Join us for a special Silicon Zombies session featuring two powerhouse voices at the intersection of technology and governance:

Congressman Sam Liccardo – U.S. House of Representatives, California’s 16th DistrictChris Kelly – Co-Owner of the Sacramento Kings & Founder of Kelly Ventures

We’ll explore how Web3 is shaping public policy, innovation, and the future of governance.

💡 Thought leadership. Policy impact. The future of decentralized technology—discussed where it matters most.

AfroDusk: is a ritual and cultural movement dedicated to celebrating global sounds through an African prism—creating inclusive spaces where heritage meets innovation, and borders dissolve through rhythm. Our mission is to unite vibrant souls from every walk of life, using music as a bridge for connection and creative expression. Guided by heritage-blessed DJ/Producer Kamu Kamu (Kampala/London/SF), AfroDusk crafts immersive, genre-blending journeys that fuse Afrocentric, tribal, and global rhythms with contemporary electronic music. Also featuring the tunes of Boyz Del Mar (Paris, France) and O.P.M. (Nevada City, CA).Expect unreleased sonic selections, global melodies, and tech-tinged soundscapes — curated to dissolve borders as the sun dips behind the San Francisco skyline.

We’re spotlighting three pioneers in the future of health: Dr. Hanna Aliashkevich, MD - award winning neuro-surgeon, Professor PK (LifeAmore) – AI guru, global innovator, and bestselling author who’s turning cloud + code into personalized wellness, diagnostics, and next-gen growth. Jim Dickey (Fountain Life) – revenue architect behind HLI, one of the most powerful consumer-facing longevity membership platforms in the world. Together, we’ll explore how hardware diagnostics, early detection, and predictive AI are reshaping the way we "Live Well, and Age Less"

Join us as we explore the rise of the niche VC—where macro insight meets precision engineering, and systems thinking powers the next wave of frontier tech.

⚙️ Simon Lancaster is a builder’s VC.Founder of Omni Ventures and a former inventor at Apple, Google, and Blackberry with 54+ patents - Simon lives at the intersection of hardware, software, and design. He’s launching his new book Uncovering Alpha, and we’re diving deep into what it takes to back the boldest ideas in advanced manufacturing and portfolio buildinG.

🎸 Sophie Liao is a force.Founding Partner at Republic Ventures (formerly Oyster), she built a top-decile fund solo, turned 90 seed bets into unicorns and IPOs, and is now reshaping private market infrastructure through SaaS, AI, and fintech. Her lens? Global, deeply strategic, and laser-focused on inefficiencies most don’t even see.

🧩 Together, they’ll unpack:– Why niche VCs are outperforming– Where early-stage conviction comes from– What the next wave of innovation really looks like

In a world where artificial intelligence is transforming everything, we’re often so focused on the tools that we forget to ask: what kind of world are we shaping in return?

At the heart of the Zombies episode is a question posed by De Kai—visionary AI pioneer and author of Raising AI:

What’s the one quadrant of intelligence we forgot to teach our machines?

De Kai invented the technology that led to Google Translate, Yahoo Translate, and Bing. But he’s never just been a technologist. His work spans decades at the intersection of AI, culture, ethics, and collective consciousness. As a Founding Fellow of the Association for Computational Linguistics and former member of Google’s AI ethics council, De Kai is one of the few voices asking: Should we be afraid? Or should we take responsibility?

In Raising AI, he reframes artificial intelligence not as tools or threats—but as children. Impressionable, powerful, and growing fast. It’s not just about what we build, but how we raise them.

Join us for this intimate, urgent conversation as we explore:

How “automation of thought” is quietly reshaping our lives

Why culture, not just code, is the battleground

What it means to be the responsible adults in the room

Let’s fill in The Missing Quadrant—together.

#ArtificialIntelligence hashtag#RaisingAI hashtag#DeKai hashtag#SiliconZombies hashtag#FutureOfAI hashtag#ParkJamesHotel hashtag#SiliconValleyEvents

🔥 Trends, Tools & Tomorrow's Workforce | How AI Is Revolutionizing HRThe future of work has arrived—and AI is at the center of it all.This powerful event explored how AI is transforming every stage of the employee journey—from sourcing and hiring to retention and development. Whether you're in HR, talent strategy, or operations, this conversation delivered essential insights into the next era of workforce innovation.

