2024

FOHS SPEAKERS

  • Bryan Talebi

    Bryan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ahura AI - the startup that invented tech allowing people to learn 3x-5x faster than traditional education using AI, Cognitive Science, and Web 3.0. Bryan also founded Digital Guardians: a non-profit that was launched on Necker Island with Richard Branson. They brought together the top AI Experts from around the world to address existential risk from AI.

    LinkedIn

  • Peter Yeo

    Peter Yeo is the president of the Better World Campaign and the senior vice president at the United Nations Foundation (UNF). Yeo joined UNF in 2009 after more than twenty years in senior roles at the State Department and on Capitol Hill.

    As an expert in U.S.-UN relations, Yeo has been featured on MSNBC, Foreign Policy, The New York Times, and The Hill among others. At UNF, Yeo develops private sector partnerships to support the UN and its work and advocates for the UN on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch.

    Yeo is on the board of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

    Social media: X: PeterMYeo

  • Dr. Roman V. Yampolskiy

    Dr. Roman V. Yampolskiy is a tenured faculty member in the department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Louisville. He is the founding and current director of the Cyber Security Lab and an author of many books including Artificial Superintelligence: a Futuristic Approach. Dr. Yampolskiy’s main area of interest is Artificial Intelligence Safety, you can find his papers at Roman V. Yampolskiy - Google Scholar

  • Trent Teyema

    Mr. Trent Teyema (FBI Special Agent – SES ret.), is a strategist advising governments and companies on technology and AI related to national security, cybersecurity, blockchain, and space. He has served in numerous senior leadership positions, to include the Director of Cybersecurity Policy for the White House’s National Security Council, the SAC of the Cyber and Counterintelligence Division for FBI Los Angeles, the FBI Cyber Division’s COO / Chief of Cyber Readiness. Mr. Teyema founded and led the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF) which is one of the seven US cybersecurity centers. Mr. Teyema is a doctoral candidate in cybersecurity at Marymount University.

    LinkedIn

  • Toufi Saliba

    Toufi Saliba is CEO, PrivacyShell and Chair of the ACM Practitioner Board Conference Committee. Toufi's background is mainly in Machine Learning, Decentralized Governance, Distributed Computing, and Cryptography. He has authored and co-authored several algorithms, protocols, and patents. Toufi's companies have had several exits for software that he built from the ground up. He sits on multiple Silicon Valley start-up boards, is the founder of the TodaQ Foundation and Chair of the ACM Practitioner Board Conference Committee.Toufi's #1 goal in life is enhancing technology to help achieve global prosperity while building profitable businesses and enablements from within.

    Hypercycle

  • Shubha Koneru

    Shubha is a seasoned healthcare executive specializing in digital transformation, strategy, and clinical data operations. As SVP of Healthcare Strategy & Partnerships at Machani Robotics, she leverages her expertise to drive innovative solutions that enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency. With a strong background in risk management and digital innovation, Shubha excels at collaborating with diverse stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem and consistently demonstrates her ability to create value and alignment in complex environments.

    Machanirobotics.com

  • Maria Laws

    Maria Laws is an award-winning educator and Vice President of Learning & Development at Ahura AI, where she drives innovation in education through AI. She leverages her extensive experience in curriculum design, professional development, learning science, and STEM research to impact learners worldwide. Maria has collaborated with top institutions like Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Genentech, and Lockheed Martin and has presented at SXSW and WEF events. She mentors start-up founders and ethical AI professionals through programs at StartEd and All Tech is Human and holds degrees in science, art, and education. Maria is passionate about creativity, innovation, and the arts and sits on the Board of Directors for Art for Oakland Kids.

    LinkedIn

  • Jeffrey James Higgins

    Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, narrative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey’s a #1 Amazon bestselling author with three published novels and numerous literary awards. Severn River Publishing has acquired his forthcoming four-book espionage series. Jeffrey’s been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. He's represented by Jackson Keeler at Inkworks. Discover Jeffrey's writing at

    Jeffrey James Higgins

  • Dylan Taylor

    Dylan Taylor is a global business leader, thought leader, commercial astronaut and philanthropist, and widely considered the most active private space investor in the world. As the Chairman and CEO of Voyager Space, Dylan Taylor’s influence drives much of the innovation and advancement of the space industry. Philanthropically, his impact in the industry began as the founder of the nonprofit and social movement, Space for Humanity, which seeks to democratize space exploration. Dylan is also the Co-Founding Patron of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, which promotes the growth of commercial space activity. On December 11th, 2021, Dylan became just the 606th human to go to space as part of the crew of Blue Origin’s New Shepard Mission 19.

