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Innovation Exchange

Innovation stemming from the Pacific Northwest has changed the world. Seattle is, and always has been, home to distinguished visionaries. From products and services, music and airplanes, to medicine and social wellbeing, the ideas cultivated here have had a global impact.

How has this small corner of the country had such an enormous impact? What are the stories of this unique locale that bring people together? What are the objects and narratives from the past that delight, disturb, and inspire? MOHAI exhibits brings these questions to life. MOHAI programs and exhibits bring these questions to life, and the annual Innovation Exchange celebrates and explores Seattle’s distinct role as an innovation incubator.

2021 Innovation Exchange

Wednesday, July 28, 2021, from 4 pm

Extraordinary in-person and online program with local innovators

Committee Chairs: Harald Becker and Hilary Laney

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Join us at MOHAI for an extraordinary program featuring thought leaders from our community!

MOHAI’s 12th annual Innovation Exchange celebrates leaders and organizations that embody our region’s spirit of innovation and drive the advancement of science, technology, and industry. The program includes a first look at Da Vinci—Inventions, as we explore the foundations of modern-day inspiration and ingenuity.

This year’s Featured Innovators include:

Co-chaired by MOHAI Trustees Harald Becker and Hilary Laney, proceeds from this annual fundraiser support MOHAI’s mission to highlight our regional tradition of innovation and imagination, including our K-12 education programs serving nearly 30,000 students, teachers, and families each year.

Thank you to our generous supporters:

2020 Innovation Exchange Virtual Event

With more than 315 registrants, the 11th Annual Innovation Exchange virtual event, held on September 30, was an overwhelming success! The Pacific Northwest has a strong tradition of innovation and imagination. This virtual event celebrated the impact of innovation by telling the story of our community’s response to COVID-19. Personal insight from individuals and organizations that have made swift transformations during the pandemic resulting in advancements in industry and public service were highlighted.

Watch the 2020 Innovation Exchange

Featured presenters included:

Eileen Aparis, Vice President of Job Training & Education at Seattle Goodwill

Jane Broom, Senior Director, Microsoft Philanthropies

Edouardo Jordan, Chef and Owner, Salare, JuneBaby, and Lucinda Grain Bar

Chris Odell, Engagement Officer, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)

Brad Root, President, GM Nameplate

THANK YOU Innovation Exchange virtual event sponsors:

Gold Sponsors | Amazon, The Boeing Company

Silver Sponsors | B2Launch, First Mode, GM Nameplate

Advocate Sponsors | ISOutsource, Mike Repass

Generous in-kind event support was provided by Mighty Media Studios and Translated.

2019 Innovation Exchange

The 10th Annual Innovation Exchange event was held on May 22 in support of MOHAI’s mission to highlight our region’s tradition of innovation and imagination.  The generosity of our guests ensures that our next generation has access to educational programs that empower young people to shape their own future and inspire them to become tomorrow’s innovators.

The event, moderated by civic leader Maggie Walker and MOHAI Executive Director Leonard Garfield, shined a spotlight on the dramatic transformation of South Lake Union as one of the world’s great hubs for innovation and explored how the neighborhood, and the larger Seattle community, can stay completive in the global marketplace.

MOHAI is grateful to the event’s featured speakers, which included:

  • Ada Healey, Chief Real Estate Officer, Vulcan
  • Dr. Christof Koch, Chief Scientist and President, Allen Institute for Brain Science
  • Dr. Paul Ramsey, CEO, UW Medicine
  • John Schoettler, Vice President of Global Real Estate and Facilities, Amazon
  • Matthew Trunnell, Chief Data Officer, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

THANK YOU Innovation Exchange event sponsors:

  • Presenting Sponsor: Vulcan Real Estate
  • Gold Sponsors: Amazon and Google.
  • Silver Sponsors: B2Launch, Evia, Mike Repass, Product Creation Studio, Seneca Group, and The Boeing Company.

2018 Innovation Breakfast

The 2018 What’s Next: Innovation Breakfast featured Former Washington State Governor and Challenge Seattle CEO Christine Gregoire discussing the region’s future as a global innovation hub.

During the event, Featured Innovators from some of the area’s most influential companies and institutions, like the Allen Institute for Brain Science, City of Seattle, Google, Facebook, GeekWire, and Puget Sound Energy, led table conversations on what’s hot in Seattle innovation.

Thank you to the 2018 Innovation Breakfast sponsors: B2Launch, The Boeing Company, Google, Product Creation Studio, and Michele and Stan Rosen. Generous in-kind support was provided by CORT Party Rental and Kaspars Special Events and Catering.

2017 Innovation Breakfast

The 2017 What’s Next? Civic Innovation Breakfast featured a stimulating discussion about the impressive steps our region is taking to better our communities through civic innovation.

Moderator Matt McIlwain of Madrona Venture Group led a panel discussion about fostering innovation as a community characteristic. Panelists were Chelo Picardal, Chief Technology Officer of the City of Bellevue; Preeti Shridhar, Deputy Public Affairs Administrator of the City of Renton; and Hannah Hill, Program Manager of Innovation Team at the City of Seattle. These local leaders spoke about their roles and projects that are improving the lives of their community members.

Thanks to the 2017 Innovation Breakfast sponsors: the Boeing Company, Google, and Michele and Stan Rosen. Generous in-kind support from Kaspars Catering & Events.

2016 Innovation Breakfast

The 2016 What’s Next: Innovation Breakfast featured entrepreneur, venture capitalist, civic activist, and author Nick Hanauer discussing the important role of diversity in innovative communities, and how it strengthens our ability to compete on a global stage.

Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Advocate Sponsors
Harald Becker
Maureen Frisch

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