November 17, 2025
Join Hyundai CRADLE & Plug and Play for the 10th edition of the Mobility Innovators Forum, where the brightest minds in the mobility ecosystem share insights on emerging innovations and redefine the values shaping the industry’s future.
Join us for the 10th edition of the Mobility Innovators Forum, where the brightest minds in the mobility ecosystem share insights on emerging innovations and redefine the values shaping the industry's future.
Featuring insightful keynote presentations, engaging panel discussions, and startup pitches around the topics of AI and EV affordability in the mobility industry.

AGENDA

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Guest Check-In & Breakfast

Start your day with breakfast and networking opportunities, connecting with fellow mobility innovators.
10:00 AM - 10:05 AM

Opening Remarks

Welcome and introduction to the forum, setting the stage for an inspiring day of discussions and insights.
  • Brendon Kim (Head of Silicon Valley Office, Hyundai CRADLE)
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM

Keynote Presentation

Explore the latest trends affecting the automotive industry and shaping the future of mobility.
  • Steve Westly (Founder & Managing Partner, The Westly Group)
10:35 AM - 11:05 AM

Robotics Presentations

Discover cutting-edge robotics solutions in mobility and manufacturing.
  • Monica Xie (Head of Business Operations and Partnerships, Dyna Robotics)
  • Peter M. Howard (Co-founder & CEO, Realtime Robotics Inc.)
  • Yuzhe Qin (CTO, Dexmate)
11:05 AM – 11:20 AM

Robotics Panel

Interactive panel discussion with leading robotics innovators.
  • Kishor Veerashekar (Senior Ventures Associate, Plug and Play)
  • Monica Xie (Head of Business Operations and Partnerships, Dyna Robotics)
  • Peter M. Howard (Co-founder & CEO, Realtime Robotics Inc.)
  • Yuzhe Qin (CTO, Dexmate)
11:20 AM – 11:35 AM

Break

11:35 AM – 11:55 AM

Waymo Keynote

Learn more about the adoption of autonomous driving.
  • Jackie Hyun (Head of Marketing, Waymo)
11:55 AM – 12:20 PM

AI & Vehicle Experiences Panel

Delve into real-world AI applications in vehicles, including enhancing safety, efficiency, and user experience.
  • Siyuan Dai (Open Innovation Manager, Hyundai CRADLE)
  • Eric Wood (42dot.ai)
  • Kyle Taylor (Senior Manager, Infotainment Software, Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc.)
  • Pablo Sauras Perez (Staff Product Manager, Mercedes-Benz R&D North America)
12:20 PM – 12:45 PM

AV Deployments Panel

Insights into AI accelerating autonomous vehicles, robotaxis, and trucking deployments.
  • Tara Andringa (Executive Director, Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE))
  • Nitin Kapania (Principal Engineer & Team Lead, Motional)
  • David Liu (CEO, PlusAI)
  • Shobana Sankaran, Vice President (former) Nauto (former)
  • Amit Kumar, VP of Engineering - PlusAI
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

Enjoy a catered lunch while networking with industry peers and leaders in mobility and technology.
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM

Keynote: Affordable EVs, Trends and Global Competition

Explore trends in affordable electric vehicles and the global competition shaping accessibility and innovation.
  • Hugh Nguyen (Partner, KMPG)
2:20 PM – 2:45 PM

$30K Car

Learn about lowering EV costs, battery reuse, and sustainable solutions for accessible mobility.
  • Tafflyn Toy (Open Innovation Sr. Manager, Hyundai CRADLE)
  • Sungjun Maing (Founder, DriveTech Odyssey)
  • Tu Le (Founder and CEO, Sino Auto Insights)
  • Hugh Nguyen (Partner, KMPG)
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

EV Affordability Presentations

Be inspired by startups addressing vehicle and component costs to make more affordable EVs.
  • 2:45 PM-2:55 PM - Erik de Winter (Founder & CCO, Rise Global)
  • 2:55 PM-3:05 PM - Yao Zhai (Co-founder & GM Americas, U Power Robotics)
  • 3:05 PM-3:15 PM - Forrest North (CTO & Co-founder, Telo Trucks)
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM

