For Adam Adler, building a career has always been a gradual process, one shaped by steady learning, consistent effort, and a commitment to seeing projects through. Now based in Charleston as an entrepreneur and investor, he leads The Adler Fund, a private equity group investing in sustainable development, technology, real estate, and high-growth startups. His trajectory shows how experience across different fields can be combined into a thoughtful long-term vision.

Adam’s earliest foundation came from competitive tennis. As a young player, he trained at the Rick Macci Tennis Academy in South Florida, where structure and repetition were central to daily life. His dedication earned him a scholarship to the University of South Carolina, where he balanced the demands of NCAA athletics with a double major in Sports & Entertainment Management and Business. He graduated with honors in 2007. The expectations placed on him as a student-athlete helped shape his discipline, resilience, and ability to handle pressure, qualities he leaned on heavily in his later ventures.

Entrepreneurship first entered Adam’s life while he was still in college. At USC, he co-founded Ultimate Social Networking Inc. and Ultimate College Model, which became the first digitally native modeling network. These initial projects gave him an understanding of early-stage technology, online engagement, and the challenges of building communities in the digital space. They also sparked his interest in how emerging technologies could reshape traditional industries.

After completing college, Adam transitioned into the biotech space. He gathered a team of molecular scientists, including several who had previously served as biochemists at Merck and Amgen, to launch Fuse Science. The company built a 30k sq. ft. FDA- and cGMP-certified facility in Oxnard, California, which housed its headquarters and lab operations. As CEO, he oversaw the development of a nutrient delivery system that uses sublingual, buccal, and transdermal absorption to bypass digestion and enable faster nutrient uptake than capsules. During the company’s early phase, he self-funded operations, secured valuable intellectual property, and assembled a leadership group with Fortune 25 backgrounds. He then expanded the company’s visibility by partnering with distinguished athletes, including Tiger Woods, Andy Murray, David Ortiz, Jose Bautista, Tyson Chandler, Paul Pierce, Andre Ward, and Paul Rodriguez. With support from Daymond John, Fuse Science scaled rapidly, rising from an approximate valuation of $500k to more than $100M.

Alongside entrepreneurship, Adam built a presence in professional poker. Over the years, he reached several final tables at World Series of Poker events and achieved multiple deep runs in major World Poker Tour tournaments. His appearance at the televised final table of the 2022 WPT Championship demonstrated his ability to make disciplined, strategic decisions under high pressure. His experience in high-stakes cash games sharpened his risk assessment and patience, skills that closely reflect his investment philosophy.

The Adler Fund emerged from Adam’s desire to bring together his interests and experiences across multiple industries. Headquartered in Charleston, the firm invests in AI, real estate development, and emerging companies. As Managing Partner, he remains actively involved in evaluating opportunities, shaping strategies, and supporting founders.

In real estate, he focuses on sustainable development across the Lowcountry, emphasizing environmental responsibility, community value, and thoughtful design. In technology, he backs founders working on meaningful advancements in biotech, cyber, and child-focused education. One such investment is Wyzly, a learn-to-earn app where children earn screen time by completing educational challenges. The idea came from his 7-year-old daughter, Isla, and reflects Adam’s interest in healthier digital habits for families.

Adam’s leadership style is grounded in clarity, involvement, and purpose. Influenced early by observing his father’s success as a day trader, he learned the importance of resilience and disciplined decision-making.

As he looks ahead, Adam plans to continue expanding The Adler Fund’s work across real estate and technology, deepen partnerships with AI-driven companies, and support founders building ventures with long-term value. His focus remains on contributing to Charleston’s growth and helping shape projects that leave a lasting impact.

For Adam Adler, building a career has always been a gradual process, one shaped by steady learning, consistent effort, and a commitment to seeing projects through. Now based in Charleston as an entrepreneur and investor, he leads The Adler Fund, a pr... Show more

Bhaiya Singh is an Associate Lead Data Scientist & AI Engineer at Nagarro,
specializing in Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Machine Learning. He designs
and delivers end-to-end AI solutions that create measurable business impact
across supply chain, manufacturing, energy, and utilities.

