Join the University of Rochester Entrepreneurs Network for an innovative conversation on what’s next in entrepreneurship. Discover how University alumni are using artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making to launch and build globally competitive businesses in today’s rapidly evolving economy.

There will be a reception immediately following the panel at the Eisenberg Rotunda in Schlegel Hall.

The discussion, moderated by Elizabeth MacBride, national bestselling author of Capital Evolution: The New American Economy and a senior consultant with We-Fi and the World Bank, will examine how entrepreneurs are pairing early AI adoption with financial resilience to boost productivity, reduce costs, and improve outcomes.

12-1 p.m. (ET) Panel Discussion
1-2 p.m. Reception 

The panelists include: 
• Karla George ’21S (MBA), CEO of FLX AI, Inc. 
• Rami Katz ’03S (MBA), CEO of Excell Partners 
• Daphne Pariser ’17M (MS), ’21M (PhD), CEO of HeronAi 
• James Senall ’99S (MBA), president of NextCorps

Admission to the panel and reception is free of charge, advance registration is required. The first 100 alumni and students to register will receive MacBride’s new book, Capital Evolution: The New American Economy. Registrants must attend the event to receive their book.

This event is hosted by the URochester Entrepreneurs Network in partnership with Simon School of Business, Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, the Women’s Network, and the Greene Center for Career Education and Connections.

Meet the moderator: 

Elizabeth MacBride is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author whose work examines how capital, entrepreneurship, and innovation are reshaping economies in the United States and around the world. Her latest book, Capital Evolution: The New American Economy, was a national bestseller. Having reported everywhere from Idaho to the Arkansas Delta and from Cambodia to Gaza, Elizabeth brings a rare, on-the-ground perspective to the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to reshape society. She is an advocate for a fairer financial system that expands opportunity, strengthens democratic capitalism, and increases women’s economic power. She's also been a media entrepreneur herself, having worked on successful journalism startups over the years, and she led content for Wealthfront as the movement toward online investing took off.

Meet the panel:

Karla George ’21S (MBA) is the CEO of FLX AI, a Rochester-based company focused on de-risking and operationalizing AI by aligning business strategy, data reality, and technical readiness. She attributes FLX AI’s success to building strong, trust-based relationships, leading with integrity, and taking the time to deeply understand each customer’s business before applying technology.

Karla began her career in financial services at Guggenheim Partners and UBS before joining Sutherland Global Services. She later joined the University of Rochester’s Data Science Consortium, overseeing operations and playing a key role in positioning the organization for commercial growth and long-term sustainability. In 2021, she was instrumental in leading the consortium’s successful transition into FLX AI.

Committed to community and building connection, Karla serves as Co-Chair of the URochester Women’s Network, has mentored through the Greater Rochester Chamber’s CLIMB program, and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks.

Karla earned her bachelor’s degree from Siena College, where she was a dual Division I athlete, and an executive MBA from the Simon School of Business. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in the Adirondacks with her husband and two dogs.

Rami Katz ’03S (MBA) is the CEO of Excell Partners, Inc., managing Excell’s due diligence and investment processes. Prior to joining Excell, Rami served as the director of technology commercialization at High Tech Rochester where he worked closely with entrepreneurs, researchers, and startups to evaluate the commercial potential of new technologies. Rami managed the creation of over 50 business plans that led to raising over $40 million in funding from venture capitalists, angels, and grants.

Rami is an attorney who led a litigation, banking, and corporate law practice in Israel, managing a legal team that directed the restructure of over $14 million in corporate and asset backed debt annually, while growing the group’s revenues by over 300%.

After launching his own legal and management consulting practice in Israel, he was one the founding members of a seed stage investment group, investing and assuming leadership roles in seed stage, technology ventures to provide financial and business development management. The group launched 12 high-tech startups focused on advanced materials, internet technologies, consumer electronics, and medical devices.

Rami earned his MBA from the University of Rochester and his law degree from the Tel-Aviv University in Israel.

Daphne Pariser ’17M (MS), ’21M (PhD) is the founder and CEO of HeronAI, where she is building the first decision intelligence system for the mid-market. HeronAI was born from her experience working with 189 companies, where she saw how fragmented data and analyst shortages quietly undermine critical business decisions. Trained at the University of Rochester for her PhD and MIT and Harvard for her post doctorate, Daphne focuses on rebuilding institutional decision memory, creating infrastructure that turns messy, real-world data into trusted, auditable action.

James Senall ’99S (MBA) is president of NextCorps which is committed to creating entrepreneurship and innovation-based regional growth. During his tenure, the organization has launched several new initiatives, including a software accelerator program, a clean tech accelerator, a statewide Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, and an optics, photonics, and imaging accelerator.

His prior experience includes co-founding the Rochester Angel Network in 2005, which he continues to lead as its managing director; experience with multiple startup companies; engineering and manufacturing roles at multi-billion dollar firms; and teaching graduate-level courses in tech entrepreneurship.

Jim has served in various board roles including chairman of the Business Incubator Association of New York State, board member of the New York State Economic Development Council, board member of several startups including Adarza Biosystems, VPG Medical, and Scout Space, Executive Committee member of the University of Rochester’s Tech Development Fund, Investment Committee member of Launch NY’s seed capital fund, and board member of Rochester Angel Network and the Rochester Angel Fund.

He holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, and an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship from the Simon Business School.