VLAB

Fully Homomorphic Encryption: Is FHE the Holy Grail for Security?
2023-12-05 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos, CA, 94022, United States
Fully Homomorphic Encryption
Is FHE the Holy Grail for Security?

Tuesday, December 5, 2023
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), widely recognized as one the most secure encryption methods in cryptography, has recently seen major breakthroughs that could unlock FHE’s true potential.
FHE is a powerful cryptographic algorithm that allows trusted parties to work with encrypted data without the need of first decrypting the data. This means that organizations can view, process, and analyze data without compromising the security of that data. This capability could solve key problems and create new opportunities across a wide range of applications, such as healthcare, finance, artificial intelligence (AI), and other industries that manage highly sensitive data.
Even though the first feasible FHE scheme was proposed back in 2009, the ability to deploy FHE effectively has been limited by the processing power of existing hardware. Now in its fourth generation, recent advances in both software and hardware have triggered a new race among R&D centers and startups to apply FHE architecture to cloud services and other applications.
Using FHE to protect data in virtual environments could unlock billions of dollars in business potential in data privacy-challenged applications. Other encryption methods — such as secure-enclaves, or zero-knowledge proof — simply cannot provide the same level of security and flexibility as FHE.
In our upcoming VLAB panel discussion, thought leaders, founders, and investors will discuss the latest developments in FHE:

Which players are leading the race to be the first to provide FHE solutions?
What are the potential risks and challenges associated with FHE?
Does FHE truly have the potential to be the holy grail of encryption?

Join us on December 5 to learn more about FHE.

Moderator

Brett Hartman, Lecturer, California Polytechnic State University

Panelists

Jorge Myszne, Chief Product Officer, Niobium Microsystems
Mache Creeger, Vice President Business Development, Cornami
Eric Ball, Founding General Partner, Impact Venture Capital

Founders’ Series: Investment Landscape and Opportunities in Generative AI
2023-08-24 18:00 - 20:30 | San Francisco, CA
Founders' Series

Investment Landscape and Opportunities in Generative AI
Just the Tip of the Iceberg?

Thursday, August 24, 2023
Fireside Chat: 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
“Hot Seat” Startups: 6:30 pm – 6:50 pm *
Q&A: 6:50 – 7:00 pm
* 3-4 selected founders from audience will be featured on stage.

As companies continue to seek innovative ways to differentiate themselves, Generative AI has emerged as a game-changing technology with tremendous potential for disruption across a wide range of fields and industries. From creating unique content and designs to optimizing complex processes, Generative AI is opening a new world of untapped opportunities for startups to explore.
This VLAB Founders Series event will provide an opportunity for founders to hear firsthand from a leading VC in this space and gain new perspectives about the rise of generative AI and its profound impact on the startup ecosystem. Whether you are a startup founder looking to explore the potential of generative AI, an executive considering a pivot to building AI-capable products, or simply an aspiring entrepreneur seeking inspiration, this event is tailored to provide you with the insights you need to stay ahead in this game.
In this event, Arjun Chopra (partner at Floodgate Fund) and André Thiollier (partner at Foley & Lardner LLP) will discuss the latest trends in generative AI, share their insights on its potential, and examine how these technologies are being used by startups to create new products and services:

How will startups be able to leverage Generative AI to scale their business?
What are the potential risks associated with Generative AI for startups?
How can startups position themselves strategically to attract investment?

In addition to the “fireside chat” discussion, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive some individual counseling about their unique situations.
Join us on August 24 for this exciting and thought-provoking discussion.

Speaker

Arjun Chopra, partner, Floodgate Fund
As a partner at Floodgate, Arjun leads the firm’s investments in opportunities that transform the “IT stack” in ways that help companies change the way they do business and compete. Before Floodgate, Arjun was the CTO at Cambridge Technology Enterprises (CTE), a publicly traded cloud services company, where he launched and led their cloud business. He was a member of the board and executive team that raised multiple rounds of financing. He led 350+ people, managed 200M hours of uptime in the public cloud and was recognized as one of Amazon Web Service’s top 22 partners world-wide. Arjun joined CTE when they acquired Vox Holdings, the open-source startup he founded. Arjun holds multiple technology patents that have been cited as prior art by firms like Apple, AT&T, and iRobot. He has also held several technology development and management positions in consumer and enterprise software companies, including Microsoft, Motive, and IBCC.

Moderator

André Thiollier, partner and business attorney, Foley & Lardner LLP
As a partner in the Silicon Valley office of Foley & Lardner LLP, André is a member of the firm’s Transactions Practice, where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, emerging growth and venture financings, and general corporate and business counseling. He represents a variety of clients ranging from late-stage private companies and strategic buyers to venture capital and private equity funds across various industries, including life sciences, technology, financial services, healthcare, and outsourcing. André’s extensive experience in multiple jurisdictions, combined with fluency in different languages, allows André to better advise clients in cross-border transactions, particularly in Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico. Prior to joining Foley, André worked as an associate at the Silicon Valley office of a global law firm. With over 15 years of experience in transnational transactions, André has practiced law in top law firms in São Paulo, New York, and Madrid.

About the VLAB Founders’ Series
Founders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions!
If you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance.
For all other questions, please contact founders.series@vlab.org.
Note: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.

Founders’ Series: A New Model for Startup Success
2023-04-18 18:00 - 20:30 | San Francisco, CA
Founders' Series

A New Model for Startup Success
Navigating Funding Challenges in 2023

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Fireside Chat: 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
“Hot Seat” Startups: 6:30 pm – 6:50 pm *
Q&A: 6:50 – 7:00 pm
* 3-4 selected founders from audience will be featured on stage.

Following a similar pattern in past economic downturns, changing factors in the current economic environment — including inflationary pressures, market uncertainties, and risk aversion — have caused massive disruptions among startups and venture capitalists (VCs), and the ripple effects are extending across the entire community of founders and investors.
Showing a promising outlook into the future is no longer enough to get the funding that companies need to deliver on their ideas. Consequently, a potential nose-dive in available funding has shifted from a what-if scenario to become a harsh reality. Compared to the previous year, funding from VCs decreased by over 30% in 2022.
Despite the abundant negativity surrounding the current investment atmosphere for startups, there is a counterargument that now might be a good time to invest in startups and VC funds, for a variety of reasons:

Lower current valuations of startups
Increased accessibility to top talent
Ability of VCs to “stretch” their money longer
Better discipline in the decision-making process

The net result is increased pressure on VC firms to improve the efficiency of their funds, enhance productivity, and reach their targets — all of which translates into higher returns for shareholders.
In this VLAB Founders’ Series event, André Thiollier (partner and business attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP) will moderate a “fireside chat” with SC Moatti (managing partner at Mighty Capital). During their conversation, these experts in their field will share their thoughts concerning the current investment atmosphere and provide advice for startup founders about addressing challenges and opportunities:

How can founders adapt to the current macro-economic environment?
What are the do’s and don’ts when pitching your idea and raising capital?
How should startups modify their company strategy — i.e., short-term vs. long-term?

In addition to fireside chat, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive some individual counseling about their unique situations.
Join us on April 18 for this exciting and thought-provoking event.

Speaker

SC Moatti, managing partner, Mighty Capital
SC Moatti is the founding managing partner of Mighty Capital®; the founding CEO of Products That Count, the most influential product acceleration platform; and a lecturer at Stanford and Columbia Universities. Previously, SC built products at Facebook and Nokia that billions of people use. Andrew Chen, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, called SC “a genius at making products people love.” SC serves on the boards of public and private companies, earned a master’s in electrical engineering and a Stanford MBA, and is a Kauffman Fellow.

Moderator

André Thiollier, partner and business attorney, Foley & Lardner LLP
André is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, based in the firm’s Silicon Valley office, where he is a member of the firm’s transactions practice.
André’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, emerging growth, and venture financings, and general corporate and business counseling. He represents a variety of clients ranging from late-stage private companies and strategic buyers to venture capital and private equity funds across various industries, including life sciences, technology, financial services, healthcare, and outsourcing.
André’s extensive experience in multiple jurisdictions combined with fluency in different languages allows André to better advise clients in cross border transactions, particularly in Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
Prior to joining Foley, André worked as an associate at the Silicon Valley office of a global law firm. With over 15 years of experience in transnational transactions, André has practiced law in top law firms in São Paulo, New York, and Madrid.