What was covered:✅ How AI is automating and optimizing talent sourcing✅ Smarter, data-driven hiring decisions in action✅ Personalizing employee experiences at scale✅ Boosting inclusion, agility, and retention✅ Building ethical and bias-aware recruitment systemsEvent Highlights:🔹 Expert Panel Discussion🔹 Start-Up Spotlight Pitch Competition🔹 Real-world tools and case studies shared by leading voices in HR techFeatured Speakers:👤 Laura Burgess, SVP of HR, Avidbank👤 Jacqueline Breslin, Executive Director, Trinet👤 Abdullah Hassani, VP Business Development, Smart HR👤 Kate Carte, Director of Business Development, JeffreyM ConsultingHosted by:🎙 AI in HR & Recruiting Group📍 In partnership with Trinet • TechLAB Innovation Center • Noteraiser, Inc.👉 Subscribe to our channel and tap the 🔔 for more on AI, HR tech, and the future of work.#AIinHR #FutureOfWork #HRTech #WorkforceTrends #TalentAcquisition #RecruitingInnovation #HRLeaders #ai #hr #siliconzombies

Crypto Zombies! We're expanding the Zombies Universe: with Marvin Ammori and Lindsay Fraser

How is technology reshaping the way money moves, markets operate, and governments fund the future?

Join us for an insightful evening exploring the next wave of innovation in finance—from real-time payments and AI-driven lending to the policies and safeguards shaping what’s ahead.

🎤 Featured Guests:Fiona Ma – California State TreasurerJeremy Almond – CEO of Paystand (unicorn fintech)

What you can expect:

⚡ Emerging tech in capital markets

🤖 The rise of intelligent finance

🏛️ Public-private collaboration & stablecoins

💡 Investor + founder opportunities

📉 Guardrails to keep innovation equitable and secure

How Customer-Aligned Founders Are Redefining Value, Trust & GrowthIn this live Silicon Zombies episode, we dive into the future of building—where customer obsession, climate-driven innovation, and AI-powered disruption are reshaping the rules for founders, VCs, and policy shapers.🎙️ A high-signal conversation at the crossroads of venture, climate, fintech, and policy—with two standout guests who are walking the walk:Featured Guests:🔹 Gabriel Jarrosson – VC @ Lobster Capital 🦞 | 7x founder | Bootstrapped to $1M ARR solo→ What he learned from 4 failed startups→ Why the next unicorn might have zero employees→ How AI is transforming competitive advantage🔹 Tim Newell – CEO @ GreenFi | Former exec at Tesla & SolarCity→ Turning everyday banking into climate action→ Behind-the-scenes lessons from Tesla’s finance strategy→ Why ESG is broken—and what could replace itThis one’s for the builders who think long-term 🛠️Sponsored by:Spread – gospread.aiNecodex – Build elite remote teams for 50% less → necodex.com

🔥 What makes a startup truly great? It's not about being better—it's about being different.
Join us for a live Silicon Zombies show at the Park James Hotel with legendary investor Mike Maples Jr. of Floodgate VC — early investor of Twitter, Twitch, Okta, Rappi, and so many more; FLOODGATE VC is a firm believer in betting on "Thunder Lizards" long before anyone else sees them.
​We’ll dive into:
​⚡️ What makes a startup a grand slam, not just a base hit
​⚡️ How to avoid building a 'Frankendeck'
​⚡️ How 85% of VC bets fail—and why that’s okay
​⚡️ Pattern recognition vs. pattern breaking
​⚡️ Most people shouldn’t like your idea (and why that’s a good thing)
​⚡️ What the future of VC might look like: RIA models? AI-informed investing?
​🎣 Expect lessons from fishing, baseball, Buffett, Jobs, and Socrates—all woven into a bold conversation about the art and science of venture.
​Whether you're a founder, investor, or someone fascinated by the future, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
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​Brought to you by The Park James Hotel, Oak & Violet Restaurant, Necodex, Banc of California and Career Pathway Institute 

What does it take to be a 6x world-record-holding open water swimmer and a force in the boardroom?

We’re diving in with Catherine Breed, whose journey from being a NCAA All-American to ultra-marathon swimmer to health tech leader is a masterclass in mental toughness, endurance, and purpose.

