2025 AGENDA

Speakers:
Ned Sherman, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, Skybound
Jay Tucker, Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson School of Management

In today’s rapidly evolving media, entertainment, and technology industries, the race for top talent is more complex than ever. As AI transforms workflows, content creation, and audience engagement, companies are grappling with a critical question: do we have the right people—and the right skills—for what’s next? This timely panel brings together senior talent and hiring leaders from across digital entertainment to discuss the challenges of attracting and retaining employees with future-ready skill sets. From reimagining workplace culture to navigating skills gaps and employee well-being, this panel will explore the real-world challenges and forward-thinking solutions shaping the future of team building for companies in digital entertainment.

This panel of industry leaders explores the current trends shaping investment strategies in gaming, digital media, and entertainment. Panelists will discuss where venture capital, private equity, and institutional investors are directing their funds, how evolving consumer behaviors are influencing these decisions, and the types of projects and companies that are attracting attention. Learn how macroeconomic shifts and emerging technologies like AI and Web3 are impacting funding priorities.

Speakers:
Moritz Baier-Lentz, Partner, Lightspeed Venture Partners
Daisy Stall, Executive Vice President, Head of Entertainment Finance, California Bank & Trust
Hemal Thaker, Managing Director, Global Head of Gaming & Interactive Entertainment Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs

Moderator:
Andrew Wallenstein, President & Chief Media Analyst, Variety Intelligence Platform & Luminate

Break sponsored by: Venable LLP

Join us for a keynote with Haiyan Zhang of Xbox.

Keynote Speaker:
Haiyan Zhang, GM, AI Innovation & Science, Xbox

Interviewer:
Joanna Popper, Media & Technology Executive, Laurel Beach

There is a lot of excitement around the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to bring about generational change in the games, digital media and entertainment industries, enhancing productivity, benefiting work flow processes and opening up new business models. The reality, however, may be the “peak of inflated expectations” according to IT research firm Gartner. This panel of experts will provide a reality check and discuss the opportunity in the context of the challenges of implementing AI in games, digital media and entertainment businesses today. Where should companies be focusing? Where are investors placing the biggest bets? What will it take for AI to emerge with tangible benefits for businesses in digital entertainment?

Speakers:
Sam Englebardt, Founding General Partner, Galaxy Interactive
Seth Hallen, Founder & Managing Partner, Hallstone Ventures
Shara Senderoff, Co-Founder & CEO, Jen Music AI

Moderator:
Jamil Moledina, Strategic Advisor, XP Consulting

The creator economy is entering a new growth phase that demands sophisticated data and analytics infrastructure to support globally-scaled programs. In this first-of-its-kind conversation, senior leaders from (CreatorIQ, Traackr, and Grin) the platforms shaping enterprise creator marketing will join Steph Money, SVP, Edelman AI, for a candid, industry-focused discussion. From AI-powered planning to cross-platform coordination and investment strategy, this session focuses on the state of the industry and what it will take to build robust creator marketing ecosystems.

Speakers:
Jacob Clarke, VP, Customer Success, Aspire IQ
Nate Harris, VP, Product Innovation, CreatorIQ
Olivia McNaughten, Sr. Director, Product Marketing & Partnerships, GRIN
Taylor Rodriguez, Global Vice President, Customer Experience, Traackr
Bill Stanton, Head of Enterprise and Affiliate, Later

Moderator:
Steph Money, SVP, Client Development, AI, Edelman

Lawsuits continue to fly over the use of copyrighted works to train generative AI models, but a market is also developing around training data and datasets across text, music, images and video. Who is buying and who is selling? What patterns and lessons can be gleaned from their early experiences?

What role does data transparency play in the debate? A panel of leading licensing, copyright and AI executives will discuss the latest developments around AI licensing and litigation, and where the respective industries go from here.