About the VLAB Founders’ Series
Founders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions!
If you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance.
For all other questions, please contact founders.series@vlab.org.
Note: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.

Accelerating through the Turn: Which Electric Cars Will Get the Checkered Flag?
2022-11-15 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Accelerating through the Turn
Which Electric Cars Will Get the Checkered Flag?

Tuesday, November 15, 2022
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
(Pacific time)

It is no secret that the global automotive landscape is undergoing a monumental transformation from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to engines using alternative, carbon-friendly fuel sources. Perhaps the most well-known of these new automobile designs is the battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV). BEVs are being chosen to drive the future (pun intended) for several key reasons. BEVs typically have better fuel economy and lower fuel costs than ICE vehicles, and their reduced carbon emissions can help achieve global sustainability goals.
The demand among consumers for BEVs continues to accelerate, and governments have jumped on the bandwagon, adopting new measures to reduce or eliminate the production of gas-powered vehicles. These market-shifting developments have ignited both established manufacturers and startups, and industry leaders are placing huge bets on an all-electric future. With over 1 billion cars on the road today, the stakes are enormous.
Understandably, these massive numbers have attracted massive amounts of capital, and companies are scrambling to take the pole position and adopt a “BEV-first” mentality. For example, Stellantis has invested a staggering $35 billion in the BEV space, and Ford has invested $20 billion to facilitate the BEV transition in its product line. Large deployments of capital can also be seen on even small BEV startups, and the transportation sector has become the fourth-largest investment sector among VCs.
In our upcoming VLAB panel discussion, thought leaders, founders, and investors will discuss the key challenges and opportunities in the BEV space and whether legacy automakers will be quick and nimble enough to keep up with or overtake the BEV startups.

What are the key challenges faced by BEV startups and incumbents?
What new incentives are governments providing to help accelerate BEV adoption?
Which companies have the inside track in the BEV race?

Join us on November 15 to find out.

Moderators

John McElroy, Host, Autoline Daily
Sandy Munro, Chief Executive Officer, Munro & Associates

Panelists

Chris Anthony, Chief Executive Officer, Aptera
Volker Kaeser, Chief Technology Officer, Indigotech
Alexei Andreev, Managing Director, Autotech Ventures

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

Founders’ Series: Investing in the Next Wave of NFTs
2022-04-28 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Founders' Series

Investing in the Next Wave of NFTs
Unique Opportunities or Just Another Asset Class?

Thursday, April 28, 2022
Fireside Chat: 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
“Hot Seat” Startups: 6:30 pm – 6:50 pm *
Q&A: 6:50 – 7:00 pm
* 3-4 selected founders from audience will be featured on the virtual stage.

The evolution of blockchain-based digital assets has continued to create new opportunities, markets, companies, and products around the globe, attracting ever-increasing levels of capital inflow and furthering the approaching transition from Web2 to Web3. Leveraging the power of blockchain, decentralization, and smart contracts, the non-fungible token (NFT) is a special class of asset that is uniquely identifiable and non-interchangeable. NFTs are different from cryptocurrencies in that they are defined by metadata that ensures that their intrinsic role, function, and value are unique.
With sales now averaging $160 million dollars per day and a total market cap of over $23 billion, NFTs are innovating, disrupting, and transforming industries in several unique ways — including the digitalization of physical assets, arts, media, and gaming; the monetization of virtual assets in the metaverse; and the ownership and distribution of assets.
If founders and entrepreneurs want to capitalize on the potential of NFTs, there remain several challenges that they need to overcome — for example, volatility, plagiarism, regulatory implications, financial risk, cyber security, and standardization.
In this VLAB Founders’ Series event, Michael del Castillo, senior editor at Forbes, and Jordan Woods, founding partner at StarChain Ventures, will share their thoughts concerning the atmosphere for investing in NFT technology and provide advice about addressing current challenges and opportunities:

How can investors capitalize on this potential outgrowth opportunity?
What are the do’s and don’ts when raising capital for NFT companies?
What are the perceived risks, opportunities, and regulatory implications now and in the future?

In addition to the fireside chat, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive individual counseling about their unique situations.
Join us on April 28 to help us explore.

Our Panelists

Speaker

Jorden Woods, Founding Partner, StarChain Ventures
Jorden is a Caltech-trained astrophysicist, successful 3-time serial entrepreneur with exits, and a pioneer in Web3 decentralized technologies & online globalization strategy. He is a founding partner at StarChain Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture studio solving significant global challenges with Web3/Blockchain plus other advanced technologies such as AI/ML and IoT – a core thesis of his best-selling book, Enterprise Blockchain Has Arrived, co-authored with Radhika Iyengar. Jorden is the host of The Future of Business, an educational videocast series focused on business opportunities with Web 3 the Metaverse. He is also a managing partner at DoubleNova Group, a boutique Silicon Valley-based management consultancy advising the Global 2000 and top startups on advanced tech & global markets.
Jorden has raised over $200 million from top-tier Silicon Valley and global investors for both his own companies and advised startups. His first company GlobalSight became a market leader and was rated as one of the “Top 50 Private Companies in the World” by both the Red Herring and Upside magazines. His second company, in 2002, was focused on decentralized technologies and what we now call the Metaverse (the 3D Web). He has also generated millions of dollars in revenue, managed a $15M P&L, and expanded startups both nationally and internationally. Jorden has a successful track record leading strategy and technology initiatives with Fortune 500 organizations generating millions in positive ROI.

Moderator

Michael del Castillo, Senior Editor, Crypto and Blockchain, Forbes
As the senior editor covering cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications at Forbes magazine, Michael reports on how those technologies are being adopted by enterprises and the broader business community. His coverage includes the use of cryptocurrencies and extends to non-cryptocurrency applications of blockchain in finance, supply chain management, digital identity, and a number of other use cases.
Previously, he was a staff reporter at blockchain news site, CoinDesk, where he covered the increasing willingness of enterprises to explore how blockchain could make their work more efficient and in some cases, unnecessary. Michael has been covering blockchain since 2011, been published in the New Yorker, and been nationally syndicated by American City Business Journals. His work has been published in Blockchain in Financial Markets and Beyond by Risk Books, and he is regularly cited in industry research reports. Since 2009, Michael has run Literary New York, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to showing Manhattan’s rich literary heritage.

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

About the VLAB Founders’ Series
Founders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions!
If you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance.
For all other questions, please contact founders.series@vlab.org.
Note: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.

Founders’ Series: The Great SPAC Explosion of the 2020s
2021-11-09 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Founders' Series

The Great SPAC Explosion of the 2020s
Are SPACs Better than IPOs or Acquisitions?

Tuesday, November 9, 2021
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
(Pacific time)

The popularity of using a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) to go public has exploded, and SPACS have significantly disrupted the path to liquidity for a growing number of startups. In 2020, there were more SPAC transactions than traditional IPOs, and this number has continued to increase substantially. So far in 2021, there have been almost four times the number of SPAC transactions than traditional IPOs, with the value of SPACs more than double that of traditional IPOs.
Despite this dramatic growth, one key question remains: are SPACs really the best exit strategy for a startup? SPACs may not be appropriate for every startup, and founders considering the SPAC option should understand the advantages and disadvantages when deciding whether a SPAC makes sense for their company.
For our next event, VLAB has assembled a panel of experts, entrepreneurs, and investors with considerable SPAC experience. The panel will examine the pros and cons of “going SPAC” and review the key elements needed for a successful SPAC. While the conversation may examine the issue more from a founder’s perspective, the panel will also discuss the opportunities and risks for investors in SPAC transactions. The panel will also review some of the important regulatory issues related to SPACs.
In addition to the moderated discussion, the panel will also field questions from the audience and provide specific, relevant advice for both what-if and real-world situations. Startups attending this event should leave with a better understanding of whether they would be a good candidate for a SPAC.

