Over the last decade, the digital revolution has transformed daily life and the economy. Silicon Valley and New York led much of that innovation and VC action, but the promise of global high-tech startups is growing quickly — with venture volume outside the United States on the rise. In this panel, senior executives examine the role of Silicon Valley driving tech innovation and how the VC ecosystem is being redefined by Softbank and new global players from China and the Middle East change the power dynamics in the United States. What is the impact on VCs, entrepreneurs and nations alike? Who will be the winners and losers and why? Which new markets will be the global driver of prosperity? We’ll address the best approach to turning global investment into value.

While the San Francisco Bay area is one of the world’s leading cities for technological innovation, it might not be for long.

Rival tech hubs in Beijing, Tallinn and Tel Aviv are gaining dominance and could surpass Silicon Valley. Meanwhile the rise of vibrant startup ecosystems in Abu Dhabi,
Toronto and Istanbul are emerging. We’ll examine which countries are attracting the highest level of foreign investment and why. Furthermore, as rents skyrocket in San Francisco, tech towns across America are gaining dominance in Salt Lake City, Austin, Raleigh and more. How does this impact Silicon Valley? What strategies should investors adopt to take advantage of new opportunity? How are investors diversifying their portfolios and combating home bias to find the most value across the globe?

We’ll also learn which technologies will reshape industries from aerospace to education and have the biggest impact on local economies’ and worldwide over the next decade.

A new turn in the trade war between the U.S. and China could push U.S. tech companies under heightened pressure. Beijing recently called on big tech companies like Microsoft and Dell to warn that they would face dire consequences if they cooperate with the Trump administration’s ban on sales of key American technology to Chinese companies. Even startups in Silicon Valley are shying away from Chinese cash. This latest escalation could signal a breaking point in what many are saying is a cold war between the world’s most powerful economies — which will have substantial impact on business operations across the globe. 

What impact will heightened economic tensions between the U.S. and China have on America’s tech ecosystem and its broader VC environment? Will startups who have received financial backing from Chinese VCs now shift direction to win points with Washington? As both China and the U.S. lobby to become the world’s tech behemoth, which is winning and how will Silicon Valley fare if Beijing and its tech ecosystems gain steam?

The United States may be home to 15 of the world’s 20 most valuable tech firms, but Europe will be the one to bring down the hammer on Big Tech. In March Google was fined $1.7 billion for strangling competition in the advertising market. And Sweden’s Spotify complained to the EU of Apple’s alleged antitrust abuses. But Washington has hesitated to regulate in fear of hampering growth. Plus, Silicon Valley has long-argued that regulation hurts innovation. But Europe’s unapologetic stance amid a slew of scandals seems to be influencing the appetite for regulation at home. The rollout of Europe’s major privacy law, GDPR, paved the way for similar legislation in California, which goes into effect in 2020. And U.S. presidential hopefuls are calling for tougher gloves too, making it more likely that Washington could be adding to Silicon Valley’s troubles.

HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Founder and CEO of KBW Ventures, is one of the Gulf’s top venture capitalists and a well-known investor in a number of tech and deep tech companies, with a special focus on the now burgeoning areas of plant-based business models.  He is also a firm supporter of clean energy and the humane treatment of animals, and is a vocal supporter of the private sector in the Middle East. Prince Khaled will examine how LPs looks at VC — and if you are raising a fund — learn how to identify which type of LP is best suited for you.

He’ll also share how venture backed companies can best work with their investors for mutual benefits and investment interests in the often ignored B2B tech space.

The unicorn IPOs are upon us: Zoom, Cloudflare, Peloton, Postmates, Palantir and WeWork. Earlier this year Uber’s IPO stunned investors, disappointing Wall Street and Silicon Valley alike; but has recovered after a shaky first month of trading. Lyft’s first quarterly earnings also stalled out — neither delivering the oomph typically associated with big-name IPOs, much less ones from Silicon Valley. Tech has rebounded in 2019 following last year’s Facebook privacy troubles and Apple’s warning of sluggish iPhone demand in China. But the coast isn’t necessarily clear. We’ll assess what’s next for big tech as more Silicon Valley unicorns stampede Wall Street. What happens if they flop? And what happens if they leap, beyond expectations? We’ll also address the effect on private capital in either scenario. As we march closer to 2020, with a number of big names set to go public, the year of the IPO has not yet been written.