Agenda: VERGE SF Virtual

Welcome

Presented by: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group; Eric Faurot CEO, GreenBiz Group; Elaine Hsieh Program Director & Senior Analyst - VERGE, GreenBiz Group

Keynote Interview: The Future Is Distributed

Technologies — information, energy, transportation and others — are moving away from central control to distributed control, where pretty much anyone can be a producer and consumer. What are the implications for business and sustainability? Read more…

Presented by: Tim O'Reilly Founder and CEO, O'Reilly Media; Danny Kennedy Co-Founder, Executive Vice President, Sungevity

In conversation with: Eric Faurot CEO, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: When Corporates Outlive Their Usefulness

From AirBnb, Etsy, TaskRabbit, to Lyft, the sharing economy is on the rise. Consumers are sharing products instead of buying them. What happens if customers don’t need corporations on an ongoing basis? Research and analysis on how the sharing economy is transforming companies and markets. Read more…

Presented by: Jeremiah Owyang Chief Catalyst, Crowd Companies

Keynote Interview: The Industrial Internet and Big Data Analytics

The Internet of Everything — machines, motors, and a myriad of other devices — promises to be bigger than the consumer internet. The potential for industrial companies to accelerate efficiencies and create new business opportunities is almost infinite. Read more…

Presented by: Paul Rogers Chief Development Officer, GE Software

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: How 3D Printing Changes Cars Forever

Jim Kor is an engineer with a lifetime of experience designing machinery for mass production. He combines vision with empathy, and believes that the ultimate goal of design is to serve the public good. Kor and a seasoned team of designers created a car engineered for global sustainability. Read more…

Presented by: Jim Kor Founder, Kor Ecologic

VERGE Accelerate: Fast-Pitch Competition

VERGE Accelerate features a dynamic mix of innovative start-ups that are leveraging smart, data-driven technologies across the VERGE domains. In this fast-paced pitch competition, a group of entrepreneurs will give their best spiels in front of a group of investors and fellow entrepreneurs. Read more…

Presented by: Shana Rappaport Director of Engagement, VERGE, GreenBiz Group

In conversation with: Scott Elrod Vice President and Director of the Hardware Systems Laboratory, PARC; Dawn Lippert Co-founder , Energy Excelerator

VERGE Talk: The Power of People-Smart Buildings

Distributed, real-time sensor networks are turning buildings into living, on-demand resources in many dimensions providing better comfort while serving profit and the planet alike. Read more…

Presented by: Tanuj Mohan CTO & Co-founder, Enlighted, Inc.; John Picard Founder, HP Energy LLC & John Picard & Associates

Keynote Panel: Creating a Cleaner, Smarter Grid

On-site renewable energy generation. Automated demand response. Microgrids and energy storage installations. Read more…

Presented by: Ken Locklin Managing Director, Impax Asset Management, LLC; Steve Malnight VP, Customer Energy Solutions, Pacific Gas & Electric; George Denise Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield at Adobe Systems

In conversation with: Heather Clancy Senior Writer, GreenBiz

Keynote Interview: The Power of Open Innovation

A conversation about why partnering with tech entrepreneurs fosters innovation and creates shared value for big companies. Read more…

Presented by: Kevin McGinnis Vice President - Product Platforms & Services, Sprint

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: Clean Energy Manufacturing Challenges and Opportunities

Investment in the global clean energy sector has risen nearly fivefold in recent years, with trillions on the way. Will these energy technologies be Made in the USA? We face a stark choice. Read more…

Presented by: David Danielson Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, US Department of Energy

Keynote Interview: The Biology of Technology

A conversation about the role of technology, with one of the leading systems thinkers and writers. Read more…

Presented by: Paul Hawken Author

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Welcome

Presented by: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Keynote Interview: The Road to 100% Renewables

The former EPA Administrator, now Apple's sustainability chief, talks about the company's commitment to 100% renewable power, among other initiatives. Read more…

Presented by: Lisa Jackson VP of Environmental Initiatives, Apple

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: What Tiny Interconnected Sensors Mean for Sustainability

The Internet of Things is the emerging "seventh wave" of the internet. Read more…

Presented by: Jeremy Walker CEO, IOTA Computing

Keynote Interview: The Financial Case for Refreshing Data Centers

A conversation about how to talk with finance about sustainability projects. Find out how one CFO looks at sustainability inside his company and finds the business case for refreshing their data centers ahead of schedule. Read more…

Presented by: Mike Lucki Chief Financial Officer, CH2M HILL

In conversation with: John Davies VP, Senior Analyst, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: Toward a 21st Century Electricity System

Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) and MIT’s Industrial Performance Center have held three CEO Forums to date that brought together electricity industry executives and advanced energy technology providers to discuss the path forward for accelerating innovation in the power sector. Read more…

Presented by: Hemant Taneja Managing Director, General Catalyst Partners

VERGE Talk: How Microgrids Are Transforming the Energy Ecosystem

Microgrids are making energy personal again. Read more…

Presented by: Sunil Cherian Founder and CEO, Spirae

Keynote Interview: The Legacy of Good Plan

Dell’s Chief Sustainability Officer Trisa Thompson will discuss the challenges of setting long-term goals, the surprising revelations that process uncovered, and how Dell is embarking on a journey to create a positive, measurable and lasting legacy of good. Read more…

