Industry 4.0: How Manufacturers Assess and Collaborate with Startups


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Dive into the heart of a manufacturing startup resurgence at our first in-person meetup since the days of masking! The recent surge in factory construction—a leap from an annualized rate of $91 billion to $189 billion—signals an unprecedented commitment to innovation and reshoring. Amidst this growth, the demand for manufacturing talent across design, engineering, and production disciplines outpaces supply, making the role of innovative startups more crucial than ever.
In partnership with Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), IoT Hub Meetup is proud to host our first face-to-face gathering in the post-pandemic era!
We are honored to announce that Ramzy Huneidi (Venture Manager @ CDL Seattle) will be moderating a panel with Jessica Kinman (Senior Manager @ PWC), Dan Kocer (President & Owner, Kocer Consulting & Engineering), and Rakesh Sreenivasam (VP Global Manufacturing Engineering @ Nestle Health Science).
Dan, Rakesh and Jessica will share their experiences working with startups, explain why they partner with startups, and offer valuable advice for entrepreneurs seeking to engage with them. From global giants to local players, gain firsthand insights and shape the future of manufacturing innovation.
About Ramzy:
Ramzy Huneidi is a Venture Manager with the Advanced Manufacturing stream at CDL Seattle and the cofounder of Whisdom, a Seattle based startup. He joined CDL to accelerate US manufacturing after having been unable to find local manufacturing for his own product. As alumni of the University of Washington, Ramzy saw CDL-Seattle as an opportunity to help grow US manufacturing capabilities, stay connected to his alma mater, and keep his ear to the ground on what's happening within the startup community in the Pacific Northwest. Ramzy has taken his own business, Whisdom, from an idea and a product rendering to over 5,000 units sold across 6 products, 8 partner distilleries, and 2 pilots in under 3 years.
About Jessica:
Jessica Kinman brings two decades of Manufacturing industry expertise, influencing cloud technology, engineering, and software solutions globally. Notable roles include Senior Manager at PWC, Global Director at Boomi, Solution Leader at Amazon AWS, and Global Aerospace Director at Dassault Systèmes. At Boeing, she transformed the 2nd Century Enterprise System, supporting 100,000 manufacturing users. Jessica's diverse experience includes roles from electrician to Manufacturing Manager, contributing to developmental programs and electrical certification projects. As a Civil Engineering officer in the US military, she serves with the 194th Civil Engineering Flight. Jessica is an active board member for organizations like National Women in Manufacturing, WIM WA Chapter, Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing, and Creative Destruction Lab. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a Bachelors in Business Management, Operations, and an MBA from Washington State University.
About Dan:
Dan Kocer is President and Managing Director of Kocer Consulting+Engineering and has helped over 400 companies to identify plans to streamline and expand their operations and lead them through a successful transition. Prior to starting Kocer Consulting and Engineering, Dan started his career as an Industrial and Systems Engineer, and later managed and directed operations in aerospace, automotive, distribution and consulting. Dan has created systematic approaches and procedures for Kocer’s service offerings for training and quality assurance. He is adept at the strategies for conducting successful consulting and engineering work, while providing a desirable customer experience, high value, and an enjoyable work environment for Kocer employees.
About Rakesh:
Rakesh Sreenivasam is Vice President – Head of Technical Competence Unit & Global Head of Engineering at Nestlé Health Sciences. At Nestlé Health Sciences, Rakesh is responsible for global technical and R&D support, capital budget management and engineering for over 30 factories worldwide. He has global experience in the food and beverage industries in manufacturing operations, supply chain management, logistics, engineering and maintenance management, co-manufacturing, project management, and R&D. Rakesh holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Wisconsin.
Register now. Space is limited!

Industry 4.0: How Manufacturers Assess and Collaborate with Startups