Bhaiya has a strong track record of turning complex AI challenges into
production-ready systems — from intelligent voice assistants and multi-agent
Talk-to-Data platforms to Agentic RAG pipelines and causal intelligence
solutions for enterprise operations.

Beyond engineering, he actively contributes to pre-sales and RFPs as part of
Nagarro's Data Science practice, mentors junior data scientists, and shares his
insights on AI through writing on Medium.

He is driven by one goal: helping teams move confidently from AI experimentation
to real-world, measurable impact.

Bhaiya Singh is an Associate Lead Data Scientist & AI Engineer at Nagarro, specializing in Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Machine Learning. He designs and delivers end-to-end AI solutions that create measurable business impact across supply cha... Show more

Daniel Connor is the founder of AI R&D company Autopoetic and the creator of Minary, a primitive for subjective computing. https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.04501

Autopoetic is focused on building alternative models to Transformers based on the thesis that subjective computation is both fundamentally more efficient and also more aligned with how living organisms adapt to their environments.

Daniel's work focuses on two fronts: foundational qualia-based language models (LSMs) and subjective belief mixture-of-perspectives (MoPs). Both are under active development.

Daniel Connor is the founder of AI R&D company Autopoetic and the creator of Minary, a primitive for subjective computing. https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.04501 Autopoetic is focused on building alternative models to Transformers based on the thesis th... Show more

A dedicated and evolving Software Engineer and Programs Lead.

A dedicated and evolving Software Engineer and Programs Lead. Show more

For over 15 years, Rafael Amaral has been committed to advancing the renewable energy industry, contributing to the implementation of utility-scale power systems across several continents. With a foundation in electrical engineering, he understood from the start that field performance builds trust. His focus has consistently been on ensuring turbines operate efficiently, grids remain stable, and teams deliver safely and on time.

Rafael currently serves as Executive Vice President at a renewable energy company, with full P&L responsibility for approximately $220 million in revenue. His responsibilities span field services, repowering, project execution, and asset management across wind, solar, and battery storage in North America.

Rafael's career began in Brazil, where he graduated as valedictorian in Electrical Engineering. Early experience designing high-voltage substations and electrical systems helped him build a strong technical foundation and gain insight into how energy systems respond under pressure. This knowledge became vital as he moved into roles managing large-scale renewable operations.

In 2011, Rafael Amaral of Florida joined a global energy organization, beginning in wind commissioning and site leadership roles. He led efforts in turbine delivery, engineering coordination, and customer interaction. Later, he oversaw service teams across several Latin American countries, managing a $10 million business with around 120 employees. These roles taught him how to lead diverse teams across challenging environments and establish operational clarity.

Rafael's move into global leadership included managing workforce strategy for about 1,600 field employees in 25 countries. He later took on responsibility for international operations valued at nearly $190 million, focusing on process improvement, safety, and margin stability through the practical application of lean principles.

Rafael then led operations in North America and the Americas, overseeing more than 1,200 employees and up to $160 million in revenue. In 2024, he led the integration of over 10 acquired companies into a unified platform. That same year, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer, overseeing construction and operations in the U.S. and Canada.

Throughout his professional journey, Rafael Amaral has remained focused on execution, operational discipline, and long-term value creation in renewable energy.

For over 15 years, Rafael Amaral has been committed to advancing the renewable energy industry, contributing to the implementation of utility-scale power systems across several continents. With a foundation in electrical engineering, he understood fr... Show more

Tom Graham is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience, offering a broad blend of technical expertise and versatility. His career spans roles such as Developer, Architect, Scrum Master, Business Systems Analyst, Accounting Controller, and Human Resources Manager, reflecting adaptability across industries including healthcare, food, automotive, and oil.

An entrepreneurial spirit, Tom builds and manages multiple ventures alongside consulting. His portfolio includes software platforms for nonprofits, education, and event management, along with hands-on projects in IoT, AI, and disaster readiness.

