Cypher AI Summit: AI Adoption in Heavy Industry
Are we really using AI, or just talking about it?
Most AI conversations happen at 30,000 feet. We’re bringing them down to the rig floor, the refinery, and the server room.
Join Energytech Cypher on May 20th at The Ion for a raw, honest look at the state of Industrial AI in 2026. This isn't a series of sales pitches—it’s a gathering of practitioners sharing what is actually working, what is failing, and why cybersecurity is the silent "make-or-break" factor for the next decade of energy innovation.
Agenda
1:30 PM | Panel 1: The Innovators: Startups on the Frontier
How the next generation of founders are bridging the gap between corporate legacy systems and AI-driven automation.
Gary Martin, Scan Ninja - Speaker
Mo (Mohammed) Saadat, Stratahub - Speaker
Ian Uriarte, Spindletop AI, - Speaker
Charles Connell, BigMachine AI - Speaker
Jamal Khawaja, Symplii AI - Moderator
2:30 PM | Panel 2: The Reality of Corporate AI Adoption in 2026
Strategic leaders discuss ROI realization, the ethics of automation, and the hurdles of enterprise-wide deployment.
Ionel Nechiti, Aramco Ventures - Speaker
Ceená hall, Cognite - Speaker
Misty Khan, Sunipro - Speaker
Nada Ahmed, Energytech Cypher - Moderator
Why Attend?
In a world of "AI-washing," the Cypher AI Summit focuses on proven business impact. Before our panels begin, each speaker delivers a 7-minute "Frontier Insight"—a standalone, high-impact presentation on the specific problem they are solving and why it matters right now.
The 2026 ROI Reality: Gain a transparent look at corporate AI adoption from leaders. Learn what is actually delivering ROI and what has proven to be a distraction.
The Security Mandate: Deep-dive sessions into the most underestimated risk of the AI era—cybersecurity. Understand why a robust security posture is the only way to scale intelligent automation.
Precision Networking: Connect with a curated ecosystem of technology providers, enterprise decision-makers, and the founders behind Houston’s most innovative AI startups.
Technical Deep Dives: Move from theory to implementation, automated vulnerability management, and digital transformation in mature fields.
About the Speakers
Gary Martin, Founder & CEO, Scan Ninja AI
Gary Martin is the Founder and CEO of Scan Ninja AI, where he leads the development of an AI-driven cybersecurity platform focused on automating vulnerability management and compliance. With a strong background in software and AI, he drives innovation in identifying security risks, streamlining remediation, and enabling continuous compliance across frameworks like SOC 2, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001. Gary is focused on helping organizations strengthen their security posture through intelligent, automated workflows.
Mo (Mohammad) Saadat, Founder & Co- CEO, Stratahub
Mo Saadat Founder and Co- CEO of Stratahub is an energy industry leader with over 20 years of experience across North America and the Middle East, working with independents, majors, and national oil companies. He specializes in unlocking value across the oil and gas value chain by improving production uptime, enhancing workforce productivity, and optimizing costs through technology and digital transformation.
He brings expertise in strategic planning, production operations, field development, and change management, with a strong focus on delivering measurable, sustainable results in a dynamic market environment.
Ian Uriarte, Co-Founder & CEO, Spindletop AI
Ian Uriarte is a technology entrepreneur and industrial IoT expert with over 25 years of experience across oil & gas, manufacturing, and healthcare. He specializes in delivering practical, scalable solutions that optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve asset performance. As Co-Founder and CEO of Spindletop AI, Ian is transforming oilfield operations through “Virtual Wells as a Service,” combining IoT and machine learning to enhance production and efficiency in mature fields. His work focuses on helping operators achieve faster ROI through data-driven decision-making and simplified deployment.
Ian is also passionate about driving innovation and creating positive impact, having co-founded initiatives that support communities and foster sustainable growth.
