Yale Alumni Innovation Network — April Virtual Gathering
Event Description ( Update)
The Yale Alumni Innovation Network is a growing community centered around Yale alumni, bringing together individuals interested in innovation, entrepreneurship, startups, and emerging technologies.
This upcoming session will feature two speakers working at the frontier of AI-driven innovation, exploring how new tools are reshaping both science and creativity.
From unlocking previously unexplored regions of human biology to rethinking how stories are created, this session brings together two very different but equally transformative perspectives.
Speakers
Sudhakaran Prabakaran (Founder & CEO, NonExomics | Associate Professor, Northeastern University)
Former researcher at Harvard Medical School and University of Cambridge, Sudhakaran leads NonExomics, an AI-driven platform focused on unlocking the “dark proteome” — a largely unexplored space of ~250,000 proteins.
→ Using agentic AI and large-scale patient data (16,000+ oncology datasets), the platform identifies new therapeutic targets beyond the traditional 1–2% of the proteome currently studied
→ Early validation has already produced multiple novel drug candidates tested in vitro
His talk will explore:
• why drug discovery has plateaued
• what the “dark proteome” represents
• how AI is opening a new frontier for therapeutics
Erich Archer (Founder, CGA Creative | 20+ years in film & television)
After more than two decades in traditional media, Erich is now building at the frontier of AI-native creative production.
→ exploring how generative AI transforms storytelling, workflows, and creative systems
→ developing frameworks for producing content faster, cheaper, and differently
His talk will explore:
• what changes (and what doesn’t) in AI-native creation
• where real leverage in AI creativity lies
• how creative work is evolving
Event Format
Virtual Speaker Session + Q&A + Networking
Agenda
• Speaker 1 (15 min) + Q&A (5 min)
• Speaker 2 (15 min) + Q&A (5 min)
• Open discussion & networking (20–30 min)
Duration: ~60 minutes
(may extend slightly depending on discussion)
Who Should Join
We welcome:
• Yale alumni interested in innovation and entrepreneurship
• founders, investors, operators, and researchers
• individuals working across AI, biotech, and emerging technologies
A limited number of Innovation Guest Passes (Curated) are available for non-Yale participants.
Registration Notes
Participants are encouraged to register using a @yale.edu or @aya.yale.edu email address if applicable.
If you do not have one:
https://alumni.yale.edu/yalemail-alumni-email-help
A limited number of curated guest spots are available.
Note
This is an independent gathering organized by Yale alumni and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Yale University.
This session may be recorded for internal documentation. Participants may keep their cameras off if preferred.
Location
Virtual (Google Meet link shared upon confirmation)