Speakers 2026
Jim Brisimitzis, CEO and Founder, Khasm Labs
Jim Brisimitzis stands at the forefront of technological innovation, boasting a career that spans over 24 years in business development, product management, strategic alliances, and developer relations. As the founder of Khasm Labs, he has galvanized a community partnership championing advancements in connectivity, edge computing, and artificial intelligence. Under his leadership, the Lab has garnered the support of 18 global technology partners and has mentored over 152 multi-stage startups that have collectively raised an impressive $3.5B in venture capital. This groundbreaking initiative is further strengthened by its diverse backers, which include global platforms, telecom giants, consulting firms, and enterprise leaders. Over the years, Jim's knack for identifying and nurturing potential has found him collaborating with industry stalwarts, including Bell Canada, Nortel Networks, PeopleSoft, Oracle, and Microsoft. Some standout achievements from his illustrious career include: - Spearheading the Microsoft for Startups program across the US and Canada, successfully onboarding over 2,800 startups to the Azure platform. - Pioneering global operations for Microsoft Ventures and architecting the HiPo program, a unique incubator for high-potential startups. - Playing an instrumental role in developing the foundational prototypes for the Microsoft Cloud Platform Solution (also known as Azure Stack) and being credited with a patent for an innovative predictive algorithm. - Providing strategic direction as a Managing Partner at Quake Capital, a venture capital firm dedicated to nurturing early-stage startups. A proud alumnus of Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Jim holds a degree in Business Management. He currently resides in Seattle, WA, with his family. Beyond his professional endeavors, Jim is deeply committed to fostering entrepreneurial success and believes in harnessing the power of technology to catalyze positive societal change.