Navigating Silicon Valley's Investment Climate Today

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Silicon Valley's tech landscape is rapidly changing, impacted by factors like rising interest rates and global economic uncertainties. Key questions arise: How is venture capital adapting? What economic indicators are VCs watching? Is investment shifting back to traditional sectors, or are AI and biotech still dominant? Is Silicon Valley's innovation hub status challenged by other regions? The future hinges on how the Valley adapts to new challenges, especially AI and automation's impact on startups and investment. What risks and opportunities lie ahead? We will talk about this and more on this exciting panel!

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Speaker Bios:

Imad Ansari, Managing Partner @ Edgewood Ventures

Imad is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a proven track record of working alongside founders to scale and optimize their businesses. With deep expertise in options trading, cryptocurrency, venture capital, fund management, and public markets, he provides strategic insights across diverse financial landscapes. As Head of Strategy for a fintech company, Imad played a pivotal role in shaping their go-to-market strategy, driving growth, and ensuring market readiness. His multifaceted experience, from capital allocation to public markets and innovative financial technologies, positions him as a trusted advisor in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Ryan Baird, CEO @ Baird Augustine

Ryan Baird, CEO of Baird Augustine, a cross-border neo investment bank, is renowned for his unwavering commitment to success, integrity, and a deep focus on risk.

Throughout his tenure, he has showcased exceptional leadership, attracting 11 million Monthly Active Users (MAU) and raising $35 million from institutional investors and Family Offices as the CEO of LYKA, a groundbreaking social media platform empowering Southeast Asian content creators to monetize their data.

As a Venture Partner at the GWC Innovator Fund, Ryan has been instrumental in fostering early-stage investments, including investing in Xpeng's Series A (NYSE: XPEV). Furthermore, he has organized prestigious events like G-Startup Worldwide and the Cross Board Venture Summit, offering CEOs, LPs, and institutional investors invaluable networking opportunities, portfolio showcases, deal sourcing, relationship-building, and industry insights.

Ryan's expertise extends into hedge funds. Having previously served as Head Trader & Risk Manager at Fineline Trading, he adeptly navigated financial market volatility during the Great Financial Crisis. In 2010, he successfully launched his own fund, Flotilla, where he arbitrated volatility, created exchange arbitrage algorithms, and traded exotic derivative positions.

His tenure at Morgan Stanley PWM on Sand Hill Road further bolsters his proficiency in institutional investing, covering US & Global portfolio management, risk management strategies, asset allocation techniques, derivative strategies, and building relationships with Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) families.

With a notable track record of raising capital for his ventures, other GPs, and startups alike, Ryan's influence transcends the finance sector. His board memberships across various companies and non-profits underscore his steadfast dedication to driving significant impact across diverse industries.

Ryan Baird has firmly established himself as a prominent figure in Silicon Valley's cross-border institutional investing landscape. He embodies dynamic leadership qualities and exceptional investment acumen, while also possessing a unique ability to cultivate valuable connections in today's ever-evolving business environment.

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Syama Bunten, Principal @ Big Delta Capital

Syama Bunten is the Co-CEO of Big Delta Capital, a firm dedicated to empowering women to take control of their financial futures and drive change. She is the host of Getting Rich Together, a Top 100 investing podcast, and the creator of the Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit, a premier event designed to bridge the confidence gap in investing and wealth-building for women.

Register Now: Women & Wealth Catalyst Summit March 27th, Presidio San Francisco

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Zac Choi, General Partner @ ACQ Ventures

Zac is a 20-year veteran in building and investing in businesses and currently serves as General Partner, ACQ Ventures (the venture arm of Acquisition.com) - where he invests in early-stage venture-scale founders and their companies, and is thrilled to support the next generation of entrepreneurs building business-enabling products. He is also co-founder and CEO of Puller AI, a technology that democratizes data utilization for teams with data engineering constraints.

Throughout his career, Zac has launched over 50 products, led major M&A transactions, and contributed to generating more than $15 billion in enterprise value for his own businesses and the companies he has served

In 2004, Zac started his career as a Data Science Researcher for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania after graduating from UPenn with a degree in Cognitive Science & Organizational Behavior. He then served as a commercial leader for blue-chip companies like Clorox, General Mills, and Green Dot - where he led Trade, Marketing, Strategic Planning, Category Management, Sales, and B.I. functions. At Green Dot, Zac served as a Revenue Executive through its IPO in 2010 and then joined McKinsey & Company as an expert consultant for their Growth, Marketing, & Sales practice.

While at McKinsey, Zac served FinTech, Consumer, and Enterprise SaaS clients on above-market growth, as well as PE clients on investment strategy and due diligence. As an associate partner, Zac also co-founded McKinsey’s Fast Growth Tech practice (now, Fuel by McKinsey) where he worked closely with Venture Capital and Growth Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies.

In 2015, Zac became a serial entrepreneur. His first startup, String AI, supported 10s of thousands of enterprises, small cap and mid market businesses, and prosumers manage their VOIP and messaging workflows better. String AI was acquired in 2021. 

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Angely Ty, Audit Partner @ Cohn Reznick - Moderator

Angela (or Angie) is a leader in the Bay Area Alternative Investments industry and specializes in accounting and reporting issues impacting private fund managers. Angela has spent nearly 20 years providing insights on technical matters & industry trends, in addition to supporting clients on capacity and capabilities challenges impacting asset managers in their back office.

Angela is an audit partner at CohnReznick in their Financial Services Group specializing in venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, private debt and hybrids. She is leading efforts on quality growth and bringing value-add thought leadership and events to the Bay Area market. Prior to joining CohnReznick in January 2025, Angela spent most of her career at KPMG and Rothstein Kaas.

Angela is President-Elect for the California Alternatives Investments Association (CalAlts) and is a board member of Project Glimmer and Safe & Sound. She is a member of UC Berkeley’s Center for Financial Reporting and Management Advisory Board and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.

Angela has dedicated time to accelerating diversity efforts both internally and externally through various roles in BRGs, ALPFA, LBSA and other organizations. Angela enjoys participating in speaking opportunities, including industry panels and leadership conferences. She was also a part of the 2020 SF Business Times Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business list recognizing women business leaders in the Bay Area.