​Join us at the second annual SoCal Deep Tech Symposium, produced by The Alliance for SoCal Innovation, hosted by DTI at THE BR-DGE and proudly sponsored by Escalon Services, Reitler, Morgan Stanley, and TMX Group.

​When: September 18, 2025, 1:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Where: El Segundo, CA
Who: >120 deep tech industry leaders, founders, investors, innovators, and thought leaders

​What to know: A curated event featuring a keynote and panels that reveal valuable insights into the unique opportunities and challenges of commercializing deep tech innovations in sectors such as Aerospace & Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Autonomous Mobility, Robotics, and Cleantech.

​Why it matters: Connect with top minds and explore the technologies and economic conditions driving the future of deep tech industries.

​Founders, attend the pre-event workshop (separate ticket required, details below): get expert legal advice and strategic recommendations on commercializing and protecting your deep tech IP.

​AGENDA

​01:00 PM: Attendee Check-in

​01:30 PM: Opening remarks: Mayor Chris Pimentel, City of El Segundo.

​01:40 PM: Keynote: Shahin Farshchi, PhD, Partner at Lux Capital in conversation with Ashutosh Shukla, VP of Mechanical Engineering at Anduril

​A candid conversation between one of deep tech’s most visionary investors and a leading executive at the frontier of autonomy, defense, and manufacturing. Together, they’ll unpack the stories behind building category-defining companies.

​02:15 PM Panels

• ​Commercializing and Scaling Deep Tech
  This panel will explore what it takes to bring cutting-edge technologies out of the lab and into the real world. Leaders from venture, government, and industry will share what works - and what doesn’t - when scaling deep tech companies in critical sectors like manufacturing, energy, and defense.

  • ​Moderator: Scott Stanford, Founder & Partner @ ACME Capital

  • ​Panelists:

    • ​Shaun Stuger, VP of Growth @ Space Kinetic Corp

    • ​Andrew Couillard, Director & Investor @ Harpoon Ventures

    • ​Lt. Col Vinny Pande, Materiel Leader & Deputy Director @ SpaceWERX

    • ​Rupika Brito, Principal @ Alumni Ventures

• ​Lessons from the Founder Journey
  Founders behind some of SoCal’s most ambitious startups share the hard-won lessons from building and scaling in deep tech. From first checks to first shipments, this session offers an unfiltered look at navigating the early stages of company-building.

  • ​Moderator: Krisztina (Z) Holly, Operating Partner @ Good Growth Capital

  • ​Panelists:

    • ​Phillip Weicker, Co-founder & CTO @ Harbinger Motors

    • ​Aleksey Matyushev, Founder & CEO @ Natilus

    • ​Karl Pawlik, Head of Technology & Life Science Verticals @ Escalon

​04:00 PM Startup Pitch Showcase (aka the First Look SoCal Deep Tech Innovation Showcase)

​Get an early glimpse into exciting new deep tech science-based startups emerging from SoCal's top research universities. Each of the 5 selected startups will quick pitch for 3 minutes immediately followed by 6 minutes of Q&A with a panel of investors and subject matter experts.

​Startups:

• ​Axon Logic, Andy Mikhailov

• ​CISGAM, Albert Cisquella

• ​Concia, Tooraj Helmi

• ​Neuramax Technologies, Asish Satpathy

• ​Super Foam Corporation, Zef Neemuchwala

​Click here for detailed profiles of the selected startups.

​Judges:

• ​Krisztina (Z) Holly, Operating Partner @ Good Growth Capital

• ​Jennifer Byrne, General Partner @ Grit VC

• ​Abhi Mukherjee, Operating Partner @ CerraCap Ventures

• ​TBA

​05:00 PM Networking Reception sponsored by the Kenilworth Group at Morgan Stanley

​Continue the conversation and connect while enjoying refreshments and snacks

​PRE-EVENT WORKSHOP FOR FOUNDERS sponsored by Reitler and TMX (separate ticket required)

​10AM - 12PM: Workshop with legal experts Gadi Navon and Daniel Erlikhman, partners at Reitler law firm, and fundraising expert Delilah Panio at TMX to help startup founders navigate issues such as Protecting and Commercializing Deep Tech Intellectual Property; Fundraising, and avoiding legal pitfalls. Lunch provided after workshop. Combination ticket includes workshop, lunch and General Admission to the symposium plus networking reception.