Upcoming events

JUNE 5, 2025, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

1682 summer session: Inside corporate innovation

Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs / Philadelphia, PA

Innovation doesn’t happen by accident—it requires structured programs, dedicated teams, and clear processes to drive meaningful outcomes. This session will explore how organizations build and scale innovation programs, structure their teams, measure success, and provide key insights for enterprise-focused startup founders looking to collaborate with large organizations.

Who should attend:

Ideal for executives, innovation leaders, business strategists, and enterprise-focused startup founders looking to create or refine their approach to structured innovation within their organizations.

Speaker line up

AGENDA

A day of insights

  • Event registration opens at 9:00AM.

    Check in, settle in, and take a moment to meet fellow attendees!

  • A quick welcome from Keith Scandone, CEO of O3, to set the tone and share what’s ahead for the day.

    Keith Scandone, CEO + Co-Founder, O3

  • Sushma Akunuru, CIO of Independence Blue Cross, shares how her team is driving AI adoption across one of the region’s largest healthcare insurers. From modernizing legacy systems to deploying real-world AI use cases, she offers a candid look at what it takes to scale innovation in a complex, highly regulated environment. Moderated by Moe Rinkunas, Director of Insights Membership at Rock Health, this conversation cuts through the hype to reveal how enterprise AI transformation really happens.

    Sushma Akunuru, SVP + CIO, Independence Blue Cross

    Maureen Rinkunas, Director of Insights Membership, Rock Health

  • 20 minute break!

  • We’ve all seen innovation initiatives launched, only to quietly disappear. But what really happens behind the scenes—why do some succeed while others stall? This question anchored 1682’s inaugural event in 2019, and it remains just as relevant today.

    In this session, leaders from CSL, McKesson, and Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs share candid stories of what worked, what didn’t, and what they’ve learned along the way. From navigating internal resistance to scaling beyond pilots, this conversation offers real-world insights on building and sustaining innovation programs in today’s corporate landscape.

    Jonathan Walsh, Head of Digital Innovation Fund + Programs, CSL

    Kirby Forlin, Senior Vice President, McKesson

    Katie Teuber, Director of Startup Engagement, Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs

  • A quick look at what’s new and next for Sahay AI

    Tejas Agarwal, Co-founder , Sahay AI

  • With AI startups flooding the market, how are investors deciding where to place their bets—and what are they avoiding? In this session, leading VCs share how they’re assessing opportunities in a fast-changing landscape: how they’re valuing companies, what makes a team stand out, and what is making them walk away from a deal.

    You’ll also hear how AI is changing their own process, from deal sourcing to technical evaluation. Whether you’re building a startup or leading innovation inside a larger organization, this conversation offers a grounded look at what matters now—and where things are headed.


    Panelists:

    Jim Hao, Founder + Managing Partner, Reformation

    Jonathon Beschen, Managing Director of the Investment Group Technology Team, Ben Franklin Technology Partners


    Moderator:

    Sushma Rajagopalan, Partner, Rittenhouse Ventures

  • Keep the conversations going + enjoy some post-event networking