// Archive
Past Events
// Thank You
That's a Wrap
Thank you for being part of such a special day over the weekend! We hope you left inspired, energized, and ready to put AI to work. More session slides will be available soon.
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// Session Presentations
Access the Slides
Full Summit Deck
Texas Tech Forge →
From Chat to Code: 3 Levels of AI
Ayman Kotob →
Land More Interviews: AI Job Search Tactics for 2026
Dawood Ahmed →
AI for Everyone: Build Your Brand, Website & Content Without Coding
Asif Habib →
AI, Law, Ethics & Policy
Tabrez Ebrahim →
AI for Portfolio, Program & Project Managers
Mahmood Usmaan →
AI-Accelerated Infrastructure & Network Implementation
Abdul Khader →
Building a Multi-Agent AI System for Stock Portfolio Management
Mohammed Faiz Ali →
Beyond Vibe Coding: Spec-Driven Development with AI Agents
Nadeem Syed →
Self-Healing & Self-Learning AI Agents
Syed Umer Hasan →
// Stay Connected
Join the Community
We look forward to seeing you at the next one, inshAllah!
— Nazir, Asif & the Texas Tech Forge team
// About the Event
Build the Future
With Purpose
By popular demand, the first-ever Texas Tech Forge AI Summit is here. A community-driven event designed to kickstart or supercharge your AI journey — whether you're a seasoned engineer or just getting started.
Featuring a C-level keynote, hands-on breakout labs, and meaningful networking with tech professionals and industry experts across Austin and beyond.
This is where community and technology meet. Come build with us.
$20
Registration (lunch included)
200
Free T-shirts (first 200)
5.5
Hours of Programming
3+
Breakout Lab Tracks
// Event Schedule
June 20 Agenda
10:00 AM
Doors Open
Doors Open & Check-in
Pick up your badge, grab coffee, and connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.
10:30 AM
Keynote
Keynote: Why AI & Why Now — Shams Karim
Opening keynote on why AI is absolutely critical right now, Service as Software replacing SaaS, and what this means for your career and business.
11:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Breakout Labs
Hands-On Breakout Sessions
Session 1: 11:15 AM–12:00 PM · Session 2: 12:15–1:00 PM · Extended deep-dives: 11:15 AM–1:00 PM. See Lab Tracks below for rooms, topics, and speakers.
1:15 PM
Panel
Panel: Future of Work in the AI Era
A candid panel with Aater Suleman, Ehab Gabr, Dawood Ahmed, and Maher Al Tamimi — moderated by Imad Ahmed — on how companies are reimagining their workforce in the AI era.
2:00 PM
Prayer
Zuhr Prayer
Dedicated prayer space available for Zuhr Salah. All are welcome to participate or take a break.
2:30 PM
Lunch & Networking
Lunch & Community Networking
Catered lunch included with your registration. Connect with speakers, sponsors, and the wider tech community.
3:30 PM
Wrap-up
Closing & Wrap-up
Final remarks and farewell. Thank you for being part of the inaugural Texas Tech Forge AI Summit.
WiFi
Connect to "AiSummit" — or use your hotspot as backup.
What to bring
Charged laptop + charger and an extension cord. Intermediate/Advanced attendees: bring VS Code + Claude Code (see Setup below).
// Breakout Lab Sessions
Session Lineup
Pick your track. Track A — attend two different 45-minute sessions. Track B — one extended 1 hr 45 min deep-dive. Each session caps at 40 — reserve now.
Register Your Breakout Session →Session 111:15 AM – 12:00 PM
// Beginner
From Chat to Code: 3 Levels of AI
Room 101
Ayman Kotob
// Beginner
Land More Interviews: AI Job Search Tactics for 2026
Room 102
Dawood Ahmed
// Intermediate
AI for Portfolio, Program & Project Managers
Room 201 · 2nd Floor
Mahmood Usmaan
Session 212:15 PM – 1:00 PM
// Beginner
AI for Everyone: Build Your Brand Without Coding
Room 101
Asif Habib
// Beginner
AI, Law, Ethics & Policy
Room 102
Tabrez Ebrahim
// Intermediate
AI-Accelerated Infrastructure & Network Implementation
Room 201 · 2nd Floor
Abdul Khader
Extended Sessions11:15 AM – 1:00 PMTrack B · one deep-dive instead of two short sessions
// Intermediate
Multi-Agent AI System for Stock Portfolio Management
MP Room 3 · 2nd Floor
Mohammed Faiz Ali
// Intermediate
Spec-Driven Development with AI Agents
Multipurpose Room 2
Syed Nadeem
// Advanced
Self-Learning, Self-Healing AI Agents
Room 202 · 2nd Floor
Syed Umer Hasan
// Setup Instructions
Set Up Claude Tonight
Many sessions use Claude — please do this before you arrive so you can dive straight into building.
