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DAY 1: THURSDAY, SEP 11, 2025
DAY 1: THURSDAY, SEP 11, 2025
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Registration + Light Refreshments
Registration + Light Refreshments
8:30 - 8:45 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
Reshma Singh, Director, Cradle to Commerce, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
8:45 - 9:00 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Welcome to the Lab
Welcome to the Lab
Carol Burns, Chief Research Officer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Opening Keynote
Opening Keynote
Anthony Pugliese, Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
9:15 - 11:00 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
C2C Cohort 2 Live Pitches
C2C Cohort 2 Live Pitches
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Building 91
Poster Showcase by Innovators
Poster Showcase by Innovators
12:15 - 1:00 PM
Building 91
Lunch + Networking
Lunch + Networking
1:00 - 2:30 PM
Concurrent Session Rooms
Domain Landscape Panels
Domain Landscape Panels
The Domain Landscape Panels are concurrent sessions specific to the barriers, trends, and frontiers of each of the four C2C domains. Experts will explore how public-private collaborations can accelerate the development of transformative technologies, policies, and investments to advance building innovations for affordable and secure energy future.
(Panel descriptions in dropdown)
Building Technologies Panel (Building 70A-3377):
In the Buildings session, the panelists will examine how this sector, responsible for nearly 40% of U.S. energy use, is becoming a focal point for efforts to strengthen energy independence, modernize infrastructure, and reduce costs for consumers and businesses alike. As innovation accelerates, the buildings sector presents a unique opportunity to align economic growth with energy resilience.
Moderator:
Cynthia Regnier, Head - Whole Building Systems; Executive Director - FLEXLAB, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Panelists:
Aimee Bailey, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Rock Rabbit
Dr. Brian Walker, Program Manager, Emerging Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office
Nikhil Choudhary, Managing Partner, Nirman Ventures
Jeff Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Augustus Development Group
Nuclear Panel (Building 59-4102):
This panel will examine the evolving landscape of nuclear power in the United States, a critical component of the nation’s push toward a reliable and resilient energy future. Panelists will discuss emerging trends, technological innovations, and the key barriers hindering the expansion and commercialization of nuclear energy. Discussions will also address how nuclear energy contributes to long-term energy affordability and national energy security. Special attention will be given to the role of startups in driving innovation and accelerating technology development. Attendees will gain insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping nuclear power in transforming the U.S. energy sector in the years ahead.
Moderator:
Rachel Slaybaugh, DCVC Ventures
Panelists:
Cristian Rabiti, Chief Executive Officer, NuCube Energy
Evan Cummings, Senior Director, Business Development, Kairos Power
Youssef Ballout, Division Director, Reactor Systems Design & Analysis, Idaho National Lab
Samuel Gibson, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Hadron Energy
Heather Jackson, Division Director, Fusion Enabling Science and Partnerships
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Grid Modernization and Energy Storage Panel (Building 59-3101):
Grid instability and interruptions have underscored the urgent need for a more resilient and modernized energy infrastructure. The surge in electricity demand from AI and data centers is also placing unprecedented pressure on the power grid. At the heart of this transformation are passionate innovators and groundbreaking technologies with strong commercialization potential. But beyond people and technology, what levers—policy, funding, partnerships—can startups pull to ensure successful adoption? This panel will bring together leaders from policy, research, industry, and venture capital for a dynamic roundtable discussion on identifying urgent gaps, building the infrastructure, and fostering innovation to support the next generation of grid solutions.
Moderator
Saba Khalid, Founder & Principal, SK Innovations
Panelists:
Jagjit Nanda, Executive Director, SLAC - Stanford Battery Research Center, Distinguished Scientist, SLAC National Accelerator Lab
Eugene Beh, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Quino Energy
Kevin Kopczynski, Partner, Congruent Ventures
Apoorv Agarwal, Senior Advisor, Impact and Translations, MIT Climate Project
Energy Innovation for Industrial Applications Panel (Building 50 Auditorium):
This session will explore the expanding frontier of energy generation and fuels. As domestic and global demand for reliable, and affordable energy solutions accelerates, entrepreneurs and industry leaders are seizing new opportunities to build high-impact companies and domestic supply chains. Panelists will share insights on technology breakthroughs, commercialization pathways, and the critical enablers for scaling solutions. Attendees will gain a broader view on how innovation stemming from national labs in Energy Generation and fuels can drive job creation, energy resilience, and economic momentum across the country.
Carly Andersin, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Timescale Ventures (Moderator)
Eva Schill, Lead EESA, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Luis A. Ortiz, Deputy Director for Commercialization, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)
David Swisher, Chief Operating Officer, Electra
Manik Suri, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, GlacierGrid
Hemant Choudhary, Director of Catalytic Lignin Depolymerization, Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI)
2:30 - 3:00 PM
B50 Auditorium (Outside)
Coffee + Group Photos
Coffee + Group Photos
3:00 - 3:50 PM
B50 Auditorium
Panel | National Lab Innovation Leadership
Panel | National Lab Innovation Leadership
This is a dynamic and informative plenary session to explore the critical role of the Department of Energy’s U.S. National Laboratories in driving innovation and shaping a resilient future. The goal of this session is to inform the audience how the National Laboratories are the critical component for accelerating energy breakthroughs, and partnering with industry, entrepreneurs, investors, and philanthropies in delivering innovative and secure energy solutions to all.
