Preparing to accelerate what’s next, YPO launched its fourth annual YPO Innovation Week at the 2019 CES in Las Vegas. YPO’s program focuses on emerging technologies and new breakthroughs which are transforming a wide range of industries.

“It’s very inspiring to hear from so many great innovators as CES kicks off,” says CEO of Nitrous Effect and YPO member Keith Alper. “Three years ago, I attended my first CES and it helped change how I do business. Now, I encourage fellow YPO members to make innovation a priority, and if they’re able, attend some part of CES because it’s not just about electronics anymore.”

At the 2019 YPO Innovation Week launch event, YPO members were welcomed by Executive Board at-large Member of CES and YPO member Daniel Pidgeon. The group of 90 participated in a full day of cutting-edge panel discussions on innovation within robotics and machine intelligence, wearable technology, internet of things (IoT) and medical technology.

Innovators pitch latest ideas

YPO member companies, including NomadPlug, CellPoint, Caresoft Global, Heatworks and Cemtrex, showcased hands-on tech innovations and electronics.

In addition, select Techstars companies, including Shinebathroom.com, ChefConnie and Omnixlabs, offered members access to the latest in tech innovation in a series of pitch sessions.

Innovative leader and technologist Bob Sutor, Ph.D., VP-IBM Q Strategy and Ecosystem, IBM Research,  spoke on quantum computing for business. Avnet CEO Bill Amelio discussed “winning again” after a near-death experience. YPO members David Karandish, CEO of Jane.ai, Tom Trowbridge, President of Hedera Hashgraph, and Jen Wong, COO of Reddit, also presented.

Beyond conventional

On 12 – 18 May, YPO Innovation Week will bring together members for a series of in-person and digital events designed to connect the world’s most dynamic innovators, disruptors and leaders for the chance to challenge conventional thinking and gain actionable insight.

Business leaders and pioneering thinkers will engage in a week-long forum discussing the most important innovations affecting business today.

“Most companies fail not because they do the wrong thing, they fail because they did the right thing for too long,” says Rajeev Kapur, CEO of 1105 Media, Inc. and YPO member. “Innovation Week is a terrific program put on by some amazing YPO members that highlight the need to innovate, how to innovate and why they need to innovate or be left behind. It’s easily one of the top YPO education benefits of the year.”

YPO members are hosting innovation events in locations across the globe in May, including London, England, UK; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Paris, France; Geneva, Switzerland; Shenzen, China; Hong Kong, China; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco, California, USA; Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Santiago, Chile; Moscow, Russia; Lisbon, Portugal; and Lagos, Nigeria. The week will feature workshops, live-streamed panels, insider company tours, TED-style presentations and debates.

For more information and to register, visit the YPO Innovation Week website.