Presented by: Trisa Thompson VP, Corporate Responsibility, Dell

In conversation with: Heather Clancy Senior Writer, GreenBiz

Keynote Interview: The Future of Data Centers

With data centers consuming increasing amounts of energy and water, how does a company committed to being carbon neutral think about the road ahead? Read more…

Presented by: Joe Kava Vice President, Data Centers, Google

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: Playing Games for Good

Getting and keeping user engagement is critical for implementing sustainability programs, but employees and customers are so easily distracted. Gamification can help cut through the noise and level the playing field - making your program work better, faster and more effectively. Read more…

Presented by: Gabe Zichermann Editor in Chief, Founder & CEO, Gamification.Co

Keynote Panel: Opportunities at the Nexus of Food, Energy, Water

Strategic initiatives in addressing the energy – water – food nexus will be presented. The focus will be on how companies are addressing potential business risks through innovative partnerships and technology solutions. Read more…

Presented by: William Sarni Director and Practice Leader, Enterprise Water Strategy, Deloitte; J. Ashley Nixon NGO & Stakeholder Relations Manager, Americas, Shell Oil Company; Sarah Alexander Director, Sustainability at The Keystone Center, Field to Market

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: The Triple-Bottom-Line Infrastructure

How do you want to invest your dollars if you have billions to spend on a new infrastructure program? Read more…

Presented by: Claire Bonham-Carter Director of Sustainable Development, AECOM

Keynote Interview: How Technology Transforms Institutions

The power of technology is limited by the ability of people and organizations to adapt to new ways of doing things. In some cases, that means changing organizational models and strategies. Read more…

Presented by: Jonathan Koomey Research Fellow, Stanford Steyer-Taylor Center on Energy Policy & Finance

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

VERGE Talk: One Dashboard to Rule Them All

How do you measure the productivity of an engine that helped enable $175 billion dollars worth of commerce volume in 2012? Join Dean Nelson, as he introduces eBay's Digital Service Efficiency metric, the Miles Per Gallon equivalent for technical infrastructure. http://tech.ebay.com/dashboard Read more…

Presented by: Dean Nelson VP, Global Foundation Services, eBay

Keynote Interview: Disrupting Solar (Again)

The solar marketplace has had nine lives, and almost as many innovation waves. The next waves of innovation aren’t necessarily technological, but in markets and business models. Read more…

Presented by: Lyndon Rive Founder and CEO, SolarCity

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Welcome

Presented by: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Keynote Panel: The Data-Driven City

VERGE Talk: America's Grand (Sustainability) Strategy

America has not had a grand strategy since containment ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Read more…

Presented by: Mark "Puck" Mykleby Colonel, USMC (Retired)

Keynote Interview: Harnessing Human Systems to Enable Smarter Cities

How can we engage, enable and align the human “systems” in cities across organizational boundaries to do some of the most important work on the planet – creating efficient, livable, sustainable and resilient human habitats for the next century? Read more…

Presented by: Melissa O'Mara VP, High Performance Green Buildings, Schneider Electric

In conversation with: Heather Clancy Senior Writer, GreenBiz

VERGE Talk: Listening to the Vines to Make Better Wines

Hear from "the vine nerds" about how their company's technology has the potential to transform thousands of years of farming practices. Read more…

Presented by: Thibaut Scholasch Founder and VP of Research and Development, Fruition Sciences

VERGE Accelerate: Fast-Pitch Competition

VERGE Accelerate features a dynamic mix of innovative start-ups that are leveraging smart, data-driven technologies across the VERGE domains. In this fast-paced pitch competition, a group of entrepreneurs will give their best spiels in front of a group of investors and fellow entrepreneurs. Read more…

Presented by: Shana Rappaport Director of Engagement, VERGE, GreenBiz Group

In conversation with: Heather Richman Political Strategist / Cleantech Startup Advisor, Greenlight Strategies

Keynote Panel: Turning Cars Into Batteries

How will smart grid technologies soon allow electric vehicles to improve the stability and reliability of the electrical grid? Read more…

Presented by: Paul Pebbles Global Manger, Electric Vehicle, Smart Grid and Emerging Services, General Motors; Brent Hollenbeck CEO, TimberRock Energy Solutions, Inc.; Rob Threlkeld Manager of Renewable Energy, General Motors

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Keynote Panel: The Power of Proving What's Possible

Presented by: George Salah CEO and President, Apparent Inc.; Jason McLennan Founder, Living Building Challenge

In conversation with: Elaine Hsieh Program Director & Senior Analyst - VERGE, GreenBiz Group

Keynote Interview: How Utilities and Disruptors Play Well Together

Today's utilities are facing a myriad of both startups and established companies offering alternative technologies and business models. Can the old guard compete in a world focused on innovation and sustainability? Read more…

Presented by: Robyn Beavers SVP of Innovation, NRG Energy; Matt Rogers Founder and VP of Engineering, Nest Labs

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Keynote Panel: The Future of Energy

Presented by: Amory Lovins Cofounder, Chief Scientist and Chairman Emeritus, Rocky Mountain Institute; Andrew Revkin Senior Fellow, Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies, The New York Times & Pace University

In conversation with: Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group

Closing: VERGE 25 Awards