Webinar
From Vision to Venture: A Founder’s Perspective on the Next Era of Productivity
Join Sophia Zhao, Partner of Alumni Ventures’ AI First Fund, and David Shim, CEO and Co-founder of Read AI, for a founder-led conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity—and what it takes to transform a bold vision into a growing venture.
Sophia and David will explore the next era of AI-powered productivity through the lens of David’s experience building Read AI. David will share his founder journey, the vision behind the company, and his perspective on how emerging AI capabilities are changing the way people work and collaborate.
Designed for investors, founders, operators, and anyone following the evolution of applied AI, this conversation will offer a firsthand perspective on identifying meaningful problems and building products for a rapidly changing market. Reserve your spot to hear directly from David and Sophia about the opportunities and challenges shaping the next generation of productivity technology.
Want to access our AI First Syndicate startup deals to see, evaluate, and optionally invest? No cost, no commitment.
Why Attend?
- HomeExplore how AI is redefining productivity and workplace collaboration
- HomeGain a founder’s perspective on turning an ambitious vision into a growing AI venture
- HomeUnderstand what investors and operators should watch as the productivity landscape evolves
Rated a Top 20 VC Firm by both TIME and CB Insights.
Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenters
Sophia brings a wealth of experience in capital advisory, corporate development, and operational optimization, establishing impactful collaborations with CXOs and Founders. With a diverse industry exposure encompassing cloud computing, mining and minerals, consumer goods, and Web3, Sophia has been at the forefront of transformative technologies. Since 2018, she has been immersed in the crypto universe, working at Galaxy Digital, Huobi US, and Crypto.com. In these roles, Sophia engaged with startups and institutional clients on capital raising and trading across the Americas, EU, and Asia regions.
Actively fostering innovation and mentorship, Sophia serves as a mentor and judge at prestigious institutions such as Yale’s Tsai City for Innovation, Berkeley’s Blockchain Xcelerator, Techstars, and Layer 1 protocols, including Ethereum, Algorand, and Solana. She maintains close ties with the blockchain communities at Stanford and Yale.
Driven by a passion for shaping the future through frontier technologies, Sophia is currently supporting AI data and applications deals within her team. She holds a BBA from Simon Fraser University, an MBA from the University of British Columbia, and an MAM from the Yale School of Management.
Co-Founder, CEO of Read AI
Former CEO of Foursquare, Founder and CEO of Placed (sold to Snapchat in 2017).