What are the benefits of a SPAC related to pricing, speed, and flexibility?
How should startups evaluate a SPAC vs. alternative strategies?
What are the regulatory implications and ramifications of SPACs?

Join us on November 9 to find out.

Moderator

Manny Fernandez, Founder & Angel Investor, SF Angels Group

Panelists

Lise Buyer, Partner and Founder, Class V Group
Scott Leonard, Founder and CEO, Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corporation
John H. Booher, Partner, Sheppard Mullin

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

About the VLAB Founders’ Series
Founders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions!
If you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance.
For all other questions, please contact founders.series@vlab.org.
Note: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.

Robotic Process Automation: A “Magic Switch” for Enterprises?
2021-09-29 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Robotic Process Automation
A “Magic Switch” for Enterprises?

Wednesday, September 29, 2021
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

The digital transformation of enterprises across the globe has been a key driver of innovation in recent years, fundamentally changing the way a company operates and delivers value to its customers. As enterprises continue to explore new ways to integrate digital technology into every aspect of their business, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is poised to accelerate this transformation even further. RPA is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global enterprise software market, with the RPA market expected to reach ≈$2 billion in 2021 and an expected CAGR of ≈32% until 2028.
Simply put, RPA uses software-based “robots” to automate business tasks and processes. By analyzing data from a wide spectrum of sources, RPA tools gather the intelligence needed to process a transaction, trigger responses, and communicate with other digital systems. Tasks executed by RPA may be as simple as filling in forms or as complex as integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools to perform cognitive processes.
The ability to complete these tasks automatically has several substantial benefits for enterprises, from significantly reducing operating costs to minimizing or even eliminating human error. Moreover, RPA systems are designed to be enterprise-ready. They’re easy to deploy (using a low-code development platform) and extremely scalable. For most installations, there is no disruption to underlying systems and minimal upfront investment. The return on investment (ROI) for implementing RPA is both immense and immediate.
In our upcoming VLAB panel discussion, thought leaders, founders, and investors will explore how businesses and entrepreneurs can take advantage of the oncoming RPA wave.

What are the challenges of enterprise-wide deployment of RPA?
Which industry sectors are poised to be disrupted by RPA? Which will benefit?
What threats does RPA pose to the human workforce in the next 5 years?

Join us on September 29 to find out.

Moderator

Pascal Bornet, Member and Contributor, Forbes Technology Council

Panelists

Dmitry Karpov, Founder, ElectroNeek Robotics
Babu Sivadasan, Chairman and CEO, Jiffy.ai
Prince Kohli, CTO, Automation Anywhere
Josh Shirazi, Principal Investor, Alkeon Capital Management

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

Indoor AgTech: Planting the Seeds of a Better Food Supply
2021-05-27 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Indoor AgTech
Planting the Seeds of a Better Food Supply

Thursday, May 27, 2021
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

The indoor AgTech market is poised to revolutionize the food supply system, disrupting conventional “open field” and greenhouse growers. As population growth, urbanization, and climate change reshape the farming landscape — both figuratively and literally — traditional farming is facing new and increasing challenges. Extended droughts, record-breaking cold, floods, and wildfires have resulted in tens of billions of dollars in crop losses across the country and around the globe. An estimated 90% of crop losses in the United States are caused by extreme weather (source: U.S. Department of Agriculture).
Moreover, the distance over which crops must be transported typically exacerbates farming’s carbon footprint, and there is growing demand for easy and affordable access to fresh and nutritious produce in regions and neighborhoods that historically have been underserved.
Taking farming indoors may provide a solution for these and myriad other issues. Recent advances have created a confluence of technologies that extend indoor farming far beyond conventional greenhouses. From environmental controls, energy-efficient lighting systems, and robotics to genetics, AI-based crop management, and automated harvesting, both small startups and large agribusiness enterprises are exploring ways to maximize indoor crop yields, enhance product quality, and promote hyper-local production and distribution.
In our upcoming VLAB panel discussion, industry experts and entrepreneurs will discuss the opportunities and the challenges associated with controlled environment farming — and help “separate the wheat from the chaff.”

To what extent will current greenhouse and field growers be disrupted?
Which technologies and business models have the greatest potential to make an impact?
Are we ready to bet the farm on indoor AgTech?

Join us on May 27 to find out.

Moderator

Gene Giacomelli, Professor, Biosystems Engineering Department, University of Arizona

Panelists

Sam Bertram, CEO, OnePointOne
Sam Schatz, Managing Director & Global Head of Farm Development, AeroFarms
Marta Baptista, Global Director of Strategic Research and Technology Adoption, Driscoll’s Berries
Michael Rose, Partner, Better Food Ventures

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

Founders’ Series: Raising Capital During the Pandemic
2021-03-24 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Founders' Series

Raising Capital During the Pandemic

Wednesday, March 24, 2021Fireside Chat: 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
“Hot Seat” Startups: 6:30 pm – 6:50 pm *
Q&A: 6:50 – 7:00 pm
* 3-4 selected founders from audience will be featured on the virtual stage.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced an extraordinary set of new challenges for both startups and venture capital investment funds. Startups are finding that their networking opportunities have shrunken dramatically, and VCs are forced to make investment decisions in a virtual environment and put their investment portfolios under increasingly rigorous scrutiny.
Despite these challenges, however, the pandemic has also created new opportunities. Startups are exploring new ways to apply their technologies, and VCs are discovering exciting new investment possibilities.
In this VLAB Founders’ Series event, Paul Asel, managing partner at NGP Capital, will share his thoughts concerning the pandemic investment atmosphere and provide advice for startup founders about addressing current challenges and opportunities:

Will it be more difficult to get VC investment in 2021 than prior to the pandemic?
How have VCs changed their investment criteria during the pandemic?
Are there specific kinds of business models that are more attractive to VCs?
What alternatives to VC investment should founders consider in 2021?
What will be the key factors for VCs post-pandemic?

In addition to a general discussion about these topics, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive some individual counseling about their unique situations.
Join us on March 24, 2021, for this exciting and thought-provoking fireside chat.

Our Panelists

Speaker

Paul Asel, Managing Partner, NGP Capital
Paul is a managing partner at NGP Capital, a global venture firm with $1.2 billion assets under management and offices in Europe, China, and the United States. He has realized over 20 successful exits throughout his career, including 5 IPOs and four exits exceeding $1 billion, of which UCWeb and Ganji are two of the largest technology acquisitions in China. Current investments include Workfusion, Lime, Fetchr, Juvo, Next Trucking, Scoop, Zoomcar, and Zum.
Prior to NGP Capital, Paul led technology investments in Southeast Asia at the International Finance Corporation. He received an MBA from Stanford University and a BA from Dartmouth College. Paul is co-author of Upward Bound: Lessons of How Nine Leaders Achieved Their Summits. Follow Paul on Twitter and Medium: @PaulAsel.

Moderator

Ravi Belani, Managing Director, The Alchemist Accelerator
Ravi Belani is the Fenwick & West Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at Stanford University and Managing Director of the Alchemist Accelerator, an enterprise seed accelerator backed by Cisco, DFJ, Khosla Ventures, Salesforce, Sapphire Ventures, and USVP. Alchemist grads include MightyHive, Rigetti Quantum Computing, and Zipongo.
Ravi formerly spent six years as part of the investment team at Draper Fisher Jurvetson’s Menlo Park global headquarters, where he led investments and served on the boards as the first institutional investor in companies such as Justin.TV & Twitch (acquired by Amazon for $970m), Pubmatic, Vizu (acq’d by Nielsen), and Yield Software (acquired by Autonomy). Ravi formerly worked in product management at two Kleiner Perkins enterprise startups, and as a consultant in McKinsey and Company’s San Francisco office. Ravi is a Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi graduate of Stanford University, holding a BS with Distinction and MS in Industrial Engineering. Ravi also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

About the VLAB Founders’ Series
Founders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions!
If you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance.
For all other questions, please contact founders.series@vlab.org.
Note: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.

Eliminating Passwords: Does Abolishing the Password Create Stronger Security?
2021-02-16 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Eliminating Passwords
Does Abolishing the Password Create Stronger Security?