Step 1 — Claude Account (Everyone)
Create a free account at claude.ai. Paid plan ($20/mo) recommended for Intermediate/Advanced tracks.
Step 2 — Claude Desktop (Beginner & Up)
Download at claude.ai/download. Required for Ayman Kotob's session and Cowork demos.
Step 3 — Claude Cowork (Beginner & Up)
Open Claude Desktop → click Cowork in the sidebar → sign in. No extra install needed — it's built into Desktop.
Step 4 — Claude Code (Intermediate & Advanced)
Run in your terminal (requires Node.js 18+):
Full guide at docs.claude.ai/en/docs/claude-code.
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-codeFull guide at docs.claude.ai/en/docs/claude-code.
// Featured Speakers
Speaker Lineup
Keynote
Fireside Chat
Presenter
MC
KeynotePanel
Shams Karim
Founder & CEO · Nirvana Solutions
Austin, TX
Why AI & Why Now
LinkedIn →A keynote on how leaders can drive AI transformation across their organizations — from strategy and culture to execution — and why building technology-driven organizations is essential to compete in the AI era. Followed by a panel discussion on the future of AI, leadership, and organizational change.
AI TransformationLeadershipFuture of WorkOrganizational Change
Fireside Chat
Aater Suleman
Co-Founder · Vixul | Ex-CEO · Flux7
Adjunct Professor · UT Austin · Exited to NTT Data · Austin, TX
Service as Software — The AI Model Replacing SaaS
LinkedIn →Why AI is the most critical force reshaping business today — and why the window to act is now. Introducing Service as Software: the paradigm replacing SaaS, where AI doesn't just support services, it delivers them end-to-end.
Service as SoftwarePost-SaaS EraAI Business ModelsStartup Strategy
Fireside Chat
Ehab Gabr, MBA
CEO & Founder · Sigmatic
Funded HealthTech Startup · Director, Plug & Play Cedar Park · Austin, TX
Future of Work in the AI Era — AI & HealthTech
LinkedIn →From the founder of a funded AI HealthTech startup — a candid fireside on how AI is reshaping healthcare, reimagining the workforce, and what the future of work looks like for professionals and organizations navigating the AI era.
HealthTech AIStartup FundingHealthcare Innovation
Fireside Chat
Dawood Ahmed MSTM,MBA
CEO | Partnering with companies to scale through talent & tech | Cloud | Data | DevOps | Agile | Empowering growth with purpose, people & digital solutions
Job Search and Career Advice
LinkedIn →Part of the fireside chat — practical guidance on navigating the job market, building your career, and leveraging your network and skills in the AI era.
Career GrowthJob SearchProfessional Development
Fireside Chat
Maher al Tamimi
AI & Data Executive · 3× Founder · Ex-CTO/CIO (FIS $5B, Epsilon $2B)
Enterprise AI Governance & Agentic Systems · Board Advisor, Investor, Speaker · US ↔ MENA
Enterprise AI Governance & Agentic Systems
LinkedIn →View Experience →
Enform Labs (2023 – Present)
Managing Partner, Data & AI (2025 – Present) — Set data and AI strategy for portfolio ventures across US and MENA. Lead enterprise AI governance practice advising on agentic architecture, risk frameworks, and responsible scaling of autonomous workflows.
Managing Director, Data & AI (2023 – 2025) — Advised EMEA governments on national satellite internet strategy; coordinated with Starlink and Amazon Kuiper on regulatory alignment and market approval.
Operando Solutions (2016 – Present)
Founder & CTO (2016 – 2019) — Built enterprise SaaS Agile business tool; raised $250K angel; closed Dr Pepper, FIS, and Barnes & Noble as customers.
Director, Board of Directors (2019 – Present) — Governance and strategic direction for the management team.
Atlas De Novo (2023 – 2025)
Founder & CTO — Built AI-powered operating platform for ambulatory surgery centers; predictive scheduling, capacity utilization, and operational analytics. Backed by Capital Factory.
