optimization of the process. Jack was on the team that delivered the synthetic jet fuel to KLM airlines for its first transatlantic eSAF flight.

Jacob Buckman

Cofounder , Manifest AI

Jacob Buckman is a visionary deep learning researcher and entrepreneur, serving as co-founder and CEO of Manifest AI, an open-source research lab dedicated to advancing long-context learning through innovative algorithms, architectures, and datasets aimed at modeling all human processes. With prior experience at Google Brain and Microsoft Research, he holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and pursued a PhD at McGill University (Mila), contributing highly cited publications at top conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR on topics including reinforcement learning, representation learning, and transformer alternatives. At Manifest AI, founded in 2023 with collaborator Carles Gelada, Buckman has pioneered breakthroughs such as the Power Retention architecture—offering massive efficiency gains over traditional transformers—and open-source tools like Vidrial and PowerCoder, positioning long-context scaling as the next frontier in overcoming AI limitations like hallucinations and unreliability while pushing toward more capable, reliable systems.

Jacob Robinson

CEO and Co-Founder, Motif Neurotech

Co-Founder of Motif Neurotech, building therapeutic brain computer interfaces for mental health diseases. Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Bioengineering at Rice University where his group develops miniature technologies to manipulate and monitor physiology and neural circuit activity.

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.

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.

James Lim

Investment Professional, In-Q-Tel

James Lim is an investment professional at In-Q-Tel, a company that focuses on investing in advanced technologies for the U.S. intelligence community. With a JD and MBA, he brings expertise in legal and business aspects to his role in identifying and supporting innovative tech ventures. He has participated in events such as the Ligandal: Future of Biotech Summit, indicating his involvement in biotech-related discussions.

James Tagg

Founder & President, The Penrose Institute

James Tagg is a serial entrepreneur and award-winning author. He was one of the original inventors of the touchscreen, founded Truphone (the world's first global mobile operator), made the first mobile phone call over the Internet, and developed the eSIM. He holds over 200 patents. James studied Physics and Computer Science at Manchester University, Design at Lancaster University, and Engineering at Cambridge. He co-founded the Penrose Institute with Roger Penrose. His venture Valis Corporation is developing a quantum biocomputer connecting 1,024 brain organoids (~500 million neurons). Author of "Are the Androids Dreaming Yet?"

James Zou

Professor of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University

James Zou is a Professor of Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University, where he leads research in artificial intelligence and machine learning, focusing on ethical AI and its applications in biomedicine. He earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Harvard University and has published extensively in top-tier journals on topics like AI fairness and healthcare data analysis. Zou's notable achievements include receiving the Sloan Research Fellowship and serving as a principal investigator on projects funded by the National Institutes of Health. His expertise encompasses machine learning, statistical methods, and their integration with biological sciences, contributing to advancements in AI-driven medical diagnostics and ethical algorithm design.

Jamie Joyce

Founder, The Society Library

Jamie Joyce is the founder, President, and Executive Director of The Society Library, a pioneering 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to archiving and mapping humanity's diverse ideas, arguments, and ideologies on complex social and political issues through innovative collective intelligence tools, including AI-driven debate modeling and deliberation databases that represent all perspectives—even fringe or marginalized ones—to foster informed decision-making and truth-seeking in an era of information overload. With a background in international sustainable development, where she oversaw projects in over 20 countries and represented NGOs at the United Nations, Joyce previously launched Democracy's Library at the Internet Archive before establishing The Society Library to engineer new digital institutions for epistemic clarity, intellectual freedom, and democratic discourse. An award-winning artist, speaker at events like TEDx and RightsCon, and board member of Wikitongues, she passionately advances civic tech, anti-censorship efforts, and accessible knowledge systems to empower intentional belief formation across society.

Jamie Niu

Co-Founder/CEO, Podium Automation

Jamie Niu serves as the Co-Founder and CEO of Podium Automation, a company specializing in advanced robotics and automation solutions for logistics and warehousing. With over a decade of experience in strategy and operations, Niu previously held key roles at Tesla, where they contributed to autonomous vehicle development, at Blue Origin focusing on aerospace operations, and at Bowery Farming, aiding in the scaling of indoor agriculture systems. Their expertise lies in operational efficiency, robotics integration, and strategic growth in high-tech industries. Niu's achievements include leading teams that optimized production processes and advanced automation technologies, making significant contributions to the fields of robotics and autonomous systems.

Jamil Shinawi

Founding GP, Actual VC

Jamil Shinawi is the first of the visionaries behind AHOY, the founding GP of Actual VC, a serial entrepreneur and a generalist. He brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and strategic vision to the table. His background in algorithmic software development, urban planning, and satellite remote sensing, with a focus on sustainability, security, energy, and economic development, sets him apart. This expertise, coupled with his keen eye for the future, makes him a natural disrupter, meshing in well with Actual VC's core values.​ Jamil's entrepreneurial spirit is undeniable. He has a proven track record of success across multiple geographies with more than 9 exits and was named back in 2016 as one of Saudi’s 30 under 30. He has advised numerous business ventures across multiple sectors and was an active investor. His achievements solidified his reputation as a skilled business leader in the MENA region.​ In short, Jamil Shinawi is a disruptor, a leader, and a visionary.

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.

Jared Friedman

Group Partner at Y Combinator, Y Combinator

Jared Friedman is a Managing Director, Software, and Group Partner at Y Combinator, the world's premier startup accelerator, where he mentors founders, invests in early-stage companies, and has directly advised over 20 unicorns—contributing to YC-backed ventures collectively valued at more than $100 billion while championing expansions into biotech, hard tech, and AI-driven innovation. A Harvard computer science dropout inspired by maximizing impact (famously leaving the year after Mark Zuckerberg), Friedman co-founded Scribd in 2006—one of YC's earliest batches—as CTO, pioneering the shift from Flash to HTML5 document rendering and growing it into a top-100 global website with millions of users before transitioning to full-time partnering at YC in 2015. An early angel investor in successes like Cruise (autonomous vehicles), advocate for mobilizing tech against crises like COVID-19, and thought leader on spinning university research into startups, he embodies YC's ethos of bold experimentation to empower the next generation of transformative founders.

Jared O’Leary

Founder & CEO, SirenOpt

Jared O’Leary is the co-founder and CEO of SirenOpt, a startup that enhances materials manufacturing through real-time, non-destructive sensing using cold atmospheric plasma and machine learning. He earned his PhD in chemical engineering from UC Berkeley, where he developed the core technology behind SirenOpt. The company has secured $6.6 million in seed funding in a round co-led by Voyager Ventures and TOMORROW (part of Visionaries Club).

JC B.

Founder & CEO, Fuse Energy Technologies

JC Btaiche is a Lebanese-Canadian-American entrepreneur and fusion energy pioneer best known as the founder and CEO of Fuse Energy Technologies, a San Francisco Bay Area-based startup he launched at age 19 in 2019 to develop pulsed-power-driven magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) for clean, abundant energy while generating near-term revenue through nuclear radiation effects testing for defense applications. Born in Lebanon to a nuclear physicist father, Btaiche gained early plasma physics experience in high school labs, immigrated to North America as a teenager, and skipped university to build Fuse—raising over $20M, achieving peer-reviewed milestones like the TITAN impedance-matched Marx generator, securing CRADAs with national labs (Sandia, Los Alamos), and assembling a high-profile team including former DOE, DOD, CIA, and international nuclear experts. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, he drives Fuse's dual mission of U.S. competitiveness in fusion and global energy abundance.

Jeeshan Chowdhury

Co-Founder, Pharia Health

Jeeshan Chowdhury, MD, PhD, is the Co-Founder of Pharia Health, a company dedicated to enhancing mental well-being through personalized brain stimulation using FDA-approved TMS technology. With his expertise in medicine and neuroscience, he has developed innovative one-day protocols to address issues like low mood, fatigue, and rumination. His work focuses on integrating these treatments into work and wellness environments to make them more accessible.

​Jef Caers

essor of Founder of Mineral X, ProfEarth & Planetary Sciences, Stanford Mineral-X

Jef Caers is a Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford University, where he focuses on geostatistics, uncertainty quantification, and resource modeling. He founded Stanford Mineral-X, an initiative dedicated to fostering sustainable stewardship of Earth's minerals for a prosperous future. With a background in mining engineering and extensive research in earth sciences, Caers has contributed significantly to methods for resource estimation and environmental applications. His expertise lies in areas such as mineral resource management and climate-related earth systems, with notable projects including advancements in geostatistical modeling for energy and mining sectors.

Jeff Engler

CEO, Wright Electric

Jeff Engler is CEO of Wright Electric, an aviation company developing 100+ passenger electric airplanes. He started the company when he learned flying tripled his carbon footprint. He incubated Wright through a Harvard University fellowship and led Wright through the selective Y Combinator accelerator program. He previously co-founded Podimetrics, a medical device company that has raised $70M+ in venture funding. Jeff has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia and Harvard.

Jeffrey Rouse, M.D.

CMO, Shiftwave

Chief Medical Officer at Shiftwave; wellness device using pulsed pressure waves for autonomic nervous system balance. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Tulane. Former New Orleans Coroner. Board-certified in adult, forensic psychiatry, brain injury medicine. Forensic psychiatrist for justice system, law enforcement, military. Academic focus on meditation neuroscience, neurofeedback, leveraging technology/traditions for consciousness and reduced suffering.

Jennifer Ganten

Chief Policy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems

As Chief Policy at Commonwealth Fusion Systems, she leads government affairs, public affairs, regulatory, policy and open innovation. Prior, she held leadership roles at a Fortune 50 company and early stage biotech and clean energy tech companies

Jennifer Johnston, Ph.D.

CEO, NysnoBio

Jennifer A. Johnston, Ph.D. is an American biopharmaceutical executive and neuroscientist best known as the co-founder and CEO of NysnoBio, a San Francisco Bay Area-based biotechnology company launched in 2019 to develop Parkin protein-based gene therapies and small molecules targeting early-onset Parkinson's disease (Parkin-PD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. With over 20 years in the industry—including 13 years leading discovery research at Elan Pharmaceuticals, where she advanced multiple PD candidates—she previously co-founded An2H Discovery focusing on ubiquitin pathway enzymes. A longtime member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board, Johnston's research spans the ubiquitin-proteasome system, from her Ph.D. at Dartmouth, postdoctoral work at Caltech and Stanford (discovering aggresomes), to pioneering Parkin activation strategies, holding numerous patents and publications.

Jeremy Nixon

Founder, Omniscience

Jeremy Nixon is a visionary AI researcher, entrepreneur, and community builder whose career bridges cutting-edge machine learning with the pursuit of artificial general intelligence. A Harvard graduate in Applied Mathematics, he spent years at Google Brain advancing deep learning trustworthiness through influential work on model calibration, uncertainty quantification, and automated curriculum learning, contributing to highly cited papers at venues like NeurIPS and CVPR. Driven by a passion for AGI's transformative potential, Nixon co-founded the original AGI House in 2022 alongside Andrej Karpathy—initially as NeoGenesis—before expanding it into a global network of hacker houses and hackathons in San Francisco and beyond, fostering thousands of AI projects, startups, and collaborations among top researchers and founders. As a serial innovator, he also founded Omniscience (developing Omni, an advanced LLM-powered retrieval system) and continues to host high-profile events, debates, and initiatives that shape Silicon Valley's AI renaissance while advocating for safe, ambitious progress toward superintelligence.

Jerome Monceaux

Enchanted Tools

Jerome Monceaux is a prominent figure in robotics, known for co-founding Aldebaran Robotics and leading the development of interactive robots such as NAO and Pepper, which have advanced human-robot interaction. His work has focused on social robotics and its applications in education and entertainment. Currently, he is associated with Enchanted Tools, where he continues to innovate in the robotics field.

