Building Intelligent Ecosystems for the American Heartland
Part of Twin Cities Startup Week 2026, September 14–18.
How Community Intelligence Connects People, Knowledge, and Opportunity
The American Heartland is entering a once-in-a-generation opportunity. As AI accelerates scientific discovery, transforms industries, and reshapes competitiveness, regions that build intelligent ecosystems will define the next decade. The Heartland already holds the talent, knowledge, relationships, and opportunities to lead. The challenge is connecting signals scattered across its institutions and networks. Building on the White House report Science: A New Golden Age, Dr. Sunny Zhang introduces Orian.ai and a new AI category: Community Intelligence, showing how leaders can uncover hidden capacity, coordinate action, and turn connections into innovation and economic value that compound over time.
At TCSW, she’ll share:
How AI is accelerating scientific breakthroughs and reshaping regional economies
Why the American Heartland is uniquely positioned to lead in AI‑native innovation
What founders, universities, corporations, and civic leaders must build together
How ecosystem design unlocks talent, capital, and opportunity across the Midwest
What AI‑native founders need beyond capital - community, infrastructure, and shared strategy.
***This event shares the same space with Morning Meet n Greet at T3's Social Space. You only need one registration***
Speakers:
Dr. Sunny Zhang, Founder and Chief Evangelist of TrueLeap Inc. Dr. Zhang’s work sits at the intersection of AI, science, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem transformation. Her recent reflections on the White House’s New Golden Age of Science highlight a critical truth: AI isn’t just a technology shift - it’s a new infrastructure layer for discovery, economic mobility, and community‑driven innovation.
Join us to learn from one of the most influential ecosystem builders working at the frontier of AI, science, and regional economic development.
Directions:
When you arrive, check in on the first floor at T3 building. Look for Dario (which you see prominently when you drive up) and Amazon (also on signage on the exterior of the building).
For parking, street parking, or Ramp C, are good options for longer stays (over three hours). Once you are parked in Ramp C, it is most convenient to get to T3 building if you exit on the basement level on the northeast side of the parking ramp (3rd Ave exit). When you exit from there and approach the T3 building, you will be on the back side, and those doors are secured. Please walk to the front of the T3 building and enter those doors. For shorter visits, there are metered spots right in front of the T3 building, and in the back of the building, just a heads-up that the parking manager keeps a close eye on the meters!
Getting here on Monday. Parking, Basecamp, lunch, and the rest of the day: tcstartupweek.com/monday