Our 12th Annual LDV Vision Summit brought together deep tech entrepreneurs, technologists, academics, researchers and investors for engaging discussions on innovations in cutting-edge visual tech and AI.

We continue to be excited by the accelerating convergence of visual tech and AI across both the digital and physical worlds. We are especially excited by several major themes shaping the future of visual tech and AI showcased throughout this year’s summit:

AI for the physical world across legacy industries like construction, mining, manufacturing, supply chain, energy and more
Invisible imaging and advanced sensing, including hyperspectral imaging, spectral imaging, LiDAR, radar and other modalities across the electromagnetic spectrum
Healthcare and life sciences applications powered by imaging, multimodal data and AI-driven diagnostics
AI Agents that analyze visual data and improving efficiencies across all industries
Materials science and industrial innovation powered by AI, simulation and real-world experimentation
Neuroscience and brain imaging innovations
And many more

We were thrilled to welcome speakers from Insight Partners, Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Bek Ventures, 01 Advisors, University of Oxford, The Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence, and LocalGlobe among others. Some of our LDV Capital portfolio companies also presented.

We hope our 2 fireside chats, 6 lightning keynotes and 2 panels inspired you with the incredible opportunities for visual tech and AI to transform businesses across all sectors and improve our lives. You can always rewatch all sessions on our LDV YouTube channel – here are the videos from our 2026 Summit.

A special thank you goes to our speakers and attendees!

Fireside chat with LDV Capital’s Evan Nisselson and Dick Costolo, Managing Partner & Co-Founder of 01 Advisors and former CEO of Twitter. Dick shared lessons from building and exiting multiple companies, leading Twitter through its IPO and now backing founders scaling transformative businesses. Illustrations by **Katie Chappell**

We love getting perspective from our community so we have gathered insights and quotes:

“I knew the advances in imaging technologies were accelerating but I had no idea how rapidly until attending LDV Capital’s Vision Summit. It was a delight to hear from the other speakers at the 12th annual LDV Vision Summit and share some of my own insights on a fireside chat with Evan.” – Dick Costolo, Founder and General Partner at 01 Advisors

"The LDV Vision Summit is one of my favorite spring events. I had a lot of fun speaking with Evan about experiences building computer vision startups. We talked about formation, exits, and I shared some learnings and stories. Great interactions with the engaged audience." – Jan Erik Solem, Co-Founder and CEO at Staer

"It was a pleasure to join the LDV Vision Summit panel with Evan to share how we at Phoenix Court partner with founders from the first check through to scale, across LocalGlobe, Latitude and Solar. We discussed what resilience looks like in founders, why storytelling matters, and how breakthroughs in areas like photonics and AI can transform huge, overlooked industries including healthcare and manufacturing. Across the Phoenix Court platform, we’re seeing extraordinary founders in Europe and beyond building generational companies powered by visual technologies and AI." – Julia Hawkins, General Partner, LocalGlobe & Latitude

"Evan & team delivered an exhilarating and thought-provoking summit once again. This year, the fireside chats were a highlight, with some of the biggest names in tech and investing sharing pearls of wisdom and honest reflections on storied careers" – Serge Belongie, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Copenhagen, Head of the Danish Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence and LDV Capital Expert in Residence

"There is just so much going on right now in AI, and LDV managed to catch so many different intersecting threads into a time that was just too short! Yes, ironically, my talk was about the finiteness of human lives and how that leads us to pack so much value - not valuation! - into them. I could say the same for the magical four hours of the LDV Vision Summit!!" – Esther Dyson, an investor, author, commentator, philanthropist and founder of Wellville.

