AI Innovation: Global Visionaries of the East Bay
📍 Venue: Blackhawk Club, Danville. The exact address will be emailed to the registered guests.
📅 Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🥗 Menu: Fresh salads, appetizers, and curated drinks will be provided.
👩🏻💼👨🏾💼 Dress Code: Smart casual or business casual attire in grey or black. Please avoid overly casual clothing such as slippers, flip-flops, or excessively revealing outfits.
🧍🏽♀️🧍🏿♂️Attendees: Immigrants & Expats - Perfect for global executive leaders of Fortune 500 professionals, startup founders, entrepreneurs, and investors shaping the future of AI innovation in the East Bay.
*Open to ALL genders!
Watch the video about the event here!
Femigrants is expanding to the East Bay (finally!)
Join us for an unforgettable launch evening in the heart of the East Bay as we bring together global immigrant and expat leaders of the Fortune 500 Tech, Startups, Investment, and SMBs for a TED-style experience.
At AI Innovation: Global Visionaries of the East Bay, thought leaders from Fortune 500 Tech and Investment Companies will deliver 10-minute keynote talks that explore how AI is redefining industries, leadership, and the future of business.
With networking, curated conversations, and visionary insights, this event will serve as the premier gathering of global minds driving AI innovation from the East Bay to the world.
AGENDA
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Checking & Networking & Enjoying Delicious Menu
6:30 PM - 6:45 PM Official Opening & Welcoming by Femigrants Founder & Board & Team
Founder: Aytakin (Ika) Aliyeva
Board: Elizabeth Premazzi
6:45 PM - 7:20 PM Panel Discussion with Leaders in Tech.
Topic: Reinventing Yourself in the AI Era: Stories of Growth and Grit." Speakers: Priyanka Rotti | Ankit Garg | Meghna David. Moderator: Aytakin (Ika) Aliyeva
7:25 PM - 8:00 PM Panel Discussion with Startup Founders & SMB Leaders.
Speakers: Shikher Singla | Zhanel Nugmanova | Ihor Bauman | Dr Neetu Nebhwani. Moderator: Leena Mendoza
8:05 PM -8:10 PM Final Announcement
8:15 PM - 9:00 PM Networking
9:00 PM - Event Ends.
Topics We’ll Explore
AI & Innovation: How global leaders are driving human-centered innovation in the age of artificial intelligence.
Business Growth: Strategies to scale small and medium-sized businesses in an increasingly digital and global economy.
Fundraising & Investment: Insights from founders and investors on raising capital, attracting partners, and building long-term value.
Leadership & Reinvention: How to grow from individual contributor to executive leader while staying authentic and adaptable.
Career Transitions: Navigating the shift from non-technical backgrounds to AI and tech-driven roles.
Women in Tech & Leadership: Empowering immigrant and expat women to lead innovation and change across industries.
Future of Work: Redefining collaboration, productivity, and purpose in a world transformed by AI.
SPEAKERS
Shikher Singla | $100+ Revenue | INVESTOR | ENTREPRENEUR
Dr. Shikher Singla is a Veterinarian, Investor, and Entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building and scaling veterinary hospitals across California and beyond. As the co-owner of a group of 15+ veterinary hospitals, Dr. Singla leads operations generating over $100 million in annual revenue and serving more than 100,000 clients each year.
A proven business strategist and startup advisor, he specializes in developing multi-specialty hospitals, driving acquisitions, implementing technology-driven solutions, and creating employee-focused cultures that enhance both performance and well-being. His leadership has consistently resulted in double-digit growth, streamlined operations, and empowered teams united around a shared mission.
Passionate about transforming the veterinary landscape, Dr. Singla is redefining what’s possible at the intersection of medicine, innovation, and entrepreneurship — pioneering a new era of excellence, culture, and care in veterinary medicine.
Zhanel Nugmanova | | $5M Raised | Co-Founder & COO | Valinor Discovery
Zhanel Nugmanova is a Femigrant from Kazakhstan and the Co-Founder and COO of Valinor Discovery, a biotech company using AI to predict patient treatment responses. Valinor integrates genomic, proteomic, imaging, and clinical data to help pharma run smarter trials. The company raised $5 MILLION in seed funding, led by CRV and Harpoon VC.
She studied computational biology and human aging at Dartmouth and Harvard Medical School, with a focus on lung and ovarian cancer. Zhanel has developed machine-learning models for drug discovery and collaborated with academic and pharmaceutical partners.
She completed Dartmouth’s Innovation Accelerator and mentored NSF I-Corps teams. She is passionate about empowering women in tech and mentors students and founders.