Outside of technology, Tom is a storm chaser and community volunteer. He contributes to disaster relief efforts, teaches STEM outreach, and speaks at conferences, colleges, schools, and museums. His passions extend to vintage technology, restoring antique cars and radios, and advancing communication tools through amateur radio.

Tom is an active member of the Amateur Radio Relay League, Spotter Network, and Amateur Radio Emergency Services. Through speaking and consulting, he shares hard-earned lessons in resilience, innovation, and building solutions that matter.

Tom Graham is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience, offering a broad blend of technical expertise and versatility. His career spans roles such as Developer, Architect, Scrum Master, Business Systems Analyst, Accounting Controller, and ... Show more

Tiemen is an AI engineer at Datashift. After earning a master’s in civil engineering and an advanced master’s in Artificial Intelligence (AI), he learned a broad set of development and analytical skills. Afterwards he joined Datashift to continue his career in this fascinating field of data. Within datashift Tiemen’s focus in on developing GenAI-applications that have a clear link to the business. His manages is to introduce new technologies and integrate them with existing processes. When not developing transformative solutions for the business he enjoys running, cycling or skiing.

Tiemen is an AI engineer at Datashift. After earning a master’s in civil engineering and an advanced master’s in Artificial Intelligence (AI), he learned a broad set of development and analytical skills. Afterwards he joined Datashift to continue his... Show more

Husband of Cristina and proud Father of Davide and Chiara.

Mechanical engineer with more than 8 years of experience in the EPC business with a deep passion for new technologies and innovations, especially impacting the Engineering, Procurement and Construction sector and material management.

Husband of Cristina and proud Father of Davide and Chiara. Mechanical engineer with more than 8 years of experience in the EPC business with a deep passion for new technologies and innovations, especially impacting the Engineering, Procurement and... Show more

X(Twitter):@AdamMashaka1
Github: AdamMashaka
Linkidinn: @AdamKatani

X(Twitter):@AdamMashaka1 Github: AdamMashaka Linkidinn: @AdamKatani Show more

Saskia Ruschke holds a B.Sc. in Business Pedagogy and Musicology from Humboldt University. Starting in 2018 as an agile coach in the automotive industry, she supported agile customer projects and scaling efforts. From 2023, she worked as a consultant at it-agile, guiding teams and organizations across industries. Saskia completed a Master's degree in Consulting and Consulting Sciences (part-time), focusing on organizational change from systemic and Gestalt perspectives, and became a Certified Systemic Coach. Since 2025, she has been at Stellar Work GmbH, leading teams and transformations.

Saskia Ruschke holds a B.Sc. in Business Pedagogy and Musicology from Humboldt University. Starting in 2018 as an agile coach in the automotive industry, she supported agile customer projects and scaling efforts. From 2023, she worked as a consultant... Show more

Martin Schlenker ist seit 2005 als freiberuflicher Berater mit den Schwerpunkten rund um Microsoft Infrastruktur und Server tätig. Er hat in dieser Zeit zahlreiche Projekte zur Einführung von Active Directory, automatisierte Betriebssystem und Softwarebereitstellung, SharePoint und Exchange erfolgreich umgesetzt.
Im Jahr 2010 hat er sehr früh die Möglichkeiten von Office 365 (später Microsoft 365) erkannt und schon nach kurzer Zeit die ersten Migrations- und Einführungsprojekte in diesem Bereich umgesetzt.
Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Projektmanager führt er individuelle Mitarbeiter- und Administratoren Trainings und Workshops durch. Seit 5 Jahren auch mit dem Fokus auf die Beratung von Organisation hinsichtlich notwendiger Betriebsvereinbarungen zum Betrieb Microsoft 365.