Speakers:
Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt, Director, Innovation & Education, International Music Managers Forum
Virginie Berger, Chief Business Development & Rights Officer, MatchTune
Dave Davis, GM, Protege

Moderator:
Paul Sweeting, Co-Founder, RightsTech Project

The creator economy is transforming industries, reshaping how content is produced, distributed, and consumed. As creators build businesses around their personal brands, platforms evolve, and enabling technologies flourish, investors are finding new opportunities to drive growth in this dynamic space. This panel brings together industry leaders, venture capitalists, and successful entrepreneurs to discuss the unique challenges and immense potential of investing in the creator ecosystem. Topics will include evaluating companies that empower creators, spotting trends in creator-centric technologies, navigating platform dependency risks, and understanding the shifting dynamics of monetization and intellectual property in this vibrant economy.

Speakers:
Sean Atkins, CEO, Dhar Mann Studios
Alessandra Catanese, CEO, Smosh
Chris M. Williams, Founder & CEO, pocket.watch

Moderator:
David Bloom, Co-Founder, Next TMT

As the creator economy matures, the spotlight shifts from individual talent to the need for scale. Behind every successful creator campaign is a growing ecosystem of platforms, tools, and services but understanding what these companies do and how they’re differentiated remains a challenge. That’s where Apples to Apples comes in. Developed by East Wind Advisors, Creator Playground, and Creator Vision, Apples to Apples is the first framework designed to clarify the B2B layer of the creator economy. Whether you’re a brand choosing partners, an agency architecting strategy, or an investor mapping the landscape, this session will highlight emerging B2B partners and solutions. The creator economy doesn’t scale without infrastructure. This is your guide to the companies building it and how to understand their value.

Speakers:
Joey Chowaiki, Co-Founder & COO, Open Influence
Jason Birke, Managing Director, East Wind Advisors
Ethan Fassett, Co-Founder & CEO, Glystn

Moderator:
Jamie Gutfreund, Founder, Creator Vision

Many creators and rights owners would like to exclude their works from AI training datasets. But simply stating a preference probably is not sufficient given the vast, automated scale at which AI systems operate. Other rights owners are looking to license their archives for training but need to be able to track their use. Startups and content management companies are developing strategies and machine-readable tools to automate the process of opting out, and of opting in. But how effective are they? What are the strengths and limitations of each? Most importantly, will policymakers settle on an opt-in or opt-out standard for the use of copyrighted works in AI, and how should rights owners and developers respond?

Speakers:
Tamay Aykut, CEO, Sureel.ai
Annelies Jansen, Chief Business Officer, ProRata.AI
Leonard Rosenthal, PDF Architect & Sr. Principal Scientist, Adobe Systems, Inc.

The games and interactive entertainment industry is booming, driven by advancements in technology, evolving consumer behaviors, and innovative monetization models. From AAA game studios and indie developers to virtual worlds, esports, AI, web3 and interactive storytelling platforms, the sector offers diverse investment opportunities with global reach. This panel features leading investors, gaming entrepreneurs, and industry strategists exploring the dynamics of investing in this high-growth space. Topics include identifying emerging trends, evaluating the potential of gaming platforms and ecosystems, understanding user acquisition and retention strategies, and navigating challenges such as IP ownership and market competition.

Speakers:
Dan Bunting, Venture Partner, 1AM Gaming
Derek Douglas, Head of Video Games, CAA

Moderator:
Josh Gutfreund, General Partner, GOAL Ventures

As the lines between social media and entertainment blur, a new generation of creators and producers are redefining what it means to build IP, community, and fandom from the ground up. Join Mad Realities, Doing Things, and London Alley for a conversation about the rise of social-first storytelling—from democratized casting and participatory formats to viral series that live across TikTok, YouTube, and beyond. This panel will explore how these companies are creating hit shows without traditional gatekeepers, turning internet-native concepts into franchises, and setting a new blueprint for the future of entertainment.

