Silicon Heartland Buffalo 2023

Silicon Heartland Buffalo

Buffalo’s Tech Revolution: A Comprehensive Discussion on New Opportunities

Please join us for an exclusive presentation and roundtable discussion with Rebecca A. Fannin, CNBC writer, and author of new book Silicon Heartland: Transforming the Midwest from Rust Belt to Tech Belt.

Panelists

Bill Maggio, Managing Partner, Lorraine Capital

Pastor James Giles, Head of Human Resources, Battery Manufacturer Viridi Parente

Sarah Tanbakuchi, President & CEO, TechBuffalo

Marnie LaVigne, President & CEO, Launch NY

Moderator: Chris Jacobs, President, Real Estate Development Company Avalon Development and former Congressman, (R-NY)

Sponsor: Avalon Development

Silicon Heartland Book Endorsements

“An indispensable book for founders, investors and change-makers.” Jim Breyer, founder & CEO, Breyer Capital

“A book that inspires hope for our future.” Congressman Ro Khanna, author of Dignity in a Digital Age

“Explores the tech innovation frontier emerging in states that were once centers of commerce but were left behind when they didn’t adapt to new technologies.” John Chambers, founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures and former executive chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems

“The untold story of the Rust Belt rising, amid a wave of optimism, innovation, and old-fashioned grit.” Maëlle Gavet, CEO of Techstars and author of Trampled by Unicorns

“Only Rebecca Fannin, with her venture background, China experience, and heartland roots, could uncover the amazing tech revolution occurring in the middle of America.” David Kaufman, director of global strategies, Nixon Peabody

About The Author

Rebecca Fannin is a journalist writing for CNBC, a media entrepreneur, and an author. Rebecca’s latest book is Silicon Heartland, Transforming the Midwest from Rust Belt to Tech Belt (2023). Her four books including Silicon Dragon, Startup Asia, and Tech Titans of China, launched her as a speaker and commentator. She has spoken at the Asia Society, Brookings, SXSW and The City Club of Cleveland, lectured at Harvard, Wharton, Oxford and Carnegie Mellon, and been quoted by CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, NPR and The New York Times. Additionally, Rebecca has provided expert testimony to Congress.

A Heartlander herself and a graduate of Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism, Rebecca grew up in southeastern Ohio as one of four siblings, her father a history professor and her mother a kindergarten teacher. From Dayton’s morning newspaper to New York City at Crain Communications and Pulitzer-owned International Business magazine, she then joined tech publication Red Herring in San Francisco at the height of the dotcom boom. Following the venture capital trail from Silicon Valley to Asia’s emerging markets, she was one of the first American journalists covering China’s entrepreneurial boom. Currently a special writer for CNBC, she was a Forbes columnist for 10 years, and also has contributed to Harvard Business Review, CEO and Worth. In 2010, she formed media platform Silicon Dragon Ventures, which hosts a regular webinar and live events, publishes a newsletter and runs a membership network, Silicon Dragon Circle. She resides today in Silicon Valley and New York City and returns often to her homeland.