Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 3:30pm – Two Pioneering Women. A Bolder Tomorrow
A special Fireside Chat with XPrize CEO Anousheh Ansari & Explorers Club President Barbara Doran
Join XPRIZE CEO Anousheh Ansari and Explorers Club President Barbara Doran for an intrepid fireside conversation on the power of bold ideas, visionary leadership, and the courage to venture into the unknown. From Ansari’s groundbreaking journey as the first Iranian woman in space to Doran’s leadership advancing the frontiers of exploration, these two pioneering women will showcase how curiosity in action can transform the future. Together, they will reflect on the responsibility of today’s trailblazers to open doors for the next generation, and imagine a bolder tomorrow shaped by the limitless potential of human endeavor.
3:00 pm Check-In
3:30 pm Conversation Begins
This event is free and open to the public, but reservation if required. Click here to register.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 5:00pm – The Future Begins in Fields: Why Cotton Matters More than Ever, with Cotton USA, Sierra Farming, Gap Inc, and Avalo
Every cotton garment begins in a field, yet few of us stop to consider the people, innovation, and partnerships that bring one of the world’s most important natural fibers from farm to fashion. Today, evolving weather patterns, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting global supply chains are reshaping the cotton industry. Building a resilient future will require collaboration across the entire value chain, from farmers and agricultural innovators to brands and technology leaders.
Together, Casey England, a cotton farmer; Agata Smeets, Head of Environmental & Product Sustainability at Gap Inc.; and an agricultural innovator, Dr. Mariano Alvarez will share how collaboration across the cotton value chain is helping strengthen the future of American cotton, from the field to the finished garment. Through perspectives on farming, innovation, and sourcing, the discussion, moderated by Liz Hershfield, Executive Director at COTTON USA & U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, will explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the next generation of cotton production and more resilient supply chains.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 7:00pm – The Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize
4 finalists, one $250,000 prize—and a conversation about the power of prizes to change what’s possible.
Four top finalists are competing for the Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize, recognizing bold breakthroughs with the potential to significantly advance climate innovation. The finalists are Fabumin, Gyre Energy, Solidec, and Woodsyn.
Join us for the live announcement of the 2026 winner, followed by an XPRIZE conversation on the power of incentive competitions featuring the newly announced Wilkes winner; Shantanu Agarwal, Founder & CEO of Mati Carbon, $50M Grand Prize winner of XPRIZE Carbon Removal; Matt Atwood, CEO of Aircapture and XPRIZE Carbon Removal XFACTOR Award winner; philanthropist and prize benefactor David Cumming; and XPRIZE’s Elaine Hungenberg.
Together, they’ll explore how prizes can accelerate breakthroughs, attract investment, de-risk emerging technologies and move bold ideas into real-world impact.