Martin Schlenker ist seit 2005 als freiberuflicher Berater mit den Schwerpunkten rund um Microsoft Infrastruktur und Server tätig. Er hat in dieser Zeit zahlreiche Projekte zur Einführung von Active Directory, automatisierte Betriebssystem und Softwa... Show more

I’m an engineer with a passion for the outdoors. I bridge the gap between complex technical architecture and high-level business strategy. My professional approach is shaped by the endurance and real-time decision-making required to live and thrive in Alaska—from summiting remote peaks and running marathons to scuba diving with sharks. I specialize in managing the design of resilient, "reflexive" systems that thrive under pressure, applying the same grit used in extreme environments to architecting solutions for the enterprise’s toughest AI and observability challenges.

I’m an engineer with a passion for the outdoors. I bridge the gap between complex technical architecture and high-level business strategy. My professional approach is shaped by the endurance and real-time decision-making required to live and thrive i... Show more

Julian Crespi Schroder is Commercial Manager at Automapp Cloud and a builder of graph-powered AI systems.

He uses Neo4j knowledge graphs as a personal memory substrate to enable persistent context, identity continuity, and GraphRAG-based retrieval for AI agents—patterns that later informed production-grade systems.

His work bridges real-world infrastructure operations and AI system design, with a focus on practical, explainable AI architectures that scale beyond single sessions.

Julian Crespi Schroder is Commercial Manager at Automapp Cloud and a builder of graph-powered AI systems. He uses Neo4j knowledge graphs as a personal memory substrate to enable persistent context, identity continuity, and GraphRAG-based retrieva... Show more

PB has been in the industry for more than 20 years. His work experience includes companies like Universal Music, Deloitte, DNV and 10 years at Microsoft. Since 2010 he has worked on cloud solutions, focusing on hybrid cloud and integration. Working at Microsoft, Azure naturally became the cloud of preference, but he has great passion for technologies that enables systems to cooperate across different cloud providers. His primary focus is his delivery to client and mentoring colleagues.

PB has been in the industry for more than 20 years. His work experience includes companies like Universal Music, Deloitte, DNV and 10 years at Microsoft. Since 2010 he has worked on cloud solutions, focusing on hybrid cloud and integration. Working a... Show more

Ali is a speaker, product leader in the API space, and VP of Product at WeTransfer. Her career has spanned institutional finance, energy, cyber security, and has led her to building the software that makes those other platforms possible. Her product management SuperPower is asking weird questions at the right moment.

Ali is a speaker, product leader in the API space, and VP of Product at WeTransfer. Her career has spanned institutional finance, energy, cyber security, and has led her to building the software that makes those other platforms possible. Her product ... Show more

Having a Master's in Big Data & AI, Sridhar Mamella now works at Porsche as a Product Lead, building robust data streaming services to enable real-time data in the cloud.
In his talks, he speaks about the importance of streaming data, cloud architectures and the future of connected cars.

Having a Master's in Big Data & AI, Sridhar Mamella now works at Porsche as a Product Lead, building robust data streaming services to enable real-time data in the cloud. In his talks, he speaks about the importance of streaming data, cloud archite... Show more

Sepha Soul was created by Jeanette and Frode Josepha‑Hveding - partners in life, in vision, and in the belief that the future of wellbeing begins with reconnecting to ourselves. Jeanette brings the intuitive, soulful dimension of the project, while Frode brings the technical imagination and engineering mindset. Together, they form the heart and structure of Sepha Soul.

Sepha Soul was created by Jeanette and Frode Josepha‑Hveding - partners in life, in vision, and in the belief that the future of wellbeing begins with reconnecting to ourselves. Jeanette brings the intuitive, soulful dimension of the project, while F... Show more

Jonas van den Bogaard is a Digital Strategy Lead at Alliander, a distribution system operator (DSO) in the Netherlands. Alliander provides reliable, affordable, and accessible energy transport and distribution to a large part of the Netherlands. Open source has proved to be an enabler of innovation and collaboration. It is Jonas' responsibility to ensure open source initiatives contribute to Alliander's digital strategy and objectives. Jonas takes a leading role in Alliander’s OSPO.