"A broad, engaged audience, high-quality speakers that relate to their subjects in diverse ways, and a well-curated, concise agenda... All you can ask for in a virtual summit that brings you up to speed with the cutting edge of Visual Tech. Thank you, LDV!" – Cem Sertoglu, Managing Partner at Bek Ventures

"It was a pleasure to speak again at LDV's Vision Summit, I always appreciate the mix of researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors genuinely learning from one another. The community's energy and openness are what make this event special." – Steve Sullivan, Co-Founder and CEO at Arcturus

"The robotics industry is rapidly evolving, and visual perception has played a key role in moving robots from the research lab into consumer products. What an honor to be included in this year's LDV Vision Summit. When the industry is evolving this quickly, there's no substitute for being in the room with the founders and pioneers actively shaping it." – Dr. Catie Cuan, Founder and CEO at Art Lab

"It was a pleasure to speak at the LDV Vision Summit and connect with like‑minded innovators leading the next wave of visual technology and AI. The sense of community among those driving breakthroughs was energizing, and it was a joy to be part of that momentum." – Dr. John Halamka, President at the Mayo Clinic Platform

A panel moderated by Ash Cleary, Principal at LDV Capital — Beyond Human Vision: Unlocking the Invisible with Visual Technology & AI — Panelists: Dr. Molly Stevens, John Black Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Oxford, Ziv Attar, Co-Founder and CEO at Glass Imaging, Dr. Friederike Koerting, Applied Geoscience Strategist at Hyspex. Illustrations by **Katie Chappell**

Visual technologies are rapidly expanding beyond the limits of human perception, unlocking entirely new layers of data across the electromagnetic spectrum. Advances in hyperspectral imaging, LiDAR, radar and nanoscale visualization are enabling machines to capture and interpret signals that were previously invisible, driving breakthroughs across healthcare, environmental monitoring, industrial inspection, autonomous systems and more. As sensor technologies mature and AI improves data processing, fusion and real-time perception, these systems are becoming increasingly scalable and commercially viable. The convergence of advanced sensing and intelligent algorithms will redefine how machines see, reason and interact with the world, opening the door to a new generation of precision-driven applications and industries.

“The LDV Summit was one of the most enlightening and eclectic set of conversations on the future of computer vision and image analysis. Their thesis that ever more data and content will be visual and is therefore critical to value creation is being borne out in every vertical, from healthcare to mining.” – Anne Glover, Co-Founder and Chief Executive at Amadeus Capital Partners

"It was a great event and a privilege to speak on the opportunities and challenges in materials AI. I learned a lot from the cross-functional nature, and have made several great connections as a result." – Jeff Ernhardt, CEO at Stealth

“It was a pleasure to speak on the Invisible Imaging panel at the 12th LDV Vision Summit and to be part of a community that is on the forefront of visual tech and AI innovation at the most exciting possible time. Regarding hyperspectral imagery, especially in mining, before any AI or modeling commences, it is important to focus heavily on spectral fidelity and calibration stability. For industrial users, trust in the data is everything.” – Friederike Koerting, Applied Geoscience Strategist at Hyspex

“The LDV Vision Summit stands out as one of the few forums where you genuinely see the future being built in real time. Evan and the team have created something special—bringing together frontier researchers, operators, and investors who are actually deploying and investing in AI at scale. What’s clear is that computer vision has become core infrastructure across industries, especially in healthcare. The conversations coming out of this community are shaping what the next decade of applied AI will look like.” — Thomas Knox, CEO at VitVio

“The 2026 LDV Vision Summit provided a delectable smorgasbord of insights into the future of visual technology, a rapidly changing innovation landscape powered by AI, and potential impacts on humanity. As usual, Evan and team have an uncanny talent for seeing the future, but what is even more important is the ability to spot the talent that can build that future." – Laura Smoliar, CEO at Quantum Denmark and Founding Partner at Berkeley Catalyst Fund

In this fireside chat with Evan, Dr. Jan Erik Solem, Co-Founder and CEO at Stær and Expert in Residence at LDV Capital, shared insights from his journey building and selling computer vision startups to Apple and Meta, and his vision for the future of physical AI. Illustrations by **Katie Chappell**

"I really enjoyed speaking on the Invisible Imaging panel at the 12th annual LDV Vision Summit. I’m excited to see what healthcare applications chemical imaging enables next.” – Molly Stevens, John Black Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Oxford

