Uniting Builders, Dreamers, and Trailblazers in AI & Beyond

Connecting 10,000 AI founders, investors, and executives in Silicon Valley

Author

Mala Ramakrishnan
June 16, 2025

Our AI Forum in San Francisco sparked the kind of connections that matter 🏢

San Francisco Gave Us More Than a View.. It Gave Us Momentum.
We Closed the AI Summit With Vision, Energy, and Community!

Founders, operators, investors, and technologists came together at the J.P. Morgan Startup Banking HQ, not just to close the week but to open something new.

Our AI Innovators Forum was filled with unexpected connections, and bold ideas from the next generation of builders. In a space that overlooked the city, we heard from founders at the edge of AI innovation, each one reimagining how tech can better serve people.

The afternoon opened with a thoughtful panel featuring voices who’ve not only built companies but helped shape culture. From industry insights to deeply personal lessons, they shared the kind of wisdom that doesn’t just live on slides.. it lives in stories, pivots, and bold decisions.

We’re so grateful to every guest who joined us with curiosity and openness and to our incredible partners who made this possible.

WATCH HIGHLIGHT VIDEO BELOW:

Founder Spotlight

Ravi Chalaka | CEO and Founder, Knoh.AI

We’re honored to have had Ravi share his expertise with our community of builders, creators, and innovators. He broke it down with a powerful session on leveraging AI agents for product marketing workflows, streamlining strategies, enhancing personalization, and driving smarter decisions.
Reach out to Ravi Chalaka if you’d like to be a part of his team!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravichalaka/

Upcoming Events Highlights

Deep Dive Council Sessions

Are you ready to find your tribe and increase your domain expertise, find a peer council, and advocacy that helps you land your next role?

AI Engineering Salon · Palo Alto · Fri June 20 | 2-3:30PM PDT

Join fellow go-to-market professionals for thought leadership conversations in this new era. The traditional models for lead generation are being revolutionized by…

lu.ma/engsalon

Venture Capital Events

Curious about what’s ahead for venture capital in 2025? Join the partners from Progressive Ventures to explore trends, growth opportunities, and strategic insights for the year ahead. Get a front-row seat to what’s next in the evolving market.

Session with a VC: Investing in Startups [Online] · Wed June 18 | 1-2PM PDT

Join Founders Creative for a live session on investing in AI startups hosted by Progressive Ventures. We will discuss the current state of the AI industry and what investors look for in AI startups..

lu.ma/i2kxrpub

Investing in Early Stage AI Startups: Live Networking in San Francisco · Thur June 19 | 1:30-2:30PM PDT

Join Founders Creative for a live session on investing in AI startups. We will discuss the state of the industry and investing, how to evaluate startups, and…

lu.ma/yx4ow2uz

Making a break in Venture Capital: Live Networking · Palo Alto · Fri June 20 | 12:30-2:00PM PDT

Join Founders Creative for a live session on investing in AI startups at Greanmeadow Room. We’ll explore the current landscape of AI and how to evaluate promising startups.

lu.ma/ve51s11a

Founders Creative Accelerator

Now accepting applications for cohort 2!
Apply today: www.founderscreative.org/accelerator/

Health and Wellness | Community & Networking

AI Executive Dinner · Palo Alto · Tue
July 1 | 6:30-9:30PM

An Exclusive Gathering for AI Leaders. ​Join us for an exclusive dinner is designed for senior AI leaders to deepen connections, exchange insights, and celebrate the vibrant AI community.

lu.ma/yrxeyhq4

Community Yoga & Meditation Courses

These are led by Mala Ramakrishnan, an Art of Living practitioner and yoga & meditation teacher of 19 years.

Yoga and Networking · Palo Alto · Sunday June 22 | 5-6:30PM

Join us for light yoga and meditation followed by networking. Bring a yoga mat and water. Wear loose, comfortable clothes.

lu.ma/32h5ietd

Blog of the Week

Digital to AI Transformation in Retail: Breaking Free from the POC Trap

by Shreyas Sali - Senior Manager of Product Management | MBA, Product Management, Data Analytics

linkedin.com/in/shreyassali/

Retail is entering a new era where generative AI is set to revolutionize everything from product content creation to customer experience—yet most companies are still stuck in the “proof of concept” stage, unable to scale. This blog breaks down why 88% of AI pilots fail to go live and what leading brands like Amazon, Walmart, and Zalando are doing differently to unlock real business value.

If you’re curious about how to move beyond AI experimentation and into actual transformation, this article offers a clear roadmap—covering key use cases, common pitfalls, and strategic tips to build momentum and ROI with AI in retail.

https://www.founderscreative.org/digital-to-ai-transformation-in-retail-breaking-free-from-the-poc-trap/

Join us at an upcoming events: lu.ma/founderscreative and sign up for our newsletter: www.founderscreative.org/#newsletter