THE
FRONTLINE
December 2020
01 END OF YEAR MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

By all accounts, this past year has been unlike any other in our lifetimes. In so many ways, it is one that has driven personal, professional, and societal reflections for us all. As we count down the final few weeks of 2020, I wanted to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank our Members, colleagues, partners, and everyone in our network for your support, engagement, and friendship.

 

Over the course of this past year, as the pandemic worsened and led to unprecedented and devastating effects for so many around the world, we have found moments of inspiration, as well as a greater awareness of the collective issues we face as a global community. More importantly, we must take a step back to better understand the responsibility and positive impact we can have on addressing these challenges through our day-to-day work. No doubt we have seen digital transformation efforts accelerate, irrespective of industry or geography, and the benefits accruing to those leading companies most able to prioritize, resource, and execute their transitions effectively.

 

Despite these macro headwinds, ours was a year of growth in the size and diversity of our Member base, our own team, and the scope of what we deliver to our partners. We’re not only optimistic, but feel incredibly blessed as we look ahead to 2021 with fundamental excitement and a greater sense of purpose than ever before.

 

On behalf of our entire team, we wish you, your colleagues, and families a restful, safe, and joyous holiday season and look forward to crossing paths again soon in the new year.

 

- Neal Hansch, CEO & Managing Partner

02 ECOSYSTEM SPOTLIGHT
KITE
Mark Silva, Founder & CEO
 
 
"From our inception, the KITE vision was clear: unite all parts of the innovation ecosystem on a single system."

KITE is a SaaS platform for enterprises, consultants, accelerators and investors to collect, aggregate, manage and share their partner data. With KITE, these groups work more efficiently and transparently, accelerate smarter decisions and increase the number of partnerships and outcomes. Mark Silva, KITE's Founder & CEO,  has founded multiple companies connecting the world’s biggest and best enterprises with emerging, disruptive technologies. He is an active board director, advisor, investor and speaker at the intersection of enterprise & startups on stages such as TechCrunch Disrupt, CES, MWC and SXSW.

03 ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
Ends+Stems
Alison Mountford, Founder & Chef
 
"Working parents have been especially enthusiastic about the Ends+Stems app – which doesn’t require another Zoom meeting but still makes them feel supported by their employers."
Alison Mountford is the Founder of Ends+Stems – a meal planning and grocery management app that helps reduce household food waste. She’s been a chef and entrepreneur in San Francisco for 17 years and founded one of the first meal delivery companies (which sold in 2015). Alison is proud to have worked with more startups, businesses, and impactful individuals than she can count. If you've attended a dinner or event hosted by Silicon Foundry, you've most likely had the joy of experiencing some of her delicious food!
04 OUR TEAM
MEET THE TEAM: JANINA LIESER

Janina Lieser is a Principal at Silicon Foundry. Before joining Foundry, Janina led Product & Marketing at Grasshopper Bank, the first digital commercial bank in the US serving startups, VCs, and private equity firms. She's worked across various FinTech startups and financial services organizations, been based in London, San Francisco, and now New York, is a master at turning chaos into structure. READ MORE
05 EVENTS & NEWS
CES
January 11th-14th

For the first time ever, the Consumer Technology Association is shifting to an exclusive online-only format for 2021. Attendees can expect a highly personalized experience with on-demand keynote sessions, product showcases, and virtual roundtable discussions. Labeled “the most influential tech event in the world”, CES has become the proving ground for global innovators and the latest breakthrough technologies. In addition to providing a showcase for new technology, CES also includes a conference program for industry leaders to collaborate and provide solutions to the latest issues. Some familiar companies include manufacturers, developers, and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, and technology delivery systems. Register here
NRF 2021 - Chapter One
January 12th-22nd

Dubbed "Retail's Big Show," the National Retail Federation's 2021 annual event will be offered in two chapters. Chapter One is a virtual event in January 2021 designed to address the immediate needs facing retailers today. It's a jumping-off point that will lead the retail industry forward with all new curated sessions, networking programs, and a virtual Expo to connect with the industry’s brightest solution providers. Chapter Two is an in-person event in NYC slated for June 2021. Register here
Micromobility World
January 27th-29th

The current crisis has reshaped how people navigate their communities on a global scale. Amid the upheaval, micromobility has emerged as the safest, most sustainable way to get everyone moving again. But challenges remain. Our transportation systems must be rebuilt to encourage safety over danger, climate over pollution, small over large, and people over machines. Join vetted startups, transportation leaders, and big thinkers as they examine this real-time transportation revolution. Register here

Deep Learning 2.0 Summit
January 28th-29th

Bridging the gap between the latest technological research advancements and real world applications in business and society -- this year with 5 virtual statges. Discover advances in deep learning and smart artificial intelligence from the world's leading innovators. With over 100 information sessions and dozens of networking opportunities, it’s no surprise the Deep Learning Summit was recently voted the “#1 Best Artificial Intelligence Conference for Business Leaders.” Register here
The Economist's Innovation@Work
February 1st-5th

A bold, new, technology-focused event tightly centered on the future of work. With insight from the world's most respected corporations on how they thrived this year despite disruption, this week-long event will feature data-driven case studies on leadership, collaboration and productivity. Speakers will share timely and practical knowledge from recent experiences and transformative experiments across functions and industries. Bridging the gap between technology, people and strategy, this event will inform and inspire like no other to show innovation at work in action. Register here
 

2021 US Venture Capital Outlook PitchBook

COVID-19 Perspectives: State of the World BCG

The State of European Tech In 2020 Atomico

Year in Search: Trends That Shaped 2020 Google

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