Akhil Suresh NairFounder & CEO, Xena
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On stage

Speaking, honors & awards

Akhil has pitched and spoken at Venture Atlanta, SAAS NORTH, the Startup World Cup, World Trade Center Kentucky and Startup Grind Louisville, and has won more than $1.65 million in pitch competitions.

Akhil Suresh Nair on a stage in front of a large pink XENA screen at Venture Atlanta.
On stage at Venture Atlanta, after four years of applying.

Stages

Where he has spoken

  1. Oct 14, 2026
    Venture Atlanta 2026Atlanta, Georgia

    Pitched Xena as presenting company number 27 of 28, after four years of applying.

    Hypepotamus (opens in a new tab) · Akhil's post (opens in a new tab)

  2. 2026
    World Trade Day, World Trade Center KentuckyKentucky

    Xena received the Martha Layne Collins Award for Excellence in AI and Digital Trade Innovation.

    World Trade Center Kentucky (opens in a new tab) · Akhil's post (opens in a new tab)

  3. 2025
    SAAS NORTH PitchFest

    Xena won the SAAS NORTH PitchFest.

    BetaKit (opens in a new tab)

  4. 2024
    Startup World Cup, regional

    Akhil won the regional leg of the Startup World Cup.

  5. 2023
    Startup Grind LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky

    Fireside chat with Akhil Suresh Nair, Founder & CEO of Xena Intelligence.

    Startup Grind (opens in a new tab)

  6.  
    Vogt Awards demo dayLouisville, Kentucky

    Presented Xena at the Vogt Awards demo day. Xena won the Vogt Awards in 2022.

  7. 2022
    Render pitch competitionLouisville, Kentucky

    Won the Render pitch competition, one of the reasons he moved Xena to Louisville.

Speaking next

No upcoming talks are announced yet. To invite Akhil to speak, pitch or join a panel at your event, book a time.

Invite Akhil to speak (opens in a new tab)

From the stage

Photos

  • Akhil Suresh Nair on a stage in front of a large pink XENA screen at Venture Atlanta.
    On stage at Venture Atlanta, after four years of applying.
  • Akhil Suresh Nair in a dark blazer pitching on stage between bright pink screens, one showing the XENA logo.
    Pitching Xena on stage, the cover of his Founder's Diary edition “120 Seconds on Stage, 100,000 Minutes of Practice.”
  • Akhil on stage with award presenters at the World Trade Center Kentucky event, guests seated in front.
    Receiving the Martha Layne Collins Award for Excellence in AI and Digital Trade Innovation.
  • A banquet room with a XENA Intelligence slide on the screen and guests at round tables.
    At the World Trade Center Kentucky awards, with Xena on the big screen.
  • Akhil seated on a sofa in conversation with an interviewer on a World Trade Day set.
    A still from World Trade Center Kentucky's video feature on Akhil.
  • Akhil holding a trophy with three others at the Startup World Cup regional event.
    Winning the regional leg of the Startup World Cup.
  • Akhil presenting with a microphone beside a projected slide.
    Pitching at the Startup World Cup regional.
  • Akhil speaking into a microphone in front of a seated audience.
    On stage at the Startup World Cup regional.
  • Akhil presenting on stage in front of a large XENA slide at the Vogt Awards demo day.
    Presenting at the Vogt Awards demo day.

The constellation

Honors & awards

  1. 2026Martha Layne Collins AwardAI & Digital Trade Innovation, World Trade Center Kentucky
  2. 2026Venture AtlantaPresenting company
  3. 2026Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures2026 global cohort
  4. 2025Louisville's Favorite FounderThe LOUIES
  5. 2025SAAS NORTH PitchFestWinner
  6. 2025Kentucky ColonelCommonwealth of Kentucky
  7. 2024Startup World CupRegional winner
  8. 2022Techstars NYCAccelerator, class of '22
  9. 2022Vogt AwardsWinner
  10. 2022Render Pitch CompetitionWinner
  11. —5 Across Pitch CompetitionWinner
  12. NowLouisville OrchestraBoard member

Founder's Diary

On pitching, from the diary

All Founder's Diary entries

Let's talk, or follow along.

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