Latest news with #AudienceChoice
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meet the new Audience Choice winners to lead breakouts at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
You voted. They rose to the top! Meet the two Audience Choice winners who'll take the breakout stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley to share their insights with 1,200 AI leaders and enthusiasts. We sifted through hundreds of Call for Content submissions and narrowed them down to six standout finalists. Your votes crowned two winners — and now they're ready to share their cutting-edge AI insights live. Yann Stoneman, staff solutions architect at Cohere: Behind Your Firewall: Secure Generative AI for Regulated Enterprises Hua Wang, executive director at Global Innovation Forum: The AI Policy Playbook: What Global Startups Need to Know Session: Ever wonder how to use cutting-edge generative AI in healthcare or finance — without sweating over data privacy? Join Yann for a lively breakout session at TC Sessions: AI. Alongside three expert panelists, Yann will guide an interactive, 50-minute conversation packed with real-world use cases from Cohere's North (agentic AI workspace) and Compass (multimodal retrieval). You'll get practical strategies for deploying secure, customized AI models on your own infrastructure — no external cloud required. Expect hands-on demos, live Q&A, and insights that'll help you build AI solutions safely and confidently, right behind your firewall. About Yann Stoneman: Yann Stoneman is a staff solutions architect at Cohere, where he helps enterprises deploy secure, customizable AI powered by next-gen foundation models. Previously at AWS, he supported large-scale AI adoption and debuted an AI demo at re:Invent 2023. Yann is a trusted partner for seamless integration and user-friendly AI design. His expertise has been featured at Generative AI World and Voices of Data Science, and on the blogs of Cohere and AWS. He holds a BA from the Juilliard School. Session: AI gives startups an edge, but regulation can slow them down. This breakout dives into how founders can stay compliant and competitive while scaling globally. Learn how to tap into AI tools for digital trade, navigate evolving data laws, and unlock new markets. We'll cover the policies shaping the future of AI startups and offer real-world strategies to help you expand without the red tape. If you're building, investing in, or regulating AI, this session delivers the insights you need to lead with confidence. About Hua Wang: Hua leads the Global Innovation Forum (GIF), where she builds bridges between diverse entrepreneurs and the global economy. At GIF, she drives inclusive strategies for trade and digital policy, partnering with business leaders, nonprofits, and international institutions like the World Trade Organization and the UN to unlock global opportunities for underrepresented voices. From launching a telemedicine startup to helping startups raise $20 million+ as an accelerator director, Hua's career spans entrepreneurship, law, tech, and policy. She's also served as an entrepreneur-in-residence across Chile, Malaysia, and the U.S. A former attorney and banker, Hua holds degrees from Duke and Northwestern Law — and a deep belief in innovation as a driver of global growth. AI is moving fast — and so should you. Learn how to build behind your firewall with Yann Stoneman and unlock global markets with Hua Wang — two of the audience-chosen breakout leaders you won't want to miss. Save up to $210 on your pass, or bring a crew and save even more. Head to the agenda to see what's in store and grab your ticket before prices jump. Go beyond attending — exhibit your brand and innovation in front of 1,200 top AI minds. Space is limited, so don't miss your chance to make an impact! Grab your exhibit table here before they run out. Or, explore more sponsorship opportunities and activations at TC Sessions: AI. Get in touch with our team by filling out this form. Subscribe to the TechCrunch Events newsletter for early access to special deals and the latest event news.
Korea Herald
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Beyond TV shows, how Korea's grassroots dance events are elevating the scene
On March 8, an annual showcase brought together around 400 dancers, including professionals and trainees, who gave 17 performances over a period of four hours at the New Millennium Grand Theater at Konkuk University in Seoul. Each performance at Feedback Stage 2025, incorporating styles ranging from hip-hop and house to jazz and contemporary, was the product of three months of intense training and dedication, highlighting South Korea's dynamic dance scene. The night celebrated four winners: Hash and House Taek claimed first and second place in the Judges' Choice category, while Evan and Minseo secured first and second place in the Audience Choice category, respectively. The event was organized by Feedback, a brand founded in 2014 by dancer Park Dae-hwan. Park, 42, foresaw that choreography would grow in Korea in line with the global trend at that time. In 2012, Park visited Los Angeles and realized that Korea lacked opportunities focused specifically on choreography. "Choreography was growing in popularity worldwide, and Korea was no exception," Park told The Korea Herald on March 11. 'I was confident that Korea's dance scene would continue to grow.' Recognizing this opportunity, he organized workshops with two prominent dancers from the US, Jun Quemado and Brian Puspos, in 2013. The success of the workshops led Park to establish the Feedback Competition in 2014, a competitive event specifically aimed at encouraging dancers in Korea to create and showcase original choreography. The very first winner was Just Jerk, now an internationally acclaimed crew that later triumphed at Body Rock, a prominent US hip-hop dance competition. The competition quickly gained recognition among dancers. In 2017, professional dancer Chae Seon-jik participated to gain visibility for his team. "Feedback was the most respected platform for choreographers. Winning there indicated a high-quality performance and strong teamwork," Chae explained. "With so few opportunities to showcase our work beyond online videos, competitions like Feedback were crucial for dancers like us to prove ourselves on stage," he added. Encouraged by the competition's popularity, Park launched Feedback Stage in 2022. It involves academy instructors closely collaborating with students over several months to choreograph, mentor and perform alongside them. Events like these, organized by dance academies, teams and communities, have become essential dates on Korea's dance calendar, providing platforms for both emerging and established dancers to share their artistry and push creative boundaries. Lee Jeong-hun, a dancer, choreographer, instructor and member of dance crew Team Magnolia — who performs under the stage name Evan — emphasized the significance of events like Feedback Stage. Known for emotive storytelling and captivating performances, Evan has twice earned Audience Choice First Place at the showcase. "When I announced that I would be part of this event, even people who had never taken my class before took a leap of faith and signed up. Seeing their determination motivated me to prepare even more diligently," Evan said, adding that he considers events like Feedback Stage to be vital opportunities to foster connections and support the growth of Korea's dance communities. Over the years, other locally organized events such as Urban Summer Life, launched in 2013 by dance studios Urban Play and Play the Urban, and Haru Dance Competition, launched in 2019, have contributed to the enrichment of South Korea's dance landscape. Dance crews are also expanding their presence through concerts. 1Million, a globally recognized Korean dance company, is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a concert on March 22. The dance scene has gained momentum in recent years, fueled by the popularity of reality dance shows like Mnet's Street Woman Fighter, launched in 2021, and Street Man Fighter, which was launched following the huge success of the female version. The fever for dance continued last year with the fourth season of the franchise, Stage Fighter — a reality dance competition focused on ballet, contemporary and traditional dance. However, organizing dance events in Korea presents significant challenges — financial sustainability, in particular. Park admits, "Most funding still comes out of my own pocket. Although we've received some sponsorships over the last two years, they're not enough for an event as big as Feedback." Despite these hurdles, Park remains committed. "Each event makes me question how long I can continue. But seeing dancers perform passionately and witnessing their growth keeps me motivated."