Tuesday, February 16, 2021
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Passwords are a source of endless frustration — for both users and organizations. According to Verizon’s Data Breach Investigation Report, 81% of data breaches are caused by compromised, weak, and reused passwords. They often lead to employee downtime and abandoned shopping carts. In today’s networked economy, passwords may no longer be a suitable tool for protecting access.
Moreover, password issues can have a huge financial impact on businesses, as a result of recovering from data breaches, employee downtime, and rebuilding corporate reputations. In 2020, cybercrime cost the global economy $2.9M every minute. Even regular maintenance itself is extremely expensive, with most enterprises spending more than $1M per year just to reset passwords. And the problem is getting worse. Data breaches have both a significant short-term impact — with an average cost of $8.9M per breach — and long-term consequences, as billions of login credentials from these breaches are circulated across the dark web.
Fortunately, help is on the way. Several startups are working on new solutions that could eliminate the need for passwords by replacing them with simpler and stronger forms of authentication, often leveraging physical security keys and biometrics. These new authentication technologies have the potential to completely transform digital security.
In our upcoming VLAB panel discussion, industry experts and entrepreneurs will discuss the future of password-less authentication and how companies can build it into their security plans.

What are the current in-market solutions and how effective are they?
How can companies successfully transition to password-less authentication?
What are the opportunities for entrepreneurs and technologists?

Join us on February 16 to find out.

Moderator

Andrew Shikiar, Executive Director & CMO, FIDO Alliance

Panelists

Ori Eisen, Founder & CEO, Trusona
Stina Ehrensvärd, CEO & Co-founder, Yubico
Candace Worley, CPO, Ping Identity
Asheem Chandna, Partner, Greylock Partners

Check out these videos from our event partners:
Trusona
Yubico

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

Carbon-Friendly Concrete: Can We “Build” Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis?
2020-10-27 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Carbon-Friendly Concrete
Can We “Build” Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis?

Tuesday, October 27, 2020
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Record-breaking temperatures. Millions of acres engulfed in wildfires. Storms that are stronger and more frequent than at any time in recorded history. The effects of the rise in greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere seem to be more devastating every year.
While many of the major contributors to the climate crisis are familiar to most of us — automobiles, power plants, factories, agriculture, etc. — there is one source that may surprise you: concrete. With the explosion of construction in developing and developed countries around the globe, the production of concrete accounts for approximately 7% of annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
As the demand for more construction globally continues unabated, the world is building the equivalent of twelve New York Citys every year! Several companies are exploring ways to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete and cement — and even make them carbon-negative. These new technologies could scale to trap up to 25% of yearly CO2 emissions. When the market size for concrete and cement is $440B worldwide, there is ample potential to make money and make progress toward saving the planet.

How are startups maximizing the potential of carbon-negative concrete and cement?
Will synthetic materials fill a role in the construction industry?
How will concrete and cement be able to terraform our planet?

Join us on October 27 to find out.

Moderator

Marcius Extavour, Ph.D., Executive Director, NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, Xprize Foundation

Panelists

Brent Constantz, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Blue Planet Ltd.
Tom Schuler, CEO, Solidia Technologies Inc.
Jeremy Gregory, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Concrete Sustainability Hub, MIT
Arvind Gupta, Partner, Mayfield Fund

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

Telehealth Hypergrowth: Will Virtual House Calls Replace Office Visits?
2020-10-01 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Telehealth Hypergrowth
Will Virtual House Calls Replace Office Visits?

Thursday, October 1, 2020
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Using technology to deliver health care from a distance has been available for decades. In recent years, telehealth usage has steadily increased, and many large medical groups today offer telehealth services. A growing number of both physicians and patients are satisfied with their telehealth experience and enjoy the convenience and efficiency resulting from removing the need to travel to a doctor’s office. However, despite its many advantages, telehealth has been slow to catch on, partly due to barriers involving regulations and licensing issues.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is suddenly understood to be the safest way to see patients. This realization has been accompanied by the accelerated innovation and adoption of new telehealth technologies, and the U.S. government has eased regulations regarding reimbursement and licensing. As a result, the use of video visits has surged dramatically. For example, the average number of weekly telehealth visits for non-HMO Medicare patients increased from about 13,000 pre-pandemic to nearly 1.7 million in the last week of April 2020.
As a result, interest in telehealth technology has understandably surged among entrepreneurs and investors. Digital health has quickly become one of the most heavily invested sectors in the startup community, with telehealth being the number one top-funded category. Is telehealth here to stay or will the excitement dissipate when the pandemic ends? In this online event, our panel of entrepreneurs, investors, and health professionals will discuss the realities, roadmaps, and future potential of telehealth.

What are the biggest barriers to expanding the adoption of telehealth services?
How can telehealth startups gain a competitive advantage over existing platforms?
How can extending telehealth services to underserved areas help reduce health disparities?

Join us on October 1 to find out.

Moderator

Jack Higgins, MD – President & Chief Medical Officer, Global Telehealth Network

Panelists

Brad Younggren, MD – Chief Medical Officer, 98point6
Albert Chan, MD – Chief of Digital Patient Experience, Sutter Health
Alpa Sanghavi, MD – Chief Quality and Patient Experience Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Sunny Kumar, MD – Partner, GSR Ventures

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

The Future of Privacy: Will Cryptography and Secure Computation Protect Us?
2020-08-27 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
The Future of Privacy
Will Cryptography and Secure Computation Protect Us?

Thursday, August 27, 2020
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

It is hard to argue with the statement that “data is the new oil.” Unfortunately, the ever-expanding collection of data from social networks, smartphones, and IoT devices has created an alarming trend. Every month, it seems, there is another huge data breach somewhere in the cyberworld, and people are understandably concerned about how well — or even if — their online privacy is being protected. The current pandemic has accelerated the growing demand for sharing health-care data and highlighted the need for digital contact tracing. When exacerbated by the questionable behavior of some online services, this has all simply added fuel to the fire.
Both governments and private companies have been trying to assuage these fears. Governments have passed new laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). And emerging technologies, including secure multiparty computation (MPC), Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) are attempting to put stronger protection in place. But is this enough?
In this VLAB event, a panel of experts in cryptography, privacy, and security — including trailblazing startups, Internet giants like Google, and VCs focused on this field — will discuss the role of cryptography and secure computation and examine the impact that these technologies could have on protecting privacy.

Can companies effectively balance the desire for data and the needs of consumers?
Will new technologies be strong enough to provide proper protection?
How can entrepreneurs leverage this opportunity?

Join us on August 27 to find out.

Moderator

Patrick Lincoln, Director of Computer Science Lab, SRI

Panelists

Kurt Rohloff, Co-founder and CTO, Duality Technologies
Vishwanath Raman, Product and Engineering, Oasis Labs
Moti Yung, Research Scientist, Google; Adjunct Research Professor, Columbia University
Chenxi Wang, Managing General Partner, Rain Capital

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

Digital Contact Tracing: Blazing a Trail Back to Normal?
2020-07-23 18:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Digital Contact Tracing
Blazing a Trail Back to Normal?

Thursday, July 23, 2020
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

As people around the world deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone everywhere is asking one simple question: when will it end? A key component to answering this all-important question stems from having a more complete understanding of how the disease spreads. This is where contact tracing can play a huge role.
Just about everyone today has a mobile phone, so it makes sense to try to track the movement of these phones to understand the spread of COVID-19. The level of international collaboration is unprecedented, involving governments, health organizations, universities, and private companies. Silicon Valley giants like Google and Apple are leading efforts to develop a shared API that will automatically collect location data on mobile devices. The implications of knowing every person with whom any person has had contact are both enormously beneficial and enormously scary at the same time, but if it works, this contact tracing data could help provide a path back to normal.
Understandably, venture capital firms and startups are working hard (remotely, of course) to incorporate these APIs into existing and emerging apps — and to explore new opportunities in this space. Our panel will discuss the impact of universal adoption of this technology and several related hot-button issues, such as:

What mechanisms are needed to ensure that this location data is not misused?
Will people be willing to sacrifice some privacy to help stop the pandemic?
How will companies and organizations be able to use this data once the crisis has ended?