💥 From swimming the English Channel to leading innovation in the hospital & healthcare industry, Catherine’s story is about more than athletic success — it’s about turning grit into impact.

🎙️ On this episode of Silicon Zombies, we’ll cover:

* How world-class performance in the water translates to executive leadership

* Lessons from grueling swims that apply to startups, sales, and life

* Building resilience, purpose, and momentum in high-pressure environments

This one’s for founders, athletes, health leaders, and anyone chasing big goals.

⁠#SiliconZombies⁠

⁠#CatherineBreed⁠

⁠#SaltwaterAndSteel⁠

⁠#OpenWaterSwimming⁠

⁠#Leadership⁠

⁠#Resilience⁠ ⁠hashtag#Founders⁠

⁠#WomenInSports⁠

⁠#MentalToughness⁠

⁠#Grit⁠

Brought to you by:

⁠Necodex⁠ ⁠Career Pathway Institute⁠ ⁠YourSpace America

As Quantum Computing edges closer to reality, the boundary between physical and digital warfare is rapidly dissolving. But what does this new era mean for cybersecurity—and how can we stay one step ahead?

Join us for an electrifying conversation as we dive deep into the future of cyber defense, quantum resilience, and the transformative role of AI in securing our digital frontlines.

🎤 Featured delicious brains:

🧠 Rebecca Krauthamer – CEO, QuSecure. leader in quantum computing and AI ethics, Rebecca is committed to building secure digital ecosystems and fostering impactful connections.

🧠 Harsh Verma –Principal AI Engineer, Palo Alto Networks. A seasoned expert with over a decade in AI and cybersecurity, Harsh emphasizes passion, persistence, and collaboration in tackling emerging threats.

🔍 Key Topics:

Navigating the evolving cyber threat landscape

Quantum computing's transformative impact on security

AI’s expanding role in digital defense

Ethical dimensions of emerging technologies

Actionable insights and real-world strategies

This isn’t just another discussion—it's a crucial exploration of our digital future, and how we can proactively shape and secure it.

🗓️ Don’t miss out—mark your calendars!

#CyberSecurity #AI hashtag#QuantumComputing #DigitalDefense #TechForGood #SZ179 hashtag#Leadership #Innovation

Brought to you by: NecodexThe Park James Hotel YourSpace America

Join us for a mind‑expanding conversation with Emrah Gultekin, Co‑founder & Chairman of Chooch—the platform that turns ordinary cameras into smart, revenue‑driving sensors while cutting operational costs.

We’ll dive into:

How computer vision is narrowing the gap between human sight and machine insight.

Practical wins Chooch delivers in manufacturing, retail, security, and beyond

What’s next when AI starts “seeing” the world as clearly as we do?

📅 [May 7] | 🕒 [1pm PT] — live on Silicon Zombies (ranked in the top 5 % of podcasts on Spotify).

#SiliconZombies #ComputerVision #AI #DeepTech #Innovation

🔹 🚀 Mercedes Bankston LinkedIn “Top Venture Capital Voice,” impact-investing champion, and mentor to 3,000+ startup pitches a year. Twenty years of turning bold ideas into global ventures across healthcare, fintech, and sustainability.

🔹 Michael Orlando – VP, ATEL Ventures, the financing engine behind America’s deep-tech growth. From venture leasing to multi-billion-dollar equipment financing, ATEL has fueled innovation since 1977.

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Agenda Sneak Peak:

Global Tariff Trends: How shifting trade policies reshape supply chains and go-to-market plans for emerging tech.

From Wall Street to Silicon Valley: How institutional investors evaluate AI tokenization, risk, and ROI.

Tariffs: Innovation Catalysts or Killers? A candid debate on protectionism vs. collaboration.

Capital & Compliance for Founders: SAFE, equity, debt, or a smart mix in today’s market.

Plus: the deep-tech race for autonomy and why tokens are the “atoms” of modern AI—dictating costs, context windows, and breakthroughs.

