Silicon Valley June Summit 2023: Meet Our Corporate and Startup Winners
Summer in Silicon Valley hasn’t been as hot as expected, but our June Summit was sizzling! At Plug and Play's Silicon Valley June Summit, we dove into the latest trends and technology uniquely curated by our network of leading corporations. After kicking off the first Summit of 2023, we're pleased to recap the event's corporate and startup award winners.
Corporate and startup award winners
Watch the full recordings of June Summit 2023
Plug and Play’s Silicon Valley June Summit celebrated 145+ batch startups across our 20+ industries throughout the event, specifically: Insurtech, Fintech, Food and Beverage, GOAL, Health, Enterprise & AI, New Materials and Packaging, Supply Chain, and Travel & Hospitality.
Here are our winners among each of our industry-specific expos:
Insurtech
The United Services Automobile Association, better known as USAA, is a financial services group based in the U.S. that caters to military members and their families. It includes a Texas Department of Insurance-regulated reciprocal inter-insurance exchange, as well as subsidiaries offering banking and insurance services.
“We’ve been able to achieve a lot in tapping into the Plug and Play network, and it’s done nothing but make our innovation team, and the work that we do, stronger for our company and for our users," said Shayla Callis, Strategic Innovation Director.
Fintech
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, or SMBC, is a Japanese multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. SMBC started partnering with Plug and Play back in 2015. Ever since then, the company has been consistently engaging with startups to find ideas and new technologies.
“With the help of Plug and Play, we were able to complete a lot of successful PoCs in cybersecurity and process mining,” said Hiroki Tamura. “We thank Plug and Play for its support.”
GOAL
Ygii is the ultimate wishlist creator, letting you share your personal wishlists with loved ones for any occasion. Ideal for birthdays, holidays, or simply showing some love, Ygii makes it easy to discover trending products and add your personal must-haves to your lists. With user-friendly tools, you can easily compile the ultimate list that truly speaks to you.
Health
Roche is a leader in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, driven by a mission to advance science for a better world. Their combined strengths in these fields, coupled with evolving capabilities in data-driven medical insights, enable them to provide personalized, patient-centric healthcare.
“I really want to thank Plug and Play first of all. Very open and very flexible from the very beginning when we started creating Startup Creasphere and thinking about what does it take to provide a successful, sustainable startup engagement program for Roche as a company," said Jochen Hurlebaus, Head of Digital Health Innovation.
Enterprise & AI
NTT DATA Corporation, a Japanese multinational information technology service and consulting company, has its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. As a valued member of the NTT Group, NTT DATA is globally recognized for its innovative IT and business services. The company assists clients in their transformation journeys by providing consulting, industry solutions, business process services, IT modernization, and managed services. NTT DATA empowers clients and society at large to confidently embrace the digital future. The company's unwavering commitment lies in ensuring long-term success for its clients, combining a global presence with personalized attention to serve them across more than 50 countries.
Supply Chain
Crowley Maritime Corporation is a global provider of end-to-end logistics and vessel management solutions. The company, which is primarily owned by family and employees, seeks to offer unparalleled services that cater to the specific needs of the industry.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive this award among such exceptional individuals and ground-breaking companies leading the charge of innovation," said Sean Fortener, Leader of Innovation & Change.
“This award represents our collaboration with Plug and Play and we’re looking forward to continuing that partnership,” said Rachel Leaptrott, Innovation Manager.
Travel
Jeff Doane was honored with Plug and Play's Lifetime Achievement Award because he has dedicated his career to maximizing the performance of the hotels he represents through heightened sales, marketing, distribution, and revenue management leadership.
In his most recent role as Chief Commercial Officer for Accor, Doane oversaw all aspects of marketing, sales, distribution, loyalty, and revenue management, including strategy development and plan execution of the more than 120 Accor properties in North and Central America region ($3.5bn in revenue). Prior to this role, Doane was the Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing after serving as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
Doane began his longtime affiliation with Fairmont as a Sales Manager for the San Francisco property in 1994. He has held several progressive positions with the company leading to his current role. Doane discovered his affinity and aptitude for the hotel industry while studying Business Economics at the University of California at Santa Barbara. While attending UCSB, he worked at numerous hotels in a variety of roles, including bellman, desk clerk, lifeguard, and night audit.
HIS USA Holding, Inc. is a sub-company of HIS Group, which operates one of the biggest travel agencies in Japan. It has 289 branches in 60 countries and 112 cities across the globe. HIS also seeks to find possibilities for the co-creation of new businesses with startup companies. Its startup division is active on the West Coast, especially in Silicon Valley. Since 2019, HIS USA has invested in companies in and out of the travel industry.
“We’re very honored to receive this award. And we really appreciate the support of Plug and Play, especially the Travel team. Thank you very much,” said Masakazu Kobayashi.
Founded in 2020, Business Travel Performance, or BTP, Automation is committed to transforming the Hotel Sourcing industry through a B2B adaptive and intelligent technology platform. Its automated hotel RFP negotiation software optimizes and creates more cost-effective contracts for travel companies. Ever since it joined the batch, BTP Automation has been extremely engaged in networking with all the startups in the program.
Tripian is an all-in-one travel ecosystem equipped with an A.I.-powered recommendation engine, empowering travel brands to deliver seamless and highly personalized travel experiences to their customers. It works with financial institutions, OTAs, airlines, loyalty programs, EVs, concierge service providers, hotel chains, cruise liners, and tourism boards around the globe.
“This is a wonderful opportunity, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Plug and Play,” said Jeff Kischuk, co-founder and CEO.
Food & Beverage
“It’s a pleasure, honestly, to be here today and to represent the food and beverage sector at NEOM. We’re very proud of our relationship with Plug and Play," said Pakiza Alsouse, Head of Strategy and Economic Development.
NEOM, the first of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation Council, propels startups into a vibrant ecosystem of corporates, investors, and researchers. Through world-class mentorship, cutting-edge technology, and sponsorship, NEOM is revolutionizing climate-proof agriculture, sustainable aquaculture, personalized nutrition, and beyond.
New Materials
Owens Corning is an American company that specializes in developing and producing insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites, along with other related materials. With its renowned expertise in fiberglass composites, it stands tall as the world's largest manufacturer.
“What a great honor. Thank you, Plug and Play, for having us today, and thank you for being a great partner for us,” said Ilmar Norvik, Corporate Strategy Leader.
