Data Science + AI Summit

Data Science + AI Summit

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

at Graduate East Lansing Hotel
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823

Researchers, Innovators, and Partners:

From Hype to Proof – Agentic AI in Practice

Join us to examine what agentic AI is actually delivering, for whom, and at what cost. Sessions span AI’s measurable returns in industry, Michigan’s leadership in autonomous systems, and the governance questions that come with AI making consequential decisions.

Featuring a keynote, panels, a fireside, live research and startup demos, and facilitated conversations designed to spark intentional partnerships.

Who should attend: Researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, students and early-career professionals.

Highlights from the Data Science + AI Summit 2026

Registration, breakfast, and Applied AI Showcase opens

Aerogen Systems | An Ann Arbor-based technology startup developing advanced air purification systems that destroy airborne contaminants inside semiconductor manufacturing equipment to improve chip quality and reduce reliance on traditional cleanroom infrastructure.
ConStrat AI | A Detroit-based technology company that uses artificial intelligence to help construction businesses track finances, monitor cash flow, assess risk, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
KindKatch | Is a member engagement platform for fitness and wellness franchises, combining personal video messaging, AI-powered conversations that sound like each local studio, and dedicated KindKatch Agents who follow up with every lead and at-risk member.
SarAI | An AI-powered personal assistant that works through text messages to help users manage their schedules, set reminders, stay accountable to their goals, and organize everyday tasks.
Scalable AI | Technology company that helps mid-sized manufacturers automate repetitive tasks across finance, engineering, operations, and customer service using AI agents that integrate with their existing business systems
SpartaHack | A student-run hackathon at Michigan State University where students collaborate to build creative technology projects, learn new skills, and connect with mentors and industry professionals.
TechSmith | A software company that develops tools like Snagit and Camtasia for capturing screenshots, recording screens, editing videos, and creating instructional and training content.

Welcome
David Washburn, CEO, MSU Research Foundation

Keynote

Nurtekin Savas | Head of Global Risk Infrastructure, Platforms, Data and AI, PayPal

Panel

Cal Coplai | Senior Tech Manager, NVIDIA
Tom Munley | CEO, Analytics8
Anjana Susarla | Omura-Saxena Professor in Responsible AI, MSU Broad College
Soma Venkat | Senior VP, Chief Information Technology Officer, Cooper Standard

Guided Conversations

Facilitated by:
Tomasz Cwik, Mentor-In-Residence, MSU Research Foundation

Moderator 
Marcio Oliveira | Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, MSU

Panel
Joe Dearman | Forward Deployed Product Engineer, TechSmith
Emmanuel Dorley | Co-Founder, ConStrat AI
Shawn Kale | Senior District Manager, SLG Central at Snowflake
Josh Ross | Founder, Scalable AI

Moderator
Brandy Brown | Founder & CEO, StrataView

Speakers
Dale Grogan | Managing Partner, Michigan Capital Network Ventures
Timothy Grotjohn | Co-Founder, Great Lakes Crystal Technologies
Mansour Sharha | Platform Customer Engineering, Google

Sign up at registration table 

A structured networking lunch where six corporate industry leaders bring real challenges to the table for open discussion

Corner hosts
AlumX | Sanjay Baskaran, Co-Founder & CEO
Deloitte| Chris Ahn, Automotive Technology & Software-defined Vehicles Leader
Internet2 | Chris Daugherty, Program Development Manager, AI and Emerging Technology
NVIDIA | Callahan Coplai, Senior Tech Manager
Paypal | Nurtekin Savas, Head of Global Risk Infrastructure, Platforms, Data & AI – VP
Snowflake | Shawn Kale, Senior District Manager

General open networking lunch

Featured Insight

Tara Behrend | Butler Professor of Human Resources and Labor Relations, MSU
Michael Horrigan | President, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Jonas Becker | Jerry Cowen Chair of Experimental Physics & Assistant Professor of Physics, MSU
Yansong Pei | Postdoctoral Scholar, Electrical and Computer Engineering, MSU
Jianrong Wang | Associate Professor, Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, MSU

Guided Conversations

Facilitated by:
Tomasz Cwik, Mentor-In-Residence, MSU Research Foundation

Fireside Chat

Mohammad Ghassemi | Professor/Co-founder, MSU/Ghamut
Sunny Nadolsky | Founder, BridgeCare

Sponsor:

Speakers & Advisors

Chris Ahn
Deloitte US

Sanjay Baskaran
AlumX.ai

Jonas Becker
MSU

Tara Behrend
MSU

Brandy Brown
StrataView

Callahan Coplai
NVIDIA

Joe Dearman
TechSmith

Emmanuel Dorley
ConStrat AI

Tomasz Cwik
MSU Research Foundation

Chris Daugherty
Internet2

Mohammad Ghassemi
MSU/Ghamut

Dale Grogan
Michigan Capital Network Ventures

Timothy Grotjohn
Great Lakes Crystal Technologies

Michael Horrigan
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Shawn Kale
Snowflake

Anum Mughal
MSU Research Foundation

Tom Munley
Analytics8

Sunny Nadolsky
BridgeCare

Marcio Oliveira
MSU

Yansong Pei
MSU

Mansour Sharha 
Google

Shashank Priya 
MSU Office of Research and Innovation

Josh Ross
Scalable AI

Ilan Rubinfeld
Henry Ford Health

Nurtekin Savas
PayPal

Anjana Susarla
MSU Broad College

Soma Venkat
Cooper Standard

Jianrong Wang
MSU

David Washburn
MSU Research Foundation

Help Create Our Future with Data Science + AI:

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