Jesse Schmidt

Neuroscience & AI Researcher, Instructor, and Consultant., Healthcare AI Consultant

Jesse Schmidt is a San Francisco-based interdisciplinary innovator at the forefront of Neuro x AI x Health, blending rigorous neuroscience and psychopharmacology research with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to pioneer systems that enhance human connections, mental health, and scientific discovery through deeply embodied, cybernetic models of the mind. Holding a BSc in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience—earned cum laude with coursework spanning psychopharmacology, behavioral neuroscience, sensory processes, biochemistry, and biophysics—plus a Master of International Business, Schmidt has published research on topics like fear responses and methamphetamine effects while transitioning into AI applications for complex human systems. Passionate about biophysics, neurotech, bioengineering, consciousness, psychedelics, and mental health, he is currently building a stealth startup in wearable technology to expand the "adjacent possible" across disciplines, advocating for ethical, human-centered innovation that bridges brain science with transformative AI tools for wellness and cognition.

Joel Anderson

Founder & CEO, Senovia Biosciences

Joel Anderson is the Founder & CEO of ZeroMark, a defense technology company building advanced weapon systems that leverage AI, computer vision, and embedded autonomy. He brings a background in cybersecurity and special operations, with a focus on delivering tactical tools that protect military forces and critical infrastructure.

John Gedmark

CEO, Astranis

John Gedmark is an American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Astranis Space Technologies, a San Francisco-based company he launched in 2015 to build small, cost-effective geostationary satellites using software-defined radios to provide dedicated broadband connectivity worldwide. Under his leadership, Astranis has raised hundreds of millions in funding, launched its first commercial satellite Arcturus in 2023, secured contracts with customers in Alaska, the Philippines, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan, and the U.S. government—including military applications—and scaled production toward dozens of satellites annually. Previously, Gedmark co-founded and led the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, advocating for commercial crew policies, and served as Director of Rocket Flight Operations for the X Prize Foundation. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University and an MS from Stanford University, focusing on rocket propulsion.

John Kutsch

President, Thorium Energy Alliance

Alongside space lasers and clean steel smelters, John worked alongside Dr. Richard Boardman at Idaho National Labs on the proof of performance demonstrating the breakthrough efficiency of thermally-powered high temperature electrolysis; the critical enabler of low cost synfuels. John's 30 year career includes successful deployment of advanced energy projects for Dow, Dupont, Boeing, US Airforce, and the US Missile Defence Agency.

Jon Nelson

Cofounder, Neurolive

John Nelson serves as the President and CEO of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc., where he leads the development of advanced rocket propulsion systems for aerospace and defense applications. With over two decades of experience in the industry, he has held senior leadership roles at major aerospace companies, focusing on engineering and program management. Nelson is recognized for his contributions to key projects, including propulsion for NASA's Artemis program and U.S. Department of Defense initiatives. His expertise lies in rocket motors, missile defense, and space exploration technologies, making him a prominent figure in these fields.

Jon Vardner

CTO & Cofounder Still Bright, Still Bright

Jon completed his Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Columbia University where he was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. He continued his postdoctoral studies at Columbia to develop and co-invent Still Bright’s copper production process. In 2022, Jon was awarded an Activate fellowship to spin out the company and start building Still Bright.

Jonathan Budd

Investor, Matter Ventures

Jonathan Budd is an Investor at Matter Ventures, where he focuses on sourcing and evaluating investments in deep tech startups, particularly in emerging technologies. With a background in engineering and prior experience in venture capital, he has led successful funding rounds for innovative companies. His notable achievements include investments in firms advancing AI and quantum technologies, contributing to industry growth. Budd's expertise spans AI, quantum computing, and related fields, making him a key player in the deep tech ecosystem.

Jordan Fourcher

Founder & CEO of Cryo X Co, Cryo X

Jordan Fourcher is the Founder and CEO of Cryo X Co, a company pioneering passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) technology to enable powerful power-free cooling solutions across industries. Southwest Native.

Jordan Kanis

Managing Director, Climate Technology and Sustainability, Silicon Valley Bank

Jordan Kanis is the Managing Director for Climate Technology and Sustainability at Silicon Valley Bank, where he leads investment strategies and advisory services for innovative climate-focused ventures. With a background in finance and environmental policy, he has previously held roles in banking and sustainability consulting, advising on green initiatives and capital raising. Among his notable achievements, Kanis has facilitated funding for renewable energy projects and contributed to industry discussions on sustainable finance. His expertise includes climate technology, green investments, and energy transition strategies.

Joscha Bach

AI Philosopher, California Institute for Machine Consciousness

Joscha Bach is a German-born cognitive scientist, AI researcher, and philosopher renowned for his groundbreaking work on cognitive architectures like MicroPsi, computational models of mind, consciousness as simulated self-organization, and "cyber animism"—a framework blending ancient spiritual ideas with modern AI to view intelligence as emergent software across biological, artificial, and natural systems. Holding a PhD from the University of Osnabrück and having held influential positions at Humboldt University, MIT Media Lab, Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Intel Labs, and the AI Foundation, he now leads research at the California Institute for Machine Consciousness (CIMC) in the San Francisco Bay Area, exploring the intersections of perception, motivation, emotion, and machine minds. A prolific thinker with appearances on podcasts like Lex Fridman's, TEDAI events, and his own Substack, Bach provocatively argues that consciousness arises from coherence-seeking algorithms rather than physical substrates alone, pushing boundaries in artificial general intelligence while sparking debates on ethics, reality simulation, and humanity's computational future.

Julie Lein

M.P., Urban Innovation Fund

Julie Lein is the co-founder and Managing Partner of the Urban Innovation Fund, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm managing over $200 million in assets that provides seed capital and regulatory expertise to early-stage startups tackling urban challenges in areas like climate tech, transportation, health, education, and economic vitality—backing over 60 companies since 2016 to enhance city livability, sustainability, and equity while supporting often-overlooked founders, particularly women and people of color. With co-founder Clara Brenner, whom she met at MIT Sloan School of Management, Lein previously launched Tumml in 2012, an urban tech accelerator that offered mentorship, small investments, and community-building before evolving into the fund's model. A Stanford University BA graduate with an MBA from MIT Sloan, she began her career in political polling and consulting, later recognized as one of Living Cities' "25 Disruptive Leaders" in 2016; her impact-driven work bridging public-private innovation has been featured in outlets like CNN, The San Francisco Chronicle, and MIT Technology Review.

Julien Lemyre

CEO, Nord Quantique

Dr. Julien Camirand Lemyre is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nord Quantique, a startup developing next-generation quantum processors based on superconducting technology. He holds a PhD in physics and has nearly 10 years of experience in vertical systems integration for quantum computing. Since the creation of Nord Quantique in 2020, Julien has been responsible for technological deployment and growth, leading the team toward the realization of a fault-tolerant quantum computer.

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.

Justin Briggs

Founder & COO, Antora Energy

Dr. Justin Briggs is co-founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Antora Energy. Antora builds and deploys American-made thermal batteries to power always-on industrial operations with low-cost energy. Dr. Briggs holds a B.S. in physics from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University. During his Ph.D., Dr. Briggs developed next-generation

Kartin Wong

CEO, ORA

Kartin Wong is a Chinese-American entrepreneur and innovator in the intersection of blockchain and AI, best known as the co-founder of ORA (formerly Hyper Oracle), a verifiable on-chain AI oracle protocol launched in 2022. With prior experience as a software engineer at Google and tech lead for SRE infrastructure at TikTok, Wong pioneered technologies like opML (Optimistic Machine Learning) for decentralized and verifiable AI inference on blockchains. ORA enables tokenization of AI models through Initial Model Offerings (IMOs), has raised significant funding including $20M rounds, and aims to unlock decentralized AI applications while addressing trust and monetization challenges in Web3.

Katie Hurley

Founder, BLCKSWN, BLCKSWN

Katie is deep in the AI space. She helped launch Salesforce’s AI platform, Einstein, in 2016 as well as their AI research arm and company-wide ethical AI practice. Post Salesforce, she has helped launch AI for emerging start-ups and is deeply integrated into neuroscience, consciousness, and quantum computing communities. More recently, Katie is the founder of BLCKSWN, an organization aiming to help prepare humanity for the Age of AI by bringing us closer to interdimensional communications.

Katie Kuo

CEO & Founder, Atomistic Insights

Katie Kuo is the CEO and Founder of Atomistic Insights, a company specializing in AI-driven solutions for materials discovery and atomic-scale simulations. She has established the company to advance innovations in materials science, drawing on expertise in technology and entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, Atomistic Insights is making strides in applying AI to real-world scientific challenges.

Katy Digovich

Founder & CEO, Minutia

Co-founder + CEO of Minutia, a unique biotechnology company focused on transforming the lives of people with diabetes by applying expertise in technology and cell biology. As CEO, I am proud to lead a team of amazing people fusing cell therapies and biocompatible nano-sensors to make an impact on the lives of people living with T1D.

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.

Kevin Kong

Founder & CEO, Everstar

Kevin Kong is the Founder and CEO of Everstar, a New York-based technology company on a mission to engineer energy abundance. Everstar's flagship product, Gordian, is an AI-driven compliance platform designed to streamline and expedite licensing and regulatory processes for nuclear power plants and reactor developers. The company raised a $4M pre-seed and recently announced a $12M Seed Round co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and CIV. Kevin previously served as CTO & Co-Founder of Hyperquery and Head of Engineering at Bird. He attended Stanford University.

Kira Wyckoff

Founder & CEO, Leeta Materials

Kira Wyckoff is the founder and CEO of Leeta, a materials startup developing microwave-assisted manufacturing processes to produce high-quality, low-cost metal based powders. She earned her PhD in Materials Science from UC Santa Barbara. Leeta has raised a $4M seed round led by Voyager Ventures.

Kristin Schmidt

Strategy Assistant for Accelerated Discovery, U.S. Department of Energy

Kristin received her PhD in polymer physics from the University of Bayreuth, Germany and continued her career at the University of California, Santa Barbara, BASF and SLAC National Laboratory before joining IBM in 2014. Currently, Kristin is the strategy assistant for IBM Research's Accelerated Discovery Strategy with the goal to develop AI solutions to help scientific experts discover and invent faster. She is also leading the development of the Safer Materials Advisor, an AI-powered tool to identify concerning materials (e.g. PFAS) in product and processes and substitute them with safer alternatives.

Kyle Daniels

Assistant Professor of Genetics, Stanford University

Kyle Daniels is a researcher at Stanford University, where he leads a lab focused on immune cell engineering. His work involves advancing biotechnology through innovative approaches to immune cell manipulation, contributing to potential medical breakthroughs. Daniels has shared his expertise at events such as Fifty Years: Bio Night.

Kyle Morris

Founder, Banana.dev

Kyle Morris is an American AI entrepreneur, builder, and community organizer dedicated to ensuring superintelligence benefits humanity broadly. A former Harvard student with engineering experience at Cruise (autonomous vehicles) and research at CMU Robotics, he has lived in AGI House San Francisco—co-organizing early hackathons that helped spark its vibrant AI founder ecosystem—and founded Democratize Intelligence (DEMi), a movement and summit series advocating for open, safe, and publicly aligned AI development to prevent power concentration among elite groups.

