Day 1 Wrap Up @ Techsylvania’s 2023 10th Anniversary Edition
We are back at Techsylvania, the place where Innovation meets Opportunity and gathers like-minded people from all across the world. The 2023 edition is a special one: we are celebrating 10 years of Techsylvania!
Here is the wrap up for Day 1:
Center Stage: Unveiling Tech Innovations, Inspirational Leaders & Entrepreneurial Trends
The first day of Techsylvania on the Center Stage showcased a diverse range of talks and discussions that explored the cutting-edge technologies, entrepreneurship, and the future of various industries. Attendees were captivated by the insights and revelations shared by esteemed speakers from Google, industry leaders, and renowned entrepreneurs. Here’s a brief overview of some of the highlights from the day’s sessions:
Driving Societal Change Through AI Innovation: Yossi Matias from Google delivered a thought-provoking talk on leveraging AI to drive societal change. He emphasized how technology can help us stay ahead of time and prevent adverse events. Matias highlighted the significance of making a difference through innovations that utilize AI, such as the Flood Hub. This platform provides flood notifications, enabling individuals to take preventive measures up to seven days in advance. By analyzing river maps and creating 3D models, detecting wildfires, and issuing earthquake alerts, technology plays a crucial role in preventing disasters and protecting communities.
Conversational AI and Career Development: The session delved into the advancements in conversational AI, particularly focusing on Google’s Duplex technology. Attendees learned about the value created for businesses through AI and how Google courses provide interview warm-ups, enabling individuals to practice interview steps after completing certifications.
Health AI and Med Palm: The Health AI session introduced Med Palm, a groundbreaking language model that demonstrates advanced proficiency in medical examinations. Attendees discovered the myriad benefits of Med Palm, including enhanced accuracy and efficiency in medical diagnostics. This promising development has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery.
Deep Tech, Sustainability, and Diversity in the Netherlands Ecosystem: The Netherlands ecosystem took center stage as Prince Constantijn van Oranje, along with Steffi Czerny from DLD Media, shed light on deep tech, sustainability, and diversity. The session explored the Netherlands’ thriving entrepreneurial culture, emphasizing the importance of international perspectives, establishing robust communities of entrepreneurs, and embracing diversity to foster creativity and innovation.
Powering Health and Fitness Products: Jonathan Oakes from Google discussed the significance of health and fitness products. With a mission to help people worldwide achieve healthier lives, Oakes emphasized the importance of lifestyle changes, exercise, and healthier eating in preventing diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Attendees gained insights into how small changes and the development of sensor technology can improve people’s overall well-being.
Bits to Bytes: Forging a Successful Career in Tech with Mark Porter (MongoDB): Mark Porter’s talk focused on human intelligence and the importance of effective collaboration between humans and robots in the tech industry. He highlighted the necessity of mentorship, encouraging individuals to have two-way mentor relationships. Porter also shared valuable insights on career advancement, emphasizing the importance of setting expectations and being honest about one’s capabilities when presented with promotion opportunities.
Scaling and Fundraising for Marketplace, Consumer, and SMB Software Companies in a Downturn: Vinny Pujji from Left Lane Capital engaged in an enlightening conversation with moderator Cory Reid. The session explored performance marketing and the motivations driving entrepreneurs. Pujji emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to have an international perspective, take advantage of the internet’s transformative power, and hire local talent when expanding into new markets.
From Y Combinator to Unicorn: Lessons in Building a High-Growth Startup: Qasar Younis, the founder of Applied Intuition, shared his experience and insights on building high-growth startups. He emphasized the importance of leading by example, identifying real-world problems, and scaling with an international mindset. Attendees gained valuable lessons on the significance of early customer feedback, the advantages of Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the potential for product-focused companies to thrive outside the outsourcing paradigm.
How Can Central and Eastern Europe Play a Leading Role in European Competitiveness and Innovation: Patrick Warnking from Google, alongside moderator Steffi Czerny, discussed how Central and Eastern Europe can contribute to European competitiveness and innovation. The Toothbrush Test was introduced as a metaphor for creating products that users engage with multiple times daily. Warnking highlighted the need for increased AI literacy and emphasized the importance of STEM education, encouraging students to embrace AI tools. The session underscored the potential of the region and the importance of continuous learning.
