Cal Poly Pomona × Nasdaq Inc × Asia Innovation Academy #LATechWeek

Friday, Oct 17

2:45pm – 6:00pm

PTGMT

Hosted by Cal Poly Pomona, GBA 5700 (Business Planning) Course

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+6

250 total spots

Event Title: Asia Restaurant CEO Summit 📅 Friday, October 17, 2025 🕒 2:45 PM – 6:00 PM 📍 Kellogg West Conference Center and Hotel (Building 76) GPS Address: Kellogg West Conference Hotel (Building 76), Park at the Main Hotel Lodge Building. The Asia Restaurant CEO Summit, co-hosted by Nasdaq Inc., Cal Poly Pomona, and the Asia Innovation Academy, brings together leading voices shaping the vibrant and diverse future of the Asian restaurant and hospitality industry. Rooted in Nasdaq’s mission to empower visionary entrepreneurs, the summit creates a space where CEOs, investors, and innovators exchange ideas on how Asian culinary traditions—from street food to fine dining—can flourish and scale sustainably in the U.S. and beyond, starting right here in multicultural Los Angeles. This collaboration bridges Wall Street insight with Asian heritage and Main Street passion, highlighting how community-driven values and bold business leadership together fuel the next generation of global restaurant brands. At the academic heart of the summit is Dr. Cervantes Lee, a Cal Poly Pomona professor renowned for his work in Asian restaurant entrepreneurship and cross-cultural innovation. Having advised global restaurant leaders overseeing 5,000–20,000+ locations worldwide, Dr. Lee combines academic depth with real-world experience. Together with Nasdaq executives and industry trailblazers—from Jollibee (Philippines, the No. 2 Asian restaurant brand in the U.S.) and 85°C Bakery Café (Taiwan) to Gen Korean BBQ House, CJ Foodville (Korea), and KEI Concepts (Vietnamese-American)—the summit honors the shared spirit of Asian entrepreneurship. On the restaurant supply chain and technology side, the summit also features HF Foods, the largest Asian specialty food distributor in the U.S., and Botrista Tech, a leader in advanced beverage automation. It celebrates how food, culture, and innovation come together as these brands take meaningful steps toward the Nasdaq stage and a truly global future. This special event is proudly executed by the volunteer students of GBA 5700 (Business Planning)—emerging leaders who share a passion for restaurants, entrepreneurship, business growth, and technology-enhanced operations. We deeply appreciate the faculty, staff, and industry mentors whose guidance and encouragement continue to inspire and empower our future innovators at Cal Poly Pomona. Schedule 2:45-3:15pm: Networking Mixer 3:20pm-3:30pm: Opening Remarks - Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy, College of Business Administration - Dean Margie Ferree Jones, Collins College of Hospitality Management 3:35 – 4:25 PM: Keynote Presentations (3 Speakers) 4:30 – 4:55 PM: Networking Break (Refreshment Provided) 5:00 – 5:45 PM: Asia Restaurant CEO Panel 5:50 – 6:00 PM: Closing Remarks - Dr. Cervantes Lee, Introduction of Executive Restaurant Business Acceleration - Dr. Mr. Joshua Bencker, Asia Restaurants IPO in Nasdaq Program Highlights Keynote Speakers: 1). Dr. Cervantes Lee Topic: Accelerating Asian Restaurant Brands to Nasdaq: Innovation, Investment, and International Scaling. Dr. Cervantes Lee is the Faculty Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Cal Poly Pomona, and the Executive Director of the Asia Innovation Academy established in partnership with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. His passion lies in advancing RAISE — Restaurants, AI, Innovation, Service, and Experience — by helping founders and executives build scalable, tech-forward hospitality ventures. 2). Mr. Joshua Bencker, Managing Director, Listings & Corporate Solutions, Nasdaq, Inc.. Topic: Why Nasdaq for Asian Restaurant Brands in the USA. Mr. Bencker maintains relationships with listed and serviced clients. Provide in-depth knowledge on trends, regulation, and public markets. Generate leads, form connections, and visit clients in person at Nasdaq Inc. 3). Mr. David Edward Corral (Director) and Mr. Carlo Arceo (Assistant Director) at Cal Poly Pomona Enterprise Asian/Latino Foodservice on CPP Campus 4). Mr. Luis Velasco SVP Marketing, Jollibee USA (Part of Jollibee Foods Corporation, USD 4.22 billion market cap) Our Jollibee Story in the North America Asia CEO Panel Discussion: Delivered by industry leaders at the intersection of restaurant, foodservice, supply chain, and innovation. Confirmed Speakers of Asia Restaurant CEO Panel include: 1). Mr. Luis Velasco, SVP Marketing, Jollibee USA 2). Mr. David Kim, CEO, Gen Korean BBQ House (Nasdaq: GENK) 3). Mr. Felix Lin, CEO of HF Foods (Nasdaq: HFFG) 4). Mr. Andy Kuo, CEO of 85C Bakery (part of Gourmet Master Co Ltd, 2723 TW) 5). Mr. Viet Nguyen, CEO/ Executive Chef of KEI Concepts, one largest Vietnamese restaurant group in the USA. 6). Ms. Taeyun Kim, Chief Development Officer, CJ Foodville Moderator: Dr. Cervantes Lee and Ms. Catherine Rhee, Managing Partner for ECVC Accelerator & VCPE Groups Discussion Topics 1. Brand Positioning 2. Market Opportunities 3. Site Selection and Real Estate Development 4. People & Leadership Development 5. Financing & Capital Markets 6. Strategy Vision: The Next Five Years More Restaurant CEOs confirming to join the Asian Restaurant CEO Summit soon. Who Should Attend 1). Restaurant & Food Industry Operators – gain insights on investment trends, franchising, and international growth. 2). Food Entrepreneurs & Innovators – connect with global leaders and explore capital strategies. 3). Venture Capital, Private Equity, Family Offices and Real Estate Developer with keen interest in restaurant industry. 4). Students of Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Supply Chain, Business Analytics, Consumer Behavior, Food Science, Human Resources, Real Estate, Tech Operation, Restaurant Business – learn directly from executives shaping the future of Asian restaurant brands in the USA. Why Attend - Exclusive access to C-suite insights and global investment strategies - Network with industry peers, investors, and innovators - Engage with Cal Poly Pomona’s next generation of entrepreneurs Part of LA Tech Week 2025 – the premier gathering of innovators and investors in Los Angeles 🔑 Invitation-Only Event – Space is limited. Attendance is restricted to invited executives, operators, industry leaders, and students with an active interest in food & restaurant business, innovation and entrepreneurship. This event is a part of #LATechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs, startups and Academy to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com. Parking at Hospitality College Parking Lot. Event Disclaimer The Asia Restaurant CEO Summit is an academic-based industry forum organized under the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Cal Poly Pomona, in collaboration with graduate student volunteers from GBA 5700 (Business Planning) course. This event is educational and non-commercial in nature. It is designed to promote knowledge exchange, industry insight, student learning, and partnership development between academia and leaders in the restaurant, hospitality, and investment communities. Importantly, this summit is not an investor relations meeting, capital market roadshow, or financial solicitation event. The discussions, presentations, and materials shared are for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, endorsement, or recommendation of any securities, companies, or financial products. No participating speaker, organizer, or affiliated institution—including Cal Poly Pomona, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, or any partnering organization—makes any representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information presented. While the event may include references to Nasdaq programs or collaborations in an academic context, this event is not organized by, affiliated with, or representative of Nasdaq, Inc and/or Nasdaq Entrepreneurship Center or any of its subsidiaries. All participants, speakers, and attendees acknowledge that participation in this event does not constitute or imply any form of investment relationship, commercial partnership, or institutional endorsement. Seeking Industry Partner Sponsorship Join us as an industry partner for this landmark Asia Restaurant CEO event uniting leading restaurateurs, investors, and innovators shaping the future of Asian restaurant brands in the U.S. and beyond. The event is organized by GBA 5700 (Business Planning) graduate students at Cal Poly Pomona. Partnership contributions will support essential event needs, including venue setup, marketing, catering, audio-visual production, photography, décor, and parking coordination. Partnership Levels – for a total of $5,000 budget – in-kind contributions are also warmly welcomed. 🥇 Platinum Partner – $2,000 (one available) - Recognition as Lead Industry Partner across all event materials and media - Speaking or spotlight opportunity during the program - Prominent logo placement on stage backdrop, website, and press release 🏆 Gold Partner – $750 (two available) - Recognition as Title Sponsorship Partner - Logo display on event signage and digital program 💠 Silver Partner – $300 (five available) - Recognition as Supporting Partner - Logo inclusion on shared partner slide and printed materials. For Partnership Inquiries: Please contact Dr. Cervantes Lee at cerlee@cpp.edu or +1 323 356-0628.

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