Join us for our interactive online event on July 23 as we explore digital contact tracing together.

Moderator

Thomas C. Kingsley, Senior Associate Consultant, Mayo Clinic

Panelists

Ramesh Rasker, Founder, PathcheckMIT Safe Paths
Clint Van Marrewijk, Founder and CEO, SaferMe
Mohammad (Mo) Islam, Partner, Threshold Ventures
George Rutherford, Epidemiologist, UCSF

Free Online Event

A Note about Ticket Sales

We understand that many people may be having a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the tickets for this online event will be offered free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending.
Normally, ticket sales are our main source of revenue, so VLAB could really use your support. When you register for the event, please consider making a donation to help keep VLAB going.
VLAB is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for your support and hope to see you soon.

Automated Attorneys: Will AI “Kill All the Lawyers?”
2019-10-24 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Automated Attorneys
Will AI “Kill All the Lawyers?”

Thursday, October 24, 2019
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Lawyers have been around a long time — from long before Shakespeare. By some accounts, people have relied on the specialized knowledge of the legal industry for over 6,000 years. And everything is about to change. Recent technological and regulatory developments are poised to transform our access to legal expertise in radically new ways. How lawyers and startups adapt to these changes will significantly alter the landscape of a $300B industry.
As new digital services supplant traditional legal services, law firms will no longer need to hire huge teams to get the information they need. In theory, this will allow smaller firms to compete more effectively, increasing access and decreasing costs. When the cost of hiring a lawyer is calculated by the minute, the financial savings could be huge.
Additionally, regulatory changes could shift the distribution of revenue and profit substantially across the entire industry. For example, states such as California and Utah are exploring new rules that would allow legal firms to sell “shares” of ownership to non-attorneys, creating new opportunities for the savvy investor.
This expanded access to information, to services, and to capital has the potential to improve legal services and generate significant value.

What will lawyers need to do to survive in this changing landscape?
Will “live” attorneys be replaced by legal robots?
Will these changes lead to greater competition?

Join us on October 24 to find out.

Moderator

Drew Amerson, Director of LexLab, UC Hastings

Panelists

Patrick Barry, COO, Logikcull
Amélie-Sophie Vavrovsky, Co-Founder & CEO, Formally
David Wang, Corporate Strategic Innovation Counsel, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Dan Jansen, CEO and Managing Director, NextLaw Ventures

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Founders’ Series: The Next Wave of Venture
2019-06-06 18:00 - 20:30 | San Francisco, CA
Founders' Series

The Next Wave of Venture

Thursday, June 6, 20196:00 pm to 8:30 pm6:00 pm: Reception and networking7:00 pm: Fireside Chat

As the investment from major VC funds into Series A rounds and subsequent growth rounds continue to get larger, we are witnessing the emergence of new funds for smaller, earlier-stage companies. To fill this need, some VCs have formed new funds. Is this a “back to our roots” movement or a new wave in the VC community?
With an amazing track record of helping multiple startups become some of the biggest players in their respective industries, Mamoon Hamid has joined Kleiner Perkins to show that big can be nimble, too. In this special Founders’ Series event, Mamoon will share his insight and experience. Founders seeking financing will hear about various options and the consequences, and a few select founders will have the opportunity to get individual counseling about their unique challenge.
Join us on June 6 to hear more about the next wave of venture funding.

Our Panelists

Mamoon Hamid, Partner, Kleiner Perkins
Prior to joining Kleiner Perkins, Mamoon was a co-founder and general partner at Social Capital. Mamoon has been an early investor in and served on the boards of some of the most innovative software companies of recent times including Slack, Box, Yammer (acquired by Microsoft), Intercom, and Netskope. Prior to Social Capital, he was a Partner at U.S. Venture Partners (USVP). Mamoon started his Silicon Valley career at Xilinx where he spent six years in various engineering and business roles. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, an MS from Stanford University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Stephanie Zeppa, Partner, Sheppard Mullin, Corporate & Securities Group
Stephanie has extensive experience representing both private and public companies in mergers and acquisitions, investments, strategic transactions and corporate governance matters. She also represents emerging growth companies, founders, and institutional and strategic investors with the formation, financing, and exits of emerging growth and technology companies.
She serves clients in the software, life sciences, and digital media industries. Her clients describe her as “an excellent negotiator” with a “broad understanding of issues.” (Chambers USA Northern California: Venture Capital and M&A).
Stephanie serves as an advisor to VLAB, Astia, and UCSF CTSI’s Catalyst Awards Program. She received her J.D. from UC Hastings and her B.A. from Pepperdine. Stephanie enjoys running, stand up paddle boarding, and riding bikes with her kids.
Sheppard Mullin’s Emerging Growth practice is a leading advisor to start-ups in the United States, Europe, and Asia. With 780 attorneys in 15 offices across the globe, we provide “one-stop” legal services to help an emerging company grow.

About the VLAB Founders’ Series
Founders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions!
If you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance.
For all other questions, please contact founders.series@vlab.org.
Note: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.

Outdoor AR: Who Wants to Come Out to Play?
2019-06-05 18:00 - 20:30 | Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University, 485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Outdoor AR
Who Wants to Come Out to Play?

Wednesday, June 5, 2019
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Augmented Reality (AR) has been one of the hottest and most-discussed technologies over the last decade. When executed well, AR adds contextual information and deepens people’s understanding of “reality” by overlaying 3D/2D computer graphics onto videos and display screens. Many experts are predicting an AR boom in the next 5 years over a wide range of applications, including entertainment, education, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and travel, among others.
Of these many potential uses, outdoor AR is an emerging sector that opens up new possibilities for location-based services. Adding a new digital layer on top of the existing world, outdoor AR will forever change the way we interact with information and open up new ways to transform our surrounding environment. The only limits are our imagination.
While the potential for outdoor AR is huge, it requires new infrastructure. Both startups and big corporations are racing to develop new mapping techniques to position graphics in the real world. Some players are betting on generating content through crowdsourcing, while others still prefer a “walled garden” approach to retain full control over data.

Which approach is going to be the most competitive in the long term?
What will it take to witness the power of AR at scale?
What precautions need to be taken to address privacy concerns?

Join us on June 5 to find out.

Moderator

Avi Bar-Zeev, Designer and Architect, Reality Prime

Panelists

Matt Miesnieks, CEO and Co-Founder, 6D.ai
Anjney Midha, Co-Founder and CEO, Ubiquity6
Rachel Inman, Staff UX Designer – Google Maps AR, Google
Peter Rojas, Founding Partner, Betaworks Ventures

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Cubberley Auditorium
Education Building
Stanford University
485 Lasuen Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Zero-Trust Cybersecurity: Trust No One?
2019-04-09 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford University: Hauck Auditorium, David and Joan Traitel Building, 435 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Zero-Trust Cybersecurity
Trust No One?

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Protecting digital assets is becoming harder and harder, for one alarming reason: most organizations have poorly prepared for the deluge of cloud-based applications and other online services. With this explosion of information availability, the potential for data breaches continues to grow exponentially.
Cybersecurity today must extend beyond simply protecting on-premises data. With the ever-increasing desire to access applications from any network, from anywhere, cybersecurity must also safeguard the data traversing among cloud applications, data centers, and end-point devices. The cost of failing to do so is potentially huge. According to a recent study sponsored by IBM, the average cost of a single data breach is over $3 million.
To neutralize these risks, one new approach that has been gaining momentum is the “zero-trust” model. Originally conceived by Forrester, major corporations like Google have adopted various forms of zero-trust cybersecurity. If implemented properly, zero-trust has the power to transform the industry.

Is zero-trust security destined to become mainstream?
Will a micro-segmentation security strategy offer enough protection?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of not trusting anyone by default?

Join us on April 9 to find out.

Moderator

Randy Wood, VP, Public Sector, Akamai Technologies

Panelists

Amir Sharif, Co-Founder, Aporeto
Andrew Rubin, CEO and Co-Founder, Illumio
Pere Monclus VP and CTO Networking and Security BU VMware
Deepak Jeevankumar Managing Director Dell Technologies Capital

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable event flyer.