Speakers:
Ryan Horrigan, President, London Alley
Alice Ma, CEO & Creative Director, Mad Realities

Moderator:
Matthew Dysart, Partner, Greenberg Glusker

AI-generated deepfakes are the scourge of celebrities and politicians. But the ability to license your image or voice, or create your own digital avatar, could provide new monetization opportunities for artists and performers. Can AI-manipulated content reliably be identified? How can artists and performers protect and manage their name, image, likeness and voice? What is the status of legislation to establish and protect NILV rights?

Speakers:
Gabriel Berger, Strategic Growth Advisor, HAND
Phil Quist, Music & Strategic Development Agent, CAA

Moderator:
David Fink, Partner, Venable LLP

As audiences consume content across an expanding array of platforms—from streaming services and social media to gaming and virtual worlds—the entertainment industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Building the future of multi-platform entertainment requires innovation, adaptability, and a deep understanding of audience behavior. This panel brings together creative visionaries, tech innovators, and business leaders to explore how content creators and companies are navigating this complex ecosystem. Topics will include crafting stories that resonate across platforms, leveraging emerging technologies like AI and VR, and creating sustainable business models in a fragmented media landscape. How is the convergence of storytelling, technology, and interactivity reshaping the entertainment experience for a new generation?

Speakers:
Jeff Clanagan, President & Chief Distribution Officer, HARTBEAT
Rachel Webber, Chief Commercial & Chief Brand Officer, 11:11 Media
Brent Weinstein, Chief Development Officer, Candle Media
Sharon Tal Yguado, Founder & CEO, Astrid Entertainment

Moderator:
Elaine Low, Staff Writer, The Ankler

The explosion of creator content has brought complex questions about ownership, licensing, and negotiation to the forefront. This panel will examine the evolving landscape of rights management in the creator economy, from securing proper usage agreements to negotiating brand deals and content licensing. Experts will discuss how platforms, creators, and brands can strike fair deals while protecting intellectual property, and what new tools are emerging to simplify these processes.

Speakers:
James Creech, Founder, Quartermast Advisors
Matthew Gielen, CEO, Silver Berry Studios
Jess Hunichen, Co-Founder, Shine Talent Group

Moderator:
Joe Anderson, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Collective management and licensing has played a vital role in many rights-based industries over the decades. But AI presents unique challenges, from attribution to allocation of royalties. What role, if any, will collective rights management play in the age of AI. Are current CMOs up to the task? What systems need to be in place to manage rights at AI scale?

Speakers:
Frank Handy, President, LA Chapter, Association of Independent Music Publishers
Roanie Levy, Licensing & Legal Advisor, Copyright Clearance Center
James Silverberg, American Society of Collective Rights Licensing

Moderator:
Paul Sweeting, Co-Founder, RightsTech Project

Break sponsored by Venable LLP

In a landscape defined by convergence and competition, mergers and acquisitions are reshaping the entertainment, media, and technology industries. This panel will explore the forces driving consolidation, from the pursuit of scale and content dominance to the integration of innovative technologies.Key topics will include: Strategies for aligning creative and technological assets to maximize deal value; the evolving role of content as a competitive advantage in an era of streaming wars and platform proliferation; navigating regulatory hurdles and antitrust concerns in high-stakes transactions; and how new technologies like AI, blockchain, and VR are influencing M&A strategies. Join top executives, dealmakers, and analysts for an in-depth discussion on how consolidation is shaping the future of these intersecting industries—and what it means for players of all sizes.

Speakers:
David Higley, Partner, Perella Weinberg
Michael Metzger, Managing Partner, Drake Star
Nika Nour, SVP, International Business Development, Savvy Games Group

Moderator:
Richard McDerby, Partner, Manatt Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Join us for a keynote with Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities.

Keynote Speakers:
Daniel Ives, Global Head of Technology Research, Wedbush Securities
Michael Pachter, Managing Director, Equity Research, Wedbush Securities

Interviewer:
Sarah Parvini, Technology Writer, The Associated Press