Member, Board of Directors (2024 – 2025)
Kobie Marketing (2019 – 2023)
VP of Technology — Migrated 19 enterprise clients to public cloud; delivered $3M+ run-rate savings and 99.99% uptime. Designed PCI-compliant payment processing across 20+ clients. Restructured tech org for cloud-first operations.
Syniti (2015 – 2016)
VP, Technology & Software Development — Architected unified data platform (governance, migration, replication, quality, MDM). Migrated SaaS to public cloud cutting costs 25%. Instituted Agile and DevOps across global engineering.
MCPresenter
Asif Habib
Co-Organizer, MC & Presenter
Founder, Chief Architect & CEO · Iris Labs · Austin, TX
Co-hosting & moderating sessions, and also Presenting following topic.
AI for Everyone: Build Your Brand, Website, and Content Without Coding
LinkedIn →A beginner-friendly session showing how anyone can use AI to build their personal brand, website, and content — no coding required. Practical, do-it-yourself steps to get started fast.
For BeginnersDo it yourselfBuild Brand using AISimple way to build with AI
MCPresenter
Nazir Siddiqi
Host / Organizer, MC & Presenter
$97M Portfolio Leader @ Rubrik · ex-Meta · Marvell · Oracle · 25 yrs
AI Transformation · Enterprise Application · People Technology · Agentic AI. MBA · Workday HCM · Oracle ERP · CRM.
LinkedIn →AI TransformationAgentic AIEnterprise AppsPeople Technology
MC
Nuha Elkhiamy
Senior Director, People Operations Technology · Google
Technology Executive · Organizational Builder · Authentic Leader
People Technology, Organizational Leadership & Panel Moderation
LinkedIn →Hosting & moderating the panel discussion. 20+ years driving enterprise people technology, organizational transformation, and talent strategy at Google and GE.
View Experience →
Google (2019 – Present · 7 yrs)
Director, People Operations Technology (Mar 2023 – Present) — Leading the team building enterprise people technology solutions for Google’s global workforce.
Austin Site Leader (Jul 2021 – Present) — Overseeing facility, talent development, culture, and site growth for 1,100 Austin-based and 600 Texas-based employees.
Director, Corporate Engineering, Core PMO (Apr 2019 – Feb 2023) — Led a program management organization building enterprise legal, compliance, and collaboration solutions.
GE (2002 – 2019 · 17 yrs)
Mission Based Team Leader, HCM & Staffing (Apr 2018 – Apr 2019) — Led 110+ SMEs to design GE’s global Core HCM module in Workday and delivered a 3-year roadmap to simplify 140+ HR applications.
VP, Technical Product Management, Development & Learning Technologies (Mar 2017 – Apr 2018) — Delivered and reimagined GE’s global talent management & learning technologies, leveraging machine learning for personalized learning recommendations.
VP, Enterprise Application Engineering (Jun 2014 – Feb 2017) — Responsible for enterprise performance management, recruiting, and onboarding applications across custom-built and SaaS solutions.
Senior Team Leader / Development Leader – HR Web Applications, PMO & Architecture (Jan 2009 – Jun 2014) — Shaped company-wide HR web applications strategy; delivered first company-wide HR portal touching all HR processes.
IT Program Manager – Employee Development (Feb 2007 – Jan 2009) — Managed Session C reviews; saved $73K consolidating applications, reduced ticket volume 45%, earned Top-Talent rating.
IT Project Manager – Commercial Solutions (Aug 2004 – Feb 2007) — Managed $1.5M budget; implemented first company-wide search app, saved $110K annually in content management, achieved $5.4B in closed leads.
Information Technology Leadership Program (Jul 2002 – Aug 2004) — Four rotations focused on technical depth and project management; achieved Green Belt Six Sigma certification; received seven awards.
Education & Development
GE Crotonville — Executive Leaders Challenge (2016) and Experienced Information Management Program (EIMP) (2015).
People TechnologyOrganizational LeadershipEnterprise HCMPanel Moderation
MC
Imad Ahmed, MBA
MC · Panel Discussion
Advisor & Consultant · Venture Partner · Mentor · McCombs MBA · CMU M.S.
From Strategy to Scale — A Decade of Austin Tech Advisory
LinkedIn →10+ years advising Austin-based tech companies on strategic partnerships, unit economics, customer monetization, product planning, and VC fundraising. Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, Mentor at Capital Factory, and former Head of Strategy (Credit Cards) at QuinStreet (NASDAQ: QNST). Fractional CRO/CPO at FloatMe, where he helped raise a $16M Series A (Foundry Group) and close a $25M credit line. Clients have included RateGenius, Wondercide, Peddle, and BarChart.
