Principal, TTSE Tech, LLC

Richard Steffens has over 30 years’ experience as a senior government official, diplomat, venture capitalist and entrepreneur supporting innovative companies with growth and global expansion. Prior to founding TTSE, Mr. Steffens served as U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary/Director for Asia (2020-2022), where he spearheaded the investment attraction effort leading to the TSMC $40B semiconductor project in Arizona. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary/Director for Western Hemisphere (2015-2020), where he spearheaded the regional roll-out of the SelectUSA program which attracted $20B in global manufacturing investment in the U.S.

Consulting Managing Director, TTSE Tech, LLC

Tripp Hornick delivers measurable client success at the intersection of strategic advisory, operational execution, FP&A, and innovative financing through government grants and incentives. A cross-functional executive, Tripp is known for translating strategy into actionable execution, breaking down organizational silos, and driving value creation. He is a recognized government funding, supply chain, and operations expert in national security sectors, including critical minerals, energy, pharmaceuticals, and defense applications. Tripp is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a recipient of its Young Alumni Award; he also holds a Master of Studies in Law, cum laude from Fordham Law.

Managing Director, Global Mineral Strategies LLC

Mr. Stanley served as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s first-ever Office Director covering the critical minerals, ferrous metals, and non-ferrous metals sectors. He led an office of 10 industry and trade specialists that worked with U.S. and international public and private sector stakeholders supporting the establishment and advancement of critical mineral and strategic metals supply chains. Mr. Stanley was the lead author of the 2019 Federal Critical Minerals Strategy under the Trump Administration, developed the Trump Administration China Phase One Agreement critical minerals & strategic materials sector strategy, and helped stand up the first-ever Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Critical Minerals and Non-Ferrous Metals.

Founder, Fulcrum Ventures

Yamilee Bastien has served as the Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassies in Brasilia, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and as the Acting Regional Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, where she covered the Andean countries and Panama.  She has launched public-private partnerships and briefed senior leaders across government and industry, including as the Department of Commerce's Liaison Officer to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). In recognition of her commendable service to the DOD, she received the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs' Joint Civilian Commendation Award.

President and Chief Scientist, Neotericon, LLC

Dr. Mark Banish specializes in nanomaterials and advanced technology. With over three decades of industrial experience, the last two have been spent mostly in nanoscience and developing products based upon it. He was formerly VP-Chief Scientist at Nanocomp Technologies (now Huntsman Chemicals) where he was responsible for the fundamental science of how Nanocomp made their carbon nanomaterial-based sheet and yarns as identifying and proving the links between their unique nanoscale features and the performance of end products. Prior to Nanocomp, he was the director for production and quality for the company's nanomaterial products for Zyvex Corporation, where he managed manufacturing operations and initiated the industry's first supply chain certification process to qualify carbon nanotubes.

Senior Advisor

Richard Donohoe brings 35 years of domestic and international project development and valuation experience in space, aerospace, energy, life sciences, biotech, AI, mineral, semi-conductor, and defense technology markets. He leads technical and financial valuation aspects for regulatory compliance and economic valuations of operating companies, venture, and Intellectual Property (IP). Engagement experience focuses on M&A, SPACs, management of Joint Ventures (JVs) and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) companies, IP technology valuation for commercial and market fit, fairness opinions technical analysis and business valuations. His role is evaluating Private Equity, SEC compliance and Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) family offices technology companies in advanced manufacturing as well as critical supply chain for defense, space, and energy markets. 

CEO, Lakeside 360 Partners, LLC

Bob Render is the president and CEO of Lakeside 360 Partners, a sustainability and recycling consulting firm that develops circular strategies and programs for companies to reduce their carbon impact. This includes incorporating recycled and renewable content in products, feed stock development and preprocessing strategy for advanced recycling, and measuring carbon impacts. Lakeside 360 Partners work with clean tech companies to secure funding and strategy.