AI Salon: From Hype to Durable Innovation
Join us for an intimate AI Salon bringing together founders, investors, and operators exploring the next wave of innovation.
This curated gathering is designed for thoughtful conversation at the intersection of AI, emerging technologies, and real-world impact. We will dive into how AI is reshaping industries, unlocking new business models, and accelerating scientific and technological progress.
Agenda:
5:00-5:30 PM: Open Networking
5:30-5:45 PM: Opening Keynote by Mala Ramakrishnan, Managing Partner, Progressive Ventures
5:45-6:00 PM: Building an AI-First Culture: Driving Adoption and Usage by Dr. Michael Housman, Co-Founder / CEO, AI Performance Lab
6:00-6:40 PM: Panel: Identifying Long-Term AI Winners
Saurabh Ghelani, Global Trust Officer, Confluent
Jade Wang, Venture Partner, Antler
Rameshwar Balanagu, Cofounder, Dallas CTO Club
6:40-6:50 PM: The Hiring Crisis | Boris Portman, Founder & CEO, BetterEngineer
6:50-7:30 PM: Panel: Investing in Durable Innovation
Kautuk Surjan, Practice Head, Arevasoft
Ashish Chatur, Engineering Leader, Gainwell Technologies
Fahd Siddiqui, Head of Engineering, Nova Intelligence, Iterable
7:30-7:45 PM: Closing & Next Steps by Mala Ramakrishnan and Boris Portman
7:45-8:00 PM: Open Networking
We'll discuss:
Where AI is delivering real, measurable value today
What separates enduring companies from short-term momentum
The role of AI in transforming vertical industries (health, biotech, climate, enterprise)
How founders and investors should think about defensibility in an AI-first world
About Organisers:
Founders Creative is a non profit organization. We aim for 50% representation by women in every room that matters. Our crown jewel is an accelerator program that has launched 30 startups this last year with 50% women. We are a community of 40,000 founders, investors, operators primarily in Silicon Valley.
Progressive Ventures is a seed stage venture firm based out of Palo Alto, CA and the primary sponsor of Founders Creative.
BetterEngineer is an AI enabled next generation near shore staffing and recruiting partner, curating known senior AI native software engineers across the Americas.