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Please join us on Wednesday, April 29th for an exclusive showcase spotlighting the next generation of founders transforming cybersecurity, defense tech, and climate tech space. This isn’t your typical pitch event—it’s a high-caliber gathering of innovators, investors, and strategic partners redefining national security, data resilience, and deep tech breakthroughs.
Hosted By: Silicon Valley Bank
What to Expect:
• 8-10 Game-Changing Startups in defense, dual-use tech, cyber infrastructure, and climate tech
• A Room Full of Decision-Makers from venture capital, federal innovation programs, and enterprise buyers
• Curated Pitches & Intimate Connections designed to spark investments, pilots, and strategic partnerships
Who Should Attend:
• Founders building disruptive solutions at the intersection of AI and Deeptech
• Investors looking for top-tier deep tech and defense and cleantech-aligned deal flow
• Corporate & Government Leaders ready to identify the tech shaping tomorrow’s security and infrastructure landscape
Judges:
Andrew Ermitano - Deputy Chief of Space Ventures at SpaceWERX
Lauren Faber O'Connor - Partner at Lowercarbon Capital
Livi Grant - Investor at MaC Venture Capital
Jacques Sisteron - Partner at Upfront Ventures
Nolan Van Nortwick - Principal at Riot Ventures
Format:
Each company will have 3 minutes to pitch and 2 minutes for live Q&A. Expect tight, high-impact storytelling and real-time insight from expert judges.
12 Curated Startup Pitches:
Presenters: Paul Genberg / Elijah Kim for ALAi
Presenter: Loay Elbasyouni for AstraQua
Presenter: Patrick O’Brien for Autonomous Cyber
Presenter: Tom Charman for Blok1
Presenter: Spencer Jackson for Critical Energy
Presenter: Hamilton Perkins for HPC
Presenter: Jon Quick for Launchpad
Presenter: Marwah Roussi for Legion Space
Presenter: Robert Baertsch for Line Mobility
Presenter: Stephan Kuehr for Opdo
Presenter: Nate Carlson for TRL11
Presenter: Jordan Hensel for Vidaria
As a Director at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Ronnie Harris II leads the Los Angeles-based Start-up Banking Team, focusing on empowering start-ups with business development support, access to capital, and community building in the innovation economy.
He's also the Founder/CEO of Thoreau Giving, a non-profit committed to providing affordable housing for at-risk youth and single mothers, aiming to foster sustainable change and security for vulnerable communities.
Brad Sigal is a Relationship Manager at SVB who focuses on the bank's early-stage Frontier and Climate Tech portfolio in Southern California. Brad provides companies founder-friendly banking, access to the SVB startup ecosystem, and dedicated service to their business.
Outside of work Brad likes to golf, snowboard, and attend concerts.
Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, as well as the other divisions, subsidiaries, and affiliates of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (together, SVB), are U.S. financial institutions and provide products and services to non-U.S. clients on a cross-border basis from the United States of America. SVB is not licensed or regulated as a bank or any other type of financial institution outside of the United States of America. Please review our International Disclosures for more information.
© 2026 First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company. All rights reserved. Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.