Misty Khan, M&A Project and Change Manager, Sunipro
Misty Khan is a M&A Project and Change Manager and program leadership professional in Sunipro with extensive experience driving global transformation initiatives across technology scaling, ERP implementations, M&A integration, and complex operating model shifts. With deep industry exposure spanning energy, oil & gas, manufacturing, and industrial sectors, they specialize in delivering end-to-end transformation programs that translate strategy into measurable execution.
A trusted partner to executive leadership, IT, cybersecurity, and cross-functional business units, known for strong stakeholder management and governance—building alignment, managing risk, and ensuring programs deliver clear outcomes. Key projects include M&A integration and carve-out programs, enterprise change management for ERP and other system transformations, technology scaling and product operating model implementation, data science/analytics Center of Excellence enablement, global program and project management, executive stakeholder and steering committee leadership, business process design and optimization, digital transformation and cross-functional alignment programs, and regulatory/legal compliance initiatives.
Ionel Nechiti, Investment Director, Aramco Ventures
Ionel Nechiti is Investment Director at Aramco Ventures, a $7B fund focused on sustainability, technology, and energy transition. Based in Houston and a Rice University MBA alumnus, he specializes in venture capital investing and portfolio management across downstream oil and gas, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water technologies in the Western Hemisphere. With 28+ years in energy and technology — including 12 years in venture capital and equity investing and 8 years in roll-up acquisitions — he brings expertise in shareholder value, P&L performance, corporate finance, transactions, and board leadership. He holds degrees and certificates from Babes-Bolyai, Rice, Harvard, and Stanford, spanning accounting, business administration, valuation, M&A, and private equity.
Ceená Hall, Industry Transformation Senior Director, Cognite
Ceená hall is an Industry Transformation Senior Director at Cognite. She is a business and technology strategist passionate about helping organizations accelerate growth, drive operational clarity, and deliver lasting impact — especially at the intersection of AI, sales, and customer engagement. With a career spanning product development, strategy consulting, and enterprise AI sales, she brings a systems-minded yet people-centered approach to every challenge. She has led B$ accounts to land SaaS deals with speed and precision, supported global organizations through digital transformation, and guided cross-functional teams in piloting and adopting AI solutions. Through her advisory practice, she partners with startups, SMBs, and ambitious professionals — offering strategic guidance, operational insight, and brand clarity to help them unlock their next chapter. At the core of it all: she believes the best solutions start with listening, the best partners create value, and the greatest growth happens when strategic vision meets heartfelt execution.
Charles Connell, Cofounder & CEO, BigMachine AI
Charles Connell is the Cofounder and CEO of BigMachine AI, where he leads the development of specialized AI solutions designed to bridge the gap between complex data and actionable industrial insights. A seasoned entrepreneur and technologist, Charles has a proven track record of building and scaling technology ventures that prioritize practical application over theoretical hype. His work at BigMachine AI focuses on empowering organizations to leverage machine learning to optimize operations and drive measurable business value.
Based in Houston, Charles is a deeply active member of the local innovation community and is passionate about positioning the city as a global hub for industrial AI. With extensive experience navigating the intersection of technology and heavy industry, he brings a unique perspective to the Cypher AI Summit on how companies can move past the pilot phase to achieve true enterprise-scale AI adoption.
Jamal Khawaja, Managing Director, Symplii
Jamal Khawaja is the Managing Director at Symplii, where he leads initiatives to bridge the gap between advanced technology and enterprise execution. With a career rooted in technical innovation and digital transformation, Jamal specializes in identifying high-impact AI applications that solve real-world operational challenges. He has a distinguished track record of guiding industrial organizations through complex digital shifts, focusing on scalability, efficiency, and long-term business value.
Known for his strategic approach to the Houston tech landscape, Jamal excels at translating complex technical frameworks into actionable insights for executive leadership. As a moderator for the Cypher AI Summit, he leverages his deep background in engineering and industrial strategy to facilitate high-level dialogue between technology innovators and corporate decision-makers, ensuring a focus on practical adoption and measurable ROI.
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