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3rd Annual Entrepreneur's Showcase & Leadership Forum

July 20-21, 2017
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The 3rd annual Forum will focus on strategic development of the marine robotics market space with presentations and panel discussions targeting concerns of the “C” suite (CEO, CTO, CFO, etc.).  Key questions include: What are the dynamics of emerging markets? How is the funding climate changing? What can be learned from recent acquisitions? Should you consider being acquired or go public? Autonomous underwater robots have emerged from research laboratories and are now produced by a growing cadre of marine robotics companies. However, even in an environment rife with technical innovation, creating successful marine technology ventures is demanding. The primary difficulty facing companies producing marine robots is the problem of market creation.  In many cases, AUVs and ROVs are used to accomplish tasks that previously would never have been done.  Identifying those unmet needs can be difficult, and once identified, potential customers may be slow to take advantage of new technology.  This meeting will bring marine robotics entrepreneurs together with representatives from emerging markets, government, and sponsors. The Forum will be kicked off by our 3rd showcase of marine robotics technologies on July 20th. Companies and entrepreneurs interested in showcasing your ideas and innovations in our high bay setting are welcome but space is limited.

Entrepreneur Forum Speakers and Panelists

  • Mr. Steve An, Serial Entrepreneur
  • VAdm. Mike Connor (Ret.), President and CEO, ThayerMahan Inc.
  • Dr. Larry Feinburg, CEO & Co-Founder, KnipBio
  • Ms. Christine Fox, Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, Former Acting Secretary of Defense
  • Ms. Helen Greiner, CTO, CyPhyWorks
  • Dr. Bernadette Johnson, Chief Science Officer, Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx)
  • Mr. David Kelly, CTO & CFO, InnovaSea
  • Brig. Gen. Frank Kelley, Jr (Ret.), Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Navy for Unmanned Systems (UxS)
  • Mr. Pat Larkin, John Adams Innovation Institute, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
  • Mr. Frank Van Mierlo, CEO and President 1366 Technologies Inc., Co-Founder Bluefin Robotics
  • Mr. Ken Morse, CEO, Entrepreneurship Ventures
  • Dr. Sepand Ossia, Research Director, Schlumberger
  • Dr. Branko Zugic, Principal Scientist, L3 Open Water Power

Entrepreneur Forum First Look Agenda

THURSDAY, JULY 20
10:00am – 12:00pm Formal Opening of DunkWorks and Open House: Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, WHOI President Mark Abbott & CMR Director Jim Bellingham
(WHOI’s new rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing facility)
DunkWorks, Smith Building, Village Campus
1:00pm – 3:00pm Showcase Exhibitor Set-Up
LOSOS High Bay, Quissett Campus
4:00pm – 7:00pm Entrepreneurs Showcase and Networking Social
LOSOS High Bay, Quissett Campus
FRIDAY, JULY 21
Leadership Forum
Clark 507, Quissett Campus
8:00am – 8:30am Breakfast (Provided)
8:30am – 9:00am Introduction: Dr. Jim Bellingham, Director, WHOI Consortium for Marine Robotics - State of Marine Robotics Economy Developments: At An Inflection Point
9:00am – 10:30am Working in the Emerging Defense Market
9:00am – 9:30am Speaker: BRIG GEN Frank Kelley, Jr (Ret.), Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Navy for Unmanned Systems (UxS) – Insights and Roadmap
9:30am – 10:30am Discussion Panel

  • VADM Mike Connor (Ret.), President and CEO, ThayerMahan Inc.
  • Ms. Christine Fox, Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, Former Acting Secretary of Defense
  • Dr. Bernadette Johnson, Chief Science Officer, Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx)
10:30am – 11:00am Networking Break
11:00am – 11:45am Company Flash Talks
Rapporteur: Leslie-Ann McGee, Assistant Director, CMR
11:45am – 12:30 Lunch (Provided)
12:30pm – 1:15pm Company Flash Talks
Rapporteur: Leslie-Ann McGee, Assistant Director, CMR
1:15pm–2:30pm Future Markets, Future Partners
1:15pm – 1:30pm Speaker: Pat Larkin, John Adams Innovation Institute, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative – Public/Private Partnerships in Clusters
1:30pm – 2:30pm Discussion Panel

  • Mr. David Kelly, CTO & CFO, InnovaSea
  • Dr. Sepand Ossia, Research Director, Schlumberger
  • Dr. Branko Zugic, Principal Scientist, L3 Open Water Power
2:30pm – 3:00pm Networking Break
3:00pm – 4:30pm Start-Up: Connecting Innovation to Financing
3:00pm – 3:30pm Speaker: Frank Van Mierlo – Boot-Strapping vs. Venture Funding
3:30pm – 4:30pm Discussion Panel
4:30pm Closing Comments - Dr. Jim Bellingham
4:45pm Adjourn