The ‘Hustle Culture’ Myths by Zoltan Vardy (The Launch Code): Zoltan Vardy addressed the myths surrounding the “hustle culture” prevalent in the business world. He emphasized the importance of hard work, determination, and continuous self-development as critical factors in building a successful business. Zoltan encouraged attendees to focus on value impact over monetary gain and to foster a supportive network and environment.
Mapping the Future with Lars Rasmussen, Founder & Angel Investor: Lars Rasmussen, the Founder of Google Maps, engaged in an insightful conversation about entrepreneurship and the role of angel investing. He shared his perspective on entrepreneurs being born during times of crisis and highlighted the potential for tech entrepreneurship in Athens. Rasmussen discussed the joys of being an angel investor and emphasized the importance of building a strong culture within organizations.
Keeping Your Startup Heart While Scaling Up with Tijana Kovacevic (Happening): Tijana Kovacevic delivered a compelling talk on change management and communication skills as crucial elements of maintaining a startup’s culture while scaling up. Attendees learned about the challenges faced when evolving and how intentional communication planning and thoughtful team routines can sustain a strong company culture.
Founding and Scaling Companies Solving the World’s Greatest Challenge: A Silicon Valley Perspective with David Gorodyansky (FaceOut): David Gorodyansky shared insights on founding and scaling companies with a focus on addressing global challenges. He emphasized that successful businesses can be built anywhere, challenging the notion that Silicon Valley is the only hub for tech entrepreneurship. Gorodyansky stressed the significance of building a strong board, fostering a purpose-driven culture, and developing products that make a real impact in the world.
Advancing AI for Everyone — Panel Discussion: The panel, moderated by Dan Oros from Google, featured Ioan Iacob from FLOWX.AI and Diana Borsa from Google DeepMind. The discussion revolved around the advancement of AI and digitalization. The panelists highlighted the need for collaboration between public and private sectors, NGOs, and academia in driving digitalization initiatives. They also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and seeking expert guidance when navigating the complex world of AI.
How I Built a $100M Quilting Business and Bought a Town: Al Doan from the Missouri Star Quilt Company engaged in an intriguing conversation with moderator Geoff Openshaw. Doan shared his experience in building a successful quilting business and the innovative strategies employed to revitalize a struggling small town. Attendees learned about the importance of customer-focused content, self-development, and the power of local economic circulation.
How To Build Your Own Internal ChatGPT: In this insightful talk, Victoria Albrecht from Springbok.ai explores the growing trend of companies building their own Large Language Models (LLMs). With LLMs being the talk of the town, Victoria highlights the immense risk involved in undertaking such a venture. She emphasizes that building your own LLM should only be pursued if you have an unwavering hunger for world domination, along with the necessary resources, expertise, time, and risk appetite involved in developing your own internal ChatGPT.
Why Sustainability, AI, and Web3 Are the Key Tech Sectors for the Next 10 Years We had Frank Meehan (BraveNewEarth) and moderator Tee Ganbold (OpenESG) joining in a captivating conversation about the future of technology. Delving into the world of alternative energies and creating a sustainable infrastructure for all, the talk emphasized the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles & how aligning your investments with your values can not only contribute to a better world, but also yield a remarkable 25% more income.
Practical & Revolutionary Insights from the Impact Stage
The first day of the ten-year anniversary of Techsylvania included a series of captivating talks on the Impact Stage, all hosted by Elena Vrabie, Country Lead @ The Recursive. From AI-driven product development to building successful companies and scaling engineering teams, here are some highlights from today’s discussions:
In his talk on “Vision to Product: Product Design, Development, and Manufacturing in the Age of AI,” Nima Banai explored the ever-changing process of product development and manufacturing. He highlighted how AI is revolutionizing the industry, providing new insights and approaches to designing and creating products.
The founder of Supernova, Jiri Trecak, held an insightful conversation with Jenny Dreier from EQT Ventures, sharing his journey in “Building a Company between Prague and the Valley.” He offered valuable tips and tricks for aspiring entrepreneurs and emphasized the significance of data and generative AI plans in their company’s success. Keep this as a reminder: “It’s always about the data.”
Tudor Mafteianu, founder of Blu Capital Partners, delivered a thought-provoking keynote talk on “What Drives the Value of Your Business? Why, When, and How You Unlock It.” He discussed the various drivers and methodologies that contribute to the business model, urging attendees to consider untapped potential and embrace storytelling as a means of unlocking value.
