​Venture Signal Founder & Investor Exchange

​AI for Science: From Prediction to Discovery

​Conversations, company building, and meaningful connections.

​Presented by TopContenders Network

​📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026
⏰ 2:00–4:00 PM ET
📍 Boston Area — address provided to registered participants
🚗 Complimentary parking available

​About the Event

​Join TopContenders Network for a focused gathering connecting founders, investors, scientists, executives, and innovation professionals.

​This edition of the Venture Signal Founder & Investor Exchange will explore how artificial intelligence is becoming an active engine of scientific discovery—helping researchers generate hypotheses, navigate complex scientific landscapes, connect simulation with experimentation, and accelerate validation.

​Program Format

​Structured Networking

​Participants will briefly introduce themselves, what they are working on, and the connections or resources they hope to find.

​A Participant-Driven Conversation with Yide Alan Jiang

​Yide Alan Jiang
Chief Strategy Officer, XtalPi

​Conversation co-led with:

​Mark Zheng
Founder, TopContenders Network
Venture Partner, VU Venture Partners

​Alan will provide an opening perspective on AI for Science, followed by an interactive exchange in which participants are invited to contribute their experiences, questions, and differing viewpoints.

​The conversation will explore:

• ​AI as an active scientific discovery engine

• ​Moving from computational prediction to experimental validation

• ​The role of proprietary data, automation, and scientific infrastructure

• ​Building defensible and commercially viable AI-for-science companies

• ​Lessons from developing and scaling XtalPi

• ​How founders and investors should evaluate emerging AI-for-science opportunities

​Potential Featured Startup Presentation

​The program may also include a presentation from one early-stage AI-for-science or AI-enabled company.

​If selected, the company will introduce its technology, scientific validation, commercial strategy, and current development needs, followed by constructive questions and feedback from the group.

​Apply to Present

​Early-stage AI-for-science and AI-enabled companies are welcome to apply for the potential featured presentation.

​Apply for the startup presentation opportunity

​The selected founder will be contacted before the event. Participation does not imply endorsement or investment consideration.

​Who Should Attend?

• ​Founders building AI-for-science or AI-enabled companies

• ​Investors interested in AI, biotechnology, drug discovery, materials science, and deep technology

• ​Scientists, engineers, and industry executives

• ​Researchers exploring scientific commercialization

• ​Members of Boston’s startup and innovation community

​About TopContenders Network

​TopContenders Network brings together entrepreneurs, investors, industry experts, and innovation leaders to Meet, Connect, Learn, and Collaborate.

​Venture Signal is a TopContenders Network initiative creating focused conversations, practical learning, and meaningful connections across the startup and investment ecosystem.

​Registration

​Advance registration is required.

​This is a participant-driven gathering. Please come prepared to briefly introduce yourself and contribute your experience, questions, or perspective to the conversation.

​Disclosures

​This event is organized for educational and networking purposes. The views expressed by individual participants are their own and do not necessarily represent XtalPi, VU Venture Partners, or any other affiliated organization.

​Nothing presented constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation to purchase securities, or investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

​Photos or brief recordings may be taken for event-recap and promotional purposes. Please notify the organizer if you prefer not to be included.

​Presented by TopContenders Network