Geeks Of The Valley

Rick is the CEO of Illumination International, a family office based between the US and Asia. He is a seasoned investor specializing in distressed consumer assets, with an impressive track record of managing a diversified portfolio of over six businesses. His expertise extends into the real estate sector, where he has successfully developed and constructed multi-family residential complexes in the Midwest. Rick is also recognized for his strategic procurement abilities and commodity specialization, further enhanced by his high-level political connections.

Rick graduated from Purdue University, where he studied Business Administration and Management. He furthered his education by earning a master's degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Southampton Business School.

Craig S. Smith, born on October 13, 1955, in Spokane, Washington, is an American journalist and former executive at The New York Times. Until January 2000, he wrote for The Wall Street Journal, notably covering the rise of the Falun Gong movement in China. In 2000, he joined The New York Times as the Shanghai bureau chief, reporting extensively on the practice of harvesting organs from executed prisoners in China.

In 2002, Smith moved to Paris and reported from over forty countries, including Iraq, Israel, and Kyrgyzstan. He covered significant conflicts such as the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the 2003 Iraq War, and the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese War, as well as the 2005 unrest in the French banlieues.

In 2008, he became the executive editor of a financial news venture by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li Tzar Kai and later served as senior vice president of Li's Pacific Century Group. Smith returned to The New York Times in late 2011 as China managing director, where he founded and ran their first foreign language site, cn.nytimes.com.

In late 2016, he came back to the U.S. as a writer at large for the Times, focusing on Canadian stories, before retiring in 2018. He now writes about artificial intelligence for the Times and other publications. Additionally, he served as a special government employee for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and hosts the podcast "Eye on AI," which is ranked number 2 among AI-related podcasts by Feedspot.

Dr. Seth Dobrin is the founder and CEO of Qantm AI, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) with over two decades of experience driving innovation in the tech space. Formerly IBM’s inaugural Global Chief AI Officer, Dr. Dobrin has made significant contributions in developing human-centered AI strategies that drive business modernization and data-driven insights. His work has been recognized globally, earning accolades such as AIConics Innovator of the Year and a spot among the Top 10 Most Influential Chief AI Officers in 2023.

Dr. Dobrin’s multidisciplinary background, including a Doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology, allows him to integrate AI, data, and business transformation seamlessly. A vocal advocate for responsible and inclusive AI, Dr. Dobrin continues to be a thought leader at major technology conferences, and his work has been featured in outlets like BBC, Forbes, and NPR. Tune in to learn how AI is reshaping industries and what the future holds for this groundbreaking technology.

Eric Davich is the Founder and CEO of Jammy, a mental health coaching app with music committed to enhancing the emotional well-being of young adults. Prior to Jammy, he co-founded Songza, later acquired by Google, and was an early team member of Amie Street, acquired by Amazon. During his 8.5 years at Google, he led various partnership marketing functions for Android, YouTube Subscriptions, and Google Play. His depth in music, mindfulness, and mental health comes from a lifelong practice in emotional regulation through music, meditation, studying mindfulness, and facilitating Google's 'Fundamentals of Mindfulness' course. Recognized in Forbes '30 Under 30,' Davich's blend of technological expertise, entertainment experience, and mindfulness knowledge uniquely equip him to drive innovations in mental health technology.

John Patrick Mullin is a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur and builder, specializing in DeFi, blockchain technology, digital assets, and Web3. He is the CEO and co-founder of MANTRA and SOMA.finance, with over 10 years of experience in crypto and digital asset investment. John's journey began with Bitcoin in 2013 while studying International Business at SLU-Madrid. He later earned dual Master's Degrees in Management and Economics, working as a senior research analyst at a prominent Chinese State-Owned bank. Inspired by his passion for FinTech, John left his banking job to co-found a crypto exchange project in Hong Kong. Although it was ahead of its time, this endeavor solidified his desire to be an entrepreneur. He went on to establish MANTRA, a Layer 1 blockchain for RWA tokenization, and SOMA.finance, a US-regulated decentralized finance application. John has raised substantial funding for these ventures and has spoken at leading universities worldwide. He enjoys sports, travel, and connecting with motivated individuals. John is happily married and shares his life with two furry companions. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/jp_mullin888.

Nitin Mahajan, a visionary in the tech industry, is actively transforming the tech universe one company at a time while currently building 88 Ventures to achieve unprecedented success.

Recognizing the transformative power of AI, Nitin is passionate about ensuring its widespread adoption in a way that positively impacts lives and maximizes its reach to the masses.

88 Ventures serves as the culmination of Nitin's unwavering dedication, extensive knowledge, and far-reaching vision. Through this venture, he envisions unlocking new opportunities and fostering meaningful connections in the professional world by embracing the potential of technology.

