Founding circle

The founding circle.

Thirty seats, free, for the people who will shape Escape Velocity in its first year.

What founding members decide.

The venue, the themes and the Prize.

Themes for the first year: Longevity, Climate, Education, Civic tech, Corporate reinvention.

Who it is for.

Senior leaders sit next to founders and bright people at any level, in roughly balanced company. What counts is what you bring to the room.

Senior leaders

CXO, VP and EVP level, from companies across the UAE and the region.

Founders

People presenting projects or businesses built with AI agents, or ideas seeking co-builders.

Bright people at any level

No title or degree required.

Who it is not for.

  • 1

    People looking to sell to the room outside the ten minutes.

  • 2

    People who want an audience rather than a conversation.

  • 3

    Anyone unwilling to respect the confidentiality rule.

How vetting works.

  1. 1

    Request

    Name, role, company or project, LinkedIn, and what you are building with AI agents.

  2. 2

    Review

    A short review of your role and what you have built or led.

  3. 3

    Conversation

    A brief intro call.

  4. 4

    Invitation

    We reply within 10 working days.

Presenters are vetted on the work itself: what it does, which AI agents power it, and what you want from the room.

Privacy and conduct.

  • 1

    Chatham House style. What is said in the room can be used, but not attributed.

  • 2

    Presenters choose what they share.

  • 3

    No recording.

  • 4

    Photos only with consent.

  • 5

    No press in the room.

How we handle form data

Who is behind it.

Escape Velocity is run independently from Dubai by a host with more than 25 years in events and a background in technology policy. The founding circle shapes it from the first evening.