Pioneer Forum VI Convergent Futures: Building, Scaling, and Funding AI-Native Companies in 2026
Pioneer Forum VI
Convergent Futures: Building, Scaling, and Funding AI-Native Companies in 2026
Pioneer Forum is a monthly private salon co-organized by BitMart Exchange and Meriti AI.
Over its first five editions, this curated, invite-only salon brings together leaders across AI, fintech, Web3, venture capital, and the creative industries. Each session is designed to spark meaningful dialogue, strategic connections, and real collaboration.
This edition
AI is no longer a standalone category — it is converging with fintech, legal, enterprise SaaS, and global markets to redefine how companies are built and scaled. As capital becomes more selective and AI capabilities become increasingly commoditized, founders must rethink where real value is created.
Pioneer Forum VI brings together leading entrepreneurs, product executives, and AI builders to explore how the next generation of AI-native companies will be built, scaled, and funded.
This panel will dive into:
Where AI and adjacent technologies are actually converging
What founders should focus on (and what to ignore) in 2026
How AI products move from concept to scalable impact
How fundraising expectations are shifting in the next capital cycle
The conversation is grounded in strategy, execution, and real outcomes — practical insights founders can apply immediately.
Featured Panelists
(Additional speakers to be announced)
Dr. Lingfei (Teddy) Wu
Co-founder & CEO, Anytime AI
Distinguished AI scientist and entrepreneur. Former engineering leader at Pinterest, JD.com, and IBM T. J. Watson Research Center. TEDx speaker, IBM Master Inventor, author of a globally recognized AI book (300,000+ copies sold), holder of 65+ U.S. AI patents, and contributor to 200+ top AI publications.
Elena Obukhova
Co-founder, Supermoon & Supermoon Ventures
Entrepreneur and business architect with 12+ years in crypto & fintech. Former advisor at the United Nations Capital Development Fund and Fintech Advisory Services. With global experience across 9 countries and multilingual fluency, Elena specializes in business strategy, go-to-market, fundraising, and investor relations for high-growth startups.
Sarah Perkins
Founder, Product Place Labs
Product and technology executive with 15+ years of experience leading digital transformation across Fortune 50 companies and high-growth startups. Former Chief Product Officer. Expert in scaling enterprise AI products from 0 → 1, AI strategy and implementation, and building responsible, high-impact product teams.
Swathi Yemmanur
AI Enablement Director, Wolters Kluwer Health Senior AI & GenAI leader with 10+ years of experience across healthcare, telecom, and financial services. Former Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase and Consulting AI Director at Verizon, specializing in enterprise AI strategy, GenAI systems, and responsible AI deployment.
Jie Chen (Coordinator) Senior Vice President at Goldman Sachs, former AI Entrepreneur. A 10-years experienced software engineer && architect in fintech. Former co-founder of an AI based fashion data vendor. Expertise in designing and building large scale, low latency trading system and associated infrastructures.
Format
A closed-door panel discussion followed by a private networking reception.Attendance is limited to ensure depth, candor, and high-quality exchange.
For more information, please visit our official site: https://www.pioneerforum.org
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Presenting Sponsor
BitMart is a premier global digital asset platform serving over 12 million users worldwide, offering 1,700+ trading pairs with competitive fees. BitMart is committed to innovation, transparency, and accessible financial infrastructure for a global user base.
Meriti specializes in data strategy, analytics, and AI frameworks that help organizations navigate rapidly evolving digital and financial ecosystems.
About the Partners
Bitpush News – New York–based media platform providing global blockchain and digital asset coverage.
Alpha Square Group – SEC-registered family office investing across global public and private markets with over $1B AUM.
VinnCorp - California-based technology firm providing elite remote engineering talent and end-to-end web, mobile, and Salesforce solutions for fast-growing companies.
Official Media & Marketing Partner
LipManTV - specializes in content, creating high-impact visuals across finance, tech, real estate, art, and music that help brands stand out.
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