    Voyager Space

  • Matthew Stepka

    Matthew Stepka is the founder and managing director of Machina Ventures, an early-stage investment fund focused on enlightened AI that amplifies our humanity. He is also a lecturer on AI at UC Berkeley Haas. Previously, Stepka was vice president of business operations and strategy at Google, where he led and incubated strategic initiatives, especially mission-driven projects with high social impact. Prior to that, Stepka was a management consultant with McKinsey. He serves on the board of the Knight Foundation and holds a JD from the UCLA and has BS degrees in computer engineering and management from Case Western.

    Machina Ventures

  • Patrick O'Kain

    Patrick is a General Partner at Borderless Capital. He brings 18+ years of experience in VC, national security, federal law enforcement, and consulting; with nearly a decade focusing on crypto/web3. He previously was a founding member and GP of RW3 Ventures, co-lead of KPMG's Crypto Practice, served as a Special Agent in the USDOJ focusing on crypto-investigations, and supported the US Intelligence Community on counterterrorism and other national security objectives.

    LinkedIn

  • Lester Crafton

    Lester Crafton and John Carey have solved problems together for nineteen years and are co-founders of Ovanova. They have created an alternative path energy access to power our AI world in the unlikeliest of place by combining Inflation Reduction Act incentives and making the accessible to areas generally excluded from progress. Microgrids in the right spots in Rural America create a unique potential to Guard the Grid and feed the Sand God. Solar plus storage is here, it's deployable, and the right folks love it when it's done the right way.

    Ovanova

  • Jim Clark

    Jim Clark is an authority on the societal impacts of technology and a creator of innovative social impact initiatives. He founded and led the World Technology Network (1997-2021), organizing events such as the World Technology Summit & Awards held annually in association with TIME, Fortune, and CNN, and the World Summit on Technological Unemployment. Clark co-convened the International Congress for the Governance of AI (ICGAI, 2018-2021). His work spans leadership roles in the nonprofit sector, business, politics, and policy.

    The Future US

  • Scott Schaefer

    Scott Schaefer is an experienced investment and risk management professional. He served as a Senior Investment Officer at the SBA for over 14 years, managing billion-dollar programs and presenting over 180 investment proposals. Scott developed partnerships with federal departments and worked in business development and legal roles at Gemstone Development, Orrick, and Cooley. He holds a JD/MBA from the University of Oregon and a BA from Colgate University. Scott is skilled in fund manager selection, ecosystem development, and risk analysis, and is a former Presidential Management Fellow.

    LinkedIn

  • Iliana Oris Valiente

    Iliana Oris Valiente

    Iliana Oris Valiente is an accomplished corporate executive, innovation and emerging tech pioneer, board member, VC investor, and global citizen. She’s currently Managing Director and Head of Innovation @Accenture Canada, sits on the board of directors at large organizations including Sunnybrook Hospital, and is involved in the venture capital industry as an investor and advisor to funds. Iliana is a published author and frequent speaker at global conferences, and has been featured in various media outlets, including television, radio, and print - from The Financial Times to Bloomberg and beyond. Iliana is passionate about building communities of like minded people, and supporting the digital nomad movement. Iliana

  • Carie Bailey

    Amidst the loneliness epidemic and societal divisions, Carie Bailey explores the future of human connection. With over 24 years of immersive study in relationships, human development, psychology, trauma healing, spirituality, and integrative wellness, Carie has uncovered the root causes of human disconnection. Her insights highlight a higher nature within each of us that can transmute pain into purpose, division into unity, and disconnection into co-creative capabilities. These abilities can inspire innovative solutions and shift humanity toward profound unity and connection. Harnessing our Divine Intelligence to guide technology will elevate humanity, fostering unprecedented collaborations and a harmonious, connected future. Carie Bailey LinkedIn

  • Greg Johnson

    Greg Johnson has been a CEO and senior executive at Fortune 500 and start-up enterprises in financial services, insurance and emerging technology at American Express, Ameriprise Financial, RiverSource Life Insurance and Rubicon Digital Assets. At NYU, he lectures on the disruption to legacy businesses from EmTech, serves on their Metaverse Collaborative and sits on the NYU School of Professional Studies advisory board. Not only is Greg a serial mentor and advisor to multiple start-up ventures, but he is also a thought leader at the prestigious Bretton Woods Committee and serves on the advisory board of the Digital Dollar Project.

