On Saturday, October 19, Newark Library buzzed with excitement as young innovators, tech enthusiasts and industry leaders gathered for FUTURE HQ iCon 2024, a biannual conference hosted by FUTURE HQ.
Founded in 2022 by high school student Prahlad Saravanapriyan, FUTURE HQ has rapidly evolved from a small club at Washington High School, Fremont, into a global community with 26 chapters and over 1,100 members worldwide. Its mission? To empower high school students to explore cutting-edge technologies—like semiconductors, AI, and alternative energy—and help them transform their ideas into real-world startups, backed by mentorship from industry professionals.
The day kicked off with an opening ceremony where Prahlad took the stage to share the club’s journey and impact. “Our goal is to equip the next generation of tech entrepreneurs with the tools, resources and community to succeed,” he said. The event also marked the unveiling of FUTURE HQ’s new logo, symbolizing its vision for the future of technology and innovation.
The morning’s excitement continued with pitch-off events across five categories: Semiconductor Technology (SET), Alternative Energy & Environment (AEE), Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity (AIC), Aerospace & Aviation (AEA), and Health & Nutrition (HEN). Participants were challenged to pitch startup ideas to solve real-world business problems. With only 10 minutes to prepare their responses and another 10 to present, students had to think on their feet—just like they’ll need to do in their future careers in tech and entrepreneurship.
Following the pitch-off, the Shark Tank-style competitions stole the show. Competitors presented fully fleshed-out innovations within a 10-15 minute window. Teams were judged by a panel of industry experts on innovation, market strategy, financial viability, presentation and the originality of their solutions.
After a quick lunch, the afternoon featured the guest speaker panel, moderated by Dr. S. Sriraman, a 20-year veteran of the semiconductor industry and senior executive at Lam Research. Industry leaders shared their insights: Srini Bala (Supermicro), discussed how cloud technologies are reshaping the future of computing. Kannan Gajapathy (Cisco), emphasized the importance of business transformation through technology to drive operational efficiency. Raj Nemani (Microsoft), shared his views regarding cloud application architecture and solutions.
The day wrapped up with the results and closing ceremony, where the winners of the competitions were announced. These students didn’t just walk away with certificates; they secured coveted summer internships with companies like Sparkhub, StaciaCorp and Mirvie, as well as with FUTURE HQ’s other partners.
During the closing remarks, the FUTURE HQ team shared exciting news about its expansion, with several new chapters added globally. The organization also announced upcoming events, inviting both students and industry professionals to participate. The next conference will be scheduled for February or March 2025.
“FUTURE has completely changed the way we approach technology and entrepreneurship,” said one attendee. “These events give us the skills and real-world experience we need to turn our ideas into something tangible. We’re not just being prepared for top competitions like the Conrad Challenge and major science fairs.”
For a club founded only two years ago, FUTURE HQ and its chapters have progressed rapidly and are making an undeniable impact, both on young minds and the broader tech community.
Learn more at: futurehqs.weebly.com