Kyle Schiller

CEO, Marathon Fusion

Kyle Schiller is the co-founder and CEO of Marathon Fusion, a San Francisco-based startup launched in 2023 with ex-SpaceX propulsion engineer Adam Rutkowski to revolutionize fusion energy commercialization through breakthrough fuel cycle technologies—like high-throughput metal foil superpermeable pumps and neutron-driven tritium breeding—that slash tritium inventory costs by orders of magnitude, enable smaller plants, and address the global fuel shortage (only ~20kg exists worldwide) for deuterium-tritium reactors. A 2021 Emergent Ventures winner for fusion studies, Schiller—a Carleton College BA in Asian Studies alum—bridged tech, policy, and global health in prior roles: building ML infrastructure at Airbnb, engineering infectious disease analytics at Zenysis in Ethiopia, co-running Founder's Pledge's Equity for Impact program, and serving as a science policy fellow at Schmidt Futures with Tom Kalil. Backed by a $5.9M seed from 1517 Fund, Anglo American, Übermorgen Ventures, and Shared Future Fund—plus DOE ARPA-E/INFUSE awards and Breakthrough Energy Fellows status—Marathon has prototyped superpermeation, secured LOIs from Commonwealth Fusion and Helion, and stunned the field with a 2025 preprint on scalable gold transmutation from mercury in reactors, potentially doubling plant economics via thousands of kg/year byproduct alongside clean gigawatt power. Passionately advocating for fusion's "virtuous cycle" of talent and milestones to deliver abundant, firm energy at terawatt scale, Schiller is engineering the alchemy to propel humanity's energy future.

Laura Deming

CEO, Cradle

Laura Deming is a biotech entrepreneur and investor focused on longevity and aging research, having founded the Longevity Fund to support companies in this area. She is the CEO of Cradle, a company that applies AI to accelerate drug discovery and synthetic biology.

Lee Cronin

CEO & Founder, Chemify

Leroy "Lee" Cronin is a British chemist and innovator best known as the founder and CEO of Chemify, a Glasgow-based deep-tech company he established in 2022 (with roots in earlier spinout efforts) to digitize chemistry through robotic automation, AI, and a universal chemical programming language that enables on-demand design, discovery, and synthesis of complex molecules for pharmaceuticals, materials, and beyond. Holding the prestigious Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow since 2013, Cronin has pioneered "chemputation" and the Chemputer platform over two decades of research, publishing over 500 papers, raising substantial funding (including $43M in 2023 and further rounds), and opening the world's first Chemifarm in 2025—aiming to revolutionize drug development and chemical manufacturing by making molecular production programmable and scalable.

Lewis Hong

Founding Partner FP Solutions, FP Solutions

Lewis Hong is the Co-Founder and General Partner of FP Solutions VC (www.fpsolutions.vc). Former SpaceX executive, Stanford and Oxford alumni, Lewis is focused on disruptive early-stage hardware investments.  He has extensive entrepreneurial, management experience and consistently delivered results in a wide range of industries. Whether it’s building the world’s first rocket factory, the highest density battery pack, or a fast casual franchise, Lewis was able to successfully make something from nothing, and enjoy the journey from 0 to 1.

Liam Corrigan

Head of Finance, Fuse Energy

Liam Corrigan is the Head of Finance at Fuse Energy, where he leads supply chain operations and capital structuring for the fusion energy company building TITAN, the world's most efficient pulsed power generator for magnetized-liner inertial fusion. Liam graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a degree in Physics and Astrophysics and holds a Masters of Financial Economics with Distinction from Oxford. He represented the United States in rowing at two Olympic Games, winning gold in Paris 2024. Prior to Fuse, he worked at Alpine Investors and helped scale Tesla.

Linda Avey

CEO, 23andMe

Linda Avey is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of 23andMe, a company that pioneered direct-to-consumer genetic testing, making personal genomics accessible to the public. She has played a key role in advancing biotechnology through her innovative work in health and technology startups. Her contributions have significantly influenced the field of personalized medicine.

Louis Metzger

CEO & Founder, dGenThera

Louis Metzger, PhD, is the Co-founder and CEO of dGenThera, a radiopharmaceutical startup that develops theranostics using novel halogen chemistry to treat solid tumors. With prior experience at Novartis Pharma and leadership roles in synthetic biology and gene therapy startups, he brings extensive expertise in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He is passionate about extending healthspan for cancer survivors by creating targeted radiotherapeutics that aim for long-term remission while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

Magi Richani

CEO, Alpine Bio

Magi Richani is a biotech entrepreneur and the founder of Alpine Bio, where she focuses on advancing synthetic biology for medical innovations. She has expertise in genetic engineering and has led efforts to develop therapies for rare diseases. As CEO, she continues to drive the company's mission in biotechnology.

Malcolm Handley

Fusion VC Pioneer, Strong Atomics

Malcolm Handley is an American venture capitalist and former software engineer best known as the founder and managing partner of Strong Atomics, a San Francisco-based firm established in 2017 that specializes in investing in nuclear fusion startups to accelerate the development of clean, abundant, and commercially viable energy. Transitioning from a 17-year tech career—including roles as a senior engineer at Google, the first employee at Asana, and early work in virtual worlds—Handley pivoted to climate solutions, concluding fusion held unique promise. After serving in tech-to-market roles for fusion at ARPA-E, he continues to advise and back innovative approaches, with portfolio companies including Zap Energy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and NearStar Fusion.

Manish Singh

CEO, MemQ

Manish Singh serves as the CEO of MemQ, a company focused on quantum computing technologies. He leads the organization in developing innovative solutions in this field. Specific details about his background and achievements are not readily available.

Manuel Hegelich

CEO, Tau Systems

Manuel Hegelich is a physicist and the CEO of Tau Systems, a company focused on advancing fusion energy technology. With expertise in laser physics and high-energy density science, he has contributed to research in plasma physics and fusion development. Currently, he leads Tau Systems in their efforts to achieve commercial fusion power.

Manuel Hegelish

CEO, TAU Systems

Björn Manuel Hegelich (often referred to as Manuel Hegelich) is a German-American physicist and entrepreneur renowned as the founder and CEO of TAU Systems, an Austin-based deep-tech company established in 2021 that develops compact laser-plasma particle accelerators and X-ray free-electron lasers to democratize access to high-energy beams for industries like semiconductors, biotechnology, materials science, and space radiation testing. A professor of physics at the University of Texas at Austin with prior leadership in laser-acceleration research at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Hegelich pioneered breakthroughs including 10 GeV electron beams over mere centimeters, holding multiple world records in laser-driven acceleration. His work, spun out from UT Austin with over $35M in funding, aims to shrink mile-long accelerators to room-sized systems for widespread commercial and research applications.

Mark Nelson

Managing Director, Radiant Energy Group

Mark Nelson is the founder and Managing Director of Radiant Energy Group, a Chicago-based consultancy that provides data-driven insights, strategic roadmaps, and advisory services to industry leaders, governments, and environmental nonprofits on navigating the global energy transition—with a strong emphasis on nuclear energy's critical role in delivering abundant, reliable, low-carbon power amid rising demands from AI and electrification. A University of Cambridge M.Phil graduate in nuclear engineering from Oklahoma, Nelson previously served as a senior energy analyst at Environmental Progress and a fellow at The Breakthrough Institute, honing his expertise in debunking anti-nuclear myths, analyzing plant closures like Germany's costly phase-out, and highlighting successes in countries scaling atomic power. A sought-after speaker on podcasts like Titans of Nuclear and Power Hungry, media outlets including CNBC, and international forums, he passionately advocates for restarting idled reactors, extending existing fleets, and embracing new builds to combat climate change while critiquing renewable intermittency and transmission bottlenecks—positioning nuclear as indispensable for a high-energy, prosperous future.

Mark Russell

Founder and CEO, General Hypersonic Inc.

Mark Russell is the Founder and CEO of General Hypersonic Inc., a company dedicated to advancing hypervelocity applications. With a Master's degree in Aero/Astro Engineering from Stanford, he previously served as a lead engineer and manager at Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's space exploration company, bringing deep technical expertise to his role. Additionally, Mark has extensive experience in mining company development and operations from family and public sector projects, which informs his vision for innovative engineering solutions.

Mark Silis

Former CIO and VP of IT & Strategy, MIT

Mark Silis is a former Chief Information Officer and Vice President of IT and Strategy at MIT, where he likely contributed to technology strategy and infrastructure development. He is associated with Forma Prime, an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in advanced technologies such as quantum computing, semiconductors, and sensors, indicating his expertise in emerging tech sectors. His involvement with leading technologists suggests a focus on innovation in core components and infrastructure.

Mark Sokol

researcher and operator, Falcon Space

Mark Sokol is a researcher and operator at Falcon Space, where he focuses on investigating advanced propulsion methods, including electrogravitics and anti-gravity. He has spoken at events such as Frontier Physics, highlighting his expertise in frontier physics and space-related technologies. His work contributes to innovative developments in these areas.

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.

Matias Serebrinsky

General Partner, PsyMed Ventures, PsyMed Ventures

Matias Serebrinsky is the co-founder and General Partner of PsyMed Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture capital fund dedicated to frontier brain and mental health technologies, including psychedelic therapeutics, neurotechnology, precision psychiatry, and digital tools that promise to transform treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and beyond—raising funds like a $25M vehicle in 2022 to back innovative startups amid a global mental health crisis. Born in Argentina and holding a Bachelor of Economics from Torcuato Di Tella University, Serebrinsky immigrated to the U.S., co-founding chef-driven foodtech platform CookUnity in 2014—which scaled to over $500M in revenue with backing from investors like Collaborative Fund—before experiencing burnout that deepened his personal commitment to mental wellness. He later led NVIDIA's Inception accelerator for AI startups in North America, honing expertise in deep tech ecosystems, then launched PsyMed in 2020 with partners Greg Kubin and Dina Burkitbayeva, co-hosting the acclaimed podcast Business Trip to spotlight psychedelic industry pioneers while building a community-driven syndicate and fund empowering next-generation therapies for profound human healing.

Matt Aubuchon

Director of Pulsed Power Component Development, Zap Energy

Matt Aubuchon is the Director of Pulsed Power Component Development at Zap Energy, where he leads the team developing Zap's pulsed power components for their sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion reactor. Previously, he worked at EPC Power Corp, helping grow the company from a 35-person San Diego startup to a 200+ person international manufacturing company with locations in Greenville SC, Raleigh NC, and Helsinki Finland. Matt is based in San Diego and joined Zap Energy in 2023.

Matt Devost

CEO, OODA

Matt Devost is a technologist, hacker, and entrepreneur specializing in cybersecurity, disruptive technology innovation, national security, intelligence, and risk management issues. Matt is an active investor, advisor, and board director and operates the Hack Factory start-up studio. Previously, Matt was the founder and CEO of FusionX and the Terrorism Research Center and held executive or board roles at Accenture, Tulco Holdings, iDefense, Total Intel, Flashpoint, and iSIGHT Partners.

Matt Loszak

CEO, Aalo Atomics

Matt Loszak is a Canadian-American serial entrepreneur and clean energy innovator best known as the co-founder and CEO of Aalo Atomics, an Austin-based nuclear startup launched in 2023 that designs and mass-manufactures compact, sodium-cooled modular reactors (10 MWe units in 50 MWe "Pods") optimized for powering AI data centers and achieving ultra-low-cost clean energy. Previously, he co-founded Humi, a leading Canadian HR software platform, and built early ventures in video tech and acoustics consulting. Leveraging his startup scaling expertise, Loszak has propelled Aalo to rapid milestones—including over $130M in funding (seed through Series B), factory construction, uranium deliveries, and groundbreaking on the Aalo-X experimental reactor targeting criticality in 2026—positioning the company as a frontrunner in the AI-driven nuclear renaissance.