    LinkedIn

  • Amelia Powers Gardner

    Amelia Powers Gardner currently serves as Utah County Commissioner. Amelia has over 15 years of experience in the private sector working in engineering, manufacturing, and business development.

    Prior to being elected as Commissioner, Amelia served as the Utah County Clerk/Auditor, where she championed innovation and efficiency in government. Under Amelia’s leadership, Utah County leads the state and the nation in technology adoption and innovation. She is a strong advocate for property rights, farming, and limited government.

    www.amelia.vote www.innogov.io

  • Matthew Rose

    Mr. Matthew Rose is the Global Public Sector Industry Principal at Snowflake, where he leads a team serving government and education organizations. He focuses on public sector needs and bringing solutions and technologies into the public sector market. Before joining Snowflake, he led Adobe’s Public Sector Business Development and Strategy. Previously, Matthew served in government, most recently as the DOD’s Chief Design Officer, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center's Strategy and Policy Directorate Chief; GSA’s Director for Cloud and Infrastructure; and Special Advisor on Technology Protection for the Secretary of Defense. He is a founder of several companies, sits on the Stimson Center and Atlantic Council, and serves in the Army Reserve. Matthew has three graduate degrees and has published extensively on the topics of defense and technology. He resides in Warrenton Virginia with his wife and three children.

    LinkedIn

  • David Ackerman Esq.

    David is a transformative global compliance executive and licensed attorney with over 20 years experience steering disruptive technologies through the intricacies of operational compliance, government relations, and regulatory landscapes. David’s extensive track record of fighting fraud, financial crime, and terrorism financing spans multiple jurisdictions over 5 continents. His career is marked by leadership roles across emerging sectors within traditional finance, Web3, infosec, aerospace, and AI, where he has been instrumental in developing and executing advanced compliance frameworks tailored for FinTech, RegTech, and GovTech entities. Renowned as an expert in operations, compliance, and cross-border regulation, David is a published author, a Homeland Defense & Security Information Analysis Center SME, and serves as a FINRA Arbitrator.

  • Dr. Torsten Staab

    As a Principal Technical Fellow and Head of AI at Nightwing, Dr. Torsten Staab spearheads the development of next-generation AI technologies and services across Nightwing’s diverse commercial, defense, and national security customer portfolio. He leads multi-disciplinary R&D initiatives and is involved in technology and product strategy development, tech scouting, intellectual property creation, and strategic partnerships. Additionally, he is an accomplished author and innovator with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and more than 20 patents awarded or pending. Dr. Staab has also co-authored several international standards in robotics, laboratory automation, and telemedicine for NIST, ASTM, and OMG.

    Nightwing

    LinkedIn

  • Daniel Kraft

    Stanford & Harvard trained physician-scientist, innovator & investor. Founder and chair of NextMed Health and Digital.Health. Served as Chair of Medicine at Singularity University, and Chair of the XPRIZE Pandemic & Health Alliance. An Aspen Institute Health Innovation Fellow and a Kauffman Fellow. Investing in the future of medicine as managing partner with Continuum Health Ventures.

    Daniel Kraft MD

    NextMed Health

    X

  • De Kai

    De Kai invented and built the world’s first global-scale online language translator. For his pioneering contributions to AIs like Google/Microsoft/Yahoo Translate, De Kai was honored by the Association for Computational Linguistics as one of only seventeen Founding Fellows. He serves on the board of AI governance think tank The Future Society, and was one of eight inaugural members of Google's AI ethics council. His research, policy, and public awareness work on polarization, bias, misinformation, and bridging cultures spans artificial intelligence, cognition, language, music, creativity, ethics, society, and policy. De Kai is Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST and Distinguished Research Scholar at Berkeley’s International Computer Science Institute.