Hauck Auditorium
David and Joan Traitel Building
435 Lasuen Mall
Stanford, CA 94305

Breakthroughs in Diabetes: Real Progress or Just More of the Same?
2019-02-26 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Breakthroughs in Diabetes
Real Progress or Just More of the Same?

Tuesday, February 26, 2019
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

More than 1.5 million people in the United States live with Type 1 diabetes, a disease in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, and managing this disease can be a huge burden. Yes, the industry has come a long way from the room-sized artificial pancreas of the 70s, paper records, finger pricking, and manual injections. However, even though these treatments are improving, they still require constant vigilance. One missed alarm or delayed injection could be fatal.
With today’s continuous glucose monitoring systems and self-optimizing insulin pumps — and improved software that connects the two — the search for the artificial pancreas may be close to over. And it’s not just big companies and startups that are having an impact. Feeling that progress still seems slow, some patients are taking matters into their own hands and creating their own artificial pancreas. Wherever these new solutions come from, they will have the power to transform millions of lives.

How close are we to an artificial pancreas?
What are companies learning from the patients who have made home-grown solutions?
Is the industry poised to shift from “treating” to “curing” diabetes?

Join us on February 26 to find out.

Moderator

Amy Tenderich, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, DiabetesMine

Panelists

Jeffrey Brewer, Founder and CEO, Bigfoot Biomedical
Eugene Brandon, Senior Director of Strategic Relations, ViaCyte
Joel Goldsmith, Senior Director, Digital Platforms, Abbott Diabetes Care
Divya Gopisetty, Associate, The diaTribe Foundation

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Young Entrepreneurs: Meet the New Generation of World-Changers
2019-01-22 18:00 - 20:30 | Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University, 485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Young Entrepreneurs
Meet the New Generation of World-Changers

Tuesday, January 22, 2019
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

The opportunity to change the world may be greater today than any other time in history, and young entrepreneurs are leading the charge. This passion to make the world a better place is driving a new generation of entrepreneurs, disrupting industries and established norms along the way. These entrepreneurs are not afraid of breaking rules and frequently adopt an unconventional approach to realize their goals.
More and more young people are choosing to embrace the challenge of entrepreneurship instead of becoming a cog in the wheel of a big corporation. A powerful combination of boundless curiosity, technological prowess, and the desire to create a better future is empowering these entrepreneurs to chase their dreams, often in the face of insurmountable odds. Any business — even one with designs on changing the world — will need to overcome numerous challenges and hurdles on the road to success.

How can entrepreneurs build a path from idea to profitability?
What are the trade-offs between dreams and reality, if any?
What are the new technologies and markets that inspire young entrepreneurs?

Join us on January 22 to discover how young startup founders are making a difference and helping prove that success is possible at any age.

Moderator

Jeremiah Owyang, Industry Analyst and Founding Partner, Kaleido Insights
An acknowledged thought leader and widely read publisher, Jeremiah Owyang has appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and Fast Company. Through Catalyst Companies and Kaleido Insights, he also publishes numerous research reports, playbook, and frameworks to help businesses navigate change, improve customer experiences and identify trends before they happen.

Panelists

Andrew Scheuermann, CEO and Co-Founder, Arch Systems
Andrew is the CEO and Cofounder of Arch Systems, an impact-driven venture backed startup that retrofits legacy machines to empower Industry 4.0. Before Arch, he helped build StartX, one of the top startup accelerators in the world. Andrew was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in 2016 and holds a PhD in semiconductor electronics from Stanford.
Bá Minuzzi, Co-Founder and General Partner, Babel Ventures
Bá is best known in the tech industry as the founder of BABEL Ventures, the first venture firm in Silicon Valley to have a Latina as founder and solo GP, with a $30M early stage fund focused in biotech. She has been lauded her for “Breaking all the rules” and “Rocking male-dominated Silicon Valley” by various mainstream publications.
Riley Ennis, COO and Co-Founder, Freenome
Marina Mogilko, Co-Founder, LinguaTrip
Marina is a Russian entrepreneur, co-founder and CCO of LinguaTrip. She is a YouTuber and influencer with over 2M followers and a Forbes contributor. Marina was named one of the 16 women founders making moves in tech according to the Tech.co edition.

View or download flyer for event:

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Cubberley Auditorium
Education Building
Stanford University
485 Lasuen Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Quantum Computing: Technology Nirvana or Security Armageddon?
2018-11-15 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Quantum Computing
Technology Nirvana or Security Armageddon?

Thursday, November 15, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Quantum computing promises to create the most fundamental change in the history of computing. The increases in processing power and speed will enable new capabilities that would take years — or maybe are simply not possible — using “classical” computing technologies. From molecular and financial modeling to weather forecasting and artificial intelligence, quantum computing represents the biggest advance in decades.
Perhaps the greatest impact — and most dangerous threat — will be in cryptography. Capable of instantly breaking today’s strongest data encryption algorithms, quantum computing is a major focus of governments, multinational corporations, and a growing number of startups around the globe. Theoretically, the first organization to build a quantum computer will have the power to break any existing security key anywhere, potentially wreaking havoc on entire societies, militaries, and economies. The race is on.

When will quantum computing find its way into production?
How will organizations be able to protect against potential misuse?
Has the US fallen behind other countries in the quantum computing race?

Join us on November 15 to find out.

Moderator

Brady Forrest, Operating Partner, ETW Advisors

Panelists

Alexei Marchenkov, Founder and CEO, Bleximo
Louis Parks, Founder and CEO, SecureRF
Pete Shadbolt, Chief Science Officer, psiQuantum
Hratch Achadjian, Quantum Computing & AI, Head of Business Development – North America, Google
Joseph Raffa, Director, IBM Ventures

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

The Impact of Technology on Clinical Trials: Will AI and Mobile Create Cures Faster?
2018-10-15 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
The Impact of Technology on Clinical Trials
Will AI and Mobile Create Cures Faster?

Monday, October 15, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Bringing a new medical treatment or drug to market often takes years and costs billions of dollars, and clinical trials usually present the biggest sinkhole — by some estimates, up to 20% of a $65B industry. As medical expenses skyrocket, several startups working on AI and other emerging technologies aim to revolutionize or, in some cases, even replace the clinical trial process.
These new technologies promise to get the right cure to the right people at the right time, simply because they decrease the time to market and expenses involved in clinical trials — while also reducing the frustration that so many patients feel about their treatment options.

Can these technologies find the right participants for clinical trials?
Will these new innovations reverse the trend of rising health costs?
How can AI provide a “shot in the arm” for the clinical trial industry?

Join us on October 15 to find out.

Moderator

Daniel Kraft, Founder and Chair, Exponential Medicine

Panelists

Wout Brusselaers, Co-Founder and CEO, Deep 6 AI
Dr. Michelle Longmire, Co-Founder and CEO, Medable
Mohanad Fors, Global Head of BIOME – Digital Innovation Lab, Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Ruchita Sinha, Senior Director of Investments, Sanofi Ventures

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Open-Source Processors: Bringing Silicon Back to Silicon Valley?
2018-09-18 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Open-Source Processors
Bringing Silicon Back to Silicon Valley?

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

The open-source approach to developing new technologies is entering a new realm, with the potential to change an entire industry. For years, open-source has lived exclusively in the software domain. From Linux to GitHub, open-source software has become a powerful way to bring new products and solutions to market. This open-source transformation in software is now making its way to silicon, with far-reaching implications.
Open-source has the potential to be as big a game-changer in silicon as it has been in software. Companies like Sifive and Esperanto are already commercializing new architectures based on the open-source approach, and new open-source communities like the RISC V consortium are having a huge impact.
In this event, our panel will discuss the promise of open-source CPU architectures and the challenges faced in building complete system-on-a-chip (SoC) products around an open-source Instruction Set Architecture (ISA).

What will motivate chip companies and customers to embrace open-source hardware?
What ecosystem components are needed for successful commercialization?Which domains will benefit by embedding an open-architecture?
What business models can succeed in this new ecosystem?

