Ted Schilowitz, Futurist, Paramount Pictures: Ted spends his time in a unique role in the motion picture entertainment industry. As the Futurist at Paramount pictures, Ted works with studio leadership and the technology teams at Paramount / Viacom, exploring forms of new and emerging technologies, with an emphasis on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Prior to joining Paramount, Ted was the Futurist at 20th Century Fox, where he worked on the evolving art, science and technology of advanced interactive visual storytelling. He was part of the creation team for the Martian VR and Wild VR experiences, which premiered at CES and Sundance as groundbreaking projects that pushed the envelope of Virtual Reality storytelling. Ted was an integral part of the product development team at RED Digital Cinema as a founding member and the company’s first employee. The Red One and Epic cameras have made a significant impact on the Motion Picture Industry, with many of the world’s biggest movies now being shot with these ultra high resolution digital movie cameras. Ted is one of the founders and creators of the G-Tech product line of advanced hard drive storage products. As one of the most recognized brands in that industry, they are implemented worldwide at the highest levels on cinema, episodic television, sports and news production. Before being part of the founding teams at RED Digital Cinema and G-Tech, Ted was on the team that developed and launched the Macintosh desktop video division of AJA Video Systems, creating professional video products in tandem with Apple. These products are used on a massive scale worldwide for video production and post at the highest levels, on many of the world’s biggest movies, TV series and sporting events. Ted has presented worldwide at numerous conferences on the advancements in next generation visual experiences for the movie, television and, interactive entertainment industries. He’s been featured in Wired, Variety, NY Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, NBC, CNET, Studio Daily, Videography, Film and Video, DV Magazine, TV Technology, HD Video Pro, Engadget, Gizmodo, Millimeter, American Cinematographer, MacWorld, Post Magazine, Popular Science, and countless other publications discussing his areas of passion and exploration.

Kristina Serafim, Director, Verizon Ventures: Kristina joined Verizon Ventures from Verizon’s Big Data and Artificial Intelligence product team. Prior to Verizon, Kristina was a Director at Intellectual Ventures, where she led investments in machine learning, media, advertising, and gaming technologies. Kristina’s entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding and leading two software companies, from their inception to acquisition. Kristina also spent several years on the strategy and corporate development teams at IBM and at NAGRA Innovations. She received an electrical and mechanical engineering degree from Kettering University and an MBA from Harvard University. Verizon Ventures invests in key areas leading the future of connectivity, with one focus being on immersive entertainment, as demonstrated by its recent investment in holographic display startup Light Field Labs and consumer VR platform The VOID and hologram platform 8i. Kristina can elaborate on the immersive experiences available to consumers today, the importance of seeing AR/VR/MR technologies as an additional advancement of human vision and even how it will integrate into the enterprise.

Joanna Popper is a Hollywood and Silicon Valley executive with experience in TV, Digital, Film and VR/AR. She just joined HP as Global Lead of Virtual Reality, Location Based Entertainment. Most recently she’s been the EVP of Media and Marketing at Singularity University and VP Marketing at NBCUniversal. Joanna developed a TV show partnership with NBC and Singularity University for “The Awesome Show,” a new broadcast TV series on tech and innovation produced by Mark Burnett with host Chris Hardwick and is an Executive Producer on the show. She is advising a number of immersive computing companies focused on holograms, haptic touch, AR Cloud and video engagement as well as developing VR/AR content. She is on the Coalition of the WXR Fund and was named “50 Women Can Change the World in Media and Entertainment.”

Patrick Costello, Senior Director of Business Development at Qualcomm Technologies Inc., is responsible for building partnerships with strategic multimedia partners in the sports and entertainment verticals. In support of Qualcomm’s XR business, Patrick leads engagements with film studios, sports leagues, OEM’s, and ISV’s to drive content partnerships and traction for Qualcomm’s broader technology portfolio. Prior to joining Qualcomm, Patrick led business development for Kyocera Wireless in emerging markets like India, Indonesia, Thailand, and other markets in MEA and SEA. Following completion of his International Relations degree from the University of San Diego in 1995, Patrick obtained his MBA from San Diego State University.

Stefano Corazza, Head of Augmented Reality, VP and Fellow at Adobe: Former Researcher at Stanford University Biomotion Lab where he developed machine learning solutions for markerless motion capture. Founder of Mixamo, the first online service for 3D character animation acquired by Adobe in 2015. He is the head of Augmented Reality as Vice President & Fellow. Artist, Angel Investor, Startup Advisor. Founder of the Festival of the Impossible.

Natascha French, CEO, Scale Strategies: Natascha French is a pioneer in defining and shaping the immersive technology market, in particular in AR/MR/XR, leading engagements for Fortune 500 brands, focused on media, entertainment, sports, retail, consumer goods, and healthcare. Natascha is the CEO and Founder of Scale Strategies, a sales and marketing agency that serves as a growth engine for technology-based organizations. Prior to founding Scale Strategies, she was the CMO of VNTANA, an industry leading 3D and AR automation software and hologram technology company. Natascha began her career as a journalist for CNN, and has led customer experience transformations for Fortune 500 brands and has launched over 50 brands while working at various marketing agencies globally. She graduated from Emory University, having prior studied at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a mentor for Startup UCLA and Stadia Ventures. Natascha has been a speaker at CES, AWE, NAB, EventTech, ISG, N3XT CON, Digital Hollywood, Digital LA, and more.