    DekAI

    LinkedIn

  • Marcos Campos

    Marcos Campos is a Principal AI Architect at Microsoft, and a leading expert in AI with over 25 years of experience. Previously, he was the Head of Applied Machine Learning at Uber, where he spearheaded innovations in ML for business applications. Marcos also led the development of next-generation intelligent systems at Bonsai AI. His extensive work includes groundbreaking research in machine learning, AI, and data mining, evidenced by his numerous patents and publications. Marcos combines his expertise in AI with a deep understanding of its social and economic impacts, drawing from his background in economics and consulting experience.

    LinkedIn

  • Rick Tumlinson

    My ride: Texan/Brit blue-collar ADHAD asthmatic kid who dreamed of the stars and is blessed to be helping spread life and humanity into the Universe. Successes: Helped take over Mir as the first private space station, signed first private astronaut, 6-time Congressional witness, helped start New Space Revolution of Musk, Bezos, and others; Founding XPrize Board, Founder SpaceFund VC, Space Frontier Foundation, EarthLight Foundation. Failures: Lost the Mir, one of the first private Moon companies, asteroid companies & space suit companies. Joys: a daughter for whom I intend to open the High Frontier so she can plant trees on the Moon and chase butterflies on Mars.

    EarthLight Foundation

  • Dr. Mihaela Ulieru

    Dr. Mihaela Ulieru is a technology alchemist and is an innovator at the edge of the impossible with a solid background as a “rocket scientist” backed by a PhD in robotics and an illustrious academic career. She is founder and President of the IMPACT Institute for the Digital Economy. IMPACT stands for ”Innovation Management and Policy Accelerated with Communication Technologies”- a spinout from her multiple awarded academic research in “eSociety” aiming at policy reforms for the adoption of the latest digital technologies in all areas of society and sectors of the economy.

    Dr. Ulieru is a world traveler to promote the advantages of leveraging Blockchain and its potential to create equality and a fairer society through the inclusion of the 99% in the economy.

    LinkedIn

  • Chad D'Amore

    Chad D'Amore is an esteemed professional known for his dynamic expertise and visionary leadership. With a career spanning over 20 years, Chad has made significant contributions to the mission consulting and operations space, earning recognition as a thought leader and innovator. During the day, Chad leads a branch within Nightwings Special Projects Division, by night he runs several small businesses, and when he isn’t doing any of that he volunteers at a civics based non-profit. This passion has propelled him to continually push the boundaries of what's possible, resulting in several notable contributions in each of those spaces.

    Chad's commitment to his community and nation underscores his dedication to not only professional excellence but also making a positive impact on society.

    LinkedIn

  • Sara Filipcic

    Sara Filipcic, CEO and founder of Be Human(e), uses her scientific expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to revolutionize family mental health with emotionally intelligent AI. With a Master's in Social Work and extensive research on technology's impact on youth development, she leads Be Human(e) in enhancing family mental well-being and promoting healthier human development in the digital age. Globally recognized, Sara has mentored and given keynote speeches at UC Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, and the St. Gallen Symposium, advocating for a healthier human/tech symbiosis and the integration of emotional intelligence into technology.

    Sara Filipcic

    LinkedIn

  • James Wolff

    Wolff serves as Counsel to Warshaw Burstein LLP, a Tier 1 mid-market corporate transactional firm in New York City, and is Practice Chair of the Emerging Technologies Law Group, leading a Data Privacy Protection and AI Governance Program for its roster of mid-market clientele. He is an Executive Board Member of the United Nations Association, SDNY, and he also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Space Society. He is an accomplished serial emerging-technologies entrepreneur and the recipient of the 2023 NASA Entrepreneur's Challenge Award for the development of a lunar landing support system for the NASA Artemis SpaceX Starship Program and also a 2024 NASA NIAC Phase 1 Award to develop the first interstellar mission to the Proxima b star system. Wolff has also published two-full length entrepreneurship guidance books available on all major e-book platforms.

    WBNY, James Wolff

  • Frank White

    Frank White is an educator, writer, and communications consultant. He has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to artificial intelligence to Zen Buddhism. His best-known work is The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution. He has also authored a book on AI, The (Neo) Singularity is Here.” He is the co-founder, president, and board chair of The Human Space Program, Inc.

    Human Space Program

    Frank White Author

  • John C. Havens

    Author, Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines and Founding Executive Director, The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems.

