Innovation & Monetization Summit 2027

2026 in review

The first CES Innovation & Monetization Summit was held on January 7, 2026 at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, across from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Nearly 240 founders, operators and investors attended fast, focused talks on turning innovation into execution. Faraday Future was title partner.

• Welcome & Opening: Reception and check-in at the signature wall; Opening remarks from the organizers; Networking refreshments
• Keynote: Chris Chen of Faraday Future on the FF Global EAI Industrial Bridge Strategy; Opening the U.S. market with smart electric vehicles and an embodied-intelligence ecosystem
• Roundtable Dialogues: Scale, standardization and culture: can robots launch a restaurant revolution?; Global expansion: from overseas manufacturing to U.S. localization; AI + Web3: turning new technology into profitable products and services
• Awards, Open Mic & Cocktails: LeaderXport × BossHub Global Innovation Awards; Elite open mic: 3-minute founder pitches, live-streamed; Cocktail reception for deeper conversations

2026 speakers and guests

• Andrew Cherng, Founder, Panda Express. Andrew Cherng: co-founder and Chairman of Panda Restaurant Group. He transformed a single restaurant into a global dining empire with over 2,500 locations worldwide, pioneering the mainstream brandization of Chinese cuisine in the United States and earning recognition as a legendary figure in bringing Chinese food to the world.
• Chris Chen, Co-CEO, Faraday Future AI-Robotics. Chris Chen is Co-CEO of Faraday Future AI-Robotics.
• Guo Hongcai, Leading Chinese Web3 OG. Guo Hongcai is one of China's earliest Bitcoin evangelists and a prominent thought leader in the crypto industry. An entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, he has been deeply involved in Bitcoin and blockchain ecosystem development since 2013. Known for his outspoken and uncompromising stance, he remains highly active in the global crypto community, focusing on Bitcoin, decentralized finance, and the social impact of crypto assets. He possesses strong judgment and influence over industry trends and risks.
• Brother Sway, Renowned Cultural Commentator | Top-tier Content Creator. Cui Baoyin: a well-known stand-up comedian and cultural commentator active in the Chinese communities across North America. He humorously and incisively explores cultural differences between China and the U.S., immigrant life, and social phenomena. With 5 million followers across all platforms, his performances—blending authentic Beijing accents with American-style humor—have made him a highly recognizable cross-cultural observer within the North American Chinese community.
• Shanglong Li, Bestselling Author | Founder of Levault.ai. A globally bestselling author with over ten million copies sold, a leading AI influencer, and a founder of AIvolution Capital, focusing on early-stage AI investments. He is also the founder of Levault.ai and Yuandianji MCN in Hangzhou. In addition, he serves as a visiting professor at the University of California and California Science and Technology University.
• Kimberly Holland, Internationally Renowned Bilingual Host | Co-founder, Master TV MCN. With blonde hair and blue eyes, Kimberly Holland speaks fluent, accent-free Chinese. She has made unique contributions to Sino-U.S. cultural exchange, entertainment, and diplomacy. As co-founder of Master TV MCN, she has hosted international and national events in the U.S., including presidential addresses. She is also renowned for her outstanding achievements in entertainment, film financing, and entertainment project development.
• Ray Wang, Co-founder, Global Influencer Economy Alliance & Master TV MCN. Ray Wang：Co-founder of Celebrity Media and Master TV MCN, with 20+ years' experience across entertainment, media, marketing, and PR. A veteran of China, the U.S., Hong Kong, and Taiwan's celebrity industry, he specializes in PR campaigns, collaborations, and brand promotion for top-tier international celebrities and corporate elites. Known as a "celebrity think tank," Wang pioneered Sino-U.S. cultural exchanges, including Chinese delegations' historic participation in the Grammy and Emmy Awards. Recently, he has focused on live-streaming e-commerce, short-video marketing, AI video production, and celebrity-themed crypto projects. He also co-founded the global Influencer Economy Alliance and Bemy Hollywood Influencer Awards. Under his leadership, the company—an official TikTok service partner—has built an integrated marketing network across the top six U.S. short-video and e-commerce platforms, offering end-to-end services from PR strategy to sales conversion.
• Jing Zhao, Chair, Global CSR Foundation | Chair, UN Women's Global Women Leadership Summit. Jing Zhao Cesarone is the Founder and CEO of the Global CSR Foundation and Chair of the UN Women's Global Women Leadership Summit. She has over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural strategy, sustainable development, and NGO management. She has received the NAWBO Women's Achievement Award and the Global Achievement Award from the Chinese Culture Foundation. She has long promoted international cooperation in education, sustainability, and climate action, successfully bridging high-level exchanges between businesses and policymakers in China and the U.S.
• Roy Ying, Chairman, American Lanzhou Noodle Group | President, China-US Sister Cities Promotion Association. Roy Ying serves in multiple capacities including Honorary President of the American Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the China-US Investment Expo, and President of the American Investment Association. He has long been active in the field of China-US trade and industrial exchange. Dedicated to promoting traditional Chinese culinary culture overseas, under his leadership, Lanzhou Noodles—known as "China's First Noodle"—continues to achieve scaled development and is entering larger global stages.