Moderator:
Anthony Pugliese, Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Panelists:
Carol Burns, Deputy Laboratory Director for Research and Chief Research Officer, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Duncan McBranch, Senior Director, Partnerships & Pipelines, Los Alamos National Lab
Alberto Salleo, Deputy Director Science and Technology, SLAC National Accelerator Lab
Jason Stolworthy, Director of Technology Deployment, Idaho National Lab
3:50 - 4:00 PM
B50 Auditorium
Closing Keynote
Closing Keynote
Rick Stockburger, Chief Executive Officer, The Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI)
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Molecular Foundry
Advanced Light Source
NERSC
Lab Tours | Molecular Foundry Tour, Advanced Light Source, & National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), FLEXLAB
Lab Tours | Molecular Foundry Tour, Advanced Light Source, & National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), FLEXLAB
5:30 - 8:00 PM
Berkeley Faculty Club, UCB Minor Ln
C2C Summit Networking Dinner
C2C Summit Networking Dinner
(Invite Only)
DAY 2: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2025
DAY 2: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2025
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Registration + Light Refreshments
Registration + Light Refreshments
8:45 - 9:00 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
Reshma Singh, Program Director, Cradle-to-Commerce, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Technical Keynote
Technical Keynote
Mary Ann Piette, Associate Lab Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
9:15 - 11:00 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
C2C Cohort 1 Live Pitches
C2C Cohort 1 Live Pitches
11:00 - 11:45 AM
Building 50 Auditorium
Panel | Fueling Deep Tech: Industry and the "Missing Middle" of Commercialization
Panel | Fueling Deep Tech: Industry and the "Missing Middle" of Commercialization
The "missing middle" in deep tech commercialization refers to the challenging gap between early-stage research funding and later-stage commercial investment, where startups struggle to secure the substantial capital needed for product development, scaling, and market entry. The panel of industry experts will examine the several crucial roles in bridging this gap through direct investment and funding, market validation and customer development, technical infrastructure and resources, regulatory and compliance guidance, and supply chain integration and scale.
Moderator:
Corey Glickman, Founder, Greenman Black
Panelists:
Greg Fleming, Investment Director, Air Liquide Venture Capital - ALIAD
Lynn Rouse, Director, Chevron Studio and Strategic Relationship Manager, Chevron
Shounok Sinha, Managing Director, Constellation Technology Ventures
Jagmeet Khangura, Solutions Platform Program Manager, Black & Veatch
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
Building 50 - Patio
Lunch + Networking
Lunch + Networking
1:00 - 1:45 PM
Building 50 Auditorium
Panel | Catalyzing Deep Tech: Public and Philanthropic Paths to Market
Public and philanthropic sectors offer several distinct pathways to bridge the commercialization gap for deep tech innovations emerging from research labs. The panel will discuss how government funding programs, Technology Transfer Offices and Incubators, public-private partnership models, philanthropic innovation funds, mission-driven capital, regional economic development are being leveraged. The most successful pathways often combine multiple funding sources and support mechanisms, creating comprehensive ecosystems that address both the financial and operational challenges of deep tech commercialization.
Moderator:
Tim Singer, Business Fellow, Breakthrough Energy
Panelists:
Jonah Steinbuck, Director of Research & Development, California Energy Commission
Matthew Etheridge, Lieutenant, Army Applications Lab - Corporate Ventures
Noah Horowitz, Senior Director - Clean Cooling Collaborative, ClimateWorks Foundation
Noel Bakhtian, Climate Tech Advisor
1:50 - 2:35 PM
Building 50 Auditorium
Panel | Commercializing Deep Tech: Private Sector Playbook for Market Impact
Venture capital pathways for deep tech commercialization have evolved significantly. The panelists will discuss actionable venture capital approaches specifically designed for the unique requirements of early stage deeptech startups translating laboratory breakthroughs into commercial success.
Moderator:
August Fern, Partner, Baruch Future Ventures
Panelists:
JJ Singh, Chairman, Stanford Angels
Kevin Kopczynski, Partner, Congruent Ventures
Michelle Brechtelsbauer, Vice President, Strategy,NewLab
Af Hernandez, Principal, Azolla Ventures
2:40 - 2:45 PM
Building 50 Auditorium
Attendee Survey
2:45 - 3:00 PM
Building 50 Auditorium
Coffee Break
Refreshments provided3:00 - 3:45 PM
Building 50 Auditorium
Panel | Case Studies: Lab to Market Successes
Hear about the journeys of entrepreneurs who leveraged National Labs' fundamental research, specialized facilities, and technical expertise while bringing commercial focus, private capital, and market development capabilities to transform laboratory innovations into viable businesses.
Moderator:
Hemai Parthasarathy, Executive in Residence, The Engine
Panelists:
Matthew Shaxted, Founder, Parallel Works
Peter Frischmann, CEO, Sepion Technologies
3:50 - 4:05 PM
Building 50 Auditorium
Graduation Ceremony (all invited)
Graduation Ceremony (all invited)
4:05 - 4:15 PM
Building 50 Auditorium
Closing Remarks
Shanshan Li, Business Lead, Cradle-to-Commerce, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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