    LinkedIn

  • Samuel Cassatt

    Sam Cassatt is a seasoned strategy executive and entrepreneur with extensive experience in the blockchain and web development space. He served as the Chief Strategy Officer at Consensys from its inception until 2019, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the company's strategic direction and growth and enabled the funding and growth of the Ethereum ecosystem. Sam is also the co-creator of Neptune DAO, an initiative focused on decentralized autonomous organizations. He is the founder of Aligned, a high performance computing company in the web3 space, as well as Co-Founder of Layer Labs, a company that completes web3 architecture by allowing crypto-economically secure off-chain compute to complement existing decentralized architectures. With a background as a former CTO, Sam is a prominent web3 investor, contributing to the growth and success of various innovative projects in the tech industry.

  • Gregory Scott Paul

    Gregory Scott Paul is a part time rancher in Utah playing with robots, health and imagination. In his words, “I want to create something my kids really love and use.” He is a cofounder at Phi and investor at Convoi.

    www.Phi.health

  • Moran Bar-Kochva

    Moran Bar-Kochva is a serial entrepreneur and tech investor with endless curiosity and passion to partner with world-class entrepreneurs that are disrupting existing markets or building new ones. As Founder of the Family Office Unison Capital, he invests across stages and geographies, but is especially proud of his investments in DeepTech ventures across the spectrum of AI, Quantum Computing, Semiconductors, Renewable Energy, Robotics, and Space, leading us all on the path towards a Type I Civilization.

    Earlier in his career, he was active in the Israeli public sector - as an aide to former IDF Chief, General (Ret.) Ehud Barak - and was a leading voice on the Israeli Tech & Venture Capital sectors as a Tech Reporter in Globes, the leading business-focused media in Israel.

    Moran is an avid collector of contemporary art and is the Co-founder of the 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation, The Contemporaries Art Society, and is also a Founding Board Member of the non-profit arm of The Influencers Salon, Influence for Good. Moran served in a Special Ops unit of the IDF's Southern Command.He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, and received a double major in Law & Economics from Tel Aviv University.

    LinkedIn

  • Ravé Mehta

    Ravé Mehta - Founder, Flow Capital | Advisory Board, SETI Institute | Award-winning Pianist

    Ravé Mehta is an engineer, entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author and a recipient of the Tesla Vision Award by the Tesla Science Foundation. Ravé is the founder of Flow Capital, a frontier tech investment fund, and serves on the advisory board for SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) with over 100 research scientists investigating the nature of the universe and the search for life beyond Earth. Ravé is also an award-winning pianist and spent over 20 years researching the science behind fear and flow and has performed his piano sound bath concerts around the world in venues ranging from Grace Cathedral to Carnegie Hall to help people drop into a deep healing flow state.

    LinkedIn

  • Denise Holzer

    Denise Holzer is a Managing Director at Chatsworth Securities, an investment bank in Greenwich, CT that provides a wide range of services to family offices and institutional clients including advisory on both public and private offerings, domestic and international M&A transactions, and has raised nearly $3 billion for traditional and alternative money managers. Ms. Holzer focuses on technology, artificial intelligence as well as real estate, providing a wide range of services to family offices and institutional clients both via advisory and through private capital raising.

    Prior to joining, Ms. Holzer spent over a decade at Morgan Stanley as a Wealth Advisor managing the complex financial planning and investment needs of ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices and foundations. Previously, she co-founded Crunchet, a technology platform to help influencers promote and build their brand in the growing crossover between esports, sports, lifestyle, and entertainment.

    Ms. Holzer is a native New Yorker, investment banker and entrepreneur. She is a board of Advisor to Syndesis Health, a data and technology network and has recently joined ThinkHat, a full stack AI Venture Studio at the center of Healthcare, Life Sciences and Advanced AI. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University.

    LinkedIn

  • Gary McCoy

    A noted human performance professional driving insight into sports, health and fitness communities, McCoy now leads award winning PeakAi, an artificial intelligence company leveraging natural language processing to identify subject traits, and state. McCoy is credited for the rise of U.S. sports science, by delivering 'contextual application' platforms for managing athlete biometric data.

    PeakAi

  • Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz

    Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz is the President of AZ Advisors that guides companies and nonprofits in Education, Health, and Technology in strategic partnerships, Social Responsibility, and Impact.

