Office Hours with UNY50 & Mentors: Albany

Join us for a fireside-style keynote and discussion designed to be practical, candid, and highly relevant to founders and tech employees.

Founders will have the option to apply for 1:1 office hour slots with mentors and select investors to receive tailored feedback and strategic insight on their companies.

**​​Agenda: **

**9:00 am - 10:00 am: **Snacks & networking

**10:00 am - 11:00am: **Fireside chat featuring Anna Topol (CEO of QLITHIC and former CTO of IBM Research), moderated by Jennifer Tegan (Managing Director of NY Ventures)

**11:15 am - 12:45 pm: **1-1 Office Hour slots with mentorsYou must sign up and be approved for the office hours ticket to be eligible. UVC will assign your schedule after you sign up.

Mentors:Silvia Garcia Codony, Associate Vice President at NY VenturesRob Dunie, UAlbany EIR, AIAndrew Flynn, CEO of The ValleyMarcia Mitchell, Vice President at Mesa Lane CapitalKevin Raper, Founder at The Venture CatalystChuck Stormon, General Partner of StartFast VenturesJason Tepper, Co-Founder and Managing Director at xLEADAnna Topol, CEO of QLITHICScott Tornek, President of KM Harris, LLCAnne Marie Chaker, Founder of LIFT Enterprises

Speaker Bio

Anna W. Topol,** Ph.D.** is the CEO of QLITHIC, a quantum technology startup, and a former Chief Technology Officer at IBM Research. Over a 25-year career at IBM, Dr. Topol held senior technical and executive leadership roles spanning strategic partnerships, industry initiatives, intellectual property management, advanced R&D, and fundamental technology development. She was named an IBM Distinguished Engineer and IBM Master Inventor, and is recognized for her work across semiconductors, nanotechnology, quantum computing, and emerging technologies. Dr. Topol is the holder is 96 patents.

A proud University at Albany alumna, Dr. Topol earned her graduate degrees from UAlbany and has been profiled by the university for her leadership at the forefront of technological change, including her contributions to IBM Research and quantum computing. She brings deep expertise in translating breakthrough research into industry-relevant innovation, making her perspective especially valuable to founders, investors, researchers, and ecosystem builders working to grow high-impact ventures across Upstate New York.