Sky's Not The Limit: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and AI in the Aerospace Era
"Sky's Not The Limit" uncovers bold ideas and real-world applications driving the next wave of sustainable flight, autonomous systems, and dual-use innovation through dynamic panels, thought-provoking keynotes, and startup showcases. Attendees will gain insights into emerging business models, investment trends, and cross-sector research and partnerships shaping the future of the aerospace ecosystem. Hosted at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California, a hub celebrating the legacy and future of flight, this Evening Series provides a practical and inspiring space for entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors to exchange ideas, explore cutting-edge technologies, and forge meaningful connections that drive real impact in aerospace and beyond.
What to Expect:
🔹 3:30 p.m.: Registration Begins
🔹 4:00 p.m.: Special Address: French Strategy in Avionics with Florian Cardinaux, Consul General, Consulate General of France in San Francisco.
🔹 4:10 p.m.: Welcome Words
🔹 4:20 p.m.: Opening Session & Keynote — State of the Industry with Zsolt Katona, Professor, Haas School of Business; Faculty Director, Berkeley Fisher Center for Business Analytics.
🔹 4:35 p.m.: Keynote: AI and Commercial Aviation: A World of Opportunities with Cedric Cocaud, Project Executive, Connected Airsights, Acubed.
🔹 4:55 p.m.: Keynote: The Future of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Dynamics, Control, Motion Planning & State Estimation with Mark Mueller, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, High Performance Robotics Laboratory, UC Berkeley.
🔹 5:15 p.m.: Aero+Space Panel — Getting Autonomy Off the Ground with Jon Lovegren, Head of Autonomy & Airspace Integration, Wisk; Maxime Gariel, Autonomy Lead, Joby Aviation; Paul Smith, Director of Flight Test and Operations, Acubed; Raj Pai, Senior Technologist, Aviation Systems Division, NASA.
Moderated by: Paige Stanton Wilson (Acubed, FACC California)
🔹 6:05 p.m.: Break
🔹 6:15 p.m.: Startup Galaxy Tour: EZ Aerospace — Dual-Use Air Taxi Marketplace with Matt Zacharias, CEO, EZ Aerospace.
🔹 6:30 p.m.: Startup Galaxy Tour: HyLight — Autonomous Hydrogen-Powered Airships with Martin Bocken, Co-Founder & CEO, HyLight.
🔹 6:45 p.m.: Startup Galaxy Tour: Alef Aeronautics — Zero-Carbon Aerial Transport with Konstantin Kisly, Co-founder & Director of Engineering, Alef Aeronautics.
🔹 7:00 p.m.: Keynote: Strategic Outlook — War and Peace in the New Aerospace Era with Leah Walker, Lab Director, Berkeley Risk and Security Lab.
🔹 7:15 p.m.: Keynote: Space Discovery for the People — From Galileo to You: Space Discovery for All with Franck Marchis, Senior Planetary Astronomer & Director of Citizen Science at the SETI Institute; Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder, Unistellar; and Founder & CEO, SkyMapper.
🔹 7:35 p.m.: Cocktail Reception
This unique event featuring bold ideas, visionary conversations, and meaningful connections is proudly co-hosted by Berkeley Haas, through the Fisher Center for Business Analytics, the Consulate General of France in San Francisco, Acubed Airbus' Innovation Center in Silicon Valley, and FACC California.