    @GlobalRabbi

    LinkedIn

  • Rabbi Ari Shapiro

  • Laquelle Mari

    Laquelle Mari, co-author of the Declaration of AI is an AI Innovation & Strategy expert well-regarded for architecting solutions that drive market disruption and deliver positive societal impact. As a co-founding member of LG Electronics' LG NOVA Capital Alliance, she focuses on scaling solutions that empower humanity. She currently leverages government-grade AI talent and IP to accelerate high-performing civilian-grade companies to maximize their potential for broader influence. A notable achievement in her career is the development of a U.S. AI market entry program, which had a successful South Korea gov-backed pilot launch. With a background in custom mass manufacturing and product innovation, Mari consistently bridges cutting-edge technology with mass market needs.

    LinkedIn

  • Ravi Lam

    Ravi is a passionate entrepreneur with a deep commitment to innovation, technology, and mental health. As the former chief architect at ARCserve/Open and founder of Netrovert, Ravi has a track record of success, culminating in acquisitions by industry giants. His personal experiences with life’s challenges inspired a shift to the healthcare sector, where he focuses on leveraging machine learning and AI to transform mental health care. Through Thinkhat, a venture studio he founded, Ravi supports aspiring entrepreneurs in healthcare. Educated at IIT Madras, IIM Ahmedabad, and Stanford, he also completed Harvard Medical School’s Global Healthcare Leaders Program.

    LinkedIn

    Thinkhat.us

  • Jerome Glenn

    Jerome Glenn, CEO of The Millennium Project is currently conducting an international study of global governance requirements for AGI. He is the lead author of 19 State of the Future report since 1997, co-editor of Futures Research Methodologies 1.0-3.0, author of Future Mind: Artificial Intelligence in 1989. He invented the Futures Wheel and concepts such as conscious-technology, transInstitutions, tele-nations, management by understanding, self-actualization economy, feminine brain drain, and definitions of environmental security and collective intelligence. He is a member of the IEEE SA organization governance of AI working group, sent his first email in 1973 and helped get x.25 packet switching in 29 developing countries in the 1980s.

    Millennium Project

    LinkedIn

  • Allen Bolourchi

    Allen Bolourchi is a leader in AI products, an innovator, and an educator. At Apple, he spearheaded the development of user-centric multi-channel AI products for the App Store, focusing on on-device and server machine learning models that deliver content personalization and monetization for billions of users. Additionally, Allen served as the global App Store legal lead for AI and data. He teaches Generative AI and NLP at USC and leads his own startup, developing cutting-edge Generative AI and AI solutions. Allen’s combination of industry experience, academic leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit positions him as a prominent figure in advancing AI technology.

    LinkedIn

  • Kerry Leigh Miller

    Kerry Leigh Miller is a visionary. She is an investor, founder and Israel impact leader. Kerry’s expertise is driving success through organizational and network design. Kerry is the founder and CEO of IDA Ventures, an investment firm deploying smart capital at the nexus of Israel, innovation, and world impact. IDA Ventures partners with and connects family offices, investment firms, Israeli founders and thought leaders to drive both social and economic impact. Kerry is also a co-founder of Overton Venture Capital, a seed focused fund. Kerry’s experience during her eight years at Goldman Sachs includes technology strategy, talent strategy, and mergers and acquisitions. Kerry is a board member of UJA Federation of New York, a member of Natan Fund's antisemitism committee, and a former board ambassador to the Jewish Agency of Israel.

    IDA Ventures

  • Dr. Chris Boshuizen

    Dr. Chris Boshuizen is a lifelong advocate for space exploration. Co-founder of Planet Labs, active deep tech investor, and commercial astronaut, Chris also writes inspiring music as “Dr Chrispy.”

    @cboshuizen

    @drchrispy.com

    Chris Boshuizen

  • Igor Jablokov

    Igor is the founder and CEO of Pryon, an artificial intelligence (AI) company delivering an enterprise knowledge management platform. Pryon’s natural language processing (NLP) engine ingests and transforms data into experiences that solve critical business challenges. Previously at IBM, Igor grew impatient with the gap between the invention and commercialization of AI, and departed to establish cloud computing pioneer Yap. Five years later, Amazon acquired the company for its AI expertise and machine learning (ML) technology, now embedded in billions of Alexa-powered devices.

    Pryon

  • Amit Pradhan

    “Once we get past what I call, ‘Hollywood’s version of AI’ and the hype-cycle aroundcryptocurrencies - the true impact of both AI and the Blockchain to our civilization will belife changing.”

