About this Event
Celebrating and Recognizing Iranian-American Excellence:
The IAP Summit 2026 is a two-day gathering bringing together accomplished Iranian-American leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, academics, technology innovators, investors, and community builders from across the United States and beyond. Under the theme "Celebrating and Recognizing Iranian-American Excellence," the Summit is designed to recognize extraordinary achievements, create meaningful connections across generations and industries, and explore how individual success can translate into a stronger and more connected community.
The program will feature inspiring keynotes, fireside conversations, expert panels, networking opportunities, and the IAP Pioneer Awards, honoring distinguished individuals whose achievements and contributions have paved the way for future generations. Hosted at the Plug and Play Tech Center in the heart of Silicon Valley, IAP Summit 2026 will provide a unique platform for leaders from technology, entrepreneurship, academia, science, medicine, arts, and other fields to connect, exchange ideas, and help shape the future of the Iranian-American community.
About IAP: The IAP is a non-profit and apolitical initiative organized primarily by volunteers.
Sponsorship: Organizations can support the Summit at the Diamond ($15,000), Platinum ($9,000), or Gold ($4,500) level. Learn more: https://www.iapsummit.org/sponsorship
Found Each Other - Day 1
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast - Tea, As It Has Always Been
Info: Registration, breakfast, and time to meet other attendees before the formal program begins.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:50 AM
Opening Remarks - Each of Us a Chapter
Info: IAP Summit Chairs
🕑: 09:50 AM - 10:00 AM
Opening Reflection - Set It Down
Host: Anousha
Info: Our Speaker Anousha Opening
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Keynote - From Refugee to Billionaire
Host: Ali Parsa
Info: Ali Parsa · Moderator: Jian Ghomeshi
30-minute keynote followed by 15 minutes of audience Q&A.
🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Break
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Pioneer Awards - The Ones Who Paved It
Host: Mark Tehranipoor
Info: Honoring Maryam Mirzakhani
Honoring Saeed Amidi, Pioneer in Entrepreneurship
Moderators: Farzane Zokaee, Mark Tehranipoor
🕑: 11:20 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel - Bet Your Career on What?
Host: Ali Parsa
Info: Ali Parsa · Saeed Amidi · Maryam Rofougaran · Martin Basiri · Moderator: Jian Ghomeshi
A forward-looking conversation on technology, entrepreneurship, investment, and the opportunities shaping the next generation of companies.
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:45 PM
Networking Lunch - Around One Table
Info: Lunch and informal networking with fellow attendees.
🕑: 01:45 PM - 01:55 PM
Pioneer Awards - The Ones Who Paved It
Host: Shohreh Aghdashloo
Info: Honoring Shohreh Aghdashloo, Pioneer in Art
Moderators: Soheil Salehi, Shadi Fall
🕑: 01:55 PM - 02:30 PM
Conversation & Q&A - A Conversation with Shohreh Aghdashloo
Host: Shohreh Aghdashloo
Info: Shohreh Aghdashloo · Moderators: Shadi Fall, Rana Pourmohamad
A moderated conversation and audience Q&A focused on her journey, choices, and recent reflections.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Break
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:30 PM
Panel - Beyond Nowruz: The Architecture of a Successful and Lasting Diaspora
Host: Nazy Kaviani
Info: Nazy Kaviani · Mehrdad Ariannejad · Moderator: Soheil Salehi
A practical discussion about turning individual success into stronger networks, institutions, and support for the broader Iranian community.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 03:45 PM
Break
🕑: 03:45 PM - 04:15 PM
Featured Talk - A Date with Destiny
Host: Captain Behnam
Info: Captain Behnam · Moderator: Jian Ghomeshi
🕑: 04:15 PM - 05:45 PM
TBD
🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:45 PM
Conversation - Iranian, With a Sense of Humor
Host: Firoozeh Dumas
Info: Firoozeh Dumas · Moderator: Nazanin Rahnavard
🕑: 06:45 PM - 08:00 PM
Networking Dinner - When Night Falls, We Are All One
Host: Tehran Von Ghasri
Info: Featuring Tehran Von Ghasri
Dinner, conversation, and an informal close to the first day.
What We Build Now - Day 2
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast - Tea, As It Has Always Been
Info: Breakfast and time to continue conversations from the first day.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:45 AM
Opening Remarks - What We Started Yesterday
Info: IAP Summit Chairs
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:30 AM
Keynote - TBD
Host: Nasser Peyghambarian
Info: Nasser Peyghambarian
30-minute keynote followed by 15 minutes of audience Q&A.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM
Break
🕑: 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM
Pioneer Awards - The Ones Who Paved It
Host: Cumrun Vafa
Info: Honoring Cumrun Vafa, Pioneer in Science
Honoring Nader Engheta, Pioneer in Engineering
Moderators: Mark Tehranipoor, Farzane Zokaee
🕑: 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
Conversation & Q&A - Academic Excellence: Lessons, Choices, and Opportunities
Host: Cumrun Vafa
Info: Cumrun Vafa · Nader Engheta · Moderators: Mark Tehranipoor, Reza Abdolvand
Moderated conversation about Academia Path · Questions from the room.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:15 PM
Networking Lunch - Around One Table
🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:35 PM
Panel - Enduring Stereotypes About Iranians
Host: Tehran Von Ghasri
Info: Tehran Von Ghasri · Anousha · Captain Behnam · Moderator: Jian Ghomeshi
A candid conversation about the stereotypes that continue to shape perceptions of Iranians, how those narratives affect identity and belonging, and how culture, storytelling, humor, and public presence can help broaden the way Iranian experiences are understood.
🕑: 02:35 PM - 02:50 PM
Break
🕑: 02:50 PM - 04:20 PM
Panel - The First Step Is the Hardest
Host: Sarv Naderzad
Info: Sarv Naderzad · Leila Modarres · Farhad Taghibakhsh · Mohsen Asad · Moderators: Shahab Ardalan, Reza Abdolvand
Four founders discuss how they started, their early challenges, mistakes, funding decisions, and lessons learned.
🕑: 04:20 PM - 04:40 PM
Break
🕑: 04:40 PM - 05:40 PM
Panel - Leadership in Action
Host: Iman Khorsand
Info: Iman Khorsand · Babak Parkhideh · Mehrdad Biglarbegian · Tarah Hosseini · Moderator: Reza Esmaeeli
How First Principles Thinking Powers Tesla's Energy Innovation? What does first-principles thinking look like when applied at scale? This conversation brings together four Tesla engineering leaders to explore how bold thinking, engineering execution, and long-term vision translate into real-world innovation across energy, charging, and sustainable technologies.
🕑: 05:40 PM - 06:00 PM
Concluding Remarks - Write It Down. We Keep It a Year
Event venue & nearby stays
Plug and Play Tech Center, 440 North Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.