Matt O’Brien

CEO, Snowcrash Labs

Matt O'Brien is the CEO of Snowcrash Labs, a company focused on cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies aimed at solving complex problems in defense and national security. He holds a degree in Computer Science from Stanford University and has over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, including roles at leading firms like Google and defense contractors. Prior to founding Snowcrash Labs, Matt led innovative projects in autonomous systems and AI applications for government and private sectors, earning recognition for his contributions to advanced data analytics. Under his leadership, Snowcrash Labs has developed proprietary AI tools that enhance decision-making in high-stakes environments, such as cybersecurity and intelligent automation. Matt is dedicated to advancing ethical AI practices and continues to drive the company's growth in emerging technologies.

Matt Ocko

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, DCVC

Matt Ocko is the co-founder and co-managing partner of DCVC (Data Collective), a premier deep tech venture capital firm managing billions in assets that invests in transformative startups advancing U.S. national security, economic resilience, and frontier technologies—from quantum computing and synthetic biology to robotics, AI, defense systems, and sustainable energy—backing successes like Rocket Lab, Pivotal, and Atom Computing while co-investing with In-Q-Tel to bridge innovation with government needs. A Yale University physics graduate and inventor with over 50 patents in areas like virtualization, fraud detection, and augmented reality, Ocko began his career in 1983 as founder and VP of R&D at Da Vinci Systems, a pioneering email software company that reached over a million users before its acquisition, later making early bets on unicorns such as Zoom, Uber, Facebook, Fortinet, D-Wave Systems, and AngelList, many of which achieved massive IPOs or strategic exits to giants like Cisco, Google, and Amazon. A longtime advocate for American technological leadership, he advises organizations like Business Executives for National Security (BENS), the Defense Intelligence Memorial Foundation, federal agencies, and Congressional committees on policy and emerging tech, drawing on decades of entrepreneurial and investing experience to foster capabilities for future missions, all while still coding and building robots with his children in his spare time.

Matthew Szydagis

Associate Professor, University at Albany

Dr. Matthew Szydagis received his B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago, then worked as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California Davis. Since 2014 he has been at the University at Albany SUNY, where he is now an Associate Professor of Physics. He studies experimental particle astrophysics, in particular direct detection of dark matter, and also conducts general detector development for rare event searches. He is the inventor of the NEST (Noble Element Simulation Technique) software, inventor of the lithium-compound-based small-scale neutron-activation reactor, and co-inventor of the snowball chamber, which uses supercooled water for particle detection. He has published well over 100 peer-reviewed publications and given over 200 talks around the world. He was inspired by Star Trek: The Next Generation as a child to become a scientist, and has always been fascinated by UAP. He is a member of both the SCU as well as UAPx.

Maximilian Von Poelnitz

Managing Director, Ajinomoto CVC

Maximilian Von Poelnitz serves as the Managing Director at Ajinomoto CVC, where he oversees venture capital investments, likely focusing on innovative technologies in the life sciences sector. His participation in events such as Biomanufacturing in the US highlights his expertise in biomanufacturing and related fields. Through his role, he contributes to advancing biotechnology initiatives aligned with Ajinomoto's strengths in biochemical and food-related innovations.

Michael Dubrovsky

CEO, SiPhox

Michael Dubrovsky is the founder and CEO of SiPhox, a company focused on developing advanced at-home health diagnostics using nanotechnology. With a background in engineering and entrepreneurship, he has led SiPhox to innovate in portable health testing solutions. Currently, he works on making health monitoring more accessible through cutting-edge technology.

Michael Harries

Partner, The Robotics Hub

Michael Harries is a professional at Robotics Hub, where he focuses on robotics innovations based on his involvement in related events. He has spoken at panels such as those at The Embodied Age, discussing topics in embodied intelligence and technology. His expertise appears to center on the application of robotics in advanced tech contexts.

​Michael Smocer

CEO of Mine Vision Systems, Mine Vision Systems

​As the CEO of Mine Vision Systems (MVS), Michael Smocer is advancing mining technology with precise, real-time 3D mapping and data collection techniques. MVS' FaceCapture technology combines image, spatial, and location data to build precision 3D imagery for underground production.

Michael Tsai

Fmr. Elected Official of Milpitas, CA; Chairman at Santa Clara County., Sister Counties Commission

Michael Tsai is a dedicated public servant and community leader in Milpitas, California, with a strong commitment to education, sustainable transportation, and international relations. A UC Berkeley graduate in Environmental Economics and Policy, he previously served as an elected trustee on the Milpitas Unified School District Board, overseeing programs for thousands of students, and ran for Milpitas City Council in 2022, emphasizing public safety, housing, and economic recovery. Currently, Tsai chairs the Sister Counties Commission for Santa Clara County, fostering ties between Silicon Valley and Taiwan's Hsinchu County, while also serving as a commissioner for the City of Milpitas and contributing to the California High-Speed Rail Community Working Group. As founder of South Bay YIMBY and owner of an educational consulting firm, he advocates for transit-oriented development and supports students' academic success, bringing analytical expertise and passion for innovative local governance to his ongoing civic roles.

Michele Mosca

Co-founder EvolutionQ and Professor, evolutionQ

Dr. Michele Mosca is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of evolutionQ, a company specializing in quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions. He is also a co-founder of the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, where he serves as a professor in the Department of Combinatorics & Optimization. Dr. Mosca’s research focuses on quantum algorithms and cryptographic tools designed to be secure against quantum technologies.

Miguel Modestino

Director, Sunthetics

Miguel A. Modestino is the Director of the Sustainable Engineering Initiative and the Donald F. Othmer Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at New York University (NYU). Miguel obtained his B.S in Chemical Engineering (2007) and M.S. in Chemical Engineering Practice (2008) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (2013). From 2013-2016, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He is a winner of the Global Change Award from the H&M Foundation (2016), the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Award in Latin America (2017) and Globally (2020), the ACS Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator Award (2018), the NSF CAREER Award (2019), the Inaugural NYU Tandon Junior Faculty Research Award (2020), and TED Idea Search Latin America (2021).

Mike Burshtine

CEO, NOGA 3D Innovations

Mike Burshtine is the CEO of Noga 3D Innovations. Before founding Noga, Mike served as CEO in several publicly traded and private medtech and biotech companies. He is also Co-CEO of Adhestick Innovations, a leading polymer formulator in Israel.

Mike Cassidy

CEO, Verkada

Mike Cassidy serves as the CEO of Verkada, where he leads the company's efforts in developing and deploying cloud-based physical security solutions, including AI-powered cameras and analytics. He has a proven track record as a serial entrepreneur, having founded Xobni in 2005, which was acquired by Yahoo in 2013, and subsequently held executive roles at Yahoo. Cassidy's expertise lies in hardware-software integration and building scalable tech startups, with a focus on security and enterprise software. His contributions include pioneering innovations in physical security technology, making him a key figure in the industry.

Mike Grace

Founder & CEO, Longshot Space

Mike Grace is the CEO of Longshot Space, building a hypersonic accelerator ("space cannon") to launch payloads into orbit at $10/kg—compared to SpaceX's $3,000/kg. After serving in the Army, Mike studied economics and did an astrobiology internship at NASA Ames, which led to a career in aerospace and biotech startups. He holds a master's degree in genetics. Longshot has raised $5M+ from VCs and the US Air Force, with backing from Sam Altman, and is building a 1,600-foot accelerator in the Nevada desert, working toward a 6-mile space cannon for LEO launches.

Mike Knoop

Cofounder, Zapier

Mike Knoop is an American entrepreneur and technologist best known as the co-founder of Zapier, the leading no-code automation platform he launched in 2011 with Wade Foster and Bryan Helmig during a Startup Weekend in Columbia, Missouri. Starting as a side project accepted into Y Combinator, Zapier grew into a remote-first unicorn connecting thousands of apps to automate workflows for millions of users. Knoop has held key roles including Head of AI, President, and product leadership, driving innovations in AI integration and agents. Passionate about advancing toward AGI, he co-founded the ARC Prize—a major competition to benchmark progress on abstraction and reasoning—and serves on Zapier's board while exploring new ventures in intelligence science.

Mike Lafferty

CEO, Snowcap Compute

Mike Lafferty serves as the CEO of Snowcap Compute, where he leads the company's efforts in the computing sector. He has spoken at events such as Next Gen Compute, demonstrating his involvement in advanced technology discussions. His role focuses on driving the company's initiatives in compute-related technologies.

Mike Solana

Chief Marketing Officer, Founders Fund

Mike Solana is the Chief Marketing Officer at Founders Fund, where he leads marketing strategies and creative programming, including the Anatomy of Next podcast, Symposium (F50), and Hereticon conference. He founded Pirate Wires in 2018, a media company that examines the intersections of technology, politics, and culture, establishing himself as a prominent voice in tech media. Solana's expertise spans digital marketing, content creation, and venture capital communications, drawing from his experience in building influential platforms. His contributions include fostering discussions on emerging technologies and cultural trends through his media ventures. Additionally, he has played a key role in enhancing Founders Fund's public engagement and thought leadership.

Mitch Lee

CEO, Arc Boat Company

Mitch Lee is cofounder and CEO of Arc, a company modernizing the maritime industry by vertically integrating boats around electric powertrains. He has a degree in mechanical engineering and spent his first years after college working as an engineer on helicopters. He later transitioned to software development, where he founded a venture-backed startup acquired by Credit Karma. And of course, he’s a lifelong boater.

Mohannad El-Barachi

Co-founder, M3DG Ventures

Mohannad El-Barachi is a tech entrepreneur, investor, and business strategist known for building and scaling high-growth ventures. He co-founded Wrk Technologies, a $55M VC-backed company reshaping automation for the modern workforce. Previously, he was the co-founder and CEO of SweetIQ, a digital marketing platform acquired by Gannett (NYSE:GCI) after four years of explosive growth. Mohannad is also Managing Partner at M3DG Ventures, an returns-focused venture fund, and an active angel investor and advisor across the startup ecosystem. With roots in Egypt and a global footprint across Montreal, SF, NYC, and Dubai, he blends technical depth, business acumen, and bold execution.

Nancy Morgan

CEO, Ellis Morgan Enterprises

Nancy Morgan is a National Security executive leader, the former US Government Intelligence Community Chief Data Officer (IC CDO), former CIA Executive Leader, and Advisory Board Member with 36+ years of experience leading strategy, innovation and driving transformation in the data, AI and information technology arenas. She does independent consulting and advisory board work related to data, AI, cybersecurity, corporate governance and working with the public sector. She is as Strategic Advisor with The Cantellus Group and is on Samba Nova Systems’ Artificial Intelligence Innovation Advisory Council and Federal Council, Academy Securities Advisory Board and Geopolitical Intelligence Group, Kibu.io Advisory Council, data2 Advisors, and the T-Mobile Public Sector Advisor Council. She is a Visiting Fellow for the Cyber and Tech Center of the National Security Institute and was named one of the Most Influential People in Data by dataIQ100 in 2024.

Nare Janvelyan

Investor, Voyager Ventures

Nare is an investor at Voyager Ventures where she partners with visionary founders to accelerate the success of category-defining deep tech companies. With her PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard developing metal-based nanomaterials, she understands the technical complexities founders face when translating lab innovations into market-ready solutions. She also led commercialization strategies for late-stage technology companies while working in management consulting, giving her a unique perspective on scaling deep tech ventures.

Nathalie Gouailhardou

CEO and Founder, Neurode

Nathalie Gouailhardou is the CEO and Founder of Neurode, a company focused on developing wearable headsets for brain imaging and stimulation, with applications in treating conditions like ADHD. She brings expertise in neurotechnology and neuroscience, having led innovative projects in non-invasive brain interfaces. Gouailhardou's background includes founding Neurode to advance mental health solutions through hardware and software integration. Her achievements encompass securing funding for Neurode and contributing to research in wearable neurotech devices. This work highlights her dedication to improving brain health technologies.

