Brian Brackeen delivers sharp, engaging insights on AI, entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation and the future of the digital economy.
5 of 5
“Brian's keynote was empowering to the Founders in our program as well as the employees that were listening in virtually.”
Aneisha Graydon
Florida Power & Light, 35 Mules
Brian Brackeen is a venture capitalist, tech innovator and respected voice in ethical AI. As General Partner at Lightship Capital, he supports underrepresented founders while overseeing fund operations and leading the firm’s AI development. His background includes founding Kairos, one of the world’s most prominent face recognition providers, and shaping its mission against bias and misuse. With hands-on experience at Apple and IBM, Brian brings a rare mix of technical depth, entrepreneurial drive and clarity on the future of digital innovation.
Brian Brackeen has become one of the most prominent voices at the intersection of artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation. As General Partner at Lightship Capital, the Cincinnati-based venture firm supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs across the Midwest, Brian plays a central role in shaping the firm’s mission and performance. He oversees fund operations, leads the AI development team, and sits on the investment committee giving him a direct hand in identifying, evaluating and accelerating the next generation of impactful founders.
His perspective is rooted in real-world experience and years of building technology that reshaped an entire category. Before joining Lightship, Brian founded Kairos, the Miami-based facial recognition company recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 25 startups in the United States. Under his leadership, Kairos stood shoulder to shoulder with tech giants like Microsoft and Face++ as one of the world’s foremost facial recognition software providers. The platform ultimately processed nearly one billion faces and secured more than 15 million dollars in investment.
Brian is widely known for pushing the industry forward not only through technological innovation but through values-driven leadership. At a time when facial recognition was rapidly expanding, he insisted the company take a clear stance against the government’s use of the technology and emphasized the need for fair, bias-free datasets. His work at Kairos helped spark broader discussions about ethics in AI, algorithmic fairness and the responsibilities tech companies hold when deploying advanced tools.
This commitment to ethical innovation informs his work at Lightship Capital, where he supports entrepreneurs building technologies and businesses that reflect diverse voices and address systemic gaps. Brian’s experience with AI risk, data integrity and model development gives him a distinctive ability to break down complex topics while highlighting the human impact behind technological choices.
Before his entrepreneurial journey, Brian built his expertise inside some of the world’s most respected technology companies. He served as a Senior Project Manager at Apple, where he contributed to large-scale initiatives that shaped user experiences at global scale. Prior to Apple, he worked as a Senior Managing Consultant at IBM, giving him a strong command of enterprise systems, technical design and team leadership.
These roles provided the foundation for his unique ability to speak to teams across industries from startups and growth-stage ventures to educators, nonprofit leaders and major corporations. His sessions blend hard-won experience with clear, actionable insights that help audiences understand both the acceleration and the implications of emerging technologies.
Brian is also a dedicated mentor. He contributes his time and expertise to organizations like Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code and The School District of Miami. His goal is to expand access to technical education and ensure that students, especially those from underrepresented groups, see themselves as future technologists, founders and innovators.
Whether speaking about AI, machine learning, entrepreneurship, venture capital, bias-free technology or the digital economy, Brian brings energy, clarity and a rare ability to translate complexity into practical direction. His talks resonate with audiences who want to understand both where technology is heading and what responsibilities come with building it.
From keynote stages to private leadership sessions, he offers grounded, forward-looking insights shaped by firsthand experience from founding a pioneering tech company to guiding the investments of a major venture fund.
Booking Brian Brackeen means partnering with a speaker who has lived the challenges of innovation, understands the realities of scaling ideas and remains deeply committed to shaping a more inclusive future in technology and entrepreneurship.
5 of 5
“Brian's keynote was empowering to the Founders in our program as well as the employees that were listening in virtually.”
Aneisha Graydon Florida Power & Light, 35 Mules
Keynote by Brian Brackeen:
Are you worried that your organization is moving faster with AI than it can manage ethically?
Brian Brackeen’s keynotes cut through the confusion and give leaders a clear path forward. Drawing on his experience as a pioneer in facial recognition and a venture capitalist shaping responsible innovation, he shows audiences how to build AI systems that are effective, fair and aligned with real-world values.
His talks deliver practical frameworks, vivid examples and immediately applicable strategies that help teams reduce bias, avoid costly missteps and strengthen trust. When you bring Brian to your stage, you give your organization the confidence to innovate boldly without compromising ethics.
Keynote by Brian Brackeen:
Are you struggling to turn your diversity and inclusion goals into real, measurable progress?
Brian Brackeen’s keynotes give organizations the clarity and momentum they’ve been missing. As a venture capitalist supporting underrepresented founders and a longtime mentor to programs like Girls Who Code and Black Girls Code, he brings firsthand insight into what truly drives inclusive innovation.
Brian delivers practical strategies that help leaders close opportunity gaps, build stronger teams and create environments where diverse talent can thrive. His talks inspire action, shift mindsets and equip audiences with tools they can apply immediately.
Bring Brian to your stage and empower your organization to move from intention to impact.
Keynote by Brian Brackeen:
Are you finding it harder than ever to navigate fundraising or understand what investors truly look for?
Brian Brackeen’s keynotes give founders and leaders the inside track. As a General Partner at Lightship Capital and the former founder of a venture-backed AI company, he brings unmatched clarity on how deals are made, what drives investor decisions and how founders can position themselves for real traction.
His sessions break down the fundraising process, reveal common pitfalls and offer practical tactics that help teams pitch with confidence and build stronger investor relationships.
Bring Brian to your event and give your audience a roadmap to raising capital with strategy, credibility and momentum.
Keynote by Brian Brackeen:
Are you struggling to scale your ideas into a company that can survive real-world challenges?
Brian Brackeen’s keynotes give entrepreneurs a clear, experience-driven path forward. As the founder of a breakthrough AI startup and now a General Partner investing in emerging ventures, he understands what it takes to build, grow and adapt under pressure.
Brian delivers practical insights on product focus, team building, market fit and navigating the unpredictable highs and lows of startup life. His talks energize founders with the strategies, mindset and tools needed to move faster and make smarter decisions.
Bring Brian to your stage and empower your audience to build companies with resilience, clarity and momentum.
Watch Brian Brackeen in action