In addition to his role at 88 Ventures, Nitin has also embraced the role of an Angel Investor, supporting individuals with grand ambitions and empowering them to bring their unique visions to life. His mission is to uplift those whose aspirations may go unnoticed by others.

If you share Nitin's values and are driven to build profitable bootstrap businesses while making a positive impact, he is here to guide you on your journey. Reach out to Nitin, and rest assured that you will connect with someone who understands your vision and is committed to helping you succeed. Just drop him a text, and a world of possibilities awaits!

Eddy Chan is a founding partner of Intudo Ventures, an independent venture capital firm exclusively focused on investing in Indonesia. With approximately US$300 million in committed capital, Intudo Ventures serves as the "Indonesia-beachhead" strategy provider for top-tier institutions, Forbes Midas List investors, family offices worldwide, and a network of over 35 hyperlocal Indonesian conglomerates and families. Eddy's extensive background includes venture investments in startups like PayPal and Palantir, founding and operating venture-backed technology companies, practicing corporate law, and working as an investment banker. He holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.S. in Business Administration from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Intudo Ventures stands out as the largest early-stage investment team in Indonesia, supporting companies like Xendit, Pintu, Pinhome, and more. Eddy has been a featured speaker at prominent events, including SuperReturn Asia and Harvard Asia Business Conference, and actively engages with Indonesian talent through professional and student associations. With his expertise and connections, Eddy Chan plays a pivotal role in shaping Indonesia's venture capital landscape and driving Intudo Ventures' success in the market.

Brendan Rogers is the Co-Founder of 2am [VC], an early-stage India Fund. Previously, he co-founded Wag! (NASDAQ) PET, the largest pet platform in the US. Brendan is a respected advisor and mentor to numerous companies, accelerators, and universities globally. He is a sought-after speaker at major startup conferences worldwide and has appeared on top podcasts in the industry, gaining millions of views. Prior to Wag!, Brendan co-founded a social discovery service with 50 million users across 10 countries, which was acquired by IAC in 2014. His entrepreneurial journey reflects his dedication, innovation, and influence in the startup ecosystem.

Joby Bernstein and is running for Congress (CA-16) because it’s time for fresh leadership in Silicon Valley. He is deeply committed to addressing the pressing issues his district faces, from climate change to education and immigration.

Palo Alto is his home. Joby is an avid nature seeker, and spends his free time biking on Skyline and trail running in Wunderlich Park. But you don’t have to look far beyond his doorstep today to realize that our planet is in trouble. To effectively turn the tides on climate change, we’ll need to invest in protecting the environment, cultivate the best minds with accessible higher education, and retain the best talent through immigration reform.

Joby wants to bring fresh energy and innovative solutions to these challenges and help his community and nation thrive today and into the future. With a background in business, policy, and sustainability, he brings unique perspectives - backed by research and analytics - on how we can revitalize our country for generations to come.

Matthew King is an Entrepreneurial Investor passionate about venture investing & building, deeptech, sustainability, mental health, wellness, automotive, luxury goods, and hospitality.
Currently Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Valhalla Ventures, a venture capital firm backing visionary founders at the forefront of social and technological breakthroughs.
Inveterate connector of extraordinary human beings who frequently colors outside the lines and thrives on helping founders accomplish legendary outcomes while helping investors produce stellar returns & impact.
Valhalla Ventures backs visionaries building enduring moats.
Today, the most enduring moats exist in physical technology (think industrials, space, chips, biology, defense, energy, etc) and media IP (think games).
Valhalla manages $200M+ in assets with $150M in committed capital across all vehicles to date. Our primary focus currently is deploying $35M in dry powder in Seed and Series A financings (and in between), investing $1M to $3M per company with a 5% minimum ownership target.

Valhalla's Limited Partner community includes:
1) C-suites/Managing Partners (current and former) of: Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citadel, Bridgewater Associates, Oaktree Capital, Apollo Global, Point72, PayPal, Alibaba, Hillhouse Capital, NBC Universal, General Motors, Swiss Re, Discover, PizzaHut, DoorDash, DocuSign, Sandoz, Gusto, Guinness, Bitmain, Thomson Reuters, Yahoo, Zynga, the Dallas Cowboys, BlockTower Capital, and TopGolf; and
2) Board Members (current and former) of: BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, MasterCard, MIO Partners, Fortress, BNY Mellon, RBC, Altria, ARM Semiconductor, SoFi, Warburg Pincus, Kraft, SABMiller, Cognizant, Western Union, Raine Group, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Stanford's Graduate School of Business, Wharton, and Johns Hopkins University.
Outside of work what energizes me is travel (40+ countries visited or lived in), electronic music, nature, and Burning Man (12x).