Jonas van den Bogaard is a Digital Strategy Lead at Alliander, a distribution system operator (DSO) in the Netherlands. Alliander provides reliable, affordable, and accessible energy transport and distribution to a large part of the Netherlands. Open... Show more

20+years of database and DataWarehouse development

20+years of database and DataWarehouse development Show more

Envoy Proxy maintainer

Envoy Proxy maintainer Show more

Design Flow Creator, Transformers Petrobras Mentor, KMP-I, Design Thinker, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator and Consultant at Petrobras

Design Flow Creator, Transformers Petrobras Mentor, KMP-I, Design Thinker, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator and Consultant at Petrobras Show more

Rajan Desai is a data scientist and co-founder of Fulton Ring, working at the intersection of infrastructure, geospatial systems, and power.

Rajan Desai is a data scientist and co-founder of Fulton Ring, working at the intersection of infrastructure, geospatial systems, and power. Show more

Sou formada em Administração de empresas e tenho mestrado em gerenciamento de Projetos pela George Washington University.
Atuei por 17 anos em uma multinacional de energia e estou há 3.5 anos anos liderando a transformação Ágil de uma empresa Nacional do setor varejista.
Estou no mundo ágil há mais de 10 anos anos e já atuei como Scrum Master, Agile Master, Product Owner, RTE e Agile Coach.
Além do mundo Ágil eu sou autora de 3 livros didáticos, professora Universitária, mentora, professional Coach e palestrante. Mais de 22.000 alunos, coachees e mentorados impactados em minha jornada.

Sou formada em Administração de empresas e tenho mestrado em gerenciamento de Projetos pela George Washington University. Atuei por 17 anos em uma multinacional de energia e estou há 3.5 anos anos liderando a transformação Ágil de uma empresa Nacio... Show more

AI, Sustainability & Smart Cities Strategist | Startup Ecosystem Leader

Isaac Agya Koomson is a Ghanaian sustainability strategist, AI innovation advocate, and startup ecosystem builder focused on advancing Africa’s economic transformation through technology, entrepreneurship, and smart systems development.

He is the Founder & CEO of KIA-Start Up Consult, Civitas Estate & Maintenance, and Farmers Haven, and Team Lead of HopeFusion Africa — an initiative with a bold vision to reduce Africa’s unemployment by 10% by 2030. His work integrates AI-driven innovation, smart urbanization, renewable energy, and agribusiness transformation to build scalable, impact-driven enterprises.

Isaac has delivered keynote addresses on AI for smart urbanization, the Human + AI hybrid workforce, and reskilling for the generative AI age at platforms including Ghana Digital & Innovation Week, Africa Education Trust Fund, and DataGlobal Hub. He has represented Ghana and African youth as an official delegate at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, World Bank Youth Summit, UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), IPBES-12, Global Youth Environment Assembly, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, contributing to global discussions on climate finance, sustainable development, and digital transformation.

With over seven years of leadership across entrepreneurship, humanitarian operations, and green innovation, Isaac has supported more than 50 startups in achieving product-market fit, investment readiness, and scalable growth. His thought leadership publications have generated over 2 million views, shaping conversations around AI infrastructure, economic resilience, and Africa’s future of work.

Recognized as Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2023) by the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, Isaac speaks at the intersection of technology, sustainability, policy, and inclusive economic growth — challenging audiences to rethink how Africa builds its future.

AI, Sustainability & Smart Cities Strategist | Startup Ecosystem Leader Isaac Agya Koomson is a Ghanaian sustainability strategist, AI innovation advocate, and startup ecosystem builder focused on advancing Africa’s economic transformation through... Show more

