Quantum Curio Series — Cascadia Future Forward

​Cascadia Future Forward is an invite-only convening of 50 influential leaders across startups, policy, corporate innovation, investment, and academia.

Timed ahead of the WTIA AI Summit and Cascadia Innovation Corridor meeting, this session explores what comes after the current AI wave—and what’s required to lead the next one.

​Through a globally-informed futurist keynote and a provocative panel discussion, the event unpacks how quantum computing, space innovation, next-gen infrastructure, and strategic foresight will shape the next era of intelligence, security, and prosperity—from the Cascadia region outward.

Agenda

​11:00 – 11:30 AM | Networking Reception
Welcome, coffee, and conversation among leaders

​11:30 – 12:15 PM | Futurist Keynote – Alvin Wang Graylin
Signals to watch, foresight frameworks, and frontier tech themes from Our Next Reality

​12:15 – 12:45 PM | Leaders Panel & Q&A
Each panelist opens with a 5-min spotlight before a moderated group discussion and audience Q&A

​Keynote

• ​Alvin Wang Graylin - Global AI/VR Executive, Author of Our Next Reality.
  
  Graylin brings decades of frontier tech experience across AI, XR, and global markets. As former China President at HTC and current Head of Global XR at Lenovo, he advises world governments and Fortune 500s on digital transformation and infrastructure readiness. His keynote will frame the macro shifts shaping what’s next after AI and the intelligence boom.

​Panelists

• ​Dr. Alex Layendecker – Founder & Director, Advanced SpaceLife Research Institute.
  
  A leading researcher in off-Earth human reproduction and health, Dr. Layendecker’s work explores what it will take to sustain human life beyond Earth—and what that means for infrastructure, ethics, and innovation here on Earth. He brings deep experience across space operations, health, and public-sector strategy.
  

• ​Nirav Desai — Affiliate Professor, University of Washington | Innovation Lead, HP | CEO, Moonbeam Exchange.
  
  Desai is a seasoned systems thinker working at the nexus of quantum computing, AI, and smart infrastructure. With experience across national labs, academia, and industry, he brings critical insight into building regional and global coalitions to support the next era of compute and intelligence.

​Moderator

• ​Sierra C, MS, Founding Partner at Barclo

​Hosts

• ​Barclo Venture Studio — exists to accelerate commercialization where quantum, AI, and next-gen compute meet by building shared infrastructure, data assets, and go-to-market pathways.