G1 Silicon Valley 2026 - Engineering Serendipity: The Role of Luck in Innovation

G1 Silicon Valley 2026 - Engineering Serendipity: The Role of Luck in Innovation

While strategy is essential, "luck" in timing and networking often determines a breakthrough's trajectory. This session investigates how leaders position themselves to capitalize on the unpredictable, using insights from Tina Seelig’s new book, What I Wish I Knew About Luck. We will discuss building an "ecosystem of opportunity" that allows founders to turn chance encounters and unforeseen market shifts into competitive advantages. This discussion provides a candid look at the variables we cannot control—and how to build the agility to capitalize on them when they arrive.  G1 Silicon Valley 2026 Session held at Half Moon Bay, California on April 16, 2026. » https://g1.org/g1silicon/ Engineering Serendipity: The Role of Luck in Innovation Panelist: » Tina Seelig (Executive Director, Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Stanford University) Contributors:  » Stephen Barnham (Group CIO and CDO, Daiichi Life Group) » Akio Kodaira (Founder & CEO, Shizuku AI, Inc.) Moderator:  » Catherine Porter(Advisor, GLOBIS Capital Partners)   --- Prefer to watch the video presentation? Find it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c3jPsgfN3Fg ---

G1 Silicon Valley 2026 - A New Age of the Human AI Relationship

As AI agents take over more of what we call "work" — writing, coding, analysis, decision-making — a fundamental question emerges: if productivity is no longer a uniquely human contribution, what is? This panel explores that question through the lens of Artificial Life. Unlike optimization-driven AI, life doesn't pursue predefined goals — it explores, diverges, and generates novelty. As Ken Stanley argues in "Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned," the most important breakthroughs come not from planning but from open-ended exploration. G1 Silicon Valley 2026 Session held at Half Moon Bay, California on April 16, 2026. » https://g1.org/g1silicon/ A New Age of the Human AI Relationship Panelists: » Blaise Agüera y Arcas (VP / Fellow, CTO of Technology & Society, Google) » Mizuki Oka (Managing Director, Artificial Life Institute) » Kenneth Stanley (Senior Vice President of Open-Endedness, Lila Sciences) » Emmett Shear (Co-Founder / CEO, Softmax) Moderator:  » Richard B. Dasher (Director, US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University Founding Partner, Global Hands-On Venture Capital (GHOVC))   --- Prefer to watch the video presentation? Find it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ycvbJ3IPDZY ---

G1 Silicon Valley 2026 - US & Japan Tech Ecosystems: VC & Startup Strategies

The future of global entrepreneurship depends on a deep understanding of the structural differences and underlying commonalities between the world’s two most innovative economies. This session focuses on a comparative analysis of the US and Japan tech ecosystems, examining how distinct venture capital models and startup cultures drive growth. We will explore the shared challenges of scaling innovation and how global VCs are re-evaluating the unique potential of Japanese intellectual property alongside Silicon Valley’s proven scaling models. What are the essential strategies for founders and investors to bridge these ecosystems and create the next generation of global unicorns? G1 Silicon Valley 2026 Session held at Half Moon Bay, California on April 16, 2026. » https://g1.org/g1silicon/ US & Japan Tech Ecosystems: VC & Startup Strategies Panelists: » Noriyuki Kojima (Chief Executive Officer, Kotoba Technologies, Inc. » Ann Miura-Ko (Co-founding Partner, Floodgate) » Alexander Wortmann (Partner, TCV) Moderator:  » Emre Yuasa (Partner, GLOBIS Capital Partners)   --- Prefer to watch the video presentation? Find it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s5c9dUHK1Cc ---

G1 Silicon Valley 2026 - How Businesses Can Thrive Amidst AI in a Fractured World

As AI moves from a peripheral tool to a core business driver, organizations must fundamentally adapt their internal structures and external strategies to remain competitive. This complexity is compounded in a global atmosphere that continues to fracture. This session explores the impact of AI on organizational culture, leadership, and strategy in the global context. We will discuss how leaders can foster a data-driven, agile culture while leveraging AI to redefine customer engagement and operational efficiency in an increasingly fragmented global landscape. Join us for a strategic analysis of how modern enterprises are navigating this comprehensive and essential business transformation. G1 Silicon Valley 2026 Session held at Half Moon Bay, California on April 16, 2026. » https://g1.org/g1silicon/ How Businesses Can Thrive Amidst AI in a Fractured World Panelists: » Geoff Brooks (Head of Business Operations, Notion) » Jennifer A. Chatman (Dean, Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley) » Tatsuo Kawasaki (Co-Founder and Chairman Unison Capital, INC.) Moderator:  » Olaf Groth (Author, Professor, Co-Founder, Cambrian Futures & Cambrian Labs)   --- Prefer to watch the video presentation? Find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxaANRokhCE ---

G1 Silicon Valley 2026 - A New Golden Age of the Us-Japan Alliance Amidst AI in a Fractured World

We stand at a historical crossroads where the rapid evolution of AI intersects with a deeply fragmented geopolitical landscape. This session explores the foundational forces that have transformed the US-Japan alliance into a sophisticated strategic partnership. We examine the historical and technological milestones that led to current global frictions and discuss how these two nations can anchor global stability. How can a shared vision for technology and economic security turn today's fractures into a new era of bilateral prosperity? Join us for a strategic dialogue on turning global challenges into a unified vision for leadership in this new era. G1 Silicon Valley 2026 Session held at Half Moon Bay, California on April 16, 2026. » https://g1.org/g1silicon/ A New Golden Age of the US-Japan Alliance amidst AI in a Fractured World Panelists: » Glen S. Fukushima (Visiting Fellow, Stanford University) » Jane Harman (Chair, Commission on the National Defense Strategy) » Bob Willen (Global Managing Partner and Chairman, Kearney) Moderator:  » Jesper Koll (Expert Director, Monex Group)   --- Prefer to watch the video presentation? Find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDxickfzu98 ---