It’s was a packed house last night at the Women in AI event! We’re so proud to partner with San José State University to host last night’s SJ Commons Women in AI event—a testament to the ingenuity and collaboration that drive our city forward!
The evening kicked off with inspiring words from Mayor Matt Mahan and SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson setting the tone for a night full of energy and inspiration.
A special thank-you to our SJSU partners— Sela Gaglia , Trevor Basil, PhD , and Abby Queale, —and to Knight Foundation Director Allan Madoc for helping bring this vision to life.
The lineup was nothing short of amazing, starting with an expert panel with Jorjeta Jetcheva, Sree Menon, and Leila Doty that shared their experiences and shed light on how to elevate women and marginalized folks in the AI space. Next came student lightning talks from Bhavi Shah, Meghana Indukuri, and Anna Vartan that blew us away. Finally, a VC pitch competition that was as entertaining as it was thought-provoking, with incredible competitors: Kavita Tipnis-Rasal, Liz Brittain, Dr. Nyeisha DeWitt, and Nayul Lina Kim, and sharp insights from judges Yiwen Li, Rachel Stern, Elisa Camahort Page, and Monique Brown. Congratulations to Nayul Lina Kim of CLIKA Inc. for taking home the win!
And of course, big thanks to the dream team from the Mayor’s Office—Stephen Caines, Esq. Keith Hertzberg, and our fearless leader, emcee extraordinaire, Smita Bhattacharjee, for all the hard work behind the scenes.
Together, the City of San José and San José State University are shaping a future where innovation thrives and inclusivity in AI flourishes. We’re excited for what’s to come!
#SJInnovates #SJSU #WomenInAI
