Announcing the final agenda for TC Sessions: Mobility 2020 – TechCrunch

TC Sessions: Mobility is again and we’re excited to offer the ultimate look of what and who’s coming to the primary stage.

Earlier than we get into who’s coming, let’s sort out one necessary change from our 2019 inaugural occasion: this 12 months, TC Sessions: Mobility will likely be digital. By no means concern, the digital model of TC Sessions: Mobility will carry all of what you’d count on from our in-person occasions, from the informative panels and provocative one-on-one interviews to the networking and this 12 months, even a pitch-off session.

Whereas digital isn’t the identical as our occasions prior to now, it has supplied one large profit: democratizing entry. For those who’re a startup or investor based mostly in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America or one other area within the U.S., you’ll be able to pay attention in, community and join with different contributors right here in Silicon Valley. Plus, you’ll have the ability to meet all the attendees by way of our matchmaking platform, CrunchMatch.

This 12 months, we’re additionally holding a pitch-off competitors for early-stage mobility corporations, however you’ll have to make sure you have your ticket to affix us on the occasion on-line. Costs begin at simply $25 for an Expo Ticket and only $195 for a General Admission Ticket to expertise the entire occasion. We additionally supply a $50 tickets for college kids.

TechCrunch reporters and editors will interview among the prime leaders in transportation to sort out subjects corresponding to scaling up an electrical automobile firm, the way forward for automated automobile know-how, micromobility, constructing an AV startup and investing within the trade. Our friends embrace Argo AI co-founder and CEO Bryan Salesky, Waymo COO Tekedra Mawakana, Lucid Motors CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson, Ike Robotics co-founder and chief engineer Nancy Solar, Method E race automobile driver Lucas di Grassi, Cruise’s director of world authorities affairs Prashanthi Raman, Hemi Ventures managing companion Amy Gu, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath in addition to TuSimple co-founder and CTO Xiaodi Hou and Boris Sofman, former Anki Robotics founder and CEO who now leads Waymo’s trucking unit.

Don’t overlook that General Admission tickets (together with $50 financial savings) are at present out there for a restricted time; grab your tickets right here earlier than costs enhance.

AGENDA

Tuesday, October 6

Taking AVs to the Subsequent Degree Tekedra Mawakana (Waymo)

Waymo Chief Working Officer Tekedra Mawakana is on the middle of Waymo’s future, from scaling the autonomous automobile firm’s business deployment and directing fleet operations to growing the corporate’s enterprise path. Tekedra will talk about what lies forward as Waymo drives ahead with its plan to turn out to be a grownup enterprise.

The Altering Face of Supply with Matthew Johnson-Roberson (Refraction AI), Ali Kashani (Postmates), and speaker to be confirmed.

Small startups and logistics giants alike are engaged on the right way to use automated automobile know-how and robotics for supply. Matthew Johnson-Roberson, co-founder of Refraction AI and Ali Kashani, the VP of particular initiatives at Postmates will speak concerning the challenges and alternatives of utilizing robots for supply.

Investing in Mobility with Reilly Brennan (Trucks VC), Amy Gu (Hemi Ventures), and Olaf Sakkers (Maniv Mobility)

Reilly Brennan, Amy Gu and Olaf Sakkers will come collectively to debate the unsure way forward for mobility tech and whether or not VC {dollars} are sufficient to push the trade ahead.

Networking Break

With our digital platform, attendees can community through video chat, giving people the possibility to make significant connections. CrunchMatch, our algorithmic matching product, will likely be out there to make sure you’re assembly the proper folks on the present, in addition to random matching for attendees who’re feeling extra adventurous.

Setting the Report Straight with Bryan Salesky (Argo AI)

Argo AI has gone from unknown startup to an organization offering the autonomous automobile know-how to Ford and VW — to not point out billions in funding from the 2 world automakers. Co-founder and CEO Bryan Salesky will speak concerning the firm’s journey, what’s subsequent and what it actually takes to commercialize autonomous automobile know-how.

The Subsequent Alternatives in Micromobility with Danielle Harris (Elemental Excelerator), Dmitry Shevelenko (Tortoise), Avra van der Zee (Superpedestrian)

Worldwide, quite a few corporations are working shared micromobility companies — so many who the trade is effectively right into a consolidation part. Regardless of the over-saturation of the market, there are nonetheless alternatives for brand new gamers. Danielle Harris, director of mobility innovation at Elemental Excelerator, Dmitry Shevelenko, founder at Tortoise will talk about, and VP of Technique and Coverage at Superpedestrian.

Constructing an AV Startup with Nancy Sun (Ike)

Ike co-founder and chief engineer Nancy Solar will share her experiences on this planet of automation and robotics, a trip that has taken her from Apple to Otto and Uber earlier than she set off to start out a self-driving truck firm. Solar will talk about what the longer term holds for trucking and the challenges and the secrets and techniques behind constructing a profitable mobility startup.