Ihor Bauman | $5M Raised | CEO and Co-Founder | Workee
Ihor Bauman is a serial entrepreneur and speaker, known for his visionary leadership in the tech industry. He is the CEO and co-founder of Workee, a fast-growing platform that's revolutionizing the freelance economy.
Prior to launching Workee, Ihor was involved in leading several successful ventures in the e-commerce, mobile gaming, and software development spaces.
He is a sought-after speaker and has been invited to share his insights at various industry events and podcasts, including Forbes Councils, TechCrunch, and Product Hunt.
Dr Neetu Nebhwani | $3M Revenue | FOUNDER & CEO | LA ViE MD
Dr. Neetu Nebhwani is the Medical Director of LA ViE MD and a passionate advocate for personalized aesthetics. With over a decade of primary care experience, she combines medical expertise with an artistic approach to help patients look and feel their best.
A board-certified Internal Medicine physician, Dr. Nebhwani completed her residency at a Yale University–affiliated hospital in Connecticut. She later pursued advanced training in cosmetic and dermatologic procedures, staying at the forefront of new technologies in aesthetics.
Renowned for her compassion and commitment to excellence, Dr. Nebhwani has built LA ViE MD into a thriving medical aesthetics practice generating $3M in annual revenue, empowering individuals through confidence and care.
Priyanka Rotti | | $10M Revenue Driving| Director, Corporate Strategy & AI Innovations | Tata Communications
Priyanka is a seasoned tech executive with 13+ years of experience leading innovation across Microsoft, Cisco, and Tata Communications. Her work spans engineering, product, strategy, partnerships, and business development, driving over $10M in revenue and leading teams of 25+ professionals.
As Director of Corporate Strategy & AI Innovations, she builds ecosystems of high-growth AI startups to bring GenAI and automation into cloud, infrastructure, and contact center products. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science and an MBA from The Wharton School, blending deep technical and strategic expertise.
She has championed Women in Science and Engineering programs, led “Girls Who Code” initiatives, and served on California State University’s Women’s Leadership advisory board.
Meghna David | VP Client Partner | Trantor
Meg David is a VP Client Partner, AI & IT Services Leader, and Entrepreneur, recognized for her advocacy of silent leadership.
She began her career in the IT services industry through sales and recruitment, mastering the art of connecting people, driving innovation, and creating opportunities. While pregnant, Meg founded her own IT services company, which she grew over the course of a decade into a successful enterprise delivering solutions in PMO organization, IT infrastructure, product engineering, and cybersecurity, before making a successful exit.
Afterward, she returned to the corporate world, joining Amazon as a Client Lead and later advancing to Client Partner roles at leading technology firms.
Today, Meg is also a speaker and advocate for women in technology, AI with purpose, and leadership beyond titles.
Ankit Garg | Senior Director, TPM | Gen AI & Cloud
Ankit Garg is a seasoned technology and strategy executive with over 20 years of leadership experience driving large-scale, cross-functional engineering and transformation programs across cloud infrastructure, SaaS, and GenAI.
He has led enterprise-wide initiatives that launched the first GenAI capabilities across a cloud product suite and pioneered Agentic AI strategies to automate workflows and enhance team productivity.
With a unique blend of technical depth and strategic execution, Ankit Garg has delivered 0→1 product launches, scaled programs across global teams, and embedded GenAI into engineering and product execution.
Leena Mendoza | President of NAWBO SV. VP | Latino Business Referral Network
Leena Mendoza is the President of NAWBO Silicon Valley and the Founder and CEO of Intentional Leadership, a business strategy and executive coaching firm that helps entrepreneurs transform their expertise into scalable, profitable businesses.
As President of NAWBO Silicon Valley, Leena champions education, advocacy, access to capital, and leadership development for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Over the past two years, she has welcomed 44 international delegates from around the world, showcasing how women in Silicon Valley conduct business, access funding, and build networks that fuel success.
Through Intentional Leadership, Leena equips business owners with the clarity, confidence, and systems they need to operate as true CEOs — not just skilled professionals.
Aytakin Aliyeva | Founder | Femigrants Foundation
Full bio is below, under the "Event Organizers" section.
Who Will Be in the Room
Speakers: Immigrant & Expats leaders - AI innovators, Fortune 500 tech executives, founders, investors, and entrepreneurs sharing their vision.
Attendees: Tech leaders, startup founders, venture capitalists, angel investors, and business executives.
Community: Global immigrant and expat leaders shaping the future of AI across industries.
Why You Should Attend
Hear TED-style talks on AI innovation, leadership, and investment.
Deep dive into the conversation of angel & VC investors
Connect with Fortune 500 executives, founders, and global investors.
Gain insights on AI funding trends and scaling strategies.
Build long-term relationships with visionary leaders in the East Bay.
Enjoy delicious food and curated drinks throughout the evening.
Be part of a high-level, global community shaping the AI future.
