Ascend '26
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Explore the Future

Ascend’26 is a swarm of events designed for pioneers shaping the next chapter, activated by Google Cloud, leading VCs and ecosystem partners.

Connect with the founders, operators, investors and developers who are defining, funding and building the future.

WEDS 14 OCT

Ascend Basecamp
Explore the futureActivated byGoogle Cloud

EXPLORING:

The future of

health

The future of

work

The future of

creativity

The future of

robotics

The future of

the planet

Startup.Standup.

THURS 15 OCT

Ascend Sessions

Choose your path to the topActivated byEvent Partners
AI Builders Breakfast with Google DeepMindFull day workshopAntigravity in Action: Building & Authoring Agent Skills with Google For DevelopersWomen in Tech Connect with Blackbird, Antler, Scale Investors, Giant Leap, Google CloudElevate with Google: AI Driven Customer Expansion with GoogleInside the Mind of the VC with Folklore Ventures, OneVenturesCyber in the age of AI with Wiz, Main SequenceTokenomics with Google CloudCapital Collision with Innovation Bay
Startup Street SocialWhere Spice Alley meets Silicon Valley

Ascend'26 Speakers

Ascend'26 Agenda

Wednesday 14 October 2026

Ascend Basecamp
Ascend Basecamp with Google Cloud, Google DeepMind
Time:
8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Location:
Google HQ
Speakers:
Mark McDonald, Niki Scevak, Mike Langford, Jacky Koh, Tim Doyle, Frank Greeff, Shyeon Delnawaz, Sami Ede, Pip Bingemann, Dilani Kahawala, Scott Riddle, Paul Migliorini, Elli Hanson, Ramesh Heidary, Sebastian Henrici, Steve Grace, Laura Heidrich, Nicholas Mason, Clayton Jacobson, Jethro Cohen, Mark Dando, Dominic Price, Talea Bader

The flagship gathering featuring global AI pioneers, Google & DeepMind leaders, and Australia's leading VCs.

Thursday 15 October 2026

AI Builders Breakfast
AI Builders Breakfast with Google DeepMind
Time:
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Location:
Google HQ
Speakers:
Mark McDonald

This exclusive invitation-only breakfast at Google HQ is tailored for AI-native founders and leading CTOs. Mark McDonald (Gemini Developer Experience, Google DeepMind) will be running live demos of Google’s latest AI products and leading a candid conversation on the future of software development. This event is designed for VC-backed technical founders and CTOs. Other technical founders can register their interest to attend and we will be in touch if spaces are available.

Women in Tech Connect
Women in Tech Connect with Blackbird, Antler, Scale Investors, Giant Leap, Google Cloud
Time:
8:30 am – 10:30 am
Location:
Antler, Haymarket
Speakers:
Kate Glazebrook, Gill Findlay, Laura Heidrich, Carley Scott, Chelsea Newell, Padma Gadiyar, Sophie Sherman

Uniting top female founders and investors to deliver actionable growth insights, drive high-value connections, and elevate talent across the ecosystem

Sydney to Silicon Valley: The Founder's Survival Guide
Sydney to Silicon Valley: The Founder's Survival Guide with Airtree, Stripe, Stone & Chalk
Time:
9:30 am – 11:00 am
Location:
Stone & Chalk
Speakers:
Dan Anisse, Daniel Lord-Doyle, Delia Deng, Justin Teo

Australian founders building in the US join Airtree and Stripe for a candid look at what US market entry actually involves, from hiring and customer acquisition to entity setup, tax and compliance. You'll leave with practical next steps and direct access to people who've already done it.

Antigravity in Action: Building & Authoring Agent Skills
Antigravity in Action: Building & Authoring Agent Skills with Google For Developers
Time:
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Location:
Google ODI
Speakers:
Brett Morgan

Join us for a hands-on, fast-paced workshop and hackathon exploring Google Antigravity—Google's agent-first development platform!

Elevate with Google: AI Driven Customer Expansion
Elevate with Google: AI Driven Customer Expansion with Google
Time:
9:30 am – 11:00 am
Location:
Stone & Chalk
Speakers:
Louise Donnelly, Vishakha Turan

An intimate session for 20 AUNZ founders, CMOs and growth marketers on using Gemini-powered ad solutions to scale customer acquisition.

Connected Context. How high-growth startups operationalize AI
Connected Context. How high-growth startups operationalize AI with Notion
Time:
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location:
Stone & Chalk

Learn how startup leaders are embedding AI across product, engineering, sales, marketing and operations. Hear practical lessons from founders and functional leaders, followed by a live demonstration of connected AI workflows in Notion.

