Arts

Frances Pollock 
Arts Track Lead; Director, Cultural Innovation Lab at Yale

For Frances, the Arts Track is about continuity. She is most excited about the long-term relationships that have grown around the track and the chance to showcase not just moments of innovation, but growth over time for creators, funders, and investors.

Playlist pick: “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen 
Hot take: We need to treat cynicism like alcoholism. 
Underrated Summit moment: Tim and Michelle. You truly cannot overrate them. 

Biotech

Morag Grassie 
Biotech Track Lead; Director, Blavatnik Fund for Innovation at Yale

Morag is energized by increased pre-seed investment in biotech, especially as more attention turns toward immunology, inflammation, and neuroscience, along with a growing willingness to take early risks.

Playlist pick: “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees 
Hot take: Great research finds answers. Great companies find the question that needs them. 
Underrated Summit moment: The collision of ideas across disciplines, and time spent at the Yale Art Galleries downtown. 

CIVIC

Caroline Tanbee Smith 
Civic Track Lead

Caroline sees 2026 as the year of the neighbor. The Civic Track brings together people working across housing, education, public space, and civic connection to explore how cities can work better and how trust and belonging can be rebuilt, from large systems to small acts of care. 

Playlist pick: “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen
Hot take: Taqueria Oyameles on Ferry Street is one of the best taco spots in New Haven.
Underrated Summit moment: The student volunteers and Deputy Track Leads who support every session.

CLIMATE

Stuart DeCew
Climate Track Lead; Executive Director, Yale Center for Business and the Environment and Director, Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator

Stu is especially excited about the launch of the Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator and the opportunity to translate world-class Yale research into flexible technologies that can be widely adopted and scaled.

Playlist pick: “Could Have Been Me” by The Struts 
Hot take: Manufacturing economics, geopolitics, and the need for resilience will accelerate adoption of climate and energy technologies. 
Underrated Summit moment: Alumni founders returning to campus and connecting with one another. 

HEALTH

Kaakpema (K.P.) Yelpaala
Heath Track Lead; Lecturer and Senior Fellow in Public Health

K.P. is most excited about the cross-track and cross-sector conversations that happen when people from very different backgrounds share space. He is especially interested in ideas that hold up outside ideal conditions and can deliver real-world health impact. 

Playlist pick: “Love Yourz” by J. Cole
Hot take: If your health innovation only works in a pilot, it is not innovation. It is a prototype in disguise.
Underrated Summit moment: Roaming the halls between sessions.

TECH

Claudia Reuter
Tech Track Lead; Executive Director, Engineering Innovation and Director, Roberts Innovation Fund

Claudia is excited about a move away from “innovation theater” and toward products and technologies that solve real problems. In 2026, she is looking forward to more founders building tools people actually use, more researchers crossing the last mile from lab to market, and more honest conversations about what it takes to scale. 

Playlist pick: “Changes” by David Bowie
Hot take: AI is not replacing jobs. It is replacing bad workflows.
Underrated Summit moment: Q&A with speakers.

Meet the Planning Team

Before diving into the individual tracks, it’s worth meeting the core planning team that brings the Yale Innovation Summit to life.

From shaping the overall vision to coordinating partners, sponsors, speakers, and community members, this group works year-round to ensure the Summit reflects the depth and diversity of Yale’s innovation ecosystem. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt everywhere, from the flow of the program to the energy in the room. Moreover, the Yale Innovation Summit is produced by Yale Ventures in close collaboration with Yale’s schools and units, and we are deeply grateful to our Yale and public partners whose collaboration makes this event possible. 

Amy Kundrat

Director of Innovation Community

Amy is especially excited about the inaugural Alumni Founder Reunion, a new addition to the Summit designed to bring Yale alumni founders back to campus for an unconference, networking, and a celebration of YES’s 25th anniversary. 

Playlist pick: “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem
Hot take: The Summit is a blank-canvas innovation marketplace. Bring your best ideas and leave with potential partners.
Underrated Summit moment: Attend at least one panel completely outside your area of expertise. That’s often where my best ideas come from.

Tim Opstrup

Co-Producer

For Tim, one of the most rewarding parts of the Summit is what happens after it ends. He’s always struck by the depth of the programming and the stories that begin with, “Because of the Summit, this happened,” moments that remind him why the work matters. 

Playlist pick: “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship
Hot take: Why settle for a slice when we can make a bigger pie? Let’s expand New Haven’s innovation ecosystem and build a thriving innovation corridor together.
Underrated Summit moment: The collaboration that happens long before the doors open. The partnerships across the planning team, government, speakers, sponsors, and the broader community are what allow the Summit to shine.

Michelle McQueen

Co-Producer

Michelle is looking forward to collaborating with content creators and social media influencers from across Connecticut to help tell the story of innovation around the state, and to help bring new audiences into the Summit. The chance to work with her "event dream team," Ashley, Lori, and Tim. After nearly a full year of planning, she approaches the event feeling equal parts excited, exhausted, and proud.

Playlist pick: Fun fact. Michelle curates the Summit playlist. When Chappell Roan or any ’90s R&B comes on, you can usually find her dancing in a way that would mortify her nine-year-old daughter.
Hot take: Programming brings people in, but the vibes are what makes them come back.
Underrated Summit moment: The playlist. (Unless you don’t like it, in which case direct all complaints to Tim Opstrup).