We’re excited to return for the EIGHTH year of Dent:Blend! We’ll be back with our friends at Common House for an impactful afternoon oasis of ideas that one first-time attendee said was, “like I’m on another world being here. Really incredible.”

Click here for more details and to register

Remember: ALL ALUMNI attend for free! 

For the first time in its 8-year history, Dent:Blend Richmond features an entirely woman-led speaker lineup. With the theme of “Experience,” speakers include:

- Utibe Bassey, Vice President of Customer Experience, Dominion Energy

- Danielle Ripperton, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Richmond

- A Special Experience with Good Run Research

Visit the registration page for more details!

Join us as we embark on an enlightening custom journey through NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a pivotal center for space exploration innovation, made possible by the efforts of Dent board member Curtis Kelly from Peregrine OKB.

Dent Passport members will experience an exclusive 2-hour tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena. All will gain firsthand insight into America's space missions through a walking tour that showcases the facility's dynamic environment. Highlights include the engaging "Journey to the Planets and Beyond" multimedia presentation, exploring the accomplishments and activities of the Laboratory. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the von Karman Visitor Center, the Space Flight Operations Facility, and the Spacecraft Assembly Facility. Please note, as JPL is an active research and development site, tour features may vary.

Curtis and his team at Peregrine OKB were responsible for designing the Operational Command and Control Systems for JPL's Flight Operations Center (Building 230), crucial for the Mars 2020 Perseverance and Ingenuity missions. They also established the VIVID Lab within the Mission Design and Navigation Center, featuring the world's highest resolution active 3D visualization projection system. Beyond these projects, Curtis's contributions are extensive. He is part of the team honored with the Collier Award by the National Aeronautics Association for their pioneering work in designing and developing the Flight Operations Control Room in Building 230 at JPL, a cornerstone in achieving the first unmanned controlled powered flight on another planet.

This tour is designed for individuals and families in small groups of up to 10. The experience lasts approximately 2-2.5 hours and covers about 0.8 miles, including several flights of stairs.

Dent Passport members — register here.

Image from NASA.

On June 2 at 5 pm, we will return to the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood for another evening of prestidigitation and fun. This gathering spot for members of the Academy of Magical Arts started life as a Victorian mansion, and is now a private club. What happens inside is closely guarded: only members and their guests are granted entry. Those who take the hidden passageway behind the Owl Bookcase are sworn to secrecy -- and forbidden from recording the miracles they see within. The CNN Travel headline says it best — “Magic Castle in Hollywood: Hardest trick is getting in.” With three open floors, three theaters, and a grand dining room situated under a dome of Tiffany glass, we will spend the evening watching master magicians at work as we pause for dinner, conversation - and maybe some wine. 
Dent Passport members can register here.

Dent Passport holders:
Join us for a Dent@Home briefing Friday, November 10, at 11:00am Pacific Time:
Greg Kisor and David Strehlow on Chip Wars and Navigating the New Silicon Landscape

The unveiling of Huawei's 7 nanometer (N+2) chip, as seen in the Huawei Mate 60 Pro, has catalyzed an industry-wide discussion on the trajectory of China’s semiconductor domain. This discourse is particularly fueled by the existing landscape of Western sanctions and the continual evolution of the global technology narrative.

Join us as Denters Greg Kisor and David Strehlow explore the intricate dynamics of China's semiconductor industry, Huawei's recent breakthroughs, and the wider geopolitical and economic connotations.

Greg Kisor brings over 30 years of experience in technology leadership and intellectual property management. Before founding Ponder Technologies, he worked as the lead patent strategist and principal engineer for Intel. There, he focused on patent portfolio planning and patent license negotiation and managed a team overseeing patent research, reverse engineering, and discovery. He later served as VP, Head of Technology, and Chief Technologist at Intellectual Ventures.

David Strehlow has extensive experience in business development, strategic sales, and operations. He has been involved in global product launches and has assisted Chinese companies in expanding their global presence. Previously, he was the Vice President of Marketing for Huawei's Digital Home Product Line. He is currently an Advisory Board Director for the China Business Studies Initiative at the University of San Francisco.

Key discussion points will include:

• Huawei's ability to develop the Kirin 9000S processor despite industry challenges

• The potential and real-world performance of Huawei's new chip

• Challenges faced by Huawei and China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) without access to tools like ASML's lithography technology

• The position of these companies in comparison to industry leaders like TSMC and Qualcomm

• How shifts in China's semiconductor efforts might influence U.S. and allies' sanctions and export control strategies

• Join us to gain insights into China's semiconductor industry, Huawei's recent advancements, and the broader implications for the sector.