Join us on September 18 to find out.

Moderator

Linley Gwennap, President, The Linley Group

Panelists

Krste Asanovic, Co-Founder and Chief Architect, SiFive
Art Swift, VP Marketing and Business Development, Esperanto Technologies
John Heinlein, Vice President, Chief of Staff to the CEO, ARM
Stefan Dyckerhoff, Managing Director, Sutter Hill Ventures

View or download flyer for event:

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Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

The Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence: Will AI Be the Biggest Disruption in the Next 10 Years?
2018-06-19 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
The Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence
Will AI Be the Biggest Disruption in the Next 10 Years?

Tuesday, June 19, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Evolutionary disruptions in machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence are ushering a new age of “intelligent enterprise,” creating unprecedented opportunities for both startups and established companies. Gartner projects that the value of AI-derived businesses will reach $3.9 trillion in 2022.
From home automation to self-driving cars, cognitive learning and AI have the potential to be the most disruptive class of technologies during the next 10 years. Driven by increasingly powerful computational capabilities and new advances in context-based learning, the implications are huge — for business, for entire industries, and for society as a whole.
In this event, our panelists will explore how enterprises are reinventing business processes, workflows, and customer services.

Will AI live up to its expectations?
What are the requirements for true cognitive learning?
How can businesses leverage the latest advances in AI?

Join us on June 19 to find out.

Moderator

Mariya Yao, Editor-in-Chief, TOPBOTS

Panelists

Patrick Ehlen, Chief Scientist, Loop AI Labs
SriSatish Ambati, CEO and Co-Founder, H2O.ai
Shubho Sengupta, Facebook AI Research (FAIR)
Jishnu Bhattacharjee, Managing Partner, Nexus Venture Partners

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Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Fully Autonomous Vehicles: Removing the Front-Seat Driver
2018-05-24 18:00 - 20:30 | William R. Hewlett Teaching Center, Room 200, 370 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Fully Autonomous Vehicles
Removing the Front-Seat Driver

Thursday, May 24, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

The automotive industry is bracing for a new surge of progress and opportunity, with billions of dollars on the line. The potential is huge. People have been dreaming about owning a self-driving car for decades, and recent sales have shown that consumers are willing to spend big bucks for this dream.
The final push to widespread availability of fully autonomous vehicles has begun. Testing has moved onto public roads, and in the next few years, several vendors plan to release autonomous vehicles in limited-use “Level 4” situations (taxis, transit companies, fleet operations, freeway-only driving). As the technology advances from “assisted driving” to true self-driving, consumer-ready vehicles for general road travel (Level 5) will be tailgating right behind.
In this panel, industry-leading startups, entrepreneurs, and investors will explore the technologies and challenges related to realizing the dream of a fully autonomous self-driving vehicle — i.e. a vehicle that a human does not need to monitor and that can completely take over all driving responsibilities.

Will small startups or large corporations have the inside track?
How will we know when self-driving cars are safe enough?
How will self-driving cars change our lifestyle?

Take a ride with us on May 24 to find out.

Moderator

Rob Coneybeer, Managing Director, Shasta Ventures
– More than $1B under management

Panelists

Sterling Anderson, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Aurora
– Named “America’s Hottest Self-Driving Startup” by Wired
Ivan Mihov, Director of Program Management, Zoox
– Valued at over $1B by Crunchbase
Vinay Shet, Director of Product, Lyft
– Ground-breaking car transportation company
Alexei Andreev, Managing Director, Autotech Ventures
– Focused on the $3T ground transportation sector

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

William R. Hewlett Teaching Center
Room 200
Stanford University
370 Serra Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
Stanford campus map

Robotic Dexterity: Grabbing the Brass Ring
2018-04-24 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
Robotic Dexterity
Grabbing the Brass Ring

Tuesday, April 24, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

From warehouse operations to surgical operations, robots are lending a helping hand like never before. With a rapidly improving ability to manipulate objects of all shapes and sizes, they have the potential to replace human operators with better accuracy, better precision, and better efficiency.
In Robotic Dexterity, we will explore how the latest advances in robotic technologies have the potential to transform entire industries. By combining cloud computing and machine learning with groundbreaking gripper designs, these innovations in dexterity are shaping our future — sometimes literally.
Our panel of founders and industry insiders will explore these and other issues.

Where are the best opportunities for entrepreneurs?
Will these new robots completely replace all human workforces?
How will society react to increasingly capable robots?

Join us on April 24 to find out what the future “holds.”

Moderator

Stefano Carpin, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Merced

Panelists

Harsha Prahlad, Co-Founder and CTO and Products Officer, Grabit
Juan Aparicio Ojea, Head of Research Group, Advanced Manufacturing Automation, Siemens
Matt Howard, Managing Partner, Norwest Venture Partners

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Founders’ Series: Strategies for Negotiating Term Sheets
2018-03-27 18:00 - 20:30 | San Francisco, CA
Founders' Series

Strategies for Negotiating Term Sheets
with Stephanie Zeppa and Andrew Romans

Tuesday, March 27, 20186:00 pm to 8:30 pm6:00 pm: Reception and networking7:00 pm: Fireside Chat

San Francisco(Address will be sent to registered attendees.)

After intense networking, intro requests, and pitches, you have finally landed a term sheet. Signing it will give you much-needed growth capital to take your startup to the next level. You will be able to hire more team members, build out the game plan, and zero in on the needs of your best customers. Most importantly, it will let you, the founder, get back to building the business instead of fundraising.
Unfortunately, this is often the time when most startup founders agree to terms that they regret later.
Join us for a lively discussion from two important perspectives: a corporate attorney and a VC. After a breakdown the do’s and don’t’s of terms sheet negotiation, attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session.
There will also be a drawing for a free signed copy of Andrew’s book, Masters of Corporate Venture Capital.

Panelists

Stephanie Zeppa, Partner, Sheppard Mullin, Corporate & Securities Group
Stephanie has extensive experience representing both private and public companies in mergers and acquisitions, investments, strategic transactions and corporate governance matters. She also represents emerging growth companies, founders, and institutional and strategic investors with the formation, financing, and exits of emerging growth and technology companies.
She serves clients in the software, life sciences, and digital media industries. Her clients describe her as “an excellent negotiator” with a “broad understanding of issues.” (Chambers USA Northern California: Venture Capital and M&A).
Stephanie serves as an advisor to VLAB, Astia, and UCSF CTSI’s Catalyst Awards Program. She received her J.D. from UC Hastings and her B.A. from Pepperdine. Stephanie enjoys running, stand up paddle boarding, and riding bikes with her kids.
Sheppard Mullin’s Emerging Growth practice is a leading advisor to start-ups in the United States, Europe, and Asia. With 780 attorneys in 15 offices across the globe, we provide “one-stop” legal services to help an emerging company grow.
Andrew Romans, General Partner, Rubicon Venture Capital
Based in Silicon Valley, Andrew is a successful VC-backed entrepreneur, author of two top-selling books on venture capital, former tech VC and M&A investment banker, cofounder of an angel group, and now general partner of Rubicon Venture Capital, a VC fund active in Silicon Valley, New York, and Europe. His books, Masters of Corporate Venture Capital and The Entrepreneurial Bible to Venture Capital have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Russian by major publishers.
Andrew raised over $48m for tech startups he founded by the age of 28. He has continually raised VC funding as a founder, banker, or VC ever since. He was the founder and general partner of The Founders Club and also acted as the managing director of EMEA at VC-backed Sentito Networks (acquired by Verso Technologies) and managed enterprise software sales in Europe at VC-backed Motive Communications (NASDAQ IPO).
He is also a frequent VC guest speaker on TV shows including MSNBC, CNBC and ABC, as well as various TV channels in China and Russia. He was born in Japan, lived in Europe for 15 years and is fluent in English, German, and French and can speak conversationally in Slovak. He began his career in 1993 working in the UNIX computing industry at Pencom Systems in New York, Silicon Valley, and Austin. He holds a BA from the University of Vermont and an MBA in finance from Georgetown University, which he completed on scholarship.