Nathan Ratledge

Co-founder & CEO, Alta Resource Technologies

Nathan Ratledge is the co-founder and CEO of Alta Resource Technologies, which uses engineered proteins to extract critical minerals like rare earth elements from low-grade ores and waste streams. He holds a PhD from Stanford, and has raised $10 million in seed funding from investors including DCVC, Voyager Ventures, In-Q-Tel, and Orion Industrial Ventures.

Nicole Fay

PhD, Nutcracker Therapeutics

Nicole Fay holds a PhD and is affiliated with Nutcracker Therapeutics, a company specializing in RNA therapeutics. She has spoken at events like the Ligandal Biotech Summit, indicating her involvement in biotechnology discussions. Her expertise likely centers on advanced therapeutic technologies within the biotech field.

Nikhil Choudhary

Managing Partner, Nirman Ventures

Nikhil Choudhary is the Managing Partner at Nirman Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm investing in the future of Energy (transition and clean), Infrastructure, Construction, Mining, and Logistics. Through its global partner network, Nirman maintains a presence in Silicon Valley, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Sydney, and Mexico City. Nikhil has over two decades of experience founding and scaling businesses across construction, engineering, and real estate. He is known for his operator-first mindset and for investing in high-impact startups that modernize legacy industries. He is also a published contributor to top business publications including Forbes, Business Collective, Inc.com, and Bizjournals, where he shares insights on innovation, sustainability, and inclusion in traditional sectors. Shorter Bio: Nikhil Choudhary is a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist and the founding partner of Nirman Ventures, focused on technology transforming legacy industries.

Nima Leclerc

Research Scientist, MITRE

Nima Leclerc is a Research Scientist at MITRE, an organization focused on research and development for public interest and national security. He has presented at events such as Quantonation: Physics & Compute, indicating his involvement in advanced physics and computing topics. His work at MITRE likely centers on innovative technologies in these areas.

Noel Goddard

CEO, Qunnect

Dr. Noel Goddard is the Chief Executive Officer of Qunnect, a company pioneering hardware solutions to transform existing telecom infrastructure into quantum-secure communication networks. Prior to this role, Dr. Goddard was a seed investor with the Accelerate NY Seed Fund, where she built a portfolio of companies across deep technology and life science sectors in Downstate New York. She is a serial entrepreneur, having founded and led two biotech startup companies. Before joining the startup community, Dr. Goddard was an assistant professor of physics at Hunter College, CUNY. She completed her postdoctoral research as a fellow at Harvard University and earned her PhD at Rockefeller University.

Oliver Hsu

Partner, Andreessen Horowitz

Oliver Hsu is a partner on the American Dynamism investing team at a16z, where he focuses on emerging computing platforms and applications for the physical world. Oliver was previously an early product hire and chief of staff at Mos, an education financing startup. There, he led multiple business operations functions and launched new products for the company. He has also spent time building out developer ecosystems in Africa at Andela and as a fellow investing in seed-stage companies with Susa Ventures. Oliver holds an AB magna cum laude from Princeton University

Oluseun Taiwo

Founder & CEO, Solideon

Oluseun Taiwo is the Founder and CEO of Solideon (formerly Additive Space Technologies), a robotics-enabled aerospace manufacturing company combining machine learning, collaborative robots, and 3D welding. Their goal: design, build, and fly 70% quicker than anyone else. Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30, Olu was the first American to launch a 3D-printed rocket engine in 2017 at Rocketlab as employee #15. He spearheaded 3D-printing initiatives at Argonne National Lab, Virgin Orbit, and 3D Systems. Solideon is based in Berkeley and has raised funding from 8090 Industries, 1517 Fund, Boost VC, and Techstars Space.

Olya Irzak

CEO, Frost Methane Labs

Olya is a technologist and executive with deep expertise in methane, carbon markets, electricity grids in multiple geographies and reforestation. She is the Founder & CEO of Frost Methane - a company turning waste into value while keeping methane out of the atmosphere. Previously, she was system architect at Zola Electric - minigrids in remote communities, Google X - early stage climate projects in geothermal HVAC (Dandelion) and long duration storage (Malta) and at Google Energy on smart grid technologies. She previously lectured Computer Science at the University of Toronto, started the Diamond List and speaks 5 languages.

Osh Agabi

Founder & CEO, Koniku

Osh Agabi serves as the founder and CEO of Koniku, a company specializing in bio-inspired computing systems that integrate neuroscience and synthetic biology to develop advanced AI technologies. With a background in electrical engineering and neuroscience, Agabi has led Koniku to create innovative biochips that combine living neurons with silicon for applications in security and healthcare. His expertise spans AI, neurotech, and synthetic biology, where he focuses on bridging biological and digital systems. Agabi's notable achievements include founding Koniku in 2015 and securing funding for projects that advance hybrid computing solutions.

Osh.

CEO, Koniku

Osh, is the Founder & CEO of Koniku Corp., He is on a remarkable quest to bridge biology and technology — taking us closer to a future reminiscent of Westworld. Born in Lagos and educated at leading institutions including ETH Zurich and Imperial College London, Osh pioneers innovations in synthetic neurobiology by developing "smell cyborgs," devices integrating live neurons with silicon to digitally capture and process smells. Under his leadership, Koniku collaborates with major global companies such as Oracle, Accenture, past customers like Airbus, P&G and ExxonMobile, delivering impactful applications ranging from security to healthcare. In his upcoming talk, Osh will share insights into how his work could shape a reality where biology and artificial intelligence seamlessly intertwine.

Po Bronson

Managing Director of IndieBio, GP at SOSV, IndieBio, SOSV

Po Bronson is a best-selling author and journalist known for books on science and personal development, who has transitioned into venture capital as the Managing Director of IndieBio and a General Partner at SOSV, focusing on early-stage biotech innovations.

Pranav Gokhale

General Manager, Computing, Infleqtion

Pranav Gokhale serves as General Manager, Computing at Infleqtion, where he leads the development and deployment of quantum computing technologies. With a PhD in Physics from the University of Chicago, he has a strong background in quantum information science and has contributed to research on quantum algorithms and error correction. His expertise includes quantum hardware integration, software development, and applications in computing. Gokhale has been involved in advancing quantum systems for practical use, including collaborations on projects that enhance quantum computing performance.

Prof. Terry Rudolph

Chief Architect and Co-Founder, PsiQuantum

Prof. Terry Rudolph is a co-founder and Chief Architect at PsiQuantum, a company focused on developing fault-tolerant quantum computers. He is a physicist with expertise in quantum information and computation, contributing to advancements in quantum technology.

Rahul Chhabra

Co-Founder & CEO, neurotech startup

Rahul Chhabra is the Co-Founder and CEO of a neurotech startup specializing in large-scale non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) models. With a background in mathematics and electrical engineering, he combines deep technical expertise with entrepreneurial experience to drive innovation in the field. His work focuses on advancing neurotechnology through practical applications and leadership in the industry.

Rahul Meka

Investor, Playground

Rahul Meka is a venture investor at Playground Global, a firm that specializes in deep tech investments including hardware and AI. He has a background in technology and has been involved in funding innovative startups. Currently, he focuses on identifying and supporting emerging technologies in these areas.

Rajnish Khanna

Senior Investigator, Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Science, Stanford

Rajnish Khanna is a senior investigator at the Carnegie Institution for Science, where he specializes in biosphere science and engineering, focusing on plant biology and related fields. He has contributed to research in photosynthesis and bioenergy, aiming to advance sustainable technologies. In his current role, he leads investigations into biological systems for scientific and engineering applications.

Raphael Townshend

CEO & Founder, Atomic AI

Raphael Townshend is the founder and CEO of Atomic AI, where he oversees the development of AI technologies for synthetic biology and drug discovery, focusing on RNA modeling to accelerate therapeutic innovations. He earned a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University, with expertise in machine learning applications to biological problems. Townshend has contributed to the field through research on AI-driven protein and RNA design, including publications in top journals. His achievements include founding Atomic AI in 2021 and securing significant venture funding for the company's biotech initiatives. His primary expertise areas are AI, machine learning, and computational biology.

Rayyan Islam

Co-Founder & General Partner, 8090 Industries

Rayyan Islam is the Co-Founder and General Partner of 8090 Industries, a leading VC firm with $250M+ in AUM built and backed by global industrialists focused on industrial technology, energy abundance, and national security. Companies he has invested in have grown to over $10B in market value including EquipmentShare, Oklo (NYSE:OKLO), Armada, Infinium, Astranis, Varda, REGENT, Circ, Exowatt, Cemvita, and Atomic Industries. Rayyan is also co-founder of Gold Hydrogen and co-creator of "The Industrialist" newsletter. He was recognized among the top 40 early-stage investors by Business Insider alongside Peter Thiel and Vinod Khosla, and is a former Forbes 30U30 Fellow and United Nations Youth Delegate.

Richard Phamdo

Founder & CEO, Voltaic Marine

Richard Phamdo serves as the Founder and CEO of Voltaic Marine, where he leads the development and commercialization of electric vessels for water sports and recreational boating, focusing on sustainable marine technology. With a background in electrical engineering, he established the company to address environmental challenges in the boating industry. Under his leadership, Voltaic Marine has launched innovative electric boats that promote zero-emission propulsion and has secured partnerships for clean-tech advancements. Phamdo's expertise lies in electric vehicle systems and renewable energy applications, contributing to the broader shift toward greener transportation solutions.

Robert Marino

CEO, Qubit Pharmaceuticals

Robert Marino is the CEO of Qubit Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on advancing drug and materials discovery through quantum simulations. His leadership emphasizes the application of quantum computing in the biotechnology sector, as evidenced by his participation in events like Quantonation: Physics Tech. Under his guidance, Qubit Pharmaceuticals is pioneering innovative approaches to scientific challenges in pharmaceuticals.

Robert Rose

CEO and Founder, Reliable Robotics

Robert Rose is the co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics, a Mountain View, California-based leader in autonomous aviation systems pioneering certified automation for existing aircraft—like the Cessna 208 Caravan—to enable safer, remotely piloted, and eventually uncrewed operations that expand cargo and passenger access, enhance national security through contested logistics, and integrate seamlessly into the National Airspace System. With over two decades in aerospace, self-driving vehicles, and robotics, Rose previously served as Director of Flight Software at SpaceX, leading onboard systems for the first 10 Falcon 9 launches, Dragon spacecraft missions to the ISS, and Grasshopper tests; contributed to Tesla's early Autopilot and instrument panel innovations; and headed advanced perception projects for large vehicles at Google X. A holder of dual B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering plus an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oregon State University—with roots in game engine programming at Sony PlayStation—Rose has testified before Congress on U.S. aviation leadership, collaborated with the U.S. Air Force and NASA on autonomy architectures, and driven milestones like the first uncrewed Caravan flights and FAA certification progress for detect-and-avoid technologies to revolutionize scalable, life-saving air mobility.

Robin Langtry

CEO, Avalanche Energy

Robin Langtry is a Canadian-German aerospace engineer and fusion energy innovator best known as the co-founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy (also referred to as Avalanche Fusion), a Seattle-based startup developing compact, modular Orbitron electrostatic fusion reactors for applications in mobile power, defense, space propulsion, and distributed energy. Inspired by science fiction like The Expanse, Langtry invented the Orbitron concept in 2020 after years of self-directed research, leveraging his expertise in computational fluid dynamics and turbulence modeling (with over 6,000 citations). Previously, he spent 15+ years in aerospace at Boeing and Blue Origin, leading New Glenn rocket development. Avalanche has achieved milestones like sustaining 300kV in compact devices, raised significant funding including a $40M Series A, and is building the FusionWERX neutron testing facility.

