​OverdriveAI

​Hosted by TechUnited:NJ - creators of Propelify, heralded by Forbes as the “SXSW of the Northeast” - the OverdriveAI Summit is a forward-looking gathering for those shaping the future of AI.

​Taking place at Nokia Bell Labs, the home of countless technological breakthroughs, OverdriveAI brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, executives, and policymakers to explore and accelerate the next wave of AI-driven impact.

Featuring the President of Bell Labs Research alongside executives from OpenAI, CoreWeave, IBM, and other top AI organizations. OverdriveAI delivers unmatched expertise on the breakthroughs transforming industries.

​🎙️ Speakers Include:

​Mike Wilner - GTM Startups at OpenAI (previously AWS) - Leading go-to-market strategy for the world's most advanced AI systems

​Corey Sanders - SVP of Strategy at CoreWeave (previously Microsoft) - Scaling AI infrastructure that powers the next generation of applications

​Ismael Faro - VP, Quantum + AI at IBM - Bridging quantum computing and artificial intelligence for unprecedented capabilities

​Thierry Klein - President, Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research - Pioneering the intersection of telecommunications and AI innovation

​👉 To see our full speaker lineup, check out the official OverdriveAI website

​⚡ OverdriveAI Summit Agenda

​12:00 PM – Arrival & Networking
Arrive early for Happy Coffee hour. Connect with fellow attendees and enjoy light snacks before the program begins at 1:00 PM.

​1:00 PM – Welcome to Overdrive: The AI Revolution Is Here
Opening Remarks
Powered by TechUnited and Quay Acceleration
Speaker: Aaron Price, CEO, TechUnited:NJ

​1:15 PM – The Art in Artificial: Why Creatives Should Lean In
Creativity + AI
A keynote session exploring how humans and intelligent tools are working together to redefine storytelling and creative production in a machine-assisted world.
Speaker: PJ Pereira, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Silverside AI

​1:35 PM – Frontier AI: Networks, the Physical World, and What’s Ahead
Infrastructure + AI
A fireside chat on how advanced AI models are transforming networks, infrastructure, and the systems that power the physical world.
Speakers: Thierry Klein, President, Bell Labs Solutions Research, and Aaron Price, CEO, TechUnited:NJ

​2:00 PM – Work Reimagined: The Next Era of Enterprise Intelligence
Future of Work + AI
A keynote session examining how AI is transforming the way large enterprises work, featuring insights from Verizon’s evolving AI journey.
Speaker: Mano Mannoochahr, Chief Data, Analytics & AI Officer, Verizon

​2:20 PM – Outlearn the Giants: Differentiating in the OpenAI Era
GTM + AI
A fireside chat exploring how AI products move from idea to market and what it takes to build, position, and scale in today’s competitive landscape.
Speakers: Mike Wilner, GTM Startups, OpenAI, and Mark Yackanich, Partner, BetterFutureLabs

2:40 PM – Why the Future of AI Isn’t One Brain—It’s a Team
AI + Systems
A breakdown of how AI systems actually work, from workflows to agents, and what benchmarks like GAIA reveal about our progress toward general intelligence.
Speaker: Justin Trugman, Co-Founder of BetterFutureLabs, Head of Technology

​2:50 PM – Networking Break (for humans only)
Powered by mTap

​3:10 PM – How AI Helped Us Add $3 Billion of Value in 14 Months to a Legacy Company
AI Strategy + Implementation
A keynote session offering a behind-the-scenes look at Collectors’ AI transformation and what separates lasting innovation from short-term hype.
Speaker: Dan Van Tran, CTO, Collectors

​3:45 PM – Underrated: Why New Jersey Might Just Win the AI Race
Policy + AI
A panel discussion on how leaders are shaping a statewide AI strategy focused on workforce development, infrastructure, and the practical implementation needed to build an entirely new industry.
Speakers: Corey Sanders, SVP, CoreWeave; Tim Sullivan, CEO, NJEDA; Liat Krawczyk, Executive Director, AI Hub; and Frances Simowitz, CEO, Quay Acceleration

​4:10 PM – No One’s Safe: What Happens When Knowledge Work Gets Automated
Impact + AI
A panel exploring how automation is reshaping value creation, redefining expertise, and forcing every organization and worker to rethink what it means to stay relevant.
Speakers: Barclay Blair, Sr. Managing Director AI, DLA Piper; Ismael Faro, VP of Quantum + AI, IBM; Tracy Quitasol, AI-LLM Consultant, Perplexity, and John Lynn, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Quay Acceleration

​4:35 PM – Closing Remarks
A closing reflection on today’s biggest ideas — and how they’ll shape what we build next.

​⭐ Your Ticket Supports AI Education

​Your donation powers the future of AI. By supporting TechUnited:NJ, you help accelerate AI education, strengthen the workforce, and build a stronger, more connected tech community in New Jersey. We bring together educators, industry leaders, investors, and startups to fuel collaboration that drives enterprise adoption, supports startup growth, and ensures New Jersey leads in the AI economy.

​Your contribution directly supports programs like the OverdriveAI, Uplift Mentorship, and BetterFutureBuilders, fueling opportunities for students, founders, and innovators across the state.

​NJ Tech Council (dba TechUnited:NJ) Educational Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

​What to Expect

​🧠 Cutting-Edge Keynotes: In-depth sessions with AI pioneers sharing real insights on building, scaling, and navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

​🔬 Technical Deep Dives: Researchers and engineers share breakthrough strategies and hands-on implementation tactics.

​🤝 High-Value Networking: Connect with 300+ AI founders, researchers, investors, and operators. Meet your next co-founder, technical advisor, or lead investor.

​🚀 Don't Miss Out

​This is the AI event we wished we had when we first started building. Whether you're researching the next breakthrough or building the next unicorn, OverdriveAI Summit is where the future of artificial intelligence comes together.

​This event is made possible through sponsorship from Nokia Bell Labs, Verizon, BetterFutureLabs, DLA Piper, Withum, EisnerAmper, and NJEDA.