Innovation Summit: Securing our Future Agenda

February 5, 2026 @ 1p in Boston

Agenda

1:00 - 1:30 PM - Registration / Networking

1:30 - 1:40 PM- Welcome from New North Ventures 

  • Jeremy Hitchcock and Bryan Mabry

1:40 - 2:00 PM - Keynote Fireside Chat with With Michael Morell

  • Michael Morell 

  • Bryan Mabry (Moderator)

2:00 - 2:30 PM- Economic Warfare & Geofinance

  • Regina Abrami (UPenn Political Economy)

  • Matt Flug (Director of the Law & Economic Project at Irregular Warfare Institute)

  • Jason Wright (StepToe, Economic Sanctions)

  • Eric Paley (Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts)

2:30 - 3:00 PM - AI On The High Seas: How Automation Is Shaping Maritime Tech

  • Fred Pasquine (Fairlead)

  • Kelley DeConciliis (VT Group)

  • Zach Lyman (IQT)

  • Paul Lwin (Havoc AI)

3:00 - 4:00 PM - Startup Showcase Pitch Competition

  • Fermata (Amanda von Goetz)

  • Endox AI (Blake Dority)

  • Headlamp (Steve Chang)

  • Optica Labs (Tiarne Hawkins)

  • Overmatch (Jeff Ruediger)

  • Psionic (Steve Sanford)

4:00 - 4:30 PM- How Investors Fuel Dual-Use Startups

  • Cait Brumme (MassChallenge)

  • Vivienne Pham (JP Morgan)

  • Samuel Spencer Pitman (Army FUZE)

  • Marc Nichols (DLA Piper)

4:30 - 5:00 PM- Following The Money In Cyberspace: Defense Through Financial Intelligence

  • Jeremy Hitchcock (Moderator)

  • Bob Scott (NUCIC Commissioner)

  • Hans Olson (UMass Lowell)

  • TBD

5:00 - 6:30 PM - Networking: Drinks & Light Appetizers

Featured Speakers

Ben Colman
Reality Defender

Suzanne Kelly
The Cipher Brief

Amanda von Gatz
Fermata

Nicola Straub
Cybera.io

Dawn Meyerriecks
Former CIA Deputy Director / S&T

Ethan Bronstein
TRM Labs

Kevin Higgins
Strategic Advisor NNV, Former Chief of Staff for Director of CIA

Ian Allen
Civil Films

Andy Boyd
Former CIA Senior Cyber Executive

Ralph Goff
Former CIA Executive

Aaron Brown
Fmr Intel / Board Director

Aneel Alvares
Defense Innovation Unit

Steve Marcus
Riot Ventures

Gray Chynoweth
NavalX

Technological advancements and global dynamics are rapidly reshaping the landscape of national security. New North Ventures is hosting the Boston Dual-Use Conference to showcase how innovation drives security and resiliency.

Session Titles:

  • VC Catalyst: Powering Dual-Tech Disruption

  • The Shock and Awe of Deepfakes

  • Cognitive Warfare: Industry Transformations

  • Follow the Money: How Finance & Cyber Are Connected

We're going beyond the basics, exploring cutting-edge developments in critical tech areas like trusted AI, advanced computing and cybersecurity. Our focus? Real-world results: cover what's succeeding, what needs work, and avoiding obsessive problem admiration. We're spotlighting practical, forward-thinking solutions.

These panels will not just be finite discussions; they are intended to generate thoughtful dialogue and provide a strategic outlook on how emerging technologies, innovative partnerships, and disruptive strategies can be harnessed to strengthen national security and economic resilience in a world of diverse and evolving challenges.

Details:

Today - this collaboration is more important than ever.

We are in a Great Power competition for global leadership and companies face “nation-state” threats daily. USA technology leadership is being challenged and digital identity / sovereign communications control who has a voice -- and supply chain integrity / manufacturing resilience control who has a product

We all read about increasing cyber security attacks, digital authenticity, chip shortages, artificial intelligence practices, and privacy around massive datasets. Some of the greatest innovations like ARPANET/internet, the modern space program, and the Human Genome Project exemplify what can go right. New North Ventures is at the front row looking for companies who are working in these spaces to become the next Cisco, SpaceX, or Moderna.

Highlights from Boston Dual-Use Conference 2023

Highlights from Boston Dual-Use Conference 2023