Yale SOM Private Equity & Venture Capital Symposium 2026

Kick off the PE/VC Symposium with a keynote fireside chat featuring Syaru Shirley Lin, founder and chair of the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI). A trailblazer in global finance and policy, Shirley was the youngest woman and one of the first Asian partners at Goldman Sachs, where she led pioneering private equity and venture investments in Asia, including early bets on Alibaba, SMIC, and Sina that helped shape the region’s technology landscape.

Drawing on her experience spanning venture capital, academia, and public policy, Shirley will share insights on how innovation, governance, and cross-sector collaboration can drive sustainable growth and resilience in a rapidly changing world. Her conversation will set the stage for a day of dialogue at the intersection of capital, innovation, and impact.

Join seasoned middle-market investors as they explore how the private equity model is evolving to meet shifting market dynamics, the critical role of active value creation, and strategies for navigating an increasingly complex and competitive global landscape

Leading investors in AI, fintech, and tech-enabled services discuss trends, opportunities, and the rapidly shifting landscape of disruptive technologies

Discover how incubators and accelerators are redefining their models to drive innovation, foster entrepreneurial ecosystems, and adapt to the shifting needs of startups, investors, and consumers in an ever-changing market landscape

Join leading investors as they discuss the future of climate innovation, exploring breakthrough technologies, effective investment strategies, and the critical role of private capital in driving sustainable solutions to global challenges

Explore the evolving world of real estate investments as industry experts discuss emerging trends, innovative strategies, and how the sector is adapting to economic shifts and changing market demands in a post-pandemic era

Redefining the boundaries of care and innovation: a deep dive into the transformative potential of healthcare and medical technologies to shape the future of human resilience — and how investment strategies are adapting to a rapidly-changing, highly-regulated environment

Investing in the energy systems of tomorrow: a forward-looking discussion on the technologies, strategies, and capital driving the transition to a sustainable and resilient energy landscape for the world of 2050

Joining us for final remarks is Seema Kumar, CEO of CURE — a leading healthcare innovation campus, affiliate of Deerfield Management, and our host for the symposium. Seema is a visionary leader with true depth of experience intersecting science, education, DEI, and corporate social responsibility, having made a tremendous impact on both public and private organizations (J&J, Whitehead Institute, NIAID, and NIH). Her perspective will be invaluable as we envision the next several decades of catalytic innovation driven by responsible, intentional investments.