    Amit’s purpose is to invest in and create with exceptional founders who aim to positively impact the humans they intend to serve.

    As a seasoned startup founder, investor, and speaker, he spends his time creating, evangelizing and investing in the latest in frontier technology used to create a net positive impact on the planet and the lives of the humans who can benefit from it the most - regardless of their economic status or access, including the most vulnerable and disconnected populations on the planet. He believes that unlocking the true power of exponential technology, like AI, Blockchain, Quantum and more, means we can create new access, inclusion, monetization opportunities and a longer-term and more complete economic return on solving the more challenging problems this planet faces.

    Pradhan is the Founder/CEO of Rainfall and is active in many other ventures.

    LinkedIn

Past Speakers

Bryan Talebi

Bryan is the Founder and CEO of Ahura AI - the startup that invented tech allowing people to learn 3x-5x faster than traditional education using AI, Cognitive Science, and Web 3.0. Bryan also founded Digital Guardians: a non-profit that was launched on Necker Island with Richard Branson. They brought together the top AI Experts from around the world to address existential risk from AI.

Dylan Taylor

Dylan Taylor is a global business leader and philanthropist. He is an active pioneer in the space exploration industry as a CEO, investor, thought leader and futurist. Currently, Dylan serves as Chairman & CEO of Voyager Space Holdings, a multi-national space holding firm that acquires and integrates leading space exploration enterprises globally. 

Tom Markusic

Prior to co-founding Firefly, Tom served in a variety of technical and leadership roles in new-space companies: Vice President of Propulsion at Virgin Galactic, Senior Systems Engineer at Blue Origin, Director of the Texas Test Site and Principal Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX.He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.

Alex Tsado

Alex Tsado operates at the intersection of disruptive technology, community economics, and historical regenerative philosophies, as they apply to the future of the global African and underrepresented.

Beyond leading go-to-market for Nvidia's fastest-growing business, cloud AI computing, he founded Alliance for Africa's Intelligence to ensure African innovations get the chance to change millions of lives, and its people across the world are never again left behind during industrial revolutions.

Greggory Elias

Greggory Elias is an education technology expert, entrepreneur, and investor. He is the founder and CEO of Skim.ai, a revolutionary platform that uses artificial intelligence to deliver personalized education to users of all abilities. With more than 15 years of experience in the education sector, Greggory has a passion for transforming the world of learning through technology.

Maria Laws

Maria Laws is Ahura AI's Director of Learning Experience Design. She is an award-winning educator, focusing on the best practices of teaching and learning for university, professional, and K12 audiences and has worked with global leaders including Stanford University, UC Berkeley, WestEd, Lockheed Martin, and Genentech. Throughout her 2 decades of experience Maria has focused on the intersection of innovation and creativity across the arts and sciences and development of leadership skills at every age.

Ash Kaluarachchi

Ash has been responsible for multiple startup accelerators, including the most financially successful EdTech accelerator in history. To date, these accelerators have enabled more than 2,000+ education companies, including 10% of global EdTech unicorns, in partnership with organizations such as Techstars, Google, Amazon, Kaplan, Intel, NYU, USC, and the University of Pennsylvania.  As CEO at StartEd and Producer of EDTECH WEEK, he invests the social capital of a network of 800+ senior executives who grow, invest in, and acquire companies solving problems in Pre-K12, HigherEd, Workforce and Adult Learning.

Ravé Mehta

Ravé Mehta is an investor, entrepreneur, bestselling author and a recipient of the Tesla Vision Award by the Tesla Science Foundation. Ravé is the founder of Flow Labs and Flow Capital, which develops and invests in frontier and blockchain technologies that can help solve global issues. Ravé is the founder of Water Ledger which is developing a water credit market to invest in recharging of our river basins to help buffer the impacts of climate change during our global water scarcity crisis. Ravé is on the advisory boards of Space for Humanity and SETI and was a former board member for Space Florida.

Kwasi Asare

Kwasi Asare is the Cofounder & Chief Marketing Officer for Social Identity platform ESAIYO. ESAIYO captures, connects, preserves & displays important identity and historical data related to physical and virtual objects.

Amit Pradhann

Amit Pradhan is an entrepreneur, investor, and strategist. General Partner of JetVentures, the venture capital arm of JetSynthesys, an internet gaming and media company based in Pune, India. He is also the President of the Silicon Valley Blockchain Society, a community of blockchain evangelists who aim to network with another and discuss new ways to utilize blockchain technology.