RESERVATION:
P.S. We DO NOT sell tickets at the door! Please register on Luma before joining the event.
*The tickets are non-refundable.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE PART OF THE FEMIGRANTS COMMUNITY?
Expand Your Network: Build meaningful relationships and friendships with executive immigrant and expat leaders who truly understand your entrepreneurial journey.
Gain Valuable Insights: Exchange authentic experiences, receive actionable advice, and uncover fresh perspectives to overcome your business challenges.
Feel Supported and Empowered: Enjoy a warm, welcoming environment designed specifically to uplift and encourage you through every stage of entrepreneurship.
EVENT ORGANIZERS
This event is organized by AYTAKIN ALIYEVA, Forbes and Business Insider Featured Community Builder and Founder of the Femigrants Foundation. Aytakin is a Forbes Nonprofit Council member, host of the "Verso Talk with Aytakin" Podcast, and a LinkedIn Influencer with 30K+ followers.
CONNECT with Aytakin on LinkedIn
Special thanks to Femigrants' board member Elizabeth Premazzi for helping us to host this event at the Blackhawk Club in Danville.
Elizabeth is an award-winning architect with over 24 years of experience, and she has worked in Brazil, Denmark, China, Africa, and the United States. Her designs include homes, hotels, cultural buildings, and large mixed-use developments.
Aytakin is a community builder featured in Forbes and Business Insider and the Founder of the Femigrants Foundation.
At Femigrants, she creates elegant event experiences that unite a community of diverse female immigrants working in investment, startups, and tech companies. Since 2018, she has hosted hundreds of professional networking events in the Bay Area, London, and New York.
She also hosts the “Verso Talk with Aytakin” podcast, which interviews immigrants about investment, fundraising, and everything related to money to help them become financially free leaders in America.
Aytakin’s dedication to creating impactful communities has earned her international recognition, including double gold awards at the prestigious Women Changing the World Awards 2023 in London by Sarah Fergusson, the Duchess. She was honored as a 2024 Award Winner and recognized as a Community Builder, Top 100 Women in Tech by KSV.
Her work has been widely covered by major outlets, including Forbes, Business Insider, Economic Insider, Yahoo Finance, AP News, London Daily Post, Washington Times, US Times, Intuit, HuffPost, and more.
In addition to her community leadership, Aytakin worked at Fortune 500 tech companies such as Instagram, Facebook, NVIDIA, and HTC VIVE.
FEMIGRANTS FOUNDATION
Femigrants (501c3) is a global community of diverse female immigrants in the tech, startup, and investment world.
At Femigrants, we connect immigrant women to business and career growth resources through elegant and memorable event experiences.
Our events include but are not limited to founder & investor brunches, SMB-focused events, executive dinners, coffee meetups, panel discussions, annual forums, and more.
PHOTOS from PREVIOUS EVENTS
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT TERMS
*You and your guest must be 21+ with ID to attend this event.
Political and Religious Discourse:
Femigrants Foundation is a nonpartisan organization (501c3).
*The Femigrants Foundation does not endorse any political or religious viewpoints, and we do not approve of any discussions or speeches about political issues or religion.
We encourage all members, participants, volunteers, speakers, and sponsors to respect this principle and engage in dialogue that aligns with our mission of empowerment, connection, and support for female immigrants.
Assumption of Responsibility:
By participating in this event, you acknowledge your responsibility for any accidents or damages that may be caused by your actions. Furthermore, you agree not to hold the Femigrants Foundation or any of the event supporters accountable for any losses, damages, injuries, or unforeseeable incidents.
Consent to Share Information with Sponsors:
By registering for this event, you consent to the sharing of your full name and email address with our event sponsors. This information may be used for sponsor-related communications and networking purposes. We respect your privacy, and your details will only be shared with our trusted sponsors. If you have any concerns, please contact us directly prior to the event.
Media Release:
In the course of your participation in the event, you grant Femigrants Foundation permission to capture photographs and videos for event documentation and promotional purposes.
By registering for Femigrants events, you grant permission for your photos and videos to be featured in news media, news articles, or related media outlets for marketing purposes.
Your agreement also acknowledges the potential inclusion of visual content captured during the event in various Femigrants' media outlets, including but not limited to Femigrants' website, social media platforms, newsletters, and other promotional materials.
Consent to Email Communication:
By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from the Femigrants Foundation and its affiliated programs regarding event updates and information that may be of interest to you.
Non-Refundable Tickets:
Please be aware that tickets for this event are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, you retain the option to transfer your ticket to a friend or team member who can attend in your stead. Please email [email protected] to transfer your ticket. A minimum of 7 business days before the event is required to transfer your ticket to your friend or colleague. We do not accept last-minute requests.