1682: the business of innovation conference

Five Below Headquarters, Philadelphia PA

October 16, 2024

1682 conference highlights

The 1682 Conference brought together leaders, innovators, and visionaries to explore the power of AI in shaping profit and process. Watch our recap to relive the key moments, insights, and inspiring conversations that made this year’s event a milestone in innovation.

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OVERVIEW

1682 explores the ever-changing landscape of innovation, with a focus on how AI is influencing profit + process.

1682 makes a return after a very successful pre-Covid conference that took place in 2019 at the Barnes Museum. Much like the original event, 1682 explores the ever-changing landscape of innovation programs, with a particular focus on how AI is influencing profits and processes. Gain behind-the-scenes insights from industry leaders on achieving success and overcoming challenges when implementing innovative, results-driven strategies.

In partnership with Five Below, the 1682 conference will be hosted at their corporate offices in downtown Philadelphia. Five Below is known for their innovative approach to retail and culture, and is also Philadelphia born and bred, much like O3, and in alignment with the 1682 brand, which commemorates Philadelphia’s founding.

TICKETS

We’re officially SOLD OUT!

For those who missed out, stay tuned for updates, insights, and highlights from the event. We’ll be sharing key takeaways so you can still be part of the conversation! Take a look at the agenda below.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Enjoy a full day of networking and innovation with breakfast, lunch, a cocktail reception, and an all-day coffee bar.

AGENDA

Explore 1682’s agenda, keynotes + panels

Start your day with inspiration as Kenneth Bull, CEO of Five Below, and Keith Scandone, CEO of O3, welcome you to 1682. Together, they’ll set the stage for a day of innovation, insight, and discovery, guiding you through what promises to be an unforgettable journey into the future of business and technology.

Speakers: Keith Scandone (O3) + Kenneth Bull (Five Below)
Dive into the unfiltered realities of AI with Mike Gadsby, Chief Innocation Officer at O3. In this keynote, Mike will unpack five critical insights drawn from years of intense AI experimentation, strategic client engagements, and real-world implementations. Discover what works, what doesn’t, and where the true potential - and pitfalls - of AI lie in today's rapidly evolving landscape.
Speaker: Mike Gadsby (O3)
secondthought.ai is the first of its kind AI personas platform that allows you to conduct market & product research at scale, and in minutes.
Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars & weeks or months of time, our system gets clients answers faster & cheaper, allowing brands to go into market quicker - and more prepared - than ever before.
Built completely on AI, the secondthought system doesn't replace the research - it aids and speeds up the research process, by shortening timelines, requiring less cash investment, and providing answers faster. It also synthesizes client data/files, creating a hub for rapid research and answering business questions.
Join top innovation and technology leaders from fintech and insurance as they tackle the critical challenges of integrating AI into heavily regulated environments. This panel will explore the delicate balance between innovation and compliance, offering insights on awareness, education, and strategic projects that drive progress without compromising on risk. Learn which AI initiatives are worth pursuing—and which ones could lead you into uncharted, risky territory.
Panelists: Mike Urban (Best Egg) + Nate Gach (IBX)
Moderator: April Walker (Strategic Advisor)
15 minute break!
Join industry leaders as they explore how AI is transforming the healthcare landscape. This panel will address the critical challenges of data readiness, innovation processes and uncover the key areas where AI is making a tangible difference in patient care and operational efficiency. Additionally, we'll delve into how AI is reshaping career paths within healthcare, driving the need for new skills and offering exciting opportunities for professionals ready to adapt and thrive in this rapidly evolving field.
Panelists: Maureen Rinkunas (Redesign Health) + Michelle Cleary (Cigna)
Moderator: Abhay Patel (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
In the fiercely competitive world of retail, innovation is both essential and challenging. Hear from top CIOs across big retail as they discuss how AI is revolutionizing the customer experience by leveraging data to transform in-store and online retail environments. Industry experts will discuss the unique hurdles retail faces in implementing cutting-edge technology and share insights on navigating the brutal landscape of retail innovation. Learn how to stay ahead in a market where customer expectations are constantly evolving, and innovation can make or break success.
Panelists: John Collier (Wawa), Priya Serai (Zeus)
Moderator: Amit Jhunjhunwala (Five Below)
45 minute lunch break! Lunch will be provided.
In the rapidly evolving world of AI, not all investments are created equal. This panel brings together experts from the venture capital and tech industries to discuss which companies are truly winning—and losing—at the intersection of AI and investment. Moving beyond the initial wave of infrastructure and "ChatGPT for everything" solutions, we'll explore how real value is being generated through innovative AI applications. Learn where the real opportunities lie for delivering meaningful ROI, whether by boosting internal efficiency or developing groundbreaking consumer-facing products that solve real business challenges.
Panelists: Russ Kliman (Future Crafted), Emily Foote (Osage Venture Partners) + Omar Mencin (Ben Franklin Technology Partners)
Moderator: Sushma Rajagopalan (Rittenhouse Ventures)
Railway accidents have caused billions in losses and thousands of lives, with inefficiencies and delays adding $1 million in yearly operational costs that trickle down to the end user. Traditional manual inspections from the 1950s, where inspectors walk tracks to identify faults, are still prevalent in this $100 billion industry, causing frequent disruptions and safety hazards.
Sahay AI leverages advanced AI to revolutionize railway inspections. Our AI models, real-time monitoring dashboard, and portable robots increase inspection speed by 10 times and reduce costs by 90%. Our AI autonomously logs faults, finds missing elements, and maintains overall track health, transforming outdated manual methods into efficient, data-driven decisions. We enhance safety and reliability in railways and are in talks with major rail companies, exploring pilot contracts to expand our innovative impact in the industry.
In the age of GenAI, developing products that resonate with real customer needs is more critical than ever. This panel will explore how AI is simplifying the creation and delivery of digital experiences through greater personalization and value generation. Industry leaders will discuss the challenges of aligning product recommendations with true customer demands, the complexities of prioritizing features and functionality, and the essential considerations for integrating AI into both existing and new digital platforms. Discover how to close the gap between what customers want and what your products deliver, ensuring that AI enhances rather than complicates the user experience.
Panelists: Deanna Ballew (Acquia), Rick Nucci (Guru) + Shikha Miglani (Saarthee)
Moderator: Christine Sheller (O3)
15 minute break!
Join experts from professional sports teams as they dive into how AI is transforming sports marketing and fan engagement. This panel will explore how AI is unlocking deeper insights from marketing, fan, and sports data to create more personalized experiences in-game, in-home and online. Discover how the latest advances in GenAI are being integrated with traditional predictive models and machine learning to deliver real value to sports organizations. Learn how these technologies are putting actionable, real-time data in the hands of those who need it most, ensuring that sports experiences are meaningful and impactful.
Panelists: Jenna Kurath (Comcast) + Anthony Brock (Flyers)
Moderator: Dan Hou (Eskridge)
pre.dev is a product architect that transforms product/feature ideas into a fully fledged architecture, documentation, roadmaps and a boilerplate codebase.
Speaker: Michael Bachman, Head of Research, Architecture + AI Strategy at Boomi Innovation Group
The winner of the 2024 Venture Awards will be announced.
Venture Award finalists: secondthought, Sahay AI + pre.dev.
The cocktail reception will also take place at Five Below HQ.