Stewart Williams

Stewart Williams is a result-driven Entrepreneur, Executive, Consultant, and Advisor with more than 19 years of success across the capital markets, financial services, and banking industries. His broad areas of expertise include leadership, team building, coaching & mentoring, commercial banking, strategic planning, investments, exits, risk management, due diligence, and M&A.

Stewart holds a key leadership position as the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director for Confluence Capital Group, Inc., where they are providing both insights and a framework for strategic development and execution in capital strategy.

Keith Koo

Keith is a Founder and Managing Partner of Guardian Insight Group (GIG) a Technology Risk advisory firm dedicated to identifying, assessing, controlling and mitigating risks associated with doing business with technology companies and vendors such as: financial, blockchain, pricing/cost, cyber, information security, business resiliency, disaster recovery, regulatory and compliance.

Before founding GIG, Keith was the Managing Director/Head of Third-Party Risk Management for the Mitsubishi Financial Group (MUFG) and was responsible for ensuring that the Bank had the proper framework, policies and controls to meet regulatory standards for effective oversight of third parties/vendors.

Jane Poynter

Jane Poynter is an American aerospace executive, author and speaker. She is founder, co-CEO and CXO of Space Perspective, a luxury space travel company. She was co-founder and former CEO of World View Enterprises, a private near-space exploration and technology company headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. Poynter was also a founding member of the Biosphere 2 design team and a crew member from the original two-year mission inside the materially closed ecological system.

Nouriel Roubini

Nouriel Roubini is CEO of Roubini Macro Associates, LLC, a global macroeconomic consultancy firm in New York. He is also Chief Economist for Atlas Capital Team LP, as well as Co-Founder of Rosa & Roubini Associates.  At a 2006 address to the International Monetary Fund, Roubini warned of the impending recession due to the credit and housing market bubble. His predictions of these upside-down balance sheets became a reality in 2008, with the bubble bursting and reverberating around the world into a global financial crisis lasting well into the next decade.

De Kai

De Kai is Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST, and Distinguished Research Scholar at Berkeley's International Computer Science Institute. He is among only 17 scientists worldwide named by the Association for Computational Linguistics as a Founding ACL Fellow, for his pioneering contributions to machine translation and machine learning foundations of systems like the Google/Yahoo/Microsoft translators. Recruited as founding faculty of HKUST directly from UC Berkeley, where his PhD thesis was one of the first to spur the paradigm shift toward machine learning based natural language processing technologies, he founded HKUST's internationally funded Human Language Technology Center which launched the world's first web translator over twenty years ago.

Brittany Kaiser

Brittany is a Sub-Committee member of the Congressional Select Committee on Blockchain, Fintech and Digital Innovation, having co-authored and helped pass over 20 laws on blockchain technology. She also serves as Chair of the Board of Gryphon Digital Mining, a renewable energy bitcoin mining company. Recently, she helped co-found the NFT Foundation, a non-profit collective helping impact causes leverage blockchain technology to fund their work through NFTs.

For the past few years, she has led the Own Your Data Foundation, where she train governments, corporates and families in digital literacy.

Daniel Fox

Daniel Fox is a solo wilderness explorer, founder of THE FUTURE OF SPACE & SPACE 100.10, fine art photographer, and author of FEEL THE WILD.

DPAK

As a one-man solo act, DPAK presents a captivating live-looping journey that ranges from Future Rock / Dream Pop / Dance beats to cinematic soundscapes to power anthems.  Each live performance is a unique offering featuring improvisational creations in the moment curated specifically to the energy and vibe of the crowd. He can be found online as @DPAKfuture on social media.

He has performed with great talents such as India.Arie, Rihanna, et al. Most recently, he completed production on 45 songs for Disney’s hit animated series “Mira, Royal Detective”.  He has also written and composed songs and scores for feature films with stars such as Brie Larson, Jessica Biel, and Donald Sutherland as well as commercial spots including FOX and Toyota to name a few. He frequently performs at numerous activist events, rallies, and assemblies for truth, unity, and freedom, including most recently writing the anthem for the recent Independent National Convention.

As an actor, he co-starred on Season 5 of the TV show "Modern Family" as well as numerous national commercials including Cadillac Escalade, iPhone, and Vitamin Water.