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AI Salon Singapore [23 April 2026]
AI is all the hype today and there is so much going on. We would like strip it down and bare it all.
We want to peel off the layers and see what's really happening.
This time, we are partnering up with KINN Habitat, a snazzy new boutique hotel, to host AI Salon Singapore April edition! For those who are curious, there will even be an exclusive private tour of KINN Habitat too!
This edition of AI Salon is all about one question:
what does it actually take to build and operate real AI-first companies today?
We’re bringing together four founders tackling different layers of this shift:
Christel Buchanan (ChatAndBuild) → will share ChatChat — a messaging-first agent platform where every conversation can become a persistent AI agent with memory, tools, multimodal interaction, and the ability to build apps and take action across work and life. She will also explore why, in an era where intelligence is abundant and cheap, taste becomes the ultimate edge.
João Nina Matos (Futovia) → what it looks like to deploy AI employees into real teams, not just prototypes
Li Wei (Transfong Ventures) → why AI isn’t a tool, but a full rewrite of how companies are structured and run
Vikrant Rathore (Insan AI) → When Agents Fall, and Rise Again. A live look at AI agents that are more than a simple loop: they can recover from failure, keep their place, and continue working together.
Across these perspectives, one thing becomes clear:
👉 we’re moving from experimenting with AI… to rebuilding companies around it
We will have real demos, sharp opinions, and practical insights from founders in the trenches.
Get to learn from the ones actually building in the AI space now and network with some of the best minds in the industry.
Expect practical conversations on:
What's happening in the AI space right now?
How large corporations / governments are enabling AI at scale
What it takes to turn AI prototypes into production systems
Where companies are seeing real ROI (and where they’re not)
The biggest gaps between ambition and execution in AI today
Let's all learn more about where AI is actually deployed and operational in companies big and small.
Agenda
5:00 PM — Registration & Networking
Arrivals, drinks, and early connections with founders, operators, and builders in the AI ecosystem.
5:30 PM — Opening Remarks
Welcome by StartupX & AI Salon Singapore
6:00 PM — Christel Buchanan, Founder, ChatAndBuild
6:10 PM — João Nina Matos, Founder, Futovia
6:20 PM — Li Wei, Co-Founder, Transfong Ventures
6:30 PM — Vikrant Rathore, Co-Founder, Insan AI
6:40 PM — Hot Mic
7:00 PM — Curated Tour of Kinn Habitat and Open Networking
Who Should Attend
AI founders and builders
Engineers and technical operators
Corporate innovation and digital leaders
Investors and ecosystem players
Meet the Speakers
Durwin Ho, Managing Partner, StartupX
Vanessa Paul, Head of Marketing, KINN Hospitality Concepts
Joao Nina Matos, Founder, Futovia
Christel Buchanan, Founder, ChatAndBuild
Li Wei, Co-Founder, Transfong Ventures
Vikrant Rathore, Co-Founder, Insan AI
Community Participation
We’re always looking for founders and builders who want to share what they’re working on.
If you’re building something interesting in AI, indicate your interest when registering and the team will reach out.
We’re also growing the AI Salon Singapore chapter and welcome volunteers who want to contribute to events, programs, and ecosystem building.
Reach out to us and connect:
Durwin Durwin Ho | LinkedIn
Raymond Raymond Doraisamy | LinkedIn
Joyce Joyce Tay | LinkedIn
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Meet the Partners
AI Salon
AI Salon is the global community bringing together AI founders and builders, investors, and partners to connect and collaborate. We are starting new chapters in every city so join us to build the largest Global AI community.
It’s decentralized and chapter-driven, with 60+ chapters across 40+ countries and growing rapidly across every major tech ecosystem.
Since launching, the community has hosted hundreds of events worldwide, bringing together tens of thousands of participants and showcasing real startups and emerging technologies shaping the AI landscape. More than 40,000 attendees at over 400 live events since 2024. Over 1,000 guest speakers and 1,000 startup presentations at those events.
AI Salon Singapore brings that global energy into the local ecosystem — with a strong focus on applied AI, frontier technologies, and companies scaling from Singapore to the world.
StartupX
StartupX is a global innovation partner for those building what’s next. We collaborate with corporates, governments, and startups to launch ventures, scale businesses, and drive bold transformation. Founded by entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders, we built StartupX to challenge the status quo of how innovation gets done in Asia.
KINN Hospitality Concepts reimagines hospitality as a holistic lifestyle experience, prioritizing physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Each space is a quiet sanctuary, blending the privacy and quality of boutique hotels with the social energy and affordability of hostels.
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As seats are limited and there are F&B catered, if you cannot make it, do update your attendance or let the organizers know earlier. Do take note that no-shows may be blacklisted from future events.