Daily Schedule

PLEASE NOTE: This Schedule is subject to change at any time. Refresh regularly!

Thursday, May 29th, 2025

6:00 PM - No-Host Get-together for anyone who has already arrived! Very casual. Located at Rock & Reilley's USC - Restaurant & Bar at 3201 S Hoover St, just a 0.5 mile walk from the USC Hotel. See Walking Directions. We will be on the patio, weather permitting.

Friday, may 30tH, 2025

OPTIONAL MORNING SUSTAINABILITY WALKING TOUR - LA Memorial Coliseum

8:30 AM - Depart USC Hotel to walk over to LA Memorial Coliseum

9:00 AM - LA Memorial Coliseum Sustainability Walking Tour

10:30 AM - Walking Tour Concludes - back to Hotel

REQUIRED PROGRAMMING BEGINS

12:30 PM - Arrive at USC Hotel - 2nd Floor Ballroom

1:00 PM - Welcome to Cleantech Open Academy - Ken Hayes, Executive Director, Cleantech Open National

1:20 PM - Business Model Canvas - Farzin Samadani, Principal, Curious Me; National Instructor and Trainer, NSF I-Corps Program, and SBIR Expert

2:10 PM - Networking & Break

2:30 PM - Customer Discovery - Farzin Samadani

4:00 PM - Quick Break

4:10 PM - Opening Keynote Speaker - Ellen Dux, Assistant Director, USC Sustainability

4:50 PM - Day 1 Recap - Ken Hayes, Executive Director, Cleantech Open National

5:30 - 7:00 PM - Happy Hour Networking Reception in Galleria (One FREE Drink per registered attendee!) External VIP Guests and Mentors will receive separate invitations.

Saturday, MAY 30TH, 2025

8:30 AM - Morning Refreshments & Networking - Bagels, pastries, fruit, yogurt

9:30 AM - Opening Welcome - Ken Hayes, Executive Director, Cleantech Open National

9:35 AM - How to Dominate Your Markets - Michael Eckhardt, Director, Chasm Institute

11:50 AM - Networking Lunch

12:50 PM - Elevator Pitch in 4 Floors - Tom White, Chief Revenue Officer, NGIN and Founder Storytellers Institute

2:30 PM - Sustainability and Impact - Marsha Willard, CEO Axis Performance Advisors and Faculty Chair, Presidio Graduate School

3:30 PM - Networking & Snacks Break

4:00 PM - Securing Funds for Your Development and Growth - How Much, When and From Whom
- Dave de Csepel, Chairman, TCA Venture Group (Angel group) and Executive Director, Alliance for SoCal Innovation

5:00 PM - CTO NOLA. Greg Delaune, CTO Metro Director and Executive Director, Deep Blue Academy

5:10 PM - Recap & Dismissal. Dinners on your own - join fellow entrepreneurs!

Sunday, June 1ST, 2025

8:00 AM - Morning Refreshments & Networking - Bagels, pastries, fruit, yogurt

8:45 AM - Day 3 Intro - Ken Hayes, Executive Director, Cleantech Open National

8:55 AM - Legal: How and Why to Engage an Attorney - Michael Moyer, Partner and Co-Chair Emerging Companies and Venture Finance Group, BakerHostetler

9:40 AM - The CTO Experience / What Comes Next - Jessica Greenwald, CTO National COO, and Ryan Hoover, CTO West Operations Director

9:55 AM - Break

10:10 AM - How to Work with Your Mentor - Neil Bellenie, CTO Western Region Mentor Co-Chair

10:30 AM - CTO Alumni Advice Panel

11:10 AM -  Break & Stretch

11:20 AM - Workshop - Team Targets

12:00 PM - Farewell

12:30 PM - Send-off Networking & Box Lunch - All attendees are free to leave latest by 1:00 PM.