Webinar
Navigating the VC Frontier: Insights from Founders, Operators & Investors
Join Yoshino Ventures Managing Partner Ray Wu alongside a dynamic panel of experts—Luke Kim, Founder & CEO of Spice AI; Elizabeth Scallon, Director of Incubation Enablement at HP, co-founder of Find Ventures, and professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Washington; and Brian Lee Minho, a veteran technology investor and operator with two decades of experience—for a candid conversation on the evolving venture capital landscape.
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This webinar will explore how founders, operators, and investors view opportunity, risk, and innovation in today’s startup ecosystem. From launching bold ideas to backing game-changing technology, each panelist brings a unique lens to the venture frontier. Expect real-world insights, practical strategies, and honest advice on navigating uncertainty while building lasting value. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or curious observer, this discussion will illuminate how the best in the business are approaching the next wave of opportunity.
Why Attend?
- HomeCross-Perspective Insights: Hear how investors, founders, and operators approach venture differently—and where they align.
- HomeActionable Strategies: Gain practical takeaways for navigating early-stage innovation and investment.
- HomeExpert Access: Ask questions directly to industry leaders shaping the future of tech and venture.
Reserve your spot today for a dynamic and thought-provoking conversation on the venture frontier. Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenters
Ray is a seasoned venture capitalist with over 20 years of investing experience across a wide range of industries and geographies. Before joining Alumni Ventures, Ray was a partner and adviser at several global venture funds focusing on AI, Web3, FinTech and SaaS investment opportunities across the U.S. and Asia Pacific. Earlier, he spent more than 10 years in the corporate venture space: He was the managing director of HP’s new business ventures, responsible for startup technology evaluation, new business incubation, VC relationships, and minority investments, and earlier at Cisco Systems, holding several senior positions leading investment, M&A, internal incubation, and global consulting. Previously, Ray was a managing partner of a leading Internet consulting firm working with Fortune 1000 companies across North America. He earned a dual MBA degree from the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University.
Founder and CEO of Spice AI
Over the last 15 years, Luke has brought together the best builders and engineers across the globe to create developer-focused experiences through tools and technologies used by millions worldwide. Before founding Spice AI, Luke was the founding manager and co-creator of Azure Incubations at Microsoft where he led cross-functional engineering teams to create and develop technologies like Dapr.
Award Winning Startup and Innovation Ecosystem Builder, Advisor & Speaker
Elizabeth Scallon is an award-winning leader in the Pacific Northwest startup ecosystem with over 15 years of experience in scientific and technological innovation. She is the Director of Incubation Enablement at HP, co-founder of Find Ventures, and a professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. Previously, she held leadership roles at Amazon’s Alexa Fund and WeWork Labs, and is known for her work connecting enterprise to startups, nurturing talent, and identifying disruptive technologies. Elizabeth holds a degree in Biochemistry, a Global Executive MBA from Georgetown University, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s YALP program.
Corporate Development Director at Starbucks
Brian is an alumnus of the University of Washington and has spent the last two decades as a technology investor and operator. His career spans roles in corporate development, investment banking, and engineering where he has led numerous M&A transactions and corporate venture investments for global companies including Starbucks, GoDaddy, and Amazon’s Alexa Fund. He also serves as a Venture Partner with Miramar Digital Ventures, an early-stage technology venture fund. Brian began his career as an engineer, directing a portfolio of R&D investments for the Department of Defense which was then followed by time spent as a senior technology investment banker with Wells Fargo Securities and Barclays Investment Bank.