“Visual tech is one of the newest, most exciting areas of growth in AI. Evan and the team of LDV has been well ahead of this curve and there’s no better place than LDV Summit to learn all about it.” – Vivek Sharma, Postdoctoral Researcher & Research Scientist at MIT Media Lab and Instructor at MIT Sloan

"Having had the distinct honor and privilege of being alongside Evan and the LDV team since the very beginning, I continue to be both inspired and impressed by the summits, both virtual and IRL. The latest didn’t disappoint, setting a new benchmark for programming, participation and dialogue from the audience, plus the unique perspective of such talented and brilliant entrepreneurs. If you’re looking for a corner of the world where AI and humanity can not only co-exist, but thrive – this is it." – Rebecca Paoletti, CEO and Co-Founder at CakeWorks

"The LDV Vision Summit has become one of my favorite events of the year. As someone building visual technologies, I’m consistently impressed by the breadth of cutting-edge innovation showcased across so many domains. The LDV team does an exceptional job curating a program that highlights these advances. On the investment side, I particularly value hearing directly from the VCs active in this space—getting their perspective on emerging trends and how the non-technical landscape is evolving alongside the technology." – Brandon Fields, CSO and Co-Founder at FieldStone Bio

"The LDV Vision Summit remains the definitive roadmap for visual tech, offering an unparalleled look at how Physical AI and computer vision are reshaping industries from healthcare to energy. The caliber of speakers at the 2026 event—from industry legends like Dick Costolo to deep-tech pioneers like Jan Erik Solem—made it an essential masterclass for anyone serious about the future of AI-driven business. It’s rare to find an event that is equal parts high-level science fair and strategic investment salon, but LDV consistently delivers that perfect, forward-thinking energy." – Hillary Howe, Director at Seedcamp

“Fantastic to join the LDV Vision Summit this week and learn from such an inspiring community of builders and investors in visual tech. The pace of innovation in computer vision and AI is incredible, and the opportunities ahead feel bigger than ever.” – Ziv Attar, CEO and Co-Founder at Glass Imaging

“It was a pleasure to speak at the LDV Vision Summit and to be part of a community that is on the forefront of visual tech and AI innovation at the most exciting possible time. I can't wait to reflect on all the new milestones and companies that will change our industry between now and the next summit.” – Praveen Akkiraju, Managing Director at Insight Partners

"In addition to being a unique opportunity to meet innovative founders and take the measure of fascinating new technologies, the LDV summit, given its history, has allowed me to track emerging trends in visual tech and beyond. This year I was particularly struck by a sea change in the relationship between AI and health. Visual technologies, and the tools that enable them, are truly changing the world." – Dr. Dan Sodickson, Chief Medical Scientist, Function Health

A panel moderated by Evan Nisselson, Founder and General Partner at LDV Capital — Finding The Diamonds: Where Are the Next Billion-Dollar Business Opportunities Powered by Visual Technologies & AI? — Panelists: Praveen Akkiraju, Managing Director at Insight Partners, Julia Hawkins, General Partner at LocalGlobe & Latitude, Cem Sertoglu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Bek Ventures. Illustrations by **Katie Chappell**

Investing with the same thesis since founding in 2012 - LDV Capital is a thesis-driven early-stage venture fund investing in people building businesses powered by visual technology and artificial intelligence. A majority of the data our brains analyze is visual. Therefore, the majority of the data AI will analyze will also be visual, spanning the light and electromagnetic spectrums across all sectors.

Are you building a business that leverages visual tech/AI? It’s never too early to reach out! We are looking to partner with outliers who are building leapfrog, deep tech solutions aimed at improving the world and making all of us a lot of money while we sleep!

Thank you for tuning in from Portugal, Italy, South Africa, San Francisco, India and hundreds of other locations around the world and making our 12th Annual LDV Vision Summit special!

LDV Blog

Thank you for Making our 12th Annual LDV Vision Summit a Great Success! Check out highlights, videos and insights