Rodolfo Rosini

CEO, Vaire Computing

Rodolfo Rosini serves as the CEO of Vaire Computing, where he leads efforts to develop near-zero consumption computing chips aimed at revolutionizing energy-efficient technologies. As a repeat founder of seven companies, five in deep tech, he has achieved two successful exits, demonstrating his expertise in hardware innovation and startup growth. His background includes significant contributions to quantum and low-power computing fields, drawing from his experience in building high-impact tech ventures. Rosini's work focuses on advancing hardware solutions for sustainable computing, positioning him as a key figure in energy-efficient technologies.

Roman Teslyuk

Founder & CEO, EARTH AI

Roman Teslyuk is the founder and CEO of EARTH AI, a vertically integrated mineral exploration company using AI to find critical metals for the energy transition. He’s a geologist with experience across the world and a Y Combinator alum. The company has raised funding from Cantos, Tamarack Global, and Y Combinator among others.

Roon

OpenAI

Roon is a pseudonymous writer and analyst in the technology sector, known for sharing insights on artificial intelligence and related topics through online platforms like Twitter. His work focuses on AI developments, including discussions around machine learning advancements and their broader implications. While not formally affiliated with OpenAI, Roon has contributed to public discourse on AI safety and scaling laws. His expertise lies in AI trends, though specific professional background details remain limited due to his anonymous status.

Ryan Guterman

CEO, FaradaIC Sensors

Ryan Guterman is the CEO of FaradaIC Sensors, where he leads the company's efforts in the sensor industry. He has spoken at events such as Deep Tech Week x Forma Prime, demonstrating his involvement in deep tech discussions. His role focuses on driving innovation in sensor technologies within the broader tech landscape.

Ryan Oksenhorn

CoFounder, Zipline

Ryan Oksenhorn is an American software engineer and entrepreneur best known as a co-founder of Zipline, the pioneering autonomous drone delivery company he helped launch in 2014 alongside Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, Keenan Wyrobek, and William Hetzler—pivoting from their prior robotics startup Romotive. A Carnegie Mellon University computer science graduate (BS, 2012), Oksenhorn has led Zipline's software development, including cloud systems for geospatial routing, weather integration, inventory, and airspace management, as well as flight software for perception, navigation, and controls. Under his technical contributions, Zipline has scaled to over one million deliveries of medical supplies, vaccines, and consumer goods worldwide, expanded U.S. operations with partners like Walmart, and achieved a multi-billion-dollar valuation while advancing instant, emissions-free logistics.

Ryan Shearman

CEO, Loa Carbon

Ryan is a 10 year veteran of advanced energy and carbon synthesis technology innovation. His companies have advanced the verticals of synthetic fuel and synthetic diamonds, been recognized with awards from TIME Magazine and Fast Company, and delivered returns to shareholders.

Ryan Westerdahl

CoFounder, Turion Space

Ryan Westerdahl is an American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Turion Space, an Irvine, California-based startup launched in 2020 (YC S21) that builds autonomous "Droid" spacecraft for space domain awareness, orbital debris removal, satellite servicing, and long-term ambitions in asteroid mining. A former SpaceX propulsion dynamicist (2013–2021) with 8.5 years contributing to vehicle analysis, anomaly resolution, and certification, Westerdahl has led Turion to launch its first Droid.001 satellite in 2023, secure U.S. Space Force contracts (including $1.9M for debris-capture tech), raise over $26M in funding, grow to 70+ employees, and win selection for major government programs—positioning the company as a key player in sustainable space infrastructure and national security.

Sam Hogan

CEO, Kuzco

Sam Hogan is an American entrepreneur and crypto/AI innovator best known as the founder and CEO of Kuzco, a decentralized GPU network built on Solana that aggregates idle compute resources worldwide for efficient large language model (LLM) inference. Launched in 2024, Kuzco enables users to contribute spare GPU power in exchange for rewards while providing developers cost-effective access to distributed computing via an OpenAI-compatible API, supporting models like Llama and Mistral. Hogan has positioned Kuzco as a key player in the shift toward inference-dominated AI infrastructure, with rapid growth in active nodes and a token launch in late 2024.

Samantha Pinheiro

Co, ELDAEON

Samantha is the Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer of ELDAEON, a defense-tech startup building portable, multi-sensor systems for UAP detection and anomalous aerospace intelligence. With a background in philosophy from NYU, her work explores the intersection of consciousness, advanced technology, and interstellar civilization. Trained in metaphysics and the philosophy of mind, she translates complex ideas from consciousness studies, AI, and speculative ethics into strategic visions for deep tech innovation. Samantha bridges rigorous science with philosophical imagination, championing technologies that can help humanity thrive beyond Earth. Co-Founder & CGO, ELDAEON. BA Philosophy @ NYU. Bridging metaphysics & defense innovation.

Sampriti Bhattacharyya

Founder & CEO, Navier

Sampriti Bhattacharyya is the founder and CEO of Navier, a San Francisco-based startup revolutionizing maritime transportation with zero-emission electric hydrofoil boats that "fly" above the water for unparalleled efficiency—up to 10 times more than traditional vessels—boasting the world's longest-range electric boat and features like AI-driven autodocking to make waterways viable highways for people and goods at land-like speeds and costs. Born in Kolkata, India, she overcame early academic hurdles and cultural barriers, moving to the U.S. at age 20 with just $200 to intern at Fermilab, followed by internships at NASA, a master's in aerospace engineering from Ohio State University, and a PhD in mechanical engineering from MIT, where her work on autonomous underwater drones inspired her first company, Hydroswarm. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, advocate for women in STEM, and persistent innovator who once applied to over 500 internships, Bhattacharyya now leads Navier in scaling sustainable ocean mobility, with prototypes operating in the Bay Area and ambitions for global commercial, military, and transit networks.

Samuel Reid

Director, Geometric Energy Corporation

Samuel Reid is a business executive, scientist, inventor, and mathematician who has a BSc (Hon.) in Pure Mathematics with an Honours Thesis in Chemistry, with completed coursework of a Mathematics MSc and Mathematics PhD (although no dissertation defense) at the University of Calgary as well. This academia experience was from 2011 to 2017 and then focused solely on business endeavors as of 2017 when first working with the Government. As a creator and lead contractor on a variety of world famous projects such as with the IOTA Foundation in Germany, and the Gibraltar Stock Exchange as initial 2017-2018 successes gaining notoriety inside of GEC which then proceeded on to be SpaceX's customer on a repeat basis for Earth Orbit and Lunar Orbit rideshare programs with a satellite for the US Government in January 2023 due to Samuel Reid. Samuel Reid works with Elon Musk and is the inventor of the DOGE-1 mission https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doge-1 Here's Elon Musk tweeting about the joint collaboration with Samuel Reid https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1391523807148527620?t=QNZ6AJkr-CPGVWJ81se0FQ&s=19 News articles mentioning the famous achievement of Samuel Reid and Elon Musk deal: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2021/05/10/elon-musks-spacex-is-launching-an-actual-dogecoin-mission-to-the-moon-in-2022/ https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/spacex-accepts-dogecoin-payment-launch-lunar-mission-next-year-2021-05-09/ Furthermore, Samuel Reid was responsible for an immense amount of COVID response PPE manufacturing efforts causing even the former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau mentioning the achievements which were at the level of supply chain saving nation state response. https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/videos/2020/04/16/announcing-additional-support-small-businesses

Sanket Deshpande

Co, Dirac Labs

Sanket is the co-founder of Dirac Labs, a startup developing navigation systems that operate without relying on external signals like GPS, and functions in underwater and underground environments as well. Dirac Labs uses quantum sensors coupled with machine-learning algorithms to provide real-time, reliable and covert navigation capabilities.

Sasha Ostojic

Venture Partner, Playground

Sasha Ostojic is a Venture Partner at Playground, where she focuses on investing in deep tech ventures. She has a background in AI and related technologies, contributing to advancements in these areas.

Satyam Srivastava

Chief AI SW, d-Matrix

Satyam Srivastava serves as the Chief AI Software at d-Matrix, a company focused on developing AI accelerators and chips. He leads AI software efforts, contributing to advancements in AI technology. Specific details about his background and achievements are not reliably known.

Scott Stanford

ACME Capital, ACME Capital

Scott Stanford is a co-founder and managing partner at ACME Capital, where he focuses on investing in deep tech ventures and guiding portfolio companies in areas like AI and emerging technologies. With over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, he previously co-founded Sherpa Capital and Silicon Foundry, and spent 12 years at Goldman Sachs co-leading Global Internet Investment Banking. There, he advised on more than $80 billion in transactions and collaborated with major firms such as Facebook, Google, Uber, LinkedIn, and Palantir. His expertise includes venture capital, technology advisory, and fostering innovation in high-growth tech ecosystems.

Sean Hoge

Founder & General Partner, Starship Ventures

Sean Hoge is the founder and general partner of Starship Ventures, a deep tech venture capital firm investing in companies solving humanity's grand challenges. He successfully raised over $30 million for Starship's debut fund. Sean is a serial entrepreneur and technologist who co-founded crossfader.fm (backed by Kleiner Perkins, Index Ventures, and Google Ventures) and later joined NVOLV as Head of Product. Notable portfolio companies include Atmos, BRINC, and Clubhouse. He graduated from Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business.

Sean Liu

Partner, Founders Fund

Sean is a Partner at Founders Fund. Prior to joining Founders Fund, Sean was CFO of Solugen, where he led the finance, strategy and operations functions, and supported the company’s scale up from initial pilot to its first commercial facility. Prior to Solugen, Sean held various investment and operating roles across Asia and the US at Silver Lake, Google and SoftBank. Sean eared a BS in International Economics from Georgetown University, and is an avid long distance runner and biker.

Sean McIntosh

founder, Foothold Labs

Sean McIntosh is the founder of Foothold Labs, a company specializing in the development of Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) based reactors for power generation in unmanned autonomous systems. His expertise lies in nuclear technology, particularly in creating innovative solutions like the Bockris LENR reactor, which is hypothesized to convert axions into high energy photons in hydrogen loaded vacancy sites within a nickel cathode. He has spoken at events such as Frontier Physics, highlighting his contributions to advanced energy technologies.

Sella Brosh M.D

Chief Executive Officer, NVision Imaging Technologies

Dr. Sella Brosh is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of NVision. As CEO, Dr. Brosh leads NVision’s efforts to revolutionize medical imaging by bringing metabolic MRI to the forefront of clinical practice. Prior to joining the leadership team of NVision, Dr. Brosh worked as senior engagement manager at the US mid-atlantic office of McKinsey & Company. He led multiple global commercialization efforts in the Pharma and Med Device spaces and worked alongside Market Access and R&D teams of top-10 players to optimize their early pipelines and structure a value driven approach. Prior to his career in the healthcare industry he served as a combat engineering officer, first as platoon commander and later as an officer of operations of a combat battalion. He received his Bachelor of Medical Science (magna cum laude) and Medical Doctor degree from Tel-Aviv University.