Mohan Vamsi Potti is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with extensive experience in project controls, scheduling, and construction management across large-scale energy and industrial projects. Currently serving as a Project Controls Analyst at Gemma Power Systems in Austin, Texas, he specializes in developing comprehensive construction schedules, cost tracking, and earned value management for multi-million-dollar power generation facilities.
With a strong foundation in Primavera P6, MS Project, Power BI, and project management platforms like Procore and InEight, Mohan has managed complex projects including SLEC's $600M Combined Cycle Natural Gas Power Plant and Venture Global's $100M Plaquemines LNG facility. His expertise encompasses critical path analysis, schedule risk assessment, resource and cost loading, and change order management, ensuring projects remain on schedule and within budget.
Before his current role, Mohan served as a Field Engineer at PCL Construction, where he led the development of detailed work packages, streamlined RFI processes, and reduced material shortages by 40% through effective inventory management. His hands-on experience includes safety auditing, quality tracking, and coordination with cross-functional teams across projects for Formosa Plastics and Chevron Phillips Chemical.
Mohan holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Construction Engineering and Management from Texas A&M University, where he was recognized with the Zachry Department Excellence Fellowship. He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India.
His technical proficiency extends to design and markup tools, including Revit, Bluebeam, and AutoCAD, complemented by advanced skills in data analytics and financial forecasting. Certified in PMP, FE Civil, and OSHA 30-hour Construction, Mohan brings a comprehensive approach to project delivery, combining technical expertise with strategic planning and stakeholder communication. He is committed to driving project success through innovative solutions, continuous improvement, and collaborative leadership.

Mohan Vamsi Potti is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with extensive experience in project controls, scheduling, and construction management across large-scale energy and industrial projects. Currently serving as a Project Controls A... Show more

Hi! I am a frontend enthousiast that loves diving into Developer Experience. Looking forward to new technologies, ways to level up teams and individuals, while finding things to make developing programs more enjoyable.

Hi! I am a frontend enthousiast that loves diving into Developer Experience. Looking forward to new technologies, ways to level up teams and individuals, while finding things to make developing programs more enjoyable. Show more

Raahul Singh has spent nearly six years at Phaidra as a Staff AI Research Engineer focused on one problem: making AI systems reason reliably about complex physical infrastructure. He is a co-inventor on US patent US20250021061A1, granted in January 2025, covering deterministic thermal constraint control systems directly related to the architectural concepts discussed in this session. Prior to Phaidra, he contributed to Google Summer of Code through SunPy/OpenAstronomy, developing forecasting systems for high-dimensional solar physics time-series data.

Raahul Singh has spent nearly six years at Phaidra as a Staff AI Research Engineer focused on one problem: making AI systems reason reliably about complex physical infrastructure. He is a co-inventor on US patent US20250021061A1, granted in January 2... Show more

Daniel F. Leston is an engineer, policy expert, and author working at the intersection of technology, sovereignty, and development across Europe and Africa. An IBM alumni and former advisor to the Spanish Ministry of Science , he has spent two decades leading digital and energy transformation initiatives. Founder of Gurumbe Capital, he focuses on decentralized infrastructure and open-source models as tools for true strategic autonomy. He is based in Nairobi.

Daniel F. Leston is an engineer, policy expert, and author working at the intersection of technology, sovereignty, and development across Europe and Africa. An IBM alumni and former advisor to the Spanish Ministry of Science , he has spent two decade... Show more

Nicolas Omont has more than 15 years of experience in Power Systems computation as an expert and a project manager. At Artelys and at RTE R&D department, he managed R&D projects to develop Power Systems tools for CIM CGMES data management, security analysis, remedial action optimization and capacity calculation. He is used to applying Artificial Intelligence techniques to Power Systems, for example to consumption forecast.

Nicolas Omont has more than 15 years of experience in Power Systems computation as an expert and a project manager. At Artelys and at RTE R&D department, he managed R&D projects to develop Power Systems tools for CIM CGMES data management, security a... Show more

Specializes in developing open‑source and custom solutions for grid modeling and analysis. Contributor to Power Grid Model (PGM), co‑developer of the CGMES2PGM Converter, and maintainer of the Julia‑based power‑flow framework SPARLECTRA.jl. Experienced in Online State Estimation, leading complex TSO projects, CGMES/CIM integration, and grid interoperability.

Specializes in developing open‑source and custom solutions for grid modeling and analysis. Contributor to Power Grid Model (PGM), co‑developer of the CGMES2PGM Converter, and maintainer of the Julia‑based power‑flow framework SPARLECTRA.jl. Experienc... Show more