In a conversation with Nick Fryer (CTO at Dojo) and Andreas Cser (Partner at Fraser Finance), the session on “Building a Product-Led Payment Business From Scratch” offered insights into the challenges and strategies employed by these two industry experts. The discussion highlighted the importance of a product-focused approach and left attendees with actionable takeaways.
Aviran Mordo from Wix shared an innovative approach to scaling engineering teams in his talk, “Scaling Engineering by Hacking Conway’s Law — The ‘Operational Guild’ Model.” By breaking down organizational silos and fostering collaboration, Mordo presented the Gangs & Guilds Wix Model. A model that enhances efficiency and promotes a cohesive engineering culture, based on shared valuable insights on solving software development problems through knowledge sharing. He emphasized the fusion of professionals working together to create the perfect roadmap and user experience for a product, using
Amy Varney from Systemiq Capital addressed the pressing issue of climate tech, sustainability, and climate intelligence in her talk, “Has Climate Tech Graduated?” Attendees gained valuable insights into the progress and potential of climate tech, sparking important discussions about its impact on businesses and society at large, as well as the positive outcomes and effects of the company’s products. MassMutual hosted a partner session titled “How Is Technology and Innovation Shaping the Business Landscape” featuring Cristina Morariu. The session explored the transformative power of technology and innovation, emphasizing the ever-evolving nature of the business landscape and the need to stay adaptable, while also taking a deep dive into generative AI, mixed reality, and challenging hackathons already implemented into innovative solutions.
Sergiu Biriș, the representative from MultiversX, delivered a captivating talk titled “XPortal: Blurring the Lines Between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0.” This insightful session delved into the future of the internet and how XPortal aims to seamlessly merge the best elements of both eras. By integrating the familiar and interactive aspects of Web 2.0 while harnessing the decentralized and secure infrastructure of Web 3.0, XPortal strives to make technology disappear and enable users to navigate effortlessly. Sergiu emphasized the importance of blockchain technology, stating: “The Metaverse cannot really exist without blockchain — you need ownership on what you build.”
In the “Personalized Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatments in the Context of Technology” session hosted by Regina Maria, Dr. Daniel David, the distinguished Ph.D. in clinical cognitive (neuro)sciences and the rector of Babes-Bolyai University, shed light on revolutionary personalized mental health treatments: by harnessing the power of data and evidence-based methodologies, technology can play a crucial role in enhancing mental well-being. Dr. David emphasized the shared responsibility for mental health, concluding: “We are all responsible for our mental health.”
Amazing Q&A sessions, practical workshops & a lot of valuable networking
During the Q&A sessions, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the main speakers, asking questions and gaining further insights into the topics discussed. The Q&A sessions provided a valuable interactive element to the conference, allowing for deeper exploration and clarification of the ideas.
As for the workshops, they all provided practical and interactive learning experiences for all, allowing us to acquire new skills in specific areas of interest:
- MVPs Unleashed: Building Robust Products with Elixir by Constantin Cheptea (Crafting Software) focused on using the Elixir programming language to build Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) that are scalable, reliable, and maintainable.
- Data-Driven Predictive Maintenance in Railway by Roxana Muresan & Adrian Pusca (Accenture) explored the application of data-driven techniques for predictive maintenance in the railway industry, highlighting the benefits of using data analysis to optimize maintenance operations and improve reliability.
- Building Your Event-Driven Infrastructure Within 1 Hour by Sebastien Blanc & Ben Gamble (Aiven): In this workshop, participants learned how to quickly set up an event-driven infrastructure using Aiven, a cloud-based platform, enabling efficient processing and handling of real-time events.
- Test Driven Development with Kotlin by Mihaly Nagy & Alin Turcu (Cognizant Softvision) focused on Test Driven Development (TDD) principles and practices using the Kotlin programming language. Participants gained hands-on experience with writing tests before implementing code, promoting quality and maintainability in software development.
- From Prompt to Cloud: Unlocking the Potential of Advanced Prompt Engineering with genezio by Bogdan Vlad, Andreia Ocanoaia & Radu Dumitrescu showcased genezio, a platform that enables advanced prompt engineering for natural language processing (NLP) models. Participants learned how to leverage genezio’s capabilities to enhance the performance and versatility of NLP applications.
The first day of Techsylvania’s 2023 10th anniversary edition was a remarkable display of technological innovation, entrepreneurial insights, and potential for societal impact. The diverse array of topics and speakers provided attendees with valuable knowledge and inspiration, setting the stage for the remaining day of the conference.
See you tomorrow, dear techsylvanians!
