🤖 The State of AI | Trend Forecasting & Networking Night | Women in AI
RSVP by January 25th to secure your spot - the venue requires a registration list and we cannot guarantee entry after this date.
What Actually Matters in AI in 2026
Signal over noise. Real operators, real use cases, real implications.
Hosted by Women in AI SF
AI is moving fast, but not everything matters. This evening cuts through the hype to focus on what’s real in 2026: where AI is creating meaningful value, how regulation and safety are evolving, and what founders and operators need to pay attention to now.
Run of Show
6-630: Arrivals & Mingling
630-640: Welcome + Introductions
640-710: Fireside Chat with Lu Zhang
710-8: Open Networking
🎤 Fireside Chat
Lu Zhang, Founder and Managing Partner of Fusion Fund, is a renowned Silicon Valley-based investor, a serial entrepreneur, and a Stanford Engineering alumna. With a strong technical background, Lu has extensive experience bringing a broad range of technologies to commercialization, and deep domain expertise in AI in healthcare, Enterprise AI/Networks, Edge Computing and Data Privacy. Founded by Lu in 2015, Fusion Fund is dedicated to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs working on innovation in healthcare, enterprise AI and industrial automation. With investments in over 90 companies across the U.S. and Canada, Fusion Fund has generated substantial exits over the years.
Prior to starting Fusion Fund, Lu was a serial entrepreneur and materials science researcher. Following the exit of her startup, Lu began investing in and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs. This eventually led her to create Fusion Fund in 2015. Since then, Lu has built a distinguished ecosystem and established her reputation in the VC industry. She was honored as Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum (Davos), Silicon Valley Women of Influence, Top 25 Female early-stage investor by Business Insider, Featured Honoree of VC of Forbes 30 under 30 and Town & Country 50 Modern Swans - Entrepreneurship Influencer.
Lu frequently speaks at high profile tech conferences such as World Economic Forum(Davos), Future Investment Initiative (FII), Web Summit, SuperReturn, etc. and she is a guest lecturer at Stanford University and Wharton. Lu serves as a board member of many portfolio companies, the Board Director of CommonSpirit Health Foundation, the Board and Chairwoman of the Youth Council of Future Science Award, and Jury Board of the Cartier Women Initiative and Young Leader Award. She holds an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University.
🗣️ Conversation Topics
What’s real in AI in 2026 beyond the noise
How regulation, safety, and governance are evolving
Where AI is delivering tangible value for consumers and enterprises
How founders and operators navigate rapid change while building responsibly
Why Attend
Hear from leaders shaping the next phase of AI
Connect with women founders, investors, and builders across the Bay Area
Leave with a grounded, forward-looking perspective on where AI is actually heading
Come curious. Leave clearer on what matters next.
Thank you to our Venue Sponsor:
About Persona
Persona is an online identity verification platform that enables businesses of all sizes to collect, verify, and manage user identities throughout the customer lifecycle. Trusted in over 200 countries and territories.
Learn more about Persona -> withpersona.com
About the Host
Women in AI connects, empowers, and elevates female founders, investors, and engineers shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Through community, mentorship, and global events, we’re building a more inclusive AI ecosystem where women lead and innovate.
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