At Doon Insights,
We bring together innovation leaders and transformative startups to highlight key technology trends.
Prominent Previous Startups
* Doon Capital Portfolio Company
Geltor is creating the world’s most advanced designer proteins (Ag | Food Tech 5 - 5/2018) *
Perfect Day is inventing a better way to produce dairy products. (Ag | Food Tech 3 - 5/2016)
One Inc helps insurers deliver a frictionless payment experience. (Bonny Doon Workshop - 2014) *
CelLink manufactures high-conductance, large-area flexible circuits (Auto | Mobility Tech - 7/2016) *
Karamba’s software products protect connected devices from development to production. (Auto | Mobility Tech - 7/2016)
Joby Aviation is a pioneer in electric aircraft (The Silicon Valley - China Nexus - 1/2015)
Apeel aims to reduce food waste by creating plant-derived coatings that keep produce fresh. (Ag | Food Tech 3 - 5/2016) *
Kin is providing simple, affordable home insurance (Fintech 9/2016)
Upside Foods is cultivating meat from animal cells (Ag | Food Tech 3 - 5/2016)
Revel is making every day electric (Auto | Mobility Tech 6 - 3/2021)
Hayden AI is making urban mobility safer and more sustainable (Auto | Mobility Tech 6 - 3/2021) *
Casetext is a widely used A.I. legal research technology (Legal | Reg Tech 3 - 3/2020)
Our Story
Doon Insights began as a simple concept eleven years ago by Howard Chao: bring together handpicked startups with leading investors and strategics for substantive discussions, and good things will happen.
In 2024, we are on track to host 10 events, including 5 Startup Workshops and 5 Salon-style events. In the Spring, we will host our LegalTech Salon (March 20) and Mobility Tech Salon (May 2), as well as our 2-day AgTech and FoodTech Workshops (May 15 & 16). We are excited to introduce our first Proptech Workshop on April 17th.
In the fall we plan to host a Proptech Salon, in addition to our back to back one-day Salons on Ag and Food Tech. as well as our MobilityTech and LegalTech Workshops.
Our company will emphasize the following key principles:
Driven by startups
Our startup-led Workshops have at its core a lineup of early-stage companies that are creating transformative technologies. The startups, vetted by investors and our internal team, come to the Workshops at the edge of something great.
Focus on Technological Innovation
We are interested in companies with substantial and differentiated technologies. We identify startups that have the potential to upend their industries; phenomenal tech-savvy founders with vision, and solutions to intractable problems.
Deeper Insights
Apart from our core startup Workshops, we offer a host of opportunities for investors, corporates and governments to learn about the technology trends that are changing our world. These smaller, closed-door events offer an intimate look inside our innovation ecosystem.
No Marketing
While we do rely on sponsorships to help support our events, we maintain a no-marketing rule. We ask all speakers not to directly market their products or companies, but instead focus on content. The only time when marketing is allowed is when startups are presenting their own companies. This results in substantive, high quality content.
Global Access and Perspectives
With our online and hybrid formats we are accessible to speakers and attendees around the world - taking into account time zones in key markets. This results in a discussion with a truly global perspective.
Natural Networking
One of the hallmarks of past Bonny Doon events has been the possibility of establishing personal relationships in an intimate setting. We continue this tradition for attendees that participate in our in-person events at Bonny Doon.
447 startups
Showcased at our Workshops as of Spring 2024
38 Workshops
And counting…
Online, interactive, and built for the future
Our Workshops offer a unique, interactive experience for startups, investors and industry leaders. Doon Insights is embracing this moment by providing both online and in-person opportunities to connect, allowing us much further reach and inclusion in our events. Workshop platforms are designed to seamlessly connect like-minded participants, build valuable partnerships and engage with challenging issues facing industries in transition.
Expert Analysis by Leading Thinkers
We partner with best-in-class investors, strategic partners, and industry experts to explore investment opportunities, identify partnerships, and nurture meaningful relationships with leading startups.
Scott Kennedy
Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, writes after his attendance at Mobility Tech in 5D on April 20th, 2023.
"Pursuing Strategic Competition: Relative Competitive Position Matters" CSIS Commentary, May 31st, 2023