Shahar Frank

CEO, Elastifile

2009-2023 Google, Principal engineer (GCP) 2013-2019 Elastifile, CTO (co-founder) 2009-2012 XtremIO, CTO/Chief Scientist (co-founder) 2005-2009 Qumranet (Redhat), CTO group leader 2003-2005 Voltaire (Melanox/NVIDIA), Independent consultant 2000-2003 Exanet (Dell), core team leader, chief architect

Shawn Xu

Partner, Lowercarbon Capital

Shawn is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, a multibillion dollar venture fund founded by Chris and Crystal Sacca that backs companies making real money slashing emissions, sucking carbon out of the sky, and buying us time to unf*ck the planet. Shawn has led investments on everything from energy transition to earth observation. Prior to investing, Shawn was an operator leading international go-to-market at companies like Square.

Siddharth Narayanan

Member of Technical Staff, FutureHouse

Siddharth Narayanan is a research scientist at FutureHouse, focused on developing systems to automate parts of the scientific method, specifically in the context of fundamental biology research. He has recently worked on scientific reasoning models, language agents for literature research and molecular cloning, and structure-conditioned protein design. He holds a PhD in experimental particle physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a dissertation on dark matter searches at the Large Hadron Collider.

Simeon Bochev

CEO, Compute Exchange

Simeon Bochev is a dynamic AI infrastructure entrepreneur and global tech leader, serving as co-founder and CEO of Compute Exchange, the world's first open marketplace for trading GPUs and compute resources to democratize access, enhance transparency, and fuel innovation in the rapidly scaling AI era—treating compute as a commodity akin to oil or electricity. A University of Texas at Austin electrical engineering alumnus (B.S. 2012, high honors) who later earned an M.S. in Finance and a distinguished Harvard Business School MBA, Bochev built extensive expertise through roles as Head of Product, Strategy & Operations for AI Infrastructure at Apple, VP of Strategy at unicorn Lambda Labs, President of QuantCo APAC, and founder of an AI company in Japan, following early work in U.S. national security engineering. With multi-billion-dollar P&L impact reaching over a billion users, he now advises Fortune 100 CEOs, sits on private boards, and consults governments—including U.S. administrations, EU states, and Japan—on AI and tech policy, passionately advocating for open systems to prevent monopolies and accelerate humanity's technological progress.

Simone Syed

Founder and Managing Partner, Velorum Capital

Simone Syed is an American venture capitalist and early blockchain pioneer best known as the founder and managing partner of Velorum Capital, a San Francisco-based seed-stage firm she established in 2013 to invest in transformative technologies at the intersection of hardware, software, AI/ML, manufacturing automation, biotech, energy, space, robotics, and digital assets/blockchain. A Dayton, Ohio native with deep roots in cryptocurrency—serving as Chief of Marketing for the early Bitcoin exchange Tradehill (2011), co-founding mobile payments ventures, and investing at Peter Thiel-backed Mithril Capital—she has also co-founded the unconventional BIL Conference, built communities like Ephemerisle, and founded BlackStarr Media partnering with SpaceX and Discovery Channel on tech popularization.

Sree Ganesan

VP Product, d-Matrix

Sree Ganesan is the Vice President of Product at d-Matrix, a company focused on developing AI accelerators and advanced computing solutions. He has expertise in product management within the tech industry, particularly in areas related to AI and hardware, as evidenced by his participation in events like Next Gen Compute. In his current role, he drives innovation in AI technologies to improve computational performance.

Steven Jacobs

Founding Partner, Drumbeat Capital

Steven Jacobs is the Founding Partner of Drumbeat Capital, a San Francisco-based seed-stage venture capital firm that serves as a transatlantic bridge for Deep Tech founders, accelerating their access to customers, capital, talent, and industrial ecosystems across the US and Europe in fields like AI, hardware, space, energy, and advanced manufacturing. A former Partner and Chief Product Officer at Lakestar—a leading European VC with $2B+ AUM—where he led the Deep Tech investment practice, advised portfolio companies on product strategy, and backed breakthroughs in areas like photonics, space tech, and AI (including board roles at companies like Aleph Alpha, ClearSpace, and Isar Aerospace), Jacobs brings over a decade of Silicon Valley product leadership from iconic firms including Apple, Google, Meta (Facebook), and HP, complemented by founding and exiting his own hardware startup, Olio Devices. Holding dual BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from UC Berkeley and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, he now champions community-building in high-tech ecosystems through Forbes contributions, mentoring via First Round Fast Track, and hands-on support for visionary engineers turning scientific innovations into global leaders.

Stuart Hameroff

Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology & Psychology, University of Arizona

Stuart Hameroff is an American anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Arizona known for his studies of consciousness. He co-developed the Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR) theory with Nobel laureate Roger Penrose, proposing that consciousness originates from quantum states in neural microtubules. He is the Director of the Center for Consciousness Studies and lead organizer of the Science of Consciousness conference. His work spans molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, philosophy, quantum information theory, and quantum gravity.

Sunil Nagaraj

M.P., Ubiquity Ventures

Sunil Nagaraj is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ubiquity Ventures, a Palo Alto-based seed-stage venture capital firm managing approximately $200 million across three funds, specializing in "software beyond the screen®"—backing "nerdy and early" founders building smart hardware and machine intelligence applications that extend software into the physical world, from autonomous systems and robotics to space tech and industrial automation. A Harvard Business School MBA and UNC Chapel Hill BS in Computer Science graduate, Nagaraj previously spent nearly a decade at Bessemer Venture Partners, leading seed investments in breakout successes like Auth0 (acquired by Okta for $6.5B), Zapier, Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB), and Twitch (acquired by Amazon), contributing to portfolio companies achieving over $40B in combined market cap and multiple unicorns. Before VC, he founded Triangulate, a machine learning-driven dating startup, and held roles at Bain & Company, Cisco, and Microsoft; today, he serves on boards including Loft Orbital, Esper, Halter, and Ketryx, mentors through Ubiquity University resources, and champions deep-tech innovation as Past President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Susan Schofer

Partner & Chief Science Officer, HAX

Susan Schofer is a Partner at SOSV global venture capital firm and serves as Chief Science Officer at HAX, the world’s premier venture program accelerating early stage hard tech startups. She works with new startups via early stage investment, defining key milestones and go-to-market strategies, and is responsible for scientific oversight and building capabilities to support portfolio companies. Prior to joining HAX, Susan served as SVP Business Development for Modern Meadow and a member of the executive leadership team for over 7 years, developing new sustainable materials inspired by leather without any animals, where she led product, partnership, and go-to-market strategy and execution from early ideation through to commercialization. Before that, Susan spent 10 years in Silicon Valley working in roles spanning R&D, product development, product management, and business development for Amyris, a pioneer in synthetic biology, and Symyx Technologies, utilizing proprietary high-throughput robotic workflows to accelerate polymer and material discovery and development. Susan also worked as an analyst for management consulting company Mitchell Madison Group. Her passion is working closely with scientific and technical innovation to craft product and business strategy and partnering with founders and the broader ecosystem to implement and commercialize solutions to make a positive impact on people and planet. Susan was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Stockholm and Uppsala Universities, where she worked to develop catalyst systems for artificial photosynthesis. She holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Caltech and an Sc.B. in chemistry from Brown.

Suzanne Gildert

CEO, Nirvanic

Dr. Suzanne Gildert is the founder and CEO of Nirvanic AI, pioneering consciousness technologies for safer artificial intelligence and human wellness. Suzanne also co-founded two large robotics firms, Sanctuary AI, and Kindred AI (the latter acquired by Ocado for one third of a billion dollars ($339 million CAD). Suzanne has deep expertise in quantum computing, AI, robotics and deep tech startups, and is also a visual artist or retro-tech and sacred geometries.

Tayo Adesanya

Founder & CEO, Lola Vision Systems

Tayo Adesanya is the Founder and CEO of Lola Vision Systems, a company focused on developing vision systems technology. He leads efforts in innovative AI applications, drawing from his expertise in technology entrepreneurship.

Theofanis Karaletsos

Head of AI for Science, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Theofanis Karaletsos is currently the Head of AI for Science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, where he leads efforts in AI for virtual cell models and the broader AI x Science landscape. He is also a co-founder, board member, and advisor at Achira.ai, a groundbreaking company operating at the intersection of physics, AI, statistical mechanics, and biomolecular simulation for drug discovery. Previously, Theofanis served as Vice President of AI at Insitro, was a staff research scientist at Facebook, a founding member and senior researcher at Uber AI Labs in San Francisco, and a researcher at Geometric Intelligence, an AI startup acquired by Uber. His work broadly focuses on advancing machine intelligence, with an emphasis on probabilistic machine learning, deep learning, and probabilistic programming . He is particularly passionate about applying these methods to scientific domains such as chemistry, healthcare, biology, and drug discovery.

Tola Kasali

Co, Perspective Developer

Meet Tola Kasali, the visionary founder and innovation powerhouse behind Perspective Developers. Hailing from a global background that spans from Nigeria to Washington D.C., Tola harnesses his multicultural experiences to fuel his audacious creativity and leadership. A tech titan in the making, Tola's expertise lies in fleet management logistics, tracking, and tracing, all underpinned by a commitment to pragmatic problem-solving. His transformative creations, including the world's first live-backed NFT, Cattle Pass, and revolutionary projects like Load to Ride and Cargo Rx, redefine the tech landscape and drive industries towards a data-centric future. Tola's contributions have earned him a coveted spot in the USAF Autonomy Prime Program and invitations to global conferences.

Tom Huntley

VP of Government Relations and Defense, REGENT

Tom Huntley serves as Vice President of Government Relations and Defense and General Manager of REGENT Defense. He is a former USCG Lieutenant Commander, MH-60T Helicopter Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, and Deputy Operations Officer at Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, where he led crews conducting search and rescue, law enforcement, and Arctic domain awareness missions. He is passionate about the intersection of business, technology, and government, and holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.

Tori Shivanandan

COO, Radiant

Tori Shivanandan serves as Chief Operating Officer at Radiant, where she plays a key role in developing Earth's first mass-produced nuclear reactors and ensuring the company is on track to test a new reactor design for the first time in 50 years. Prior to joining Radiant, she was a senior leader at McMaster-Carr, America's largest engineering supply company, bringing extensive experience in operations and supply chain management. Additionally, she is a founding member of Eluma, a non-profit organization in Sierra Leone, highlighting her commitment to impactful global initiatives.

Trevor McCourt

CTO , Extropic

Trevor McCourt is a pioneering physicist-engineer and co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Extropic, a breakthrough startup developing thermodynamic computing hardware that harnesses noise and probabilistic physics to accelerate generative AI with dramatically higher energy efficiency—potentially thousands of times better than traditional GPUs—addressing the escalating power constraints limiting AI scaling. With a background in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo and advanced research at MIT in quantum control, metrology, and information applied to superconducting and trapped-ion systems, McCourt previously contributed to cutting-edge projects at Alphabet's X (Google Quantum AI) and other roles in quantum programming and hardware. Co-founding Extropic in 2022 alongside CEO Guillaume Verdon, he has guided the company through a $14.1 million seed round and the 2025 unveiling of its first working Thermodynamic Sampling Units (TSUs), positioning thermodynamic paradigms as a post-Moore's Law frontier for probabilistic machine learning and ushering in a new era of physics-native AI acceleration.

Tristan Semmelhack

co-founder, Reflect Orbital

Tristan Semmelhack is the co-founder and CEO of Reflect Orbital, a company pioneering space technology to deploy orbital mirrors for reflecting sunlight, aiming to enhance solar energy applications. He leads the company's strategic direction, including product development and partnerships in the space industry. With a background in aerospace engineering and entrepreneurship, Semmelhack has driven innovative projects in satellite technology and sustainable energy solutions. His notable achievements include founding Reflect Orbital in 2021 and securing funding to advance orbital infrastructure. Semmelhack's expertise spans space systems, orbital mechanics, and clean energy technologies.