Venture CapitalStrategic AdvisoryUnit EconomicsStartup Scaling
MCPresenter
Zaman Mecci
Facilitator, MC & Presenter
Senior Lead Infrastructure Engineer · Nielsen | Co-Founder · Billion$Startups · Austin, TX
Facilitator for the Breakout Focus Session, plus co-hosting, moderating, and presenting on AI.
LinkedIn →Breakout FacilitatorInfrastructure EngineeringStartupsAI
Presenter
Syed Nadeem
Senior Principal Software Engineer · WP Engine
Spec-Driven Development
A practical look at spec-driven development — how writing clear specifications up front accelerates building reliable software with AI, improving quality, collaboration, and speed across the development lifecycle.
Spec-Driven DevelopmentSoftware EngineeringAI-Assisted DevelopmentBest Practices
Presenter
Ayman Kotob
Presenter
Coverage / Key Points
LinkedIn →Level 1 — Claude: Prompting best practices and connecting MCP tools
Level 2 — Cowork: Identifying workflows to delegate to your digital twin (repetitive, time-sensitive, data-heavy tasks)
Level 3 — Claude Code: Building working tools from plain English, no coding required
Level 2 — Cowork: Identifying workflows to delegate to your digital twin (repetitive, time-sensitive, data-heavy tasks)
Level 3 — Claude Code: Building working tools from plain English, no coding required
ClaudeMCP ToolsCoworkClaude CodeNo-Code AI
Presenter
Tabrez Ebrahim
Co-Founder & Chief Legal Officer at Vikk AI
Austin, TX
AI & Law: Ethics, Policy, and Legal Tech
LinkedIn →A focused breakout exploring the intersection of AI and law — covering ethics, emerging legal frameworks, and policy implications. Plus a deep dive into AI legal tech: real-world use cases showing how AI is transforming legal practice, compliance, and access to justice.
AI LawEthicsPolicyLegal Tech
Presenter
Mohammed Faiz Ali
System Development Engineer · Amazon
Agentic AI · MCP Servers · Austin, TX
StockAIgents
LinkedIn →A multi-agent AI system that researches, analyses risk, and advises on your trades — all in seconds. You make the call. The agents do the work!
MCP ServersMulti AI AgentsAI AutomationRobinhood
Presenter
Syed Umer Hasan
System Development Engineer · Amazon
IEEE Senior Member · 11x Cloud Certified · AI/ML Author · Austin, TX
Self-Learning, Self-Healing AI Agents
LinkedIn →A deep dive into building autonomous AI agents that adapt, recover, and evolve on their own — covering agent swarms, multi-agent workflows, and real-world agentic AI flows. Learn how to architect systems that don't just run, but think.
Agent SwarmsAgentic AI FlowsSelf-Healing SystemsMulti-Agent Workflows
Presenter
Mahmood Usmaan, PMP, PMI-ACP, DASM, ITIL4
Senior IT Project Manager · Texas Water Development Board
AI For Portfolio, Program and Project Managers
LinkedIn →PMI Standard for AI in Portfolio, Program and Project Management & PMI AI Infinity — how AI is transforming project delivery, governance, and decision-making at every level of the organization.
PMI StandardsAI in PMOPortfolio ManagementPMI AI Infinity
Presenter
Abdul Khader
Infrastructure Security Specialist for AI-Accelerated & Network Implementation
On-Prem + Cloud Security · Austin, TX
AI-Accelerated Infrastructure & Network Implementation
LinkedIn →A hands-on look at how AI can dramatically speed up infrastructure and network deployments — from design and configuration to testing and rollout. Real-world strategies for engineers and IT leaders looking to work smarter with AI.
Network AutomationAI-Driven ConfigOn-Prem + CloudImplementation Speed
// Until Next Time
Thank You for Joining
Our inaugural AI Summit is a wrap. Attendees enjoyed a full day of hands-on labs, a C-level keynote, and community networking — here's what the day included.
Lunch included
Free T-shirt (first 200)
Hands-on AI labs
C-level keynote
Community networking
ICBC · CEDAR PARK / AUSTIN, TX · JUNE 20, 2026 · 10 AM – 3:30 PM
