2024 HYSTA Annual Conference Highlights
HYSTA (Hua Yuan Science and Technology Association)
Empowering Chinese entrepreneurship and leadership
On October 5, 2024, the HYSTA 2024 Annual Conference and 25th Anniversary Celebration was held in Silicon Valley, attracting over 40 speakers and?1,200 attendees. As one of the oldest non-profit Chinese-American technology organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, this milestone event brought together global leaders from tech industry, academia, and investment sectors to celebrate 25 years of HYSTA's achievements and explore future trends in AI & Beyond.
The conference featured distinguished speakers such as Kai-Fu Lee , Chairman & CEO of Sinovation Ventures and 01.AI, Randy Schekman , 2013 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Bill Jia , VP of Engineering, Core ML/AI at Google, and numerous professors from Stanford University and UC Berkeley, including Yi Cui , Zhenan Bao , and Tsu-Jae Liu . They shared insightful perspectives on the future of AI, biotech, energy, and more.
In her opening remarks,Dan Zhang, Executive Director of HYSTA and VP of Q Bay Center, emphasized that HYSTA is dedicated to connect and support Chinese-American entrepreneurs, leaders, and young talent in North America，helping them succeed on the global stage.? She also expressed gratitude to nearly 100 volunteers from the Silicon Valley tech industry for their contributions.
Fengmin Gong, Chairman of the HYSTA Board, warmly welcomed all attendees: "Over the past 25 years, HYSTA has witnessed rapid transformations in the tech industry and has consistently supported entrepreneurs, advancing global technological progress and development. Looking ahead, we will continue to drive innovation and create more opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs and tech leaders."
The keynote speaker for this year's conference was Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AI. His speech, titled "Making AI Work: Roadmap to Unleash the Power of GenAi and Build a Healthier Ecosystem", highlighted that AI 2.0 represents the pinnacle of technological and platform revolutions, especially with the immense potential of the Scaling Law in large models.?
Dr. Randy Schekman, the 2013 Nobel Laureate and member of both the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society, delivered a speech titled "Tackling Parkinson's with Basic Science." He shared insights on the role of cellular mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on key proteins that affect neuron damage.?
The event also featured key executives from tech giants such as NVIDIA, Meta, and OpenAI, along with founders of AI unicorns and standout companies including Pika, Luma AI, Cresta, Flexiv Robotics, Fireworks AI, Voyage AI, Boson AI, Otter.ai, and Lepton AI. Additionally, partners from leading venture capital firms like A16z, and DCM participated. Discussions covered topics such as how businesses can localize in North America and how the AAPI community can expand its influence in the U.S.
In the breakout sessions, autonomous driving, robotics, venture capital discussions, and startup pitch events became key focal points.
Sixteen startup teams from the HYSTA Founders Club presented one after another, receiving feedback from 30 experienced investors. After a competitive selection process, Nexa AI, TetraMem, and OKOsix won the Venture Capitalist's Choice Award, while Synlico, Traini, and Dimension Genomics received the Audience Choice Award. A total of six teams emerged as winners in the startup pitch competition.
The conference featured over 20 exhibitors showcasing their latest technological advancements and products.
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The 25th Anniversary Banquet in the evening brought the day's HYSTA Annual Conference to a climax. Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Saratoga Mayor Yan Zhao delivered speeches, recognizing HYSTA’s contributions to local technology and the economy. They extended their congratulations, reflected on HYSTA’s remarkable history, and presented honorary certificates to the organization.
During the gala dinner, Bo Li, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), engaged in a fireside chat with David Chen, former HYSTA Chairman (2017-2020).
The Find A Cappella group from Silicon Valley delivered a wonderful two-song performance for the audience, while the award-winning documentary Of Color and Ink, directed by Professor Weimin Zhang from San Francisco State University, was also screened during the event.
A special panel focused on “AAPI for Democracy” brought together key figures like Anita Manwani, President of TiE Silicon Valley; Evan Low, California State Representative; and Nana Tseng, Chairwoman of Monte Jade West, to discuss the significant contributions of the AAPI community in driving social progress.
The evening concluded with HYSTA’s 25th Anniversary Awards, recognizing individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the association and the community. The honors included:?
The success of this year's HYSTA Annual Conference would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of nearly 100 volunteers. From planning and logistics to on-the-ground support, their selfless contributions helped bring everything together seamlessly. We are deeply grateful for their time, energy, and commitment to making the conference such a memorable and impactful event. Thank you to each and every one of our incredible volunteers!
Sponsor
Community Alliance
About HYSTA
HYSTA is a Silicon Valley-based non-profit organization of Chinese American professionals. We believe in hardworking, social responsibility, humanity, and social justice. We are open and inclusive to all who share our beliefs.
HYSTA was created by a group of visionary Chinese entrepreneurs to help and promote the professional growth of the members in the fields of Science and Technology. Today, we strive to build upon the great foundation laid by our earlier members. We aim to better serve the community by responding timely to its evolving needs and by building sustainable support for generations to come.
Our mission is to elevate leadership and entrepreneurship for Chinese Americans.