Lunch and Learn: Scaling Without Losing the Plot
Lunch and Learn: Scaling Without Losing the Plot with Giant Leap
Time:
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location:
Stone & Chalk, Boardroom 2
Speakers:
Will Richardson, Virginia Murdoch

As AI reshapes everything daily, how do founders stay focused on building what customers actually want, rather than just what's technically possible?

Inside the Enterprise Deal: From Pilot to Procurement
Inside the Enterprise Deal: From Pilot to Procurement with Stone & Chalk
Time:
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location:
Stone & Chalk
Speakers:
Karen Lawson, Matthew Werner, Stela Solar

Enterprise deals are complex, slow and rarely follow a straight line. Hear what actually moves a deal forward, from proving value and building internal buy-in to navigating procurement, risk and multiple decision-makers.

CXO Roundtable & Lunch: AI Agents in Production, Securely
CXO Roundtable & Lunch: AI Agents in Production, Securely with Aviato Consulting Pty Ltd
Time:
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location:
Good Luck Private Dining Room (Merivale), 11 Bridge Street, Sydney
Speakers:
Ben King

A private catered lunch for 14 CTOs, CISOs and technical founders who are putting AI agents into production and need them to be secure. There are no slides and no pitches, just a candid conversation with peers who are solving the same problems, hosted by Aviato Consulting with Google Cloud. Registration: https://luma.com/ze4bqyic

Lunch & Learn: A founder masterclass in raising capital
Lunch & Learn: A founder masterclass in raising capital with AI Native Australia
Time:
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location:
The Pillars
Speakers:
Mike Canizales

Learn the inside secrets from industry veterans who have raised over $100M of institutional capital at all stages from all sources.

Inside the Mind of the VC
Inside the Mind of the VC with Folklore Ventures, OneVentures
Time:
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location:
Google PIR
Speakers:
Divine Aaron, Tina Tran, Jay Chiu

Forget scripted demo days. Inside the Mind of the VC is an intensive, roll-up-your-sleeves fundraising lab co-hosted with OneVentures and Folklore. Through live pitch deck reviews, meeting simulations and direct investor feedback, founders will get an inside look at how VC investment teams screen opportunities, build conviction and make investment decisions.

How We’d Build the Next Unicorn
How We’d Build the Next Unicorn with Rampersand, Unicorn Founders
Time:
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Location:
Google PIR
Speakers:
Rod Hamilton, Philip Jacob, Deepesh Banerji, Dilani Kahawala

A collection of Australia’s top product people who helped build Australian unicorns unpack how they would do it again with today’s AI tools. They’ll explore what they’d keep, what they’d change, and what they’d never do again.

Cyber in the age of AI
Cyber in the age of AI with Wiz, Main Sequence
Time:
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Location:
Stone & Chalk
Speakers:
Stefan Avgoustakis, Matthew Zwolenski, Gabrielle Munzer

Practical security guidance and infrastructure protection strategies from Google security experts and leading Cyber founders.

Tokenomics
Tokenomics with Google Cloud
Time:
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Location:
Stone & Chalk
Speakers:
Nick Jenkins

Cut through the noise, optimise model spending, and build a sustainable AI strategy.

Capital Collision
Capital Collision with Innovation Bay
Time:
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Location:
Stone & Chalk
Speakers:
Melissa Widner, Steve Allan, Stew Glynn, Lynn Thompson, Ian Gardiner, Isabella Rich

Hosted by Innovation Bay a debate between Capital Providers (Angel, Syndicate, VC, Debt). Also features early stage founder showcases and a closing mixer.

Startup Street Social
Startup Street Social with TEN13, Five V Capital, OIF Ventures, Folklore Ventures, Google Cloud
Time:
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location:
Spice Alley

Join us for the biggest Startup street party Sydney has ever seen. Street bars and food stalls, live music and good vibes without the coding.

Coming from out of town?

Launch House & Sandbox House

An intimate collision of the world's best minds under one roof.

Hosted by IRL By Amber · 50 places

A community-led accommodation space for Ascend'26 attendees looking for an intimate environment to connect, learn, and collaborate. The experience includes hands-on workshops, expert mentorship, and curated fireside discussions in a small-group setting.

Note: Launch House is an independent activation hosted and operated solely by IRL by Amber. It is not managed, operated, or under the responsibility of Ascend’26 or Google Cloud.

Launch House at Ascend '26

Launch House

Designed for founders & operators

Register →
Sandbox House at Ascend '26

Sandbox House

Designed for tech founders & builders

Register →
Startup Street Social — Where Spice Alley meets Silicon Valley. Thursday 15 October, 6pm – 10pm, Spice Alley Chippendale.

Ascend'26 Partners

  • Blackbird logo
  • Innovation Bay logo
  • Main Sequence logo
  • Folklore logo
  • OIF logo
  • Airtree logo
  • Ten13 logo
  • Stone & Chalk logo
  • Antler logo
  • The Pillars logo