14:05 – 15:05
Panel Discussion: “Investing for tomorrow: Funding the Next Wave of Semiconductor Growth”
Moderator
Salah Nasri
International Semiconductor Industry Group (I.S.I.G.)
Salah Nasri leads the International Semiconductor Industry Group, founded in 2010, it is a global leading semiconductor association known for its flagship platforms (The International Semiconductor Executive Summits), uniting top executives, government officials, researchers, and investors from around the globe to address challenges and opportunities in chip manufacturing and technology innovation. He guides the association in shaping crucial industry dialogues—ranging from trade regulations to cutting-edge chip design—and fosters collaborations that drive the future of the semiconductor sector. Salah studied International Relations and Economics at Oxford University, Loughborough University and in 2024 graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program.
Company Profile
Established in 2010, the International Semiconductor Industry Group (ISIG) is a prestigious and trusted global platform, known for fostering collaboration and driving innovation across the semiconductor industry. With a strong foundation through its International Semiconductor Executive Summits (I.S.E.S.), ISIG orchestrates influential regional summits across the U.S., Middle East, Europe and Asia, fully endorsed by local governments and leading companies throughout the semiconductor supply chain.
At ISIG, we are more than just event organizers—we serve as a catalyst for shaping the future of the semiconductor industry. Through high-level executive recruitment, expert consultation, and strategic investor engagement, ISIG empowers global collaboration, helping industry leaders connect, collaborate, and innovate. Our vision is to create a trusted network that transcends borders and disciplines, uniting government officials, academic experts, and investors to tackle the most pressing challenges and seize the greatest opportunities in the semiconductor ecosystem.
Together, we ensure the semiconductor industry remains at the forefront of technological advancement and economic growth, shaping a sustainable future for the global market.
Panelist
Jien Lit Hwang
Star Capital
Jien spearheads the investment origination for Star Capital, focusing on semiconductor investments and buyouts across Asia. He is a seasoned investment professional with close to 20 years of experience in M&A and corporate finance, leveraged finance, capital markets, and strategy across Asia ex-Japan. Prior to that, he was Head of Investment Banking for Aldiracita Securities.
Company Profile
Star Capital is a global investment holding company. Our focus sectors are Semiconductors, Energy, Infrastructure, and Technology.
Company Products & Services
Investments
Panelist
Cynthia Zhang
FutureX Capital
Cynthia Zhang is the founder of FutureX Capital, a boutique all-stage fund focused on global high-tech and AI companies. Some of her notable portfolio includes Bytedance (TikTok), NIO (NYSE: NIO), Meituan (3690.HK), Xiaomi (1810.HK), and Kingsoft Cloud (NASDAQ: KC). She has been consistently recognized as one of the Top 50 Female Investors and Top Technology GP in China.
Prior to founding FutureX, Cynthia was the founder of the Private Equity Division at China Asset Management Company, one of the largest asset management firms in Asia.
Cynthia holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the National University of Singapore, an EMBA from Tsinghua University’s PBC School of Finance, and is an alumna of the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Company Profile
FutureX Capital invests in visionary founders building transformative AI technologies across all stages. With $3B+ accumulated investment and deep roots in the US and China tech ecosystems, we’re positioned at the forefront of the next wave of innovation.
Panelist
Naveed Sherwani
National Semiconductor Hub Saudi Arabia
Dr. Naveed Sherwani is a world-renowned semiconductor expert, entrepreneur, and leader in chip design. He holds a PhD in computer engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and his career spans academia, industry leadership, and entrepreneurship. Early in his career, he served as a professor at Western Michigan University before joining Intel in 1994, where he focused on design automation for complex chips.
Dr. Sherwani has founded or co-founded numerous influential semiconductor companies, including Open-Silicon, Brite Semiconductor, PeerNova, and Rapid Silicon. His ventures have been instrumental in advancing semiconductor technology, raising over $1 billion in funding across these projects. A key figure in the RISC-V movement, he has led the growth of companies like SiFive and SemiFive, contributing to the global rise of RISC-V technology.
In addition to his leadership roles in the private sector, Dr. Sherwani is the Chairman of the National Semiconductor Hub of the Kingdom, where he works on fostering innovation and semiconductor advancements at a national level. He continues to influence the global semiconductor landscape through his contributions to the RISC-V ecosystem and domain-specific FPGA innovations at Rapid Silicon.
Dr. Sherwani has authored multiple textbooks, including the widely-used “Algorithms for VLSI Physical Design Automation,” and has published over 125 technical papers. His leadership in both academia and the industry has earned him numerous accolades, including the Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam awarded by the President of Pakistan in 2019.
