About the North American Lithuanian Business Forum (NALBF)
The North American Lithuanian Business Forum is a trusted transatlantic platform that connects Lithuania and North America for long-term strategic partnerships
Hosted each year in a different North American location, the forum adapts its focus to local ecosystems. The Los Angeles edition connects California’s innovation ecosystem with Europe, positioning Lithuania as a gateway to European markets. Beyond the annual event, NALBF supports ongoing dialogue and collaboration that lead to concrete partnerships between Lithuania and North America.
Agenda
Venue:TBA
Sector-specific programs
Sector-specific programs
Venue: Skirball Cultural Center (2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles)
8am - 5pm
2026 Select LA Investment Summit
Sector-specific programs
Venue: Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel (11461 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049)
6:30pm - 9:30pm
North American Lithuanian Business Forum's Networking Event
Venue: UCLA Grand Horizon Ballroom Terrace, Covel Commons (330 De Neve Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095)
8:30am – 9:30am
Registration, welcome coffee
Intro
MC:
Patrick Evans, Chief Meteorologist & Host KESQ Television
9:30am – 9:50am
Welcome remarks
Speakers:
Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania (video)
Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California (video)
Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles
9:50am – 10:00am
Europe’s Innovation Sandbox – powered by Lithuania
Speaker:
Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of the Economy and Innovation of Lithuania
10:00am – 10:30am
AI as Strategic Infrastructure: What Every Industry Must Understand Now
Speaker:
Shilpa Kolhatkar, Global Head of AI Nations, Nvidia
10:30am – 11:15am
Fireside Chat
Moderator:
Mary-Christine “M.C.” Sungaila, Partner, Complex Appellate Litigation Group LLP; Professor of Space Law & Policy, LMU Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Speakers:
Marty Kausas, Pylon CEO and Co-Founder
Jonas Žmuidzinas, Merle Kingsley Professor of Physics at California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
11:15am – 12:00pm
From Unicorns to Regulations: How AI is built, scaled, and deployed
Moderator:
Christopher Savoie, Founder of SiC Systems
Speakers:
Anima Anandkumar, Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech, Member of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board
Einaras von Gravrock, CEO and Founder of CUBE3 AI, Co-Founder of Cast AI, Founder of CUJO AI, Founder of Modnique, Judge @ Shark Tank Lithuania
Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of the Economy and Innovation of Lithuania
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Lunch Break and Networking
1:30pm – 2:15pm
What VCs Look for Today: Signals, Red Flags, and Long-Term Bets
Moderator:
Viktorija Trimbel, Managing Director at Coinvest Capital, Board Member at LitBAN – Lithuanian Business Angel Network
Speakers:
David Brown, Founding Managing Partner of Impellent Ventures
Jillian Manus, Venture Partner at SHIELD Capital, U.S. Venture Advisor to the European Innovation Council Fund
2:15pm – 3:00pm
Resilient Nations: AI, Defense, Food and Information Power
Moderator:
Vijay Sekhara, Director of Partnerships at Resilience Media
Speakers:
Andrius Pranckevičius, CEO of AB Kauno Grūdai and Deputy Chairman of the Board of AB Akola Group
3:00pm – 4:00pm
SupperConnectors Pitch Event by US Market Access Center
Moderators:
Alfredo Coppola, Co-CEO, US Market Access Center, Inc.
Danny Maco, Founder of AeroTelematics, Advisor at US Market Access Center
The SuperConnectors is a highly engaging networking event platform which breaks away from the usual pitch format. Startup founders will bring forth their most critical ask and will receive bids for game-changing connections from the SuperConnectors community in Silicon Valley and the audience. These well-connected individuals will compete in giving the best introductions in their networks to resolve the asks.
4:00pm - 4:20pm
NALBF 2027: Invitation to Canada
Speakers:
Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, Canada (Video)
4:20pm - 4:30pm
Closing remarks: Passing the Torch
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Farewell Networking @ UCLA Grand Horizon Ballroom Terrace, Covel Commons
H.E. Gitanas Nausėda
Eleni Kounalakis
Prof. Anima Anandkumar
Einaras von Gravrock
Jillian Manus
Andrius Pranckevičius
Mary-Christine “M.C.” Sungaila
Jonas Zmuidzinas
Alex Rockwell
Ruah Edelstein
Kaz Prapuolenis
Past Events
NALBF 2025 – Boston
In June 2025, the forum was hosted in Boston, Massachusetts. The event gathered Lithuanian and North American leaders for panels, networking, and deepened cooperation in business and diplomacy.
NALBF 2024 – New York
The forum in NYC connected Lithuanian innovators with investors via high-level networking, workshops, and sector missions in fintech, defense, and ICT.
NALBF 2023 – Chicago
The forum in Chicago gathered 400+ leaders from LT/US/CA/MX to drive networking and dialogue across manufacturing, logistics, life sciences, and startups
NALBF 2022 – Philadelphia
The inaugural forum in Philadelphia brought together 200+ business, government, and diaspora leaders for high-level discussions, innovator sessions, and networking focused on transatlantic opportunities and long-term collaboration.
Our Partners
Organizers
Sponsors
Sponsorship
Would you like to become a sponsor? Let's Talk!
Our sponsorship packages provide a clear starting framework. We are happy to tailor options to match your goals and interests.