EV Affordability Panel Discussion

Panel discussion on making more affordable EVs.
  • Clara De Ros (Senior Ventures Associate, Plug and Play)
  • Erik de Winter (Founder & CCO, Rise Global)
  • Yao Zhai (Co-founder & GM Americas, U Power Robotics)
  • Forrest North (CTO & Co-founder, Telo Trucks)
3:30 PM – 3:55 PM

VC Panel: Investment in Mobility

Hear from venture investors on emerging technologies, cost-reduction strategies, and opportunities in AI, robotics, and battery innovations.
  • Cassidy Shell (Vice President, Mobility Impact Partners)
  • Betty Lee (Principal, Woven Capital)
  • Burak Cendek (Partner, Autotech Ventures)
  • Emily Fritze (Partner, The Westly Group)
3:55 PM – 4:00 PM

Closing Remarks

Wrap up the forum with key takeaways and a look ahead at the future of mobility innovation.
  • Brendon Kim (Head of Silicon Valley Office, Hyundai CRADLE)
4:00 PM

Networking Reception

SPEAKERS

Steve Westly

Founder & Managing Partner
The Westly Group
Read Bio

Jackie Hyun

Head of Marketing
Waymo
Read Bio

Hugh Nguyen

Partner, Automotive Technology & Mobility
KPMG
Read Bio

Burak Cendek

Partner
Autotech Ventures
Read Bio

Emily Fritze

Partner
The Westly Group
Read Bio

Betty Lee

Principal
Woven Capital
Read Bio

Cassidy Shell

Vice President
Mobility Impact Partners
Read Bio

Tara Andringa

Executive Director
PAVE (Partners for Automated Vehicle Education)
Read Bio

Erik de Winter

Founder | CCO
Rise Global
Read Bio

Sungjun Maing

Founder
Drive Tech Odyseey

Nitin Kapania

Principal Engineer and Team Lead
Motional
Read Bio

Clara de Ros

Senior Ventures Associate
Plug and Play
Read Bio

Kishor Veerashekar

Senior Ventures Associate
Plug and Play Ventures
Read Bio

Tafflyn Toy

Open Innovation Sr. Manager
Hyundai CRADLE
Read Bio

Siyuan Dai

Open Innovation Manager
Hyundai CRADLE
Read Bio

Pablo Sauras Perez

Staff Product Manager
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America
Read Bio

Yao Zhai

Co-founder, GM Americas
U Power Robotics
Read Bio

Peter M Howard

Co-founder, CEO
Realtime Robotics Inc
Read Bio

Kyle Taylor

Senior Manager Infotainment Software
Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc
Read Bio

Monica Xie

Head of Business Operations and Partnerships
Dyna Robotics
Read Bio

Amit Kumar

VP of Engineering
PlusAI
Read Bio

Tu Le

Managing Director
Sino Auto Insights
Read Bio

Yuzhe Qin

Co-founder & CTO
Dexmate
Read Bio

Eric Wood

Senior Vice President, Product Experience
42dot
Read Bio

Shobana Sankaran

Vice President (former)
Nauto (former)
Read Bio

ABOUT

Hyundai CRADLE is Hyundai Motor Group’s global open innovation hub, with offices in Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Beijing, and Seoul. It invests in and partners with startups, accelerates breakthrough technologies, and explores new business models across mobility, smart cities, robotics, artificial intelligence, energy, and sustainability. CRADLE serves as a bridge between Hyundai and the world’s most innovative ecosystems, driving transformation beyond traditional automotive into the future of mobility and everyday living. 
cradleinc.com 
Plug and Play Tech Center is the world’s largest innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in over 50 locations worldwide, Plug and Play runs accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC arm. The platform invests in early-stage companies and helps them scale by facilitating partnerships with over 550 leading corporate partners. Its mission is to drive technological advancement by bringing together the best entrepreneurs and organizations to solve the world’s biggest challenges across industries such as mobility, energy, fintech, health, and sustainability. 
pnptc.com

November 17, 2025 

440 N Wolfe Rd. 
Sunnyvale, CA 94085 

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