• Diana Zhang, Vice President, APAC World Trade Group | Chairwoman, Hangzhou World Trade Center. Diana Zhang currently serves as Vice President of APAC World Trade Group and is a long-term active investor in Silicon Valley. She co-founded the Peking University Public Welfare Incubator and the PKU Weiming Angel Fund. She also serves as Executive Director of the Chinese American Experts Association, Executive President of the Flying Tigers Cultural Exchange Association, Vice President of APAC World Trade Group, and Chairwoman of Hangzhou World Trade Center. She is dedicated to promoting business exchanges, capital cooperation, and cross-border project implementation between China and the United States.
• Jijun Cai, Co-founder, Bay AI Circle | Founder, FlowGen. Jijun Cai is a serial entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in marketing, product, and technology. He previously worked in Silicon Valley on iOS development and product management, leading multi-platform applications, social growth tools, and financing matchmaking platforms. In 2023, he co-founded Bay AI Circle in Palo Alto, creating the largest generative AI community brand globally, and successfully hosted multiple large-scale generative AI summits in Silicon Valley and San Francisco. He later founded FlowGen, replacing marketing teams with AI to help enterprises and creators achieve 100× cost reduction and efficiency improvement, aiming to reshape organizational efficiency and business models through technological innovation.
• Guang Lin, Chairman, Global Influencer Economy Alliance | President, U.S. Zhejiang General Chamber of Commerce. Guang Lin is the founder of the Global Influencer Economy Alliance (GIEA) and President of the U.S. Zhejiang General Chamber of Commerce. His legendary business career is a testament to continuous breakthrough and innovation. From his early success in introducing Wenzhou-made lighters to the U.S. market—earning him the title of "Lighter King" after selflessly donating a $2 billion patent to the entire industry—to founding one of the most influential Chinese chambers of commerce in America, and now visionary leadership in the global influencer economy, his journey has been remarkable. Beyond business, he is a prominent philanthropist and was honored with the title of "Hero of the Overseas Chinese Community in the Fight Against the Pandemic."
• Haiying Wei, Chairman, Horizon International Investment (Group) | Member of 10th & 11th Guangdong CPPCC. Haiying Wei has built an industrial matrix spanning manufacturing, investment, and finance. His company, Horizon International Investment (Group) Limited, is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 1046). The core manufacturing enterprise, Zhongshan Jinri Aluminum Co., Ltd., focuses on new alloy materials. He also serves as a member of the 10th and 11th Guangdong CPPCC, President of the Zhongshan Chaozhou Overseas Association, and Honorary Chairman of the Southern California Chinese Associations Alliance. He continuously builds bridges for trade and cultural exchange between China and overseas markets.
• Ice Lin, Founder, Magic Ice Cube | Hurun Under 30. Ice Lin founded Magic Ice Cube, building it into a Los Angeles-based multinational trading platform with $350 million in revenue within four years. He was listed on Hurun Under 30 and currently serves as Chairman of the World Elite Leaders Alliance, Chair of the Young Committee of the China-U.S. International Economic Cooperation Alliance, Vice President of the International Chaoqing Federation, Vice President of the U.S. Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Chamber, and G20 Young Entrepreneurs Elite. He focuses on global trade innovation and international business cooperation.
• Carter Qiu, Founder, Omninal & POSX. Carter Qiu is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Omninal & POSX. He focuses on crypto payments, stablecoin settlements, and merchant financial infrastructure, dedicated to bringing blockchain technology into real business scenarios. His projects follow the core strategy of "compliance first, merchant-centric, US-first," building a global payment network that connects offline POS, online payments, and consumer incentives.
• Mingming Wang, Executive President, US-China E-commerce Trade Association | President, Fenglei International Group USA. Mingming Wang has long been deeply engaged in China-US e-commerce and cross-border trade. She holds an MBA with a composite academic background in international finance, accounting, and finance, continuously promoting in-depth cooperation between Chinese and American enterprises in e-commerce, trade, and international development. She has received the Global Outstanding Women Award and the California Outstanding Contribution Award, and was elected as an overseas committee member of the 7th Shenzhen Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.
• Jerry Yang, Chairman, AI Robotics Alliance | CTO, StarBot. Jerry Yang currently serves as Chairman of the AI Robotics Alliance.
• Rebecca Wang, Co-founder, RWAWA. Rebecca Wang focuses on helping overseas expansion enterprises and asset-based companies with blockchain evaluation and financing services for existing physical assets. Leveraging local Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston tech innovation and capital network communities, she assists with market promotion and connecting with U.S. local resources. With years of experience in the U.S. engaging in used equipment and computing power asset recovery, she has firsthand experience in asset pricing, circulation, and compliance.
• Lawrence Huang, Founder, LeaderXport | Million-Follower Influencer. Lawrence Huang is the founder of AI-powered global expansion companion, a prominent attorney, and a columnist for Sina Finance. He organized the inaugural "North America Go-Global Roast Conference" and gained a million followers by sharing insights on overseas expansion and legal expertise. He is dedicated to helping Chinese brands transition from an "experience-driven" era to an "intelligence-driven" era.
