14:05 – 15:05
Panel Discussion: “Investing for tomorrow: Funding the Next Wave of Semiconductor Growth”
Moderator
Salah Nasri
International Semiconductor Industry Group (ISIG)
Salah Nasri is the CEO and Co-Founder of the International Semiconductor Industry Group (ISIG), a global organization founded in 2010 that connects and empowers semiconductor decision-makers through strategic leadership platforms, executive summits, and collaborative initiatives. ISIG has become a trusted global hub for industry leaders driving innovation and progress across the semiconductor value chain.
With extensive experience across the semiconductor sector, Salah has played a pivotal role in fostering global collaboration among industry leaders. Under his leadership, ISIG has evolved into one of the most influential communities in the semiconductor ecosystem—bringing together executives, innovators, and policymakers across regions including the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Salah has been instrumental in expanding ISIG’s reach and impact, curating high-level summits and initiatives that drive dialogue and progress across critical areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, AI, MEMS, automotive electronics, and advanced packaging. His vision continues to position ISIG as a key platform for thought leadership, networking, and strategic industry alignment.
Earlier in his career, Salah held positions at Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Worldwide Business Research, and the International Business Development Group. He studied International Relations and Economics at Oxford University and Loughborough University, and in 2024 became a Stanford University alumnus after completing the Stanford Executive Program. In addition to his role at ISIG, Salah also serves on the Advisory Board of Atlant3D, a pioneer in atomic-layer advanced manufacturing solutions.
International Semiconductor Industry Group (ISIG)
Company Profile
Established in 2010, the International SemiconductorIndustry (I.S.I.G.) is a prestigious & trusted associationwithin the semiconductor industry, renowned fororchestrating major regional summits across the globe,ranging from the U.S, the Middle East & Asia via ourdivision, the International Semiconductor ExecutiveSummits (I.S.E.S.). Our summits are fully endorsed bylocal governments and leading companies in all areas ofthe semiconductor supply chain.
Moreover, I.S.E.S. serves as the Premier platform for senior executives in technology, manufacturing, and R&D from diverse semiconductor companies, technology providers, and affiliated industries.
Our events are instrumental helping to shed light onto key industry trends, drive innovation and influence key decisions to help shape, and advance the growth of the semiconductor sector.
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.
Star Capital
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.
FutureX Capital
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, Ph.D.
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.
National Semiconductor Hub Saudi Arabia
