MIX: Monthly Innovation Exchange

​Join us for MIX, a monthly gathering designed to spark collaboration, share ideas, and strengthen our innovation community. Startup, Policy, Industry, Academia, Creatives, Entrepreneurs, researchers, civic leaders, and ecosystem partners come together to explore a rotating theme through lightning talks, small-group conversations, and informal networking. Whether you're launching a new venture, driving scientific discovery, or building community infrastructure, MIX is a space to connect, learn, and grow—together. Enjoy happy hour bites, meaningful dialogue, and the chance to get inspired by others shaping the future in and around our region.

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​​This Month's Topic - Roots & Revolutions: Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Food Systems

​Roots & Revolutions: Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Food Systems will explore how we navigate the push and pull of improving food systems — how to integrate new (and old!) technology wisely, and deploy it sustainably, as we look toward scaling.

​We’ll look at how people, communities, and organizations are working to align food practices with the needs of the planet, and how to balance traditional knowledge with modern tools to move food systems forward without losing what matters.

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​Speakers Include:

​Alfred Melbourne, founder of Three Sisters Gardens

​Amber Stott, CEO of Food Literacy Center

​Jessica Chiartas, President & Lead Scientist at RegenScore

​Jacqueline Samson, Director of Plant Ops & Engineering at Better Meat Co.

​Chef Santana Diaz, Executive Chef, UC Davis Health

​Agenda

​​Arrive early - beat the traffic & work from the space!!

​​5:00 – 5:30 PM | Arrival & Open Networking

​​5:30 – 6:30 PM | Facilitated Idea Exchange

​​•  Brief background on the chosen theme for the month.

​​•  Expert Lightning Talk

​​•  Roundtables

​​6:30 – 6:45 PM | Reflections & Wrap-Up

​​6:45 – 7:15 PM | Open Networking