Uber’s Metropolis Footprint with Shin-pei Tsay (Uber)

Uber’s operations contact upon many features of the transportation ecosystem. Whether or not its autonomous autos, meals supply, trucking or conventional ride-hailing, these services all require Uber to work together with cities and make sure the firm is on the nice facet of cities. That’s the place Shin-pei Tsay is available in. Hear from Tsay about how she thinks by way of Uber’s place in cities and the way she navigates varied regulatory frameworks.

The Street to the All-Electrical Air with Peter Rawlinson (Lucid Motors)

Simply weeks after Lucid Motors unveils its long-anticipated all-electric luxurious Air sedan, we’ll sit down with Peter Rawlinson to debate the challenges of constructing a automobile firm and assembling that first manufacturing automobile in addition to plans for the longer term.

Wednesday, October 7

The Way forward for Racing with Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport)

Method E driver Lucas Di Grassi is a part of a brand new racing sequence, through which riders on high-speed electrical scooters compete towards one another on non permanent circuits in cities. Assume Method E, however with electrical scooters. The previous CEO of Roborace and sustainability ambassador of the EsC, Electrical Scooter Championship, will be a part of us to speak about electrification, micromobility and a brand new form of motorsport.

The Way forward for Trucking with Xiaodi Hou (TuSimple) and Boris Sofman (Waymo)

TuSimple co-founder and CTO Xiaodi Hou and Boris Sofman, former Anki Robotics founder and CEO who now leads Waymo’s trucking unit, will talk about the enterprise and the technical challenges of autonomous trucking.

The Electrification of Porsche with Detlev von Platen (Porsche AG)

Porsche has undergone a significant transformation prior to now a number of years, investing billions into an electrical automobile program and launching the Taycan, its first all-electric automobile. Now, Porsche is ramping up for extra. Porsche AG’s Detlev von Platen, who’s a member of the corporate’s government board, will discuss Porsche’s path, competitors and the place it’s headed subsequent.

Navigating Self-Driving Automotive Laws with David Estrada (Nuro), Melissa Froelich (Aurora) and Jody Kelman (Lyft), Prashanthi Raman (Cruise)

Autonomous automobile builders face a patchwork of native, state and federal rules. Authorities coverage specialists, from Nuro, Aurora, Lyft and Cruise, talk about the progress that’s been made, the challenges that stay and the way startups can navigate the jumble of rules and deploy their autonomous automobile know-how at scale.

Way forward for Cities: Supply Takes Flight with Margaret Nagle (Wing)

Margaret Nagle, head of coverage and public affairs at Wing, will discuss how drones used for supply may reshape cities and enhance accessibility.

Delivering and Constructing EVs with Thomas Ingenlath (Polestar)

Polestar is lower than 4 years outdated and already has two autos available on the market and extra on the way in which. On this hearth chat with CEO Thomas Ingenlath, we’ll talk about the corporate’s focus, technique and smooth design.

Scooting Via the World’s Regulatory Frameworks with Tony Adesina (Gura Ride), Fredrik Hjelm (VOI Technology), and Euwyn Poon (Spin)

Though dockless scooters first hit the streets of the U.S., there’s loads of scooter exercise happening overseas. And because of completely different regulatory landscapes and gamers, the state of scooters appears to be like completely different relying on the place you might be. Scooters have taken off in Europe, with quite a lot of gamers working throughout the continent, in addition to in South America. Now, shared scooters and ebikes are popping up in Africa. Hear from Spin CEO Euwyn Poon about bringing his U.S.-centric firm overseas, VOI co-founder Fredrik Hjelm concerning the state of scooters in Europe and Tony Adesina, the founder and CEO of micromobility startup Gura Trip about alternatives and challenges in Africa.

Startup Pitch-Off

Choose, early-stage corporations, hand-picked by TechCrunch editors, will take the stage and have 5 minutes to current their corporations.

Life After Tesla with JB Straubel (Redwood Materials)

JB Straubel may be finest often called Tesla’s co-founder and former CTO who was liable for among the firm’s most necessary know-how, notably round batteries. However Straubel is hardly completed. He launched his personal recycling startup referred to as Redwood Materials that’s centered on making a round provide chain and not too long ago named Amazon and Panasonic as clients. We’ll sit down with Straubel to speak about his newest enterprise, time at Tesla and naturally, battery know-how and the state of the electrical autos.

Constructing Higher Battery Tech with Celina Mikolajczak (Panasonic) and JB Straubel (Redwood Materials)

Celina Mikolajczak, vice chairman of battery know-how for Panasonic Power of North America, and JB Straubel, co-founder and CEO of Redwood Supplies, will dig into the state of battery tech, what it would take to satisfy rising demand whereas minimizing the environmental impression, and the way their respective corporations are working collectively.