UCLA Emerging Tech Conference: Strategizing for Tomorrow, Today
The Emerging Tech Conference brings together founders, investors, operators, engineers, and technology leaders from across the Los Angeles tech community to explore the technologies defining the next decade of business and society. Hosted by the Entrepreneurship Association and AnderTech, two of UCLA Anderson's leading student organizations focused on startups and innovation, the Emerging Tech Conference serves as their flagship event of the year.
📍 Korn Hall, UCLA Anderson School of Management
📅 Friday, May 29, 2026
🕘 12:00 – 1:00 PM check-in and student demos
🎤 1:00 – 4:00 PM panels
🥂 4:30 – 6:30 PM networking reception
2026 Theme: Strategizing for Tomorrow, Today
The technologies reshaping the next decade span far more ground than any single program can hold, and artificial intelligence runs through nearly all of them.
This year we chose to go deep on three areas that invite sharp strategic thinking — and where founders, investors, and engineers are placing their boldest bets.
Focus Areas
Dynamism - The Physical Frontier | Deep tech transforming the physical world, including robotics, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy, materials, and industrial systems
Human Augmentation | Neurotechnology, next-generation biomedical systems, and redefining the limits of human capability
XR/AI and Life After Screens | AI-driven spatial computing, augmented reality, and intelligent wearables
The program features tech demos, moderated panels, and a networking reception designed to connect founders, investors, operators, engineers, and technology leaders shaping the future of technology.
Speakers
Physical Frontier
Benson Tsai | General Matter (modern nuclear energy), Stellar Pizza (robotic pizza), SpaceX, Lucid Motors
David Barnhart | Director of USC Space Engineering Center, Founder of Arkisys (Implementation Partner for NASA pioneering Space Commercialization)
Max Mednik (Anderson Full-Time MBA ’12) | Co-Founder, Epsilon3 (YC S21, Lux Capital); ex-Google engineer, angel investor in 35+ startups, co-founder of unicorn defense-tech company Epirus, backed by $550M+ from 8VC, General Dynamics, and more.
Human Augmentation
Ryan Field | CEO of Kernel, a category-defining neurotechnology company building actionable insights from brain data. Backed by Bryan Johnson, Khosla Ventures, and General Catalyst. Inventor with 20+ US patents, former engineering leader at Intel, PhD in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University.
Benjamin Levine (Anderson Executive MBA '27) | Commercial Strategy, AVITA Medical, wound care company pioneering regenerative skin technology; Arthrex ($3B+ leader developing 1,000+ orthopedic implants and surgical technologies for musculoskeletal repair annually)
Ala Morshedian (Anderson Fully-Employed MBA '27) | Medical Science Liaison, AVITA Medical; CoreNest (venture capital for biotech and healthcare); 15+ years of research at UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute and David Geffen School of Medicine and more.
Pooria Kashani, PhD | Chief Product Officer, Horizon Surgical Systems, AI-powered surgical robotics company recently partnered with NVIDIA; former Head of R&D at Alcon ($10B+ global eye care company).
XR + AI
Cortney Harding | Author of "The Spatial Race," Forbes contributor (XR+AI), Founder of Friends with Holograms (immersive training for Fortune 100)
Benjamin Hersh | 25+ Patents in AI, Spatial Computing, and Interaction Patterns. Featured in WIRED & Fast Company, Founding Contributor to Android XR (developed by Google)
Terek Judi | Snap Spectacles and SnapOS, Google AR Glasses - Senior Product Leader bringing AR glasses to the masses
Demos
Brallium | Bella Yu, Founder (Anderson Venture Accelerator '26) — Sustainable skinwear startup developing patented biomaterial patches for cooling and transdermal treatments in cancer care and athletic recovery.
Qneuro | Dr. Dhiraj Jeyanandarajan (Anderson '11), Founder - Wearable neurotechnology company developing NeuroState, an EEG-enabled consumer brain cap for real-time focus, cognitive performance, neurofeedback, and brain health tracking, described as a “WHOOP for your brain.
Vaulto Protocol | Charlie Bicker Caarten, Founder (Anderson Venture Accelerator '26) — Fintech startup democratizing access to private markets via synthetic tokens, letting anyone gain exposure to top pre-IPO companies.
Neuronics Medical | Dr. Radoslav Raychev, Founder (1st Place, UCLA Innovation Challenge Health Tech Track 2026) — AI health-tech company developing FAST AI, a smartphone-based stroke detection platform.
Interested in speaking, demoing, or sponsoring? Reach out to [email protected]