Andrew’s new book Masters of Initial Coin Offerings – ICOs & The Blockchain, which focuses on the rise of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cryptocurrencies, token economies and what it means for startups, large corporations, sales & trading and venture capital, will be available soon.

About the VLAB Founders’ Series
Founders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions!
If you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance.
For all other questions, please contact founders.series@vlab.org.
Note: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.

The Future of Storytelling: AR/VR Turns Its Gaze on TV and Cinema
2018-03-20 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
The Future of Storytelling
AR/VR Turns Its Gaze on TV and Cinema?

Tuesday, March 20, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

The way we tell stories is on the verge of a seismic shift in technology. Over the millennia, storytelling has evolved from oral traditions shared around the campfire to viral videos shared with millions around the globe — and it’s not stopping there. Technologies such as AR and VR are disrupting TV and film makers everywhere from Hollywood to Bollywood.
As AR/VR shifts its gaze from gaming to cinema, familiar 2-D rectangular displays are being replaced with new experiences that are deeply immersive, interactive, and personalizable. And investment is hot, with more than $5B in VC investments. In a market projected to explode tenfold by 2020, multiple startups are vying for lead roles in this new production.
Our panel of founders and industry insiders will explore these and other issues.

How are startups raising capital and making money in mixed reality?
What impact will AR/VR have on social media?
How are TV and film studios adapting to these new opportunities?
What technical and social challenges stand in the way of mass adoption?

Join us March 20 to hear how these technologies are shaping the future of storytelling.

Moderator

Jesse Damiani, Founder and CEO, Galatea

Panelists

Robin Sho Moser, Founder and CEO, eyecandylab
Larry Cutler, Founder and CTO, Baobab Studios
Ted Schilowitz, Futurist in Residence, Paramount Pictures
Maddie Callander, Director of Operations, Boost VC

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

ICOs and the Token Economy: Disruption or Deception?
2018-02-27 18:00 - 20:30 | Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University, 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
ICOs and the Token Economy
Disruption or Deception?

Tuesday, February 27, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

Even the most seasoned investors, entrepreneurs, and established businesses have been caught off guard by the meteoric rise of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), cryptographic tokens, and blockchain-based application development. Early-stage startups raised nearly $4B from ICOs during the past year, far outstripping venture and angel funding. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently spoke out, emphatically cautioning that many ICOs may be violating securities laws.
Beyond the legal concerns and the hype awaits a potential technological and economic disruption not seen since the birth of the worldwide web: the decentralization of the Internet. If successful, decentralization of data storage and ownership promises to dramatically upend the status quo, cutting out intermediaries and centralized platforms and replacing them with token-based, peer-to-peer transactions executed via “smart contracts.” Myriad service industries are in blockchain’s crosshairs, from financial and payment processing to ride and home sharing, such as Uber and Airbnb.

As decentralization evolves, what form will it take? When will it occur, and at what scale?
What are the obstacles and barriers?
Given recent SEC action, what is the future of ICOs?
How will companies, businesses, and markets benefit from these changes?

Join us on February 27, 2018, to find out.

Moderator

Amy Wan, Founder, Sagewise.io

Panelists

Amanda Straub, Senior Counsel, Cyber Unit, Division of Enforcement, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Charles Hudson, Founder and Managing Partner, Precursor Ventures
Eric Ly, Founder and CEO, Hub Token, and Co-Founder, LinkedIn
Richard Craib, Founder, Numerai

Demo Pavillion

Alpha Coin • Cypherium • Earn.com • Hack Fund • Hub • Luna Capital • NEM Foundation • Olympus Labs • Sagewise • Votem • WorkCoin

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

Stanford Faculty Club
Stanford University
439 Lagunita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Driving directions and parking information

Young Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Living the American Dream
2018-01-30 18:00 - 20:30 | SRI International Conference Center, 333 Ravenswood Drive, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, United States
Young Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Living the American Dream

Tuesday, January 30, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00 pm: Reception and networking
7:00 pm: Panel discussion (with Q&A)

One of the most highly-motivated, capable groups of individuals in America is often taken for granted: young immigrant entrepreneurs. They leave their home countries to bring their dreams to live in the land of opportunity. Immigrants are some of our most brilliant innovators, researchers, and scientists. They make up only 12% of the U.S. population but in recent years hold 30% of its patents, 47% of its doctorates in science and engineering, and 25% of its Nobel Prizes. Young immigrant entrepreneurs are tackling challenging problems, building successful companies, creating jobs, and adding to the economy.
While there are political factions with anti-immigration agendas, the facts will not change: immigrants are twice as likely to start businesses than U.S.-born citizens. According to Inc. Magazine, between 1995 and 2005 immigrants founded 52% of all new Silicon Valley companies, with 25% of them raising VC funds. In 2012, tech companies founded by immigrant entrepreneurs employed over 560,000 people and generated over $63 billion in sales.
Well-known immigrant entrepreneurs, including Sergey Brin, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Vinod Khosla, have built some of the world’s most successful companies. If not for immigrants, Google, PayPal, Tesla, Evernote, Reddit, and many other companies would not exist. With new ideas and diverse perspectives, young immigrant entrepreneurs are leading promising startups that could be the next unicorns.

What drives these young entrepreneurs to immigrate?
How do they overcome the many challenges that they face?
Are they concerned about immigration reform affecting their companies?

* Source: Bernard Munos, Senior Fellow, FasterCures

Moderator

Mohit Aron, Founder and CEO, Cohesity
With 15 years of experience in building scalable, high-performance distribution systems, Mohit has been attributed as the father of hyper-convergence. Prior to founding Cohesity in 2013, he co-founded Nutanix and before that was at Google as a lead developer on the Google File System engineering project. Mohit holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rice University.

Panelists

Iba Masood, Co-Founder and CEO, TARA.AI
With a strong passion for machine learning, Iba has spent the last seven years building mechanisms for pre-screening and project deployment in software, for hundreds of enterprise customers. She was recently awarded the Forbes “30 under 30,” is a past winner of the MIT Global Business Plan competition, and was a recipient of the UN ITU Young Innovator’s Award. She has also been featured in TechCrunch, Wired, and The Huffington Post.
Tenzin Seldon, Co-Founder and CEO, Kinstep
Raised in the Indian Himalayas, Tenzin graduated with honors from Stanford University and was the first Tibetan-American Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. An advocate for disenfranchised communities, her work has been recognized around the globe: Forbes “30 under 30,” World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Harry S. Truman Scholar, and one of OZY magazine’s “5 Civil-Rights Leaders for a New Generation.” She has also been a visiting lecturer at Rangsit University and UC Berkeley.
Gary Kurek, Founder and CEO, Kügar
After spending years manufacturing advanced robotic mobility aids, Gary launched Kügar to develop technology that redefines how we build complex electromechanical systems, with an aim to bring automated manufacturing back to the United States. He was the youngest Canadian to ever receive an O-1A extraordinary ability visa, was selected as part of Peter Thiel’s “20 Under 20” inaugural class in 2011, was one of Canada’s “Top 20 under 20,” and is a Forbes “Top 30 under 30.”
Adelanwa Adesanya, Co-Founder, Moving Analytics, Inc.
Originally from Nigeria, Ade is the co-founder of Moving Analytics, a digital health company dedicated to conquering heart disease through digital prevention programs. One of Ade’s passions is helping entrepreneurs actualize their visions. Previously, he worked with researchers at USC to commercialize their research into startup companies and is the co-founder of Lighthouse Africa, a nonprofit whose mission is to foster early-stage investing in African entrepreneurs.

Featured Speaker

Iliana G. Perez, Research Analyst, Stanford University Graduate School of Business
Born in Hidalgo, Mexico, and a DACA recipient in 2013, Iliana focuses on immigrant entrepreneurs, the successes of immigrant students, the effects of deportation on the lives of young adults, and the economics of immigration. She has shared her story with various audiences across the country and on several media outlets, including the LA Times, Business Insider, CNN, CNNE, The Huffington Post, Univision, La Opinion, and Radio Bilingue.

View or download flyer for event:

Download the printable PDF.

SRI International Conference Center
333 Ravenswood Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
