Lab to Launch: Turning Deep AI Tech into World-Changing Products
This event is part of the 2025 CIE-SEA Annual Convention and Asian American Luminary Awards Ceremony.
🎤 Panelists & Moderator
Dorothy Nanyan Li
CVP @ Microsoft | Former CTO @ Convoy | Former VP @ AWS & Amazon | AI & Cybersecurity Leader
Dorothy Nanyan Li is Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, where she leads AI innovation across Microsoft’s Security portfolio—including compliance, identity, and IT management—helping organizations globally strengthen their cyber resilience .
Previously, Dorothy served as Chief Technology Officer at Convoy, where she led cross-functional teams across product, engineering, data science, and design to tackle supply chain sustainability through automation and machine learning . Before that, she spent over two decades at Amazon, including key leadership roles at AWS and Kindle, where she helped launch global products in analytics, fashion tech, and consumer media .
Dorothy holds multiple patents and has built platforms used by millions worldwide. She combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership to drive enterprise transformation at scale.
Yifan Zhang
Managing Director @ AI2 Incubator | 2x CEO | Exited Founder | Forbes 30 Under 30
Yifan Zhang is a 2x CEO & exited founder, and now invests in early stage AI as Managing Director at AI2 Incubator, born from the Allen Institute for AI (AI2).
Her company Loftium, a Norwest and DFJ-backed housing affordability startup, was acquired by Flyhomes after raising $130M in venture capital and asset-backed debt. She was Forbes “30 under 30” as the CEO of top 5 fitness app GymPact, downloaded by 3M+ users.
Yifan graduated from Harvard, served as CEO in Residence with Techstars, and has worked with Seattle Mayors Bruce Harrell and Jenny Durkan on affordable housing, downtown reactivation and, most recently, the launch of AI House.
Robert Mao
Founder & CEO @ ArcBlock | Creator of AIGNE | Blockchain & DID Pioneer | Former Microsoft Researcher
Robert Mao is the Founder and CEO of ArcBlock, a leading platform for building decentralized applications, digital identity systems (DID), and blockchain-powered tools. A serial entrepreneur and public speaker, Robert is widely recognized for his contributions to Web3 infrastructure and decentralized computing.
With a background in social computing from Microsoft Research, he has authored over 30 papers, journal articles, and patents, along with two books on blockchain technology. Most recently, Robert leads the development of AIGNE, an open-source, TypeScript-native framework for building autonomous multi-agent systems. Inspired by functional programming and built for full-stack environments—from browser to cloud—AIGNE enables developers to create privacy-preserving, decentralized AI applications.
Greg Coquillo
Product Leader @ AWS | 2x LinkedIn Top Voice | Startup Investor
Greg Coquillo is a product leader at Amazon Web Services, where he leads AI/ML adoption for Media Automation under Amazon’s Private Brands division. His work accelerates product development, streamlines global compliance, and drives YOY growth through predictive analytics and machine learning.
With 12+ years of global experience across P&L ownership, price optimization, and enterprise AI, Greg has built scalable infrastructure across commodity markets, supply chains, and cross-functional teams. He is a two-time LinkedIn Top Voice in AI, Data Science, Tech & Innovation, and an active investor in early-stage startups.
Greg is also an advocate for responsible AI adoption and community education—and in another life, he’d be writing sci-fi screenplays.
Anna Hong
Co-founder & CEO, B.E.L.L.E | Venture Partner, Aves Venture
Anna Hong is a serial entrepreneur, startup advisor, and venture partner dedicated to advancing inclusive innovation. As the Co-founder and CEO of B.E.L.L.E, she leads a global movement supporting female tech founders from idea to scale.
A three-time tech startup co-founder—with one successful exit—Anna also serves as a Venture Partner at Aves Venture, investing in both startups and venture funds. She advises funds of funds on sourcing emerging managers and collaborates closely with VC firms to identify breakout talent.
Anna mentors early-stage founders at Plug and Play and has a background in engineering and aerospace, where she built systems-level products before transitioning into venture and founder support. She brings deep cross-sector experience and a passion for building founder-first ecosystems.
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