With Huawei and China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) navigating the choppy waters of U.S. restrictions, the overarching question emerges: How did Huawei craft a chip that challenges prevailing industry norms? Does the Kirin 9000S processor herald a genuine technological pivot? Or do we need to re-examine its scalability and real-world efficacy?

As China pivots towards semiconductor self-reliance, highlighted by Huawei's recent endeavors, the talk will probe into the challenges and prospects faced by these giants in the absence of tools like ASML's lithography technology. How do they square up against behemoths like TSMC and Qualcomm?

As we peel back the layers of Huawei's 7nm chip production in the face of Western sanctions, the talk will also explore the implications for the semiconductor realm at large. How might these shifts recalibrate the U.S. and its allies' strategies on sanctions and export controls?

In advance of our upcoming events, be it our panels and reception at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2023 or our flagship event, Dent Santa Fe, in September, we’re pleased to kick off a series of virtual events wherein new Denters and prospective Denters can get to know Dent community members.

Join us in conversation with Dent Board Member Morgan Graham, CXO of San Diego-based Experiences for Mankind.

Register here.

We’re excited to be hosting a Dent:Dinner in Seattle at The Collective on June 22nd, 2022 at 6:30pm!

Each year at the Dent Conference we host a “dine-around”, a unique experience where we assign attendees to dinner locations around the city where they get to know their fellow Denters over great food and wine.

We’ve extended this tradition throughout the year and in different cities. Dent:Dinners are another chance to connect or reconnect with other fascinating members of the Dent community and take inspiration from great conversation.

If you’re a Dent Passport member, or if you’ve registered for Dent 2022 already, we’d love to see you at the Seattle dinner -- just RSVP here

If you’re planning to attend the conference in September, register today, and join your fellow community members and attendees for dinner later this month in Seattle.

Register for Dent:Dinner Seattle

Join us for a night of delicious cocktails, connection, and engaging conversations in the Abiqui room at Rio Chama on June 17 from 5 to 7 PM in Santa Fe!

We’ll be hanging out for a couple of days for some event planning for our Dent 2022 Conference September 11-14, and this get-together is a small taste of what’s to come. If you’re a Dent passport member or a Dent 2022 conference ticket holder, you’re invited to join us for dinner afterwards - just email Jason or Steve to RSVP.

This event is open to anyone who has already registered for the conference, so make sure to sign-up today so you don’t miss any of our amazing events.

We combine events with a strong year-round community of folks who want to “make a dent in the future” — making a difference in themselves, their communities, and the world.

Come join us!

Passport Members - REGISTER HERE (SOLD OUT)

Dent Passport members, please join us for this exceptional opportunity as we return to the world-famous Magic Castle for an evening of prestidigitation and fun! 
Plus, at noon (12 PM) on June 5, you're invited to join us for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour illusion designer John Gaughan's workshop and world-class historical magic collection (see below for details).

Dinner (at 5 PM) is complimentary for active Passport members. Pricing associated with this event represents only the entertainment fees for the Magic Castle as a pass-through expense from Dent to the Magic Castle. 

The Magic Castle is open only to members and their invited guests.

Special Private Performance

At the Castle, Denters will be treated to an exclusive/private performance by Dent editorial advisor Jamy Ian Swiss, who the New York Times called: “A dazzling sleight-of-hand man!”

Plus: Bonus Field Trip to an Amazing Historical Magic Collection

Join us at noon, June 5, before our evening at the Magic Castle, for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Illusion Designer John Gaughan’s workshop and collection - one of the finest collections of historical magic apparatus and rarities in the world. John is widely regarded as the world's best creator and manufacturer of magic illusions in the world. As the New York Times wrote: “In the world of legerdemain, his are vital but unseen hands.”

And - as a Dent connection - John collaborated with Denter Jonna Mendez using his unique skills and imagination when she was the CIA’s Chief of Disguise during the Cold War. 

John is also a pre-eminent collector of historical magic illusions and mechanical figures (automata), including a huge collection of original props from Harry Houdini. He continues to build magic illusions for not only magicians, but also musical tours, movies, television shows, and theme parks. 

We’ll tour his amazing warehouse - not open to the public - and get an inside glimpse into both the history and the future of illusion - and how humans perceive reality.

The New York Times profiled John here, and check out a preview of what we will experience on YouTube here.)

Please be sure to read the Magic Castle dress code and other guidelines here.

Not a Dent Passport member? Apply  here.
REGISTER HERE