Jeff has previously co-founded four venture-backed startups with successful exits, two by public companies. Currently, the co-founder and head of product for Directly, a leader in customer support automation, helping enterprises launch and train virtual agents that double their automation rate. Jeff holds degrees in Computer Science from both the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

Steven Haft is Head Of Global Partnerships at Consensys, world’s largest blockchain software company and Treasurer of the Blockchain Social Impact Coalition. Until 2018, Haft was SVP Chief Innovation Officer at TIME Inc, and before that Chief Strat Officer at AOL’s $1.2B Ad Sales Group. As a filmmaker, he developed and produced DEAD POETS SOCIETY, EMMA, MADtv and PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY, among other titles. He is a multiple Oscar/Emmy nominee, Peabody winner and Trustee Emeritus of The Sundance Institute. Steven Haft is currently a Fellow at HBS Prof Clay Cristensen’s Disruptor Foundation and a Member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court.

Grady Miller is a media and entertainment insights expert at National Research Group, a leading market research consultancy based in Los Angeles. Grady specializes in applying innovative research methods to tackle strategic challenges for Hollywood studios, next-generation content creators, and technology leaders. Grady is a graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and Marshall School of Business.

Dr. Karl Zhao, Vice President of Engineering, leads CloudMinds’ Cloud Brain – Human Augmented Robot Intelligence with eXtreme reality (HARIX) research and development effort. HARIX serves as the common platform for all Cloud Robotics and connected devices product and services including XR-1, Cloudia, Cloud Pepper, Cloud Raman and so on. Karl is also in charge of SmartVision and SmartMotion as well as multi-modal AI technology research and development team. Karl is responsible for CloudMinds’ Cloud Brain – HARIX and AI technology roadmap, partnership, and thought leadership. Prior to joining CloudMinds in 2018, Karl was the head of engineering of mobile app and video for OpenX, one of the largest independent ad exchanges in the world. He led the architecture, design, development and deployment of low latency and high throughput cloud-based mobile app and video ad exchange capable of handling multi-billion requests per day. The mobile app and video revenue grew 800% in two and a half years. He joined OpenX from ATT as lead system architect for efficient video delivery over wired and wireless network. Karl had extensive experience in innovative human machine interface, multimedia user experience products and services and media processors with startups as well as Fortune 100 companies. Karl has gained technical expertise in many domains: Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Vision-based Robotics Manipulation and Grasping, ASR, NLP; AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Cloud migration and multi-cloud deployments, Kubernetes, Docker; WebRTC, HLS, DSH, RTP, RTSP; H.265, H.264, AAC, AC-3; Massive multiplayer online gaming (MMO) system, Unity game engine; Linux, Android, iOS, Embedded Linux, Real-Time Operating System (RTOS), Robotics Operating System (ROS) and ROS2  etc. He has established relationships with a wide spectrum of customers and partners such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Associated Press, Zynga, Sega, Unity, Motorola, Whirlpool, Precor, UTstarcom, ARM, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Intel and so on. Throughout his career, Karl has always been passionate to lead the successful development and commercialization of cutting edge technologies in the emerging markets. Karl holds Doctorate and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University. He was a visiting scholar at Stanford University.

Aaron Loeb is President of Studios at FoxNext Games, where he oversees all game development. He has been the executive in charge of production of some of the biggest mobile games of all time, including “Marvel: Contest of Champions” (at Kabam), “Simpsons: Tapped Out” (at Electronic Arts) and most recently “Marvel: Strike Force” at FoxNext.

Yuan Wang is a technologist, futurist, and systems architect who designs technology systems and experiences that help humanity play its way to Abundance. For over two decades, Yuandesigned, coded and operated some of the most popular 3D video games in history including Descent, Lucasarts’ Jedi Knight and World of Warcraft. He has built multiple startups, launched large scale massively online games, built and managed high-performance multi-disciplinary teams, and served as an executive at Blizzard Entertainment, Disney, and Midway Games. Yuan is a co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Prasaga, an Industrial IoT Blockchain company building a platform for the future of data.

As the VP of Publishing, Chris Enock, a marketing executive with 19 years of experience in video games, oversees the Publishing Department at Riot Games, which covers Brand Management, Communications, Community, Video Production, Creative Leadership and User Acquisition. A 10-year veteran of Riot Games, Chris oversaw the launch and growth of League of Legends from a small indie title to a global phenomenon, and pioneered the innovative marketing that led to the game’s success.

After earning his BA in Computer Science from Carleton College, Chris started his career programming for racing games for startup Monster Games. He transitioned into marketing after getting an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management (part of Northwestern University). From there, Chris worked in brand management for Activision on their Dreamworks titles, then oversaw the launch of a couple Guitar Hero titles as the franchise exploded into mainstream popularity.

Christina Lee Storm is Vice President of Business Operations, Strategy, and Emerging Technology at DreamWorks Animation (DWA). She is head of the Advanced Creative Technology group, which advances DreamWorks IP into new forms of immersive creative content on all platforms using emerging technologies including AR, VR, real-time rendering, virtual production, and motion capture. She provides business leadership to the executive team for the studio’s growth in this space.

At DWA, Christina has worked in artistic resource management, strategy, and casting of diverse creative departments and has been part of the executive team focusing on studio-wide technology initiatives, including development of the new animation pipeline. As an executive, Christina has worked on Trolls, The Boss Baby, Captain Underpants, and upcoming How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Abominable, Trolls World Tour.

She was Founder/Executive Producer of the Act One Digital Lab, a funded Lab and Fellowship  combining science, story, and technology to incubate and create engaging online content for youth. An award-winning producer, Christina has worked on such Oscar-winning films as The Artist and Life of Pi, and produced the award-winning short documentary Life After Pi. In Hong Kong, she served as Head of Creative Development and VP of International Production for legendary Hong Kong director Johnnie To, producing Running Out of Time, The Mission, and Second Time Around. Her U.S. feature producing credits include The Least of These, To Save A Life, and Flesh: Bought & Sold in the U.S.

Christina serves on the Board of Governors for Advanced Imaging Society and its Executive Committee for Diversity & Inclusion. She has served on the Producers Guild of America’s (PGA) National Board of Directors for 6 years and as Treasurer for 4 years She has been Chair/Mentor for PGA’s Power of Diversity Master Workshop and is currently Chair of the PGA Animation Committee. Identifying the importance of supporting women in the area of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) she is part of DreamWorks Animation’s TECHWomen Steering Committee. Christina balances being mother of two rambunctious children, wife to story consultant/screenwriter Steve Storm, and passionate storyteller for all mediums.

Felix LaHaye is the Founder and CEO of United Esports, a media & marketing firm strategically positioned to help organizations and brands leverage the power of esports and its audiences. His career is defined by his thought-leadership and innovations in the world of digital marketing.

As founder of one of the first companies in mobile influencer marketing (InstaBrand/Open Influence – to this day one of the largest influencer marketing companies), LaHaye has been recognized as a pioneer, and his many accolades include Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Inc.’s 30 Under 30, Inc. 5,000 fastest growing companies in America, as well as three Digital Key campaign of the year awards for Bacardi (2018), San Pellegrino (2017), and Fiat (2016).

A lifelong fan of all types of games and esports, LaHaye revels in the fact that the passions of gaming enthusiasts’ are now more mainstream and in the spotlight. He is committed to go above and beyond to help build a strongly sustainable ecosystem for esports and its audiences.