Join the Technology Alliance for exclusive access to Cirque du Soleil’s most technologically advanced production, plus a behind-the-scenes Tech Talk with the team who built it. Experience the magic of Cirque du Soleil ECHO, where poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics, and cutting-edge technology come together to explore the delicate balance between people, animals, and the world we all share. This 20th Big Top show offers bold new visuals, a unique aesthetic, and vibrant characters that bring a universe of color and wonder to life.

Exclusive post-show Tech Demo and Q&A included with each purchase.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

March 13th at Northeastern University Seattle | Dr. Sid Venkatesh, Assistant Professor, Institute for Systems Biology (ISB)

“The Gut Microbiome and New Therapeutic Foods for Childhood Undernutrition”

What if combating childhood malnutrition isn’t just about food insecurity — but also about the microbes living in their intestines?
For decades, gut‑microbiome research has revealed tantalizing correlations but hasn't explained why certain bacteria matter. In this Discovery Lecture, Sid Venkatesh will discuss how researchers built “defined” communities of gut microbes and used germ‑free animal models to test the effects of adding or excluding specific bacterial strains. By combining these approaches with gene‑expression profiling, mass spectrometry, and biochemical analysis, researchers are uncovering cause‑and‑effect relationships.
 Sid's work has led to two major breakthroughs:
- the development of a microbiota‑directed therapeutic food, already reaching 20,000 malnourished children around the world, and
- the discovery of a gut microbial enzyme that activates hunger‑related pathways in malnourished children.
This Lecture will illustrate how mechanistic insights from the microbiome can translate into solutions with global public health impact.

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma: Discovery Series, Dr. Sid Venkatesh, Assistant Professor, Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) · Luma

Session 4: TBA

March 24, 2025 | IMA Offices, Bellevue | 5-7pm 

Topic and details coming soon.

April 10th | Dr. Bruce Maxwell, Teaching Professor & Director of Computing Programs, Northeastern University Seattle

What if the way we prepare images for computers is getting in the way of understanding them?
Most digital images are designed to look good to human eyes. But what’s best for people isn’t always best for machines. Bruce Maxwell, teaching professor at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, explores how rethinking image formats—especially how brightness and color are represented—can unlock new capabilities in computer vision.

Inspired by how the human eye processes light, Maxwell’s research shows that using alternative formats can make AI models more stable under changing lighting, reveal hidden patterns, and improve performance across tasks like object recognition and image generation. His experiments suggest that small changes in how we feed images to machines can lead to big improvements in how they interpret the world.

This talk invites us to look beneath the surface of everyday images—and discover how seeing differently might help machines see better.

Agenda

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma: Discovery Series, Dr. Bruce Maxwell, Teaching Professor & Director of Computing Programs, Northeastern University Seattle · Luma

Metastasis in Slow Motion: Preventing Cancer’s Return

What if cancer didn’t strike in one dramatic moment—but instead lingered, quietly, for years? Long after a tumor seems gone, rogue cells can lie dormant. They wait. And sometimes, they return. This is the mystery of metastatic relapse—and the frontier where Dr. Cyrus Ghajar works. 

 At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Ghajar leads research into how dormant cancer cells evade treatment and what reactivates them. His lab bridges oncology, immunology, and bioengineering to explore the role of the immune system in suppressing dormant cancer cells. It’s a delicate numbers game that can tip the balance between remission and recurrence. 

Supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Kuni Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense and other funders, Ghajar holds the Peter S. Lefkarites Memorial Endowed Chair. Ghajar’s work is reshaping how we think about metastasis—not as a sudden invasion, but a slow, stealthy process that might be intercepted. Join us to explore how silence in the body might hold the key to preventing relapse. 

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on luma: Discovery Series, Dr. Cyrus Ghjar, Professor, Fred Hutch · Luma

What is the State of Technology Luncheon?

The State of Technology Luncheon is a must-attend event convening over 600 of Washington’s top business, education, research, and government leaders. Each year, we deliver fresh insights and meaningful comparisons that benchmark Washington’s innovation economy—exploring key areas like education, research capacity, and access to capital.

Past speakers have included Satya Nadella, Reid Hoffman, Brad Smith, Brad Tilden, and Jeff Bezos. No matter what sector you're in, this event offers invaluable ideas, inspiration, and connections.

(And yes, a great table gift.)

What to expect this year:

The 2026 State of Technology Luncheon explores how Washington became a global force in space-based connectivity—and what it means for our economy, workforce, and innovation ecosystem.

In a world defined by connection, space is no longer the final frontier—it’s the next infrastructure. With newer ventures like AmazonLeo taking shape right here in the Greater Seattle area (Redmond/Kirkland/Bellevue) is quickly becoming a launchpad for the technologies that will connect billions of people across the globe.

At this year’s State of Technology Luncheon, we’ll explore:

• Why now is the moment for space innovation

• How Washington became a hub for satellite development and advanced manufacturing

• What this shift means for workforce, policy, and future economic leadership

We’re thrilled to welcome a keynote speaker from Amazon’s Project LEO, offering an inside look at the future of satellite internet and the role our state is playing on the global stage.

This is more than a space story—it’s a Washington story.
One of talent, infrastructure, vision, and velocity.

Visit our landing page for more information - 2026 Luncheon — Technology Alliance

Please email events@technology-alliance.com for sponsorship and full table inquiries

For individual tickets - please check out our luma registration page - State of Technology Luncheon · Luma

ADD TO CALENDAR

Session 5: TBA

May 26, 2025 | IMA Offices, Bellevue | 5-7pm 

Topic and details coming soon.

More information to be announced soon!

Register here: Seattle Investor Summit+Showcase · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

Session 6: TBA

July 28, 2025 | IMA Offices, Bellevue | 5-7pm 

Topic and details coming soon.