5 Lakes + MRUN Computing Huddle

Scaling AI Ventures: Creative Destruction Lab AI Streams

Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) brings together as mentors experienced exited entrepreneurs, leading scientists, and active investors to help scale ventures based around technologies underpinned by, or core to the advancement of, artificial intelligence. Its AI streams operate out of three locations: Montreal, Paris and Toronto. Startups admitted to the program work with mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources, raise capital, and engage with experts working on the frontiers of research. Hear about how the program works and the benefits it provides. Hormuz Dadabhoy, Associate Director, Creative Destruction Lab.

Applying AI to Venture Building: High Alpha Innovation

High Alpha Innovation is a venture studio founded in Indianapolis in 2020 that co-creates startups in partnership with corporations, universities and governments. Its venture building process involves creating startups from the ground up and includes venture strategy, idea validation, rapid business model development, and focusing on addressing significant industry challenges and societal issues. High Alpha Innovation has a heavy focus on, and deep experience with applying AI to address customer and market challenges. Nick Wichert, Partnerships, High Alpha Innovation.

Accelerating Quantum Startups: Duality

Duality is the first accelerator program in the U.S. exclusively focused on supporting quantum startups. The program is led by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago and the Chicago Quantum Exchange, alongside founding partners the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Argonne National Laboratory, and P33, a Chicago-based non-profit. Duality offers innovative quantum startups the critical resources they need to develop and scale their business, including $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, business training, mentorship, technical assistance and more. Hear about how the program works and the benefits it provides. Shyama Majumdar, Director, Science Accelerators and Investments, Polsky Center at the University of Chicago.

Building High-Speed Internet Autonomy in Kansas: Wichita State

Kansas residents face slower, less secure and less reliable Internet because all data traffic flows through out-of-state carrier meeting rooms. To address that, a unique collaboration between the newly-established Kansas Office of Broadband Development and Wichita State University, in partnership with Connected Nation, is creating a first-in-the-nation carrier-neutral Internet Exchange on a university campus. This will position Wichita State to be a key player in the digital landscape, attract major national carriers, enhance local Internet resilience and empower communities across Kansas. Tonya Witherspoon, AVP Workforce Development and Industry Engagement, Wichita State. Brent Legg, EVP of Government Affairs at Connected Nation.

Driving SaaS Startups’ Success: 22eleven

22eleven is an Omaha consulting firm that helps startups and small businesses grow. The firm was formed by leaders of LifeLoop, a Nebraska senior living technology platform that was acquired in 2022 by Vista Private Equity. 22eleven focuses on Software as a Service (SaaS) companies and it provides help with idea development, go-to-market strategy, product development and validations, growth modeling and fundraising, sales and marketing coaching, and culture building and leadership development. Amy Johnson, Partner, 22eleven and Co-Founder and former CEO of LifeLoop.

The Huddle is an invitation-only virtual program that explores technologies and ideas with potential to attract increased funding and talent and provides information about impactful regional initiatives that drive innovative business growth.

Target Audience: Leaders interested in learning about what’s going on in our region and leveraging the resources of research organizations, corporations and public agencies to commercialize big ideas.