From Lab to Lead: How Researchers Become Founders
From Lab to Lead: How Researchers Become Founders
📅 Date and Time
Friday, March 20, 2026
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST
📍 Location
Palo Alto, CA
(Address revealed upon registration)
💡 About the Event
Transitioning from the precision of a research lab to the fast-paced world of startup leadership is a journey filled with unique challenges and massive opportunities.
Join Foundation Capital and Z Potentials for an evening of insightful discussion and high-level networking.
Whether you are a PhD student with a patent, a researcher eyeing the market, or an founder looking for the next big technical breakthrough, this event is designed for you.
What to Expect:
Founder Panel: Hear first-hand stories about the "zero-to-one" journey.
Actionable Insights: Learn how to translate technical excellence into product-market fit.
Networking: Connect with fellow researchers, engineers, and the teams at Foundation Capital and Z Potentials.
🎤 Featured Speakers
Co-founder @ Model AI, PhD @ UC Berkeley (SkyLab) SkyPilot, Ex-DeepMind Researcher
CTO @ Tessera Labs, Ex-Researcher @ Stanford, YC S24
Co-founder & CEO @ Phota Labs backed by A16Z, Ex-Adobe Research, PhD @ UC Berkeley.
Leo Lu (moderator)
Partner @ Foundation Capital, Co-founder & CEO @ Brewit (acq.)
🤝 Hosted By
Foundation Capital: focuses on early-stage investments in enterprise, fintech, and crypto; portfolio includes Netflix, Cerebras Systems, Solana, Sunrun, Tennr, Campfire, and more.
Z Potentials: A next-generation founder and tech community built around the intersection of AI, frontier technology, and global innovation. With over 1 million followers and 500+ active founder communities, we have hosted 50+ invitation only events and panels with top-tier venture capital firms.
💼Follow us on LinkedIn (More Founders Interview Coming...)
💻Visit our WeChat Account (🔍Z Potentials）
Registration
This is a limited-capacity event. Please register to request an invite. We look forward to seeing you in Palo Alto!