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Hit “Attend” and drop a question for our guests below. See you at SZ 178! hashtag#SiliconZombies hashtag#TariffsAndTokens hashtag#DeepTech hashtag#Web3 hashtag#VentureCapital

Sponsored by: Necodex.com GoSpread.ai

Tech cycles are compressing, moats are moving targets, and the smartest founders are already planning for tomorrow. Join us for a live Silicon Zombies show at the Trans on how to stay ahead when the ground keeps shifting.

🎤 Meet the lineup:

Sara Zare – Multi‑disciplinary engineer, investor, & founder building a Super AI‑Agent platform for “Entrepreneur 3.0” startups.

Matt Domo – AI & cloud pioneer who launched the AWS Database Division and built Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition; now CEO at FifthVantage.

Carmen Amo Alonso – Schmidt Science Fellow at Stanford applying aerospace‑grade control theory to make AI systems safer and more predictable.

Daniele Gammelli – Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford and Research Fellow at the Center for Aerospace Autonomy Research (CAESAR) advancing robotics, autonomous aerospace and future‑mobility systems.

Andreas Traube – Business unit manager at Fraunhofer IPA, driving breakthroughs in laboratory automation and biomanufacturing engineering. Co-Founder of 3 deep tech companies in laboratory automation (Dispendix, Nanolockin, Liquimetrix)

🔍 AI Infra | Exploring the Future of AI Infrastructure at Microsoft HQ – Mountain View, CAWelcome to AI Infra, a premier AI event held at Microsoft’s Mountain View headquarters, where industry leaders, engineers, and innovators gathered to dive deep into the evolving world of artificial intelligence infrastructure.From scalable systems and cutting-edge compute solutions to real-world deployment strategies, this event spotlighted the core technologies driving the next generation of AI. Go behind the scenes with expert panels, demos, and conversations that reveal how AI infrastructure is being built to meet the demands of tomorrow.📍 Location: Microsoft Headquarters, Mountain View, CA🧠 Topics: Scalable AI systems, cloud infrastructure, model training, sustainability, and real-world AI deploymentDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into the future of tech and innovation.#AIInfra #MicrosoftAI #AIFuture #Infrastructure #MachineLearning #TechEvents #MountainView #ArtificialIntelligence

What happens when cutting-edge AI meets street-level perspective? Street Smart brings Startup Grind to the sidewalks of Redwood City, where we stop tech founders, engineers, creators, and curious minds for unfiltered conversations about the future of AI, innovation, and what’s really shaping the Valley.

Delicious brain bites from climate tech founders and local leaders!
Live at the Global Climate Solutions Summit by Niki Gastinel
Climate & AI Innovations
Climate Investor Playbook
Thought-Provoking Keynotes (Academic, Business & Policy perspectives)
Climate Venture Leadership Insights
Philanthropy as a Catalyst for Growth

Brought to you by Necodex - your augmented staff team for design / engineering and more! Learn more at:www.necodex.com

​This exclusive fireside features two icons bridging the worlds of culture and commerce: OG Arabian Prince (Founding member - N.W.A.) and Tareef (Founding member - Wu Tang Management Team). From the raw, rebellious roots of early hip-hop to the strategic mindset of modern entrepreneurs, they’ll dive deep into:​🔥 Cultural Storytelling – The evolution of hip-hop as a movement and a business💰 Portfolio Mindset – How artists turn influence into empires🌍 Philanthropy & Legacy – The balance between success and giving back​Expect raw insights, untold stories, and sharp business lessons from legends who’ve built more than beats—they’ve built industries.A masterclass in hustle, vision, and impact.

How is design shaping our future? What role does energy infrastructure play in the next wave of renewables? Join us as we explore our evolving relationship with design and energy with two visionaries: 🔥 Yves Béhar – Award-winning designer, entrepreneur, and founder of Fuseproject. Yves has shaped the future of smart products and experiences, from August Smart Lock, to Snoo's Happiest Baby Bassinet, and collaborations with Herman Miller, Puma, and GE. 🎸 Shaun Lopez – Acclaimed big wave surfer, renewable energy engineer and founder of Maui Energy Advisors, specializing in solar PV, battery storage, and off-grid solutions. With 25+ years in construction, he focuses on energy resilience, particularly in island communities, and is actively involved in Lahaina’s rebuild and recovery efforts.This Zombies episode is all about the intersection of design, infrastructure, and the renewable energy revolution. Don’t miss it!