Lake Dai

Adjunct Professor of Applied AI & AI Governance at Carnegie Mellon University

Keynote

Lake Dai is a globally recognized expert on AI innovation, investment, and governance. She has delivered keynotes and training for institutions shaping AI policy and practice—including the UK Parliament, State of California, MIT Sloan Management Review, UC Berkeley Law AI Institute, and Fortune 500 companies. In 2025, she was named #35 on the 100 Women in AI list and recognized by BoardProspects as Top AI Talent in the Boardroom.

She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sancus Ventures, a top-performing pre-seed and seed fund focused on AI-native and software infrastructure companies. Sancus backs repeat founders whose prior companies represent over $145B in enterprise value, including Databricks, Twitch, and Opendoor, supported by a network of 500+ leading AI operators. The fund also donates a significant share of its carry to nonprofit causes, underscoring its mission-driven approach.

An Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University since 2016, she teaches Applied AI and AI Governance. She is the author of the B.O.A.R.D. AI Governance Framework, a mentor at the Google AI Accelerator, and an advisor to global institutions on responsible AI strategy.