• Jannie Yuan, Founder & CEO, BossHub. Jannie Yuan founded the first business interview channel systematically documenting the Chinese entrepreneurial ecosystem in America, "Jannie Explores America," with nearly one million followers across all platforms. She initiated the U.S. CEO Business Academy, continuously connecting entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry resources in the U.S. As an angel investor, Jannie has long focused on Chinese brands going global and localizing in America, dedicated to promoting the long-term growth and global development of Chinese entrepreneurs.
• John Chen, Founder, AIU.WIKI | Former Researcher, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Former researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences with long-term focus on artificial intelligence, knowledge systems, and social governance. He is dedicated to exploring how AI reconstructs human cognitive structures and knowledge collaboration methods. He initiated the AIU.WIKI project to build a future-oriented open AI knowledge platform, promoting the application and implementation of artificial intelligence in public cognition, social innovation, and interdisciplinary research.
• Elaine Yang, Investment Partner, Waterdrip Capital | Founder, AI 101 Labs. Elaine Yang is the Founder of AI 101 Labs and an early investor active in AI × Web3 × RWA projects. She is an Investment Partner at Waterdrip Capital and GP at AI 101 Labs. Elaine advises multiple leading blockchain and AI projects, focusing on AI research, GTM strategy, and ecosystem building. She also founded an AI & Web3 KOL agency, specializing in content growth and community-ecosystem synergy.
• Gloria Ai, Founder of iAsk Media & Capital | Former CCTV Financial Commentator. Gloria Ai is a host, investor, and founder of iAsk Media & Capital. She formerly served as CCTV's financial commentator in New York and is now the producer of "iAsk Figures," a frequently invited bilingual host at international business forums including the Boao Forum for Asia. An alumna of Harvard, Peking University, and Communication University of China, she serves as an industry mentor at Tsinghua Schwarzman College, a first-generation alumni mentor at Harvard University, and is a YPO member. She has documented nearly 2,000 influential figures with global media coverage across hundreds of outlets. Gloria has received Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 and WEF Global Shaper honors, and authored multiple financial publications.
• Miao Kang, Founder & CEO, Witti Marketing. Miao Kang has been deeply engaged in the AI and e-commerce sectors for over 10 years, with extensive full-cycle revenue growth experience. She has helped hundreds of American and Chinese overseas enterprises achieve more than 10x business growth. She excels at deeply integrating brand content, data insights, and business objectives to build long-term growth system capabilities covering traffic acquisition to conversion, driving sustainable enterprise development. Ms. Kang was selected for Forbes' 2024 Top 100 Elite List.
• Houston Hou, Executive Secretary-General, International Education Committee, Global Innovation Center. Houston Hou holds an EMBA from CEIBS and serves as the Global Convener of WYF. He exclusively operates over ten top global IPs, covering hundreds of thousands of students across 20 countries and thousands of international schools in China. Facing the failure of traditional credentials and hierarchical systems, he advocates breaking away from the closed "Legacy World" to build an "Open World" based on proof of results. Through the BloomAI protocol, he is driving humanity's evolution from passive "industrial components" to proactive "boundless builders," enabling every creative contribution to be authentically recognized and flourish in the AI era.
• Viola He, Co-founder, Good Deal MCN. Viola He, founder of the world's leading influencer marketing platform Good Deal MCN, oversees overseas influencer marketing spanning 103 countries and regions. With access to over 500 influencers, the platform reaches approximately 5 billion viewers worldwide. It is an official TikTok partner (TSP & TAP), a Meta-authorized operator, and holds Google Ads certification.
• Heidi Yu, Founder & CEO, SocialBook. Heidi Yu: Founder & CEO of SocialBook, the world's largest influencer big data SaaS platform. She was named one of Forbes' Top 100 Overseas Chinese Elites in 2022 and has consecutively ranked among the fastest-growing tech founders on the U.S. Inc. 5000 list from 2022 to 2025. She is also a Google Female Launch mentor at Draper University. SocialBook owns a global influencer network of over 200 million, covering the U.S., Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea, providing brands with end-to-end capabilities from seeding to global viral hits. VIP clients include Alibaba, Huawei, Xiaomi, and others.
• Harrison Chen, Co-founder, PurpleCloudAI. Harrison Chen focuses on providing artificial intelligence solutions and intelligent agent services for the North American legal industry. Through AI voice assistants, document and workflow automation, he helps law firms significantly improve efficiency, optimize operations, and reduce labor costs. Without changing existing processes, law firms can save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually while accelerating case processing speed and enhancing operational stability. As a pioneer in AI applications in the legal industry, Harrison excels at quickly understanding business scenarios and providing cutting-edge solutions ready for production deployment.

The next one: 2027 edition

Connecting innovative companies from China and around the world with real US demand. Full 2027 details.

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