WMF draws 250 to Silicon Valley AI event and crowns three startup winners

WMF’s second AI For Future event brought 250 founders, investors and AI leaders to San Francisco on Nov. 5, expanding the Italian group’s transatlantic innovation network. TerraSpark, Salute360 and MON5 won the startup competition and will get access to WMF events and investor meetings in 2027.

Why it matters: - WMF used the San Francisco event to deepen ties between Europe, the U.S. and Asia across AI, investment and startup dealmaking. - The gathering created a direct path for winning startups to access WMF’s 2027 event lineup and venture capital connections. - The event also signaled WMF’s push to turn its international roadshow into a broader platform for cross-border innovation partnerships.

What happened: - The second edition of AI For Future – The WMF Event in Silicon Valley took place Nov. 5 at Mind The Bridge in San Francisco. - The event drew 250 founders, investors, venture capitalists, corporate leaders, AI experts and institutional representatives. - Attendees came from the United States, South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Luxembourg, San Marino and Italy. - WMF – We Make Future and Search On Media Group positioned the event as a bridge between innovation ecosystems, capital, companies, startups and institutions. - The event was held with support from ITA – Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). - Event partners included San Marino Innovation, POLIMI School of Management and the Digital Innovation Observatories of Politecnico di Milano. - Five Degrees and Durana Tech Park sponsored the event.

The details: - Veronica Maffei hosted the event. - Leonardo Nasi, vice consul and economic attaché at the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, opened with institutional remarks. - Giosafat Riganò, trade commissioner for the Italian Trade Agency in Los Angeles, also addressed the audience. - Nasi said the challenge is now to turn innovation into real-world applications, scale solutions and attract investment. - Cosmano Lombardo, founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of WMF – We Make Future, described the event as a way to connect startups and entrepreneurs using AI to build a different future. - Lombardo also spoke with Jerry Kaplan, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and AI expert. - Kaplan said generative artificial intelligence may become the single most important innovation in human history. - Kaplan told founders that starting a company today does not require the same amount of capital it once did. - Andrea Sguazzi, managing director North America at Mind The Bridge, joined the discussion. - Alberto Acito, managing director of INNOVIT, discussed the link between Italy’s innovation system and Silicon Valley. - Acito highlighted Physical AI, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and dual-use technologies as areas where Italy and Europe can contribute to the U.S. market. - Acito also said European startups should validate the U.S. market before raising capital. - A panel titled “Beyond the AI Hype: Who Will Build, Fund, and Own the Future?” featured Alicia Hanf of LG NOVA, Angelo Del Priore of HP Tech Ventures, Jeffrey Abbott of AI Salon and Nium’s Jazz Samra. - The panel focused on how AI companies are being built, financed and judged by investors and corporations. - The discussion also examined the need for human oversight in technology adoption. - Alessandro Piva, director of the European Digital Tech Watch at Politecnico di Milano, addressed European AI adoption trends. - WMF announced “Beyond the Game,” a new Sports Innovation Track that will debut at WMF – We Make Future 2027 on June 10–12 at BolognaFiere in Bologna, Italy. - The track will connect sports, artificial intelligence, technology and entrepreneurship across health and longevity, SportsTech and the business of sports. - Durana Tech Park used the event to spotlight Albania’s first science and technology park. - The park spans 126 hectares between Tirana and Durrës. - The park is structured as a special economic zone and already hosts more than 85 resident companies, 52% of them international.

Between the lines: - WMF is using the San Francisco stop to reinforce its role as an international connector rather than only an Italian conference brand. - The startup competition and the networking format suggest WMF is prioritizing business outcomes, not just stage content. - The emphasis on validation before fundraising reflects a more selective approach to entering the U.S. market. - The new sports track shows WMF is expanding its innovation agenda beyond core AI and digital technology.

What’s next: - The WMF International Roadshow continues Nov. 17 in Bengaluru, India, during the Bengaluru Tech Summit. - The roadshow then moves to Thessaloniki, Greece, on Nov. 19 for its sixth Greek stop. - In 2027, the roadshow returns to the U.S. for CES in Las Vegas from Jan. 6–9, then goes to Barcelona on April 9 and Tallinn on May 20. - WMF – We Make Future 2027 is scheduled for June 10–12 at BolognaFiere in Bologna, Italy. - Saudi Makes Future is set for Nov. 14–16, 2027, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. - TerraSpark, Salute360 and MON5 will receive exhibition opportunities across WMF’s major international events in 2027, including AI Festival in Milan, WMF in Bologna and Saudi Makes Future in Riyadh. - The three winners will also get dedicated meetings with venture capital funds from the WMF network. - All nine startups from the San Francisco competition will be able to pitch at WMF – We Make Future 2027. - The remaining finalists will gain additional opportunities to participate in the Startup District.

The bottom line: - WMF is turning its Silicon Valley event into a global funnel for startup exposure, investor access and international expansion across Europe, the U.S., Asia and the Middle East.