Vincent Hingot

Resolve Stroke, Resolve Stroke

Vincent Hingot is the founder and CEO of Resolve Stroke, a company specializing in AI-enhanced ultrasound technology for rapid stroke detection and treatment. As a physicist with expertise in software-based ultrasound approaches, he previously conducted research at institutions like the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), focusing on ultrafast imaging techniques. His notable achievements include developing innovative methods for real-time medical imaging that improve diagnostic accuracy in neurology. Hingot's contributions to the field involve advancing neurotech solutions that integrate AI with hardware for emergency medical applications, potentially saving lives through early intervention.

Vincent Weisser

Founder, PrimeIntellect

Vincent Weisser is a German-American entrepreneur and decentralized science advocate best known as the co-founder and CEO of Prime Intellect, a San Francisco-based platform launched in 2023 that democratizes large-scale AI training through distributed compute aggregation and open-source models. With a background in software engineering from CODE University and prior roles leading AI ecosystems at Molecule and co-initiating VitaDAO (a longevity research collective), Weisser drives Prime Intellect's mission to commoditize compute, enable collaborative AGI development, and ensure broad distribution of AI benefits—highlighted by releases like the 100B+ parameter INTELLECT-3 MoE model and innovations in decentralized reinforcement learning.

Viren Jain, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Google

Viren Jain, Ph.D. is an American neuroscientist and machine learning researcher best known as the leader of the Connectomics team at Google Research, where he drives high-throughput, synaptic-resolution mapping of brain circuits using advanced AI and volume electron microscopy. Previously a group leader at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus (2011–2013), Jain has pioneered tools like Neuroglancer for multidimensional data visualization and TensorStore for petascale data management, while collaborating on landmark reconstructions—including the largest synapse-level maps of fly, mouse, and human brain tissue. A University of Pennsylvania alumnus with degrees in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, followed by a PhD in Computation from MIT, his work has garnered over 8,000 citations and aims to unlock fundamental insights into neural computation and brain function.

Vishnu Sridhar

Cofounder/CEO, Matter Intelligence

Vishnu Sridhar is the CEO of Matter Intelligence, a deep-tech company advancing sensors and geospatial AI to address global data challenges. He spent several years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), serving as lead Instrument Engineer for SuperCam on the Perseverance Mars rover, achieving breakthrough science and the first microphone recording on Mars. He also served as Flight Director for the Opportunity Mars rover and led NASA’s thermal tiger team during the 2018 Mars dust storm. Vishnu founded Matter while attending Harvard Business School, applying deep-space technologies to Earth and providing unique remote sensing data and analytics solutions to industries globally.

Vivek Bhagat

Senior Vice President of Engineering, Liminal

Vivek Bhagat serves as the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Liminal, where he leads the development of EchoStat, an advanced Ultrasound inspection and Machine Learning analytics platform. This platform offers critical visibility inside batteries during the manufacturing process, helping manufacturers ensure quality at scale. His expertise focuses on engineering innovations that integrate machine learning for industrial applications.

Vivek Sharma

MS, ME, MBA, Asha Medical

Vivek Sharma holds a Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Master of Business Administration, providing him with a strong interdisciplinary background in science, engineering, and business. He is associated with Asha Medical, where he applies his expertise in the medical field. Sharma has spoken at events such as the Ligandal Biotech Summit, indicating his involvement in biotechnology discussions.

Vivin Hegde

Founding and Managing Partner, Zacua Ventures

Vivin Hegde is the Founding and Managing Partner of Zacua Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in deep tech innovations. He leads the firm's efforts in supporting early-stage startups, drawing from his experience in technology and entrepreneurship. Under his guidance, Zacua Ventures has backed companies in transformative technologies.

Wachi Bandara

AI, DRW

Wachi Bandara is a professional in the field of AI at DRW, where they contribute to advancements in artificial intelligence technologies. They have spoken at events like 'Democratizing Intelligence: The Future of AI, Compute, and Infrastructure,' highlighting their expertise in AI, compute, and related infrastructure. Their work focuses on democratizing AI applications, drawing from their role in a technology-driven organization.

Walden Lam

cofounder & president, unspun

Walden is a cofounder of unspun, an on-demand fashion-technology company, also a winner of the Global Change Award in 2017. Prior to unspun, Walden led growth strategies at lululemon and covered fashion consumer companies at Goldman.

Wasiq Bokhari

Chairman, Pasqal

Wasiq Bokhari serves as the Chairman of Pasqal, a company focused on quantum computing technologies. He is involved in guiding the company's strategic direction in developing quantum processors. His role contributes to advancements in the quantum sector.

Wen Hsieh

M.P., Matter Venture Partners

Wen Hsieh is the Founding Managing Partner of Matter Venture Partners, a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm he launched in 2023 alongside co-founder Haomiao Huang, raising an impressive $300 million debut fund—backed by Kleiner Perkins, TSMC, and others—to fuel "HardTech" innovations in AI, robotics, semiconductors, electrification, space tech, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability. A Caltech PhD in electrical engineering with a minor in biology, Hsieh spent 17 years as a Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins (including leading KPCB China), where he spearheaded landmark investments in companies like DJI (drones), Desktop Metal (3D printing), Amprius (high-energy batteries), and LuxVue (acquired by Apple), while serving on boards for ventures reshaping edge AI, orthodontics, and autonomous systems. Before VC, he founded MEMS biochip startup OnChip Technologies and honed strategic expertise as an Associate Principal at McKinsey, advising global semiconductor giants; now at Matter, he partners deeply with founders as a "co-founder-type investor" to accelerate real-world hardware breakthroughs that matter most.

Will Bright

CEO & Founder, Omni Venture Labs

With over 10 years of experience scaling hardware companies to nine-figure revenue, Will is leveraging his skills to eliminate roadway deaths and pave the way for network autonomy. He also serves as a venture advisor at Omni Venture Labs, where he helps aspiring entrepreneurs reach their full potential. He is passionate about building and empowering communities that drive positive change and innovation.

Will Marshall

CEO, Planet Labs

Will Marshall is the co-founder and CEO of Planet Labs, a company that designs and operates a fleet of satellites for Earth observation to provide daily imagery of the planet. He has a background in physics and previously worked on space missions at NASA.

Will O'Brien

Co-founder, Ulysses

Will O'Brien is the Co-founder of Ulysses, a company associated with climate and energy initiatives based on his speaking engagements. He brings expertise in these sectors, contributing to discussions on sustainable technologies. His role involves leading efforts in deep tech applications for environmental challenges.

Will Purvis

Co-founder & CEO, Kaio Labs

Will Purvis is Co-Founder & CEO of Kaio Labs, combining his research in chemistry and machine learning to accelerate catalyst discovery for sustainable chemical production. With machine learning training from Cambridge and research experience in materials discovery at the University of Toronto, Will leads Kaio Labs in bridging the gap between chemistry and AI—driving innovation in electrocatalysis for a more sustainable future.

Will Regan

President and Cofounder, Pacific Fusion, Pacific Fusion

Will Regan, Ph.D., is the co-founder and President of Pacific Fusion, a Fremont, California-based startup founded in 2023 to deliver the world's most affordable, on-demand clean energy through pulser-driven inertial fusion—leveraging fast-rising high-current pulses to magnetically compress deuterium-tritium fuel targets, aiming for net facility gain (more fusion energy out than electricity in) by 2030 via a Demonstration System promising 1,000x better price-performance than NIF's laser approach. A UC Berkeley alumnus who previously catalyzed the private fusion boom as co-developer of ARPA-E's ALPHA program supporting low-cost plasma heating, Regan later led moonshot energy and climate projects at Google X—including founding Alphabet's Mineral agricultural tech division—before assembling Pacific Fusion's elite team of national lab veterans to rapidly prototype scalable systems amid a $900M+ milestone-based Series A from General Catalyst and others. A congressional witness on fusion's promise for U.S. energy leadership, prolific communicator on podcasts and technical papers, and advocate for pragmatic paths to gigawatt-scale power, Regan is driving an ambitious roadmap toward pilot plants in the 2030s to meet exploding demand from AI, electrification, and global prosperity.

Will Zeng

Partner, Quantonation

Will Zeng is a Partner at Quantonation, investing in early stage physics tech as well as Founder and President at the Unitary Foundation, an open source quantum technology research lab. Previously he built quantum computers at Rigetti Computing and worked on advanced computing R&D for Goldman Sachs. He did his PhD in quantum algorithms at Oxford.

Xuhui Shao

Managing Partner of Foothill Ventures, Foothill Ventures

Dr. Xuhui Shao is a founding partner of Foothill Ventures, an early stage deep-tech venture fund based in silicon valley. Before that he has been Yahoo's VP-II Engineering in charge of Yahoo’s global display ads platforms; Founding technologist of Ad Tech pioneer company Turn ($310M exit) and AI risk management company ID Analytics ($170M exit). Xuhui is an early investor of Plus.AI, Weride.AI and Certik - all subsequent unicorn companies.

Yash Hemaraj

General Partner at BGV, Benhamou Global Ventures

At BGV, Yash has led/co-led several investments for BGV including Folloze, Tagnos, Macrometa, Totango and 6dbytes and assisted on Blue Cedar, Kaptivo, Drishti and Spikes/Cyberinc. He also co-founded and heads the Arka Venture Labs, an accelerator platform for India-based B2B companies to scale up globally. Yash focuses on intelligent automation, robotics and customer centric applications powered by a combination of enabling technologies such as AI/ ML, IoT and computer vision

Ying-Hui Fu

Professor, UCSF

Ying-Hui Fu, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at UCSF and a leading geneticist in the field of sleep and circadian biology. Her research focuses on identifying gene mutations that influence sleep patterns, including those responsible for Familial Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome and Natural Short Sleep. She uses a combination of human genetics and model organisms to understand the molecular mechanisms behind sleep and neurodegeneration. Dr. Fu is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and Academia Sinica.

Yuan Yu

Technical Fellow, Microsoft Azure

Yuan Yu is a Technical Fellow at Microsoft Azure, where he focuses on advancing distributed systems and big data processing technologies. With a strong background in computer science, he has contributed significantly to scalable computing frameworks during his tenure at Microsoft. Notably, he co-developed the Dryad system, a distributed execution engine for large-scale data processing, and has worked on projects like Azure's Cosmos DB for reliable data management. His expertise lies in fault-tolerant systems, parallel computing, and big data analytics, with numerous publications and patents in these fields.

Yves Remmler

Co-Founder & CEO, Endeavor Elements, Endeavor Elements

Yves Remmler is the visionary Founder and CEO of Endeavor Elements, Inc., an innovative aerospace startup revolutionizing the future of flight by integrating AI-driven avionics, automated regulatory compliance tooling, advanced simulation systems, and proprietary hardware to slash certification costs—where the industry often spends up to $100 per line of code—while accelerating development timelines and upholding the highest safety standards in a sector plagued by delays and cancellations. With a background in engineering, product management, and technology leadership in regulated domains like aviation and autonomous systems, Remmler brings Silicon Valley agility to traditionally conservative aerospace, co-founding the company alongside CTO Vamshi Chittaluri to build an integrated solutions provider tackling outdated toolchains, manual processes, and fragmented supply chains. A Forbes Business Council member, prolific contributor on AI ethics and innovation in high-stakes industries, sought-after speaker, and active voice on platforms like Substack and X, he passionately advocates for human-AI collaboration to enable safer, more efficient, and transformative air mobility—from advanced air vehicles to fully automated flight.

Zion Lim Keng Darko

Founder, Onairos

Founder of Onairos, where Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Technology, and Data Privacy converge to redefine your digital persona. Their application crafts Personalized Digital Identities that revolutionize your interaction with the digital world.