1682: the business of innovation conference

Arrivals, networking, light breakfast. A chance to settle in before the day kicks off.

Fireside chat + demo. How AI is changing what marketing teams produce, how fast they move, and how many people they need to do it. Behind the scenes look at real workflows: content creation, campaign strategy, personalization at scale. Key question: what does a modern marketing org actually look like now?

First of three venture pitches. 10 minutes, no fluff.

Fireside chat with Rick Nucci, founder of Guru. The SaaS landscape is being redrawn. Companies that built their moat on software features are watching AI erode those advantages overnight. A conversation with a founder or operator who had to pivot hard to become AI-first: what that decision looked like, what it cost, and what it unlocked.

Lunch Break Seated lunch followed by open time. Explore the Barnes collection, catch up on work, or keep the conversations going.

3 live demos. Three presenters. Three projects. Zero traditional coding. Each takes 15 minutes to walk through what they built, why they built it, and what it would have cost or taken to do it the old way. Q&A after all three.

Second venture pitch. 10 minutes.

Afternoon Break Coffee, fresh air, and open time. Explore the Barnes, recharge, or keep the conversations going. Back in seats by 2:50.

Featuring Brett Norton, President of Buffalo Construction

What does it actually look like when a company president decides to go all-in on AI? Brett's story covers the before-and-after economics, what worked, what didn't, and how he personally became a builder in the process. A live sequel to the podcast conversation — honest, specific, and grounded in one company's lived experience. Naturally covers budget, timeline, and expectation themes from a single operator's perspective.

Panel. What does it actually cost to run an AI initiative? How long should it take to see results? What kills these programs early, and what keeps them alive? A candid panel with operators who have built, funded, and occasionally failed at AI-driven innovation. Connects back to 1682's original framing around how innovation programs start, sustain, or fail.

Third and final venture pitch. 10 minutes.

Back-to-back presentations from two senior executives showcasing how AI agents have fundamentally changed their workflows, teams, and outputs -- one from a Marketing lens, one from an Operations lens. Following the presentations, a moderator will bring both speakers together for a joint discussion

A high-energy close from a recognized voice in the AI space. Not a recap of the day but a send-off. Someone who can speak with authority, tell a compelling story, and leave the room feeling like the future is something they can actually participate in.

David closes the formal program with a final vignette that bookends the day. Where we started, where we are, and the short distance ahead.

A winner of the Venture Awards will be announced.

Hosted reception at the Barnes Foundation. Open to all attendees and invited guests. Concludes at 8PM.