Spheres

As the co-host of KQED’s “Forum,” Alexis Madrigal has interviewed hundreds of unique thinkers across industries and fields. He’ll set the stage for our day by exploring how to lay the groundwork for truly original thinking, and challenge us to develop habits that open our minds to new possibilities.

Join Mercury co-founder and CEO Immad Akhund as he explores a question he’s been asking since Mercury’s first days: What should banking do? He’ll reveal how Mercury is building a product experience that challenges the expectations of banking and feels extraordinary to use.

As AI reshapes the tech landscape, it’s not just startups building core AI technologies that are capturing VC attention — companies across industries are finding practical ways to integrate AI into their products and operations. Investors Sonya Huang (Sequoia) and Sarah Guo (Conviction) will join Mercury co-founder and CEO Immad Akhund to discuss what AI tech is currently attracting the most capital, plus how businesses of all kinds are adopting AI to stay competitive.

Fishwife co-founder and CEO Becca Millstein has made distinctive brand identity central to her company’s strategy from day one, proving that early-stage companies don’t have to choose between brand and growth. In conversation with Mercury co-founder and COO Jason Zhang, she’ll share how consistent branding can reduce acquisition costs and drive organic discovery — especially for companies that can’t outspend competitors.

What can founders learn from a late-night idea during the 2015 NBA Finals that helped the Golden State Warriors secure a championship? Nick U’Ren General Manager of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and former Warriors executive, will share with Mercury co-founder Jason Zhang his hard-won lessons on trusting your instincts, building a culture of bold thinking, and spotting hidden opportunities for disrupting entrenched industries.

What do precise HVAC controls, intuitive AI interactions, and cosmetics that work for underserved skin types have in common? Paul Lambert (Quilt), Keith Peiris (Lightfield, FKA Tome), and Alicia Scott (Range Beauty) explore the foundational principles of product design that transcend industries and influence people to integrate products into their lives, rather than merely use them.

Closing the gap between climate goals and real-world action can feel overwhelming, but the team at Terraformation sees a path forward. Through examples from his team’s work in ecosystem restoration, Yee Lee, Terraformation’s Chief Growth Officer & VP Capital Markets, shares his most valuable takeaways for breaking big challenges down into smaller problems.

The founder journey is often romanticized as unwavering commitment to a single vision or strategy, but in reality, success often requires evolution. In this panel discussion, Gagan Biyani (Maven), Sara Mauskopf (Winnie), and moderator Elizabeth Yin (HustleFund) share how they navigated pivotal moments, balancing conviction with market reality.

Building “community” isn’t just marketing fluff — it can be a key driver of success. In this breakout, Edwin Wee Arbus (OpenAI) shares how to turn customers into evangelists and build lasting community infrastructure — plus measure its impact. Drawing from his work with developer and consumer communities, he’ll reveal strategies for scaling community intentionally and proving its value to stakeholders.

Join Mercury’s Director of Product, Rohini Pandhi, in conversation with Head of Community, Mallory Contois, to break down the essential components of early-stage product-market fit. Whether you’re refining an MVP or preparing to scale, this conversation will offer tactical insights to help you build with intention.

Your funding path can shape many aspects of your company’s future, but some founders still default to expected norms with little foresight. Harlem Capital’s Brandon Bryant and Mercury’s Joyce Chen will break down how different funding structures — from equity to loans and beyond — align with various business models, growth paths, and founder goals.

Investors don’t just look at your numbers — they also want to hear your story. Join Runway’s Siqi Chen as he dives into the impact of storytelling on fundraising, hiring, and customer perception. He’ll share his framework for crafting a narrative that resonates, and demonstrate how strategic storytelling can help clarify core strategy and align internal teams around a shared purpose.

This conversation will explore the legal considerations that founders should prioritize when scaling AI businesses in today's complex landscape. John Harrison, Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and Daniel Forester, General Counsel at Magic will share candid and practical insights on the competitive advantage AI startups can achieve with proactive legal counsel from day one. From optimizing investment terms to mitigating regulatory and compliance risk through thoughtful product development and protecting your IP as you go to market, this conversation will offer valuable perspectives for founders looking to build scalable, compliant AI businesses with strong legal foundations.

"Founder mode" went viral last year and proved polarizing to some. And yet, for all the discussion, no one actually explained how to do it. Shaan Puri from My First Million takes lessons & stories from the countless successful entrepreneurs he's interviewed to provide a tactical playbook for staying involved in the details of your company and trusting your instincts.

Legendary restaurateur Danny Meyer has built an empire on stand-out food, but also on transformative hospitality — a principle that transcends industries. In conversation with Mercury’s Immad Akhund, Danny will share how truly exceptional companies don’t just “satisfy” customers, but foster emotional resonance — turning those customers into long-term advocates.