Our 2024 theme is “Scaling” and will include thought leaders from infrastructure funds, venture capital, key industrial primes, CEOs of emerging dual use technology companies, and champions of change in the government. We plan to address the challenge of scaling innovation head on.
Our Scaling theme addresses:
Scaling Adoption
Scaling the Industrial Base
Scaling Investment
Scaling with International Partners - this year we will include international partners from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and NATO
This is our 13th Wharton Aerospace Ventures, the first having started in 2012 -with Steve Blank opening, to address and deal with the disruption our industry would and will encounter.
Our speakers include:
- Ms Aditi Kumar, Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy, and National Security Partnerships
- Dr Jason Rathje, Office of Strategic Capital
- Col Jason Kim, SCO - American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)
- Mr Jeffrey Dutton, Commerce Division AIT
- Dr. Michael Horowitz, Penn Perry World House, Former DASD, Force Development & Emerging Capabilities
- Mr. MIchael Stewart, DoN Disruptive Capabilities Office
- RADM(ret) Phil Yu, Taiwan/Ukraine, Atlantic Council
- Mr Al Puchala, CEO Capzone Impact Group
- Ms Crissa Rask, Cerebrus,
- Mr Dan Madden, Squadra
- Ms. Tara Dougherty, CEO Govini
- Mr John Pinder, Northrop Grumman
- Mr Phil Root, DARPA
- Col Rich Kniseley, Space Force Commercial Space Office
And More!
Panels:
Enabling Adoption - Scaling Innovation
The National Industrial Base Strategy and Implementation
Spotlight on Taiwan
Private Capital as a Force Multiplier
Reshoring, Securing our Supply Chains
Scaling with International Partners – Adding Innovation and Production Capacity
NATO and Indopacom
Lessons from Ukraine
AUKUS - Policy and Defense Investors
Capped by a Private Reception
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-wharton-aerospace-ventures-theme-scaling-tickets-904693270927
Last year General “Bucky” Butow, Defense Innovation Unit, kicked off the event. We discussed the range of private capital and the challenges to scaling adoption. Our event was attended by ~150 participants and included over two dozen speakers and panelists from over 50 companies. 75% of participants were founders, CEOs, managing partners. We expect a similar participant profile for our 2024 event and will cap registration at 200.
Wharton Aerospace is an association of senior executives and invited guests with shared commitments to the commercial aerospace & defense industries. We conduct by-invitation-only, Chatham House Rules annual conferences to foster closer ties between the Wharton School, our Wharton Aerospace participants and the innovation & industrial bases.