Audience Choice winners to lead breakouts at Sessions: AI

You voted. They rose to the top!

Meet the two Audience Choice winners who’ll take the breakout stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley to share their insights with 1,200 AI leaders and enthusiasts.

We sifted through hundreds of Call for Content submissions and narrowed them down to six standout finalists. Your votes crowned two winners — and now they’re ready to share their cutting-edge AI insights live.

Yann Stoneman, staff solutions architect at Cohere: Behind Your Firewall: Secure Generative AI for Regulated Enterprises

Hua Wang, executive director at Global Innovation Forum: The AI Policy Playbook: What Global Startups Need to Know

Yann Stoneman

Session: Ever wonder how to use cutting-edge generative AI in healthcare or finance — without sweating over data privacy? Join Yann for a lively breakout session at TC Sessions: AI. Alongside three expert panelists, Yann will guide an interactive, 50-minute conversation packed with real-world use cases from Cohere’s North (agentic AI workspace) and Compass (multimodal retrieval). You’ll get practical strategies for deploying secure, customized AI models on your own infrastructure — no external cloud required. Expect hands-on demos, live Q&A, and insights that’ll help you build AI solutions safely and confidently, right behind your firewall.

About Yann Stoneman: Yann Stoneman is a staff solutions architect at Cohere, where he helps enterprises deploy secure, customizable AI powered by next-gen foundation models. Previously at AWS, he supported large-scale AI adoption and debuted an AI demo at re:Invent 2023. Yann is a trusted partner for seamless integration and user-friendly AI design. His expertise has been featured at Generative AI World and Voices of Data Science, and on the blogs of Cohere and AWS. He holds a BA from the Juilliard School.

Yann Stoneman Cohere — **Image Credits:**Katherine Taylor

Hua Wang

Session: AI gives startups an edge, but regulation can slow them down. This breakout dives into how founders can stay compliant and competitive while scaling globally. Learn how to tap into AI tools for digital trade, navigate evolving data laws, and unlock new markets. We’ll cover the policies shaping the future of AI startups and offer real-world strategies to help you expand without the red tape. If you’re building, investing in, or regulating AI, this session delivers the insights you need to lead with confidence.

About Hua Wang: Hua leads the Global Innovation Forum (GIF), where she builds bridges between diverse entrepreneurs and the global economy. At GIF, she drives inclusive strategies for trade and digital policy, partnering with business leaders, nonprofits, and international institutions like the World Trade Organization and the UN to unlock global opportunities for underrepresented voices.

From launching a telemedicine startup to helping startups raise $20 million+ as an accelerator director, Hua’s career spans entrepreneurship, law, tech, and policy. She’s also served as an entrepreneur-in-residence across Chile, Malaysia, and the U.S. A former attorney and banker, Hua holds degrees from Duke and Northwestern Law — and a deep belief in innovation as a driver of global growth.

Hua Wang Global Innovation Forum — **Image Credits:**US Chamber of Commerce

Join these live sessions at TC Session: AI

AI is moving fast — and so should you. Learn how to build behind your firewall with Yann Stoneman and unlock global markets with Hua Wang — two of the audience-chosen breakout leaders you won’t want to miss. Save up to $210 on your pass, or bring a crew and save even more. Head to the agenda to see what’s in store and grab your ticket before prices jump.

Want even more brand visibility at TC Sessions: AI?

Go beyond attending — exhibit your brand and innovation in front of 1,200 top AI minds. Space is limited, so don’t miss your chance to make an impact! Grab your exhibit table here before they run out.