Karthik Nagapuri—founder, community builder, and TEDx speaker—shares his journey from a rural village in India to building integrated startup ecosystems across the country. Embracing the identity of “Zero,” he explores how starting with nothing can become a mindset of infinite possibility. Through failures, experiments, and deep curiosity, he reveals how the philosophy of Shunya—nothing yet everything—shaped his mission to connect changemakers and create real-world impact. From battling personal setbacks to pioneering AI-driven communities, Karthik inspires us to unlearn limits, adopt the Zero mindset, and lead with humility, resilience, and bold innovation Karthik Nagapuri, also known as Zero, is a visionary entrepreneur, Al engineer, and founder of EvolveX Spaces, building platforms that unite and empower startup communities across India. ecosystems &From a humble rural village to startup national-scale initiatives like Jagriti Yatra, his journey reflects grit, unlearning, and purpose-driven innovation.A Suzuki Fellow, Kairos Business Fellow, and Emergent Ventures grantee, Karthik has worked with 4 governments, led 5+ organizations, and supported 15+ startups. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Paula Quilon Dominguez, in what has become the keynote talk of the event, discusses her background as an immigrant and her life in America - all the while finding pieces of who she will be across two continents. Paula Quilon Dominguez was born in Spain and moved to the United States when she was five. She wants to be a doctor and is currently deciding between Obstetrics and Oncology. She wants to dedicate her life to helping others, and the medical field is the best way she can think of accomplishing that goal. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Nelle antiche cartine geografiche dell’Africa c’erano delle zone non rappresentate, in cui venivano raffigurati dei leoni, accompagnati da un monito: «Hic sunt leones», che simboleggiava i pericoli dell’ignoto. Perché ciò che è inesplorato, spaventa. Alessandro ha deciso di oltrepassare il confine per amore di conoscenza: ha guardato, fotografato, testimoniato due Paesi africani e ha condiviso la sua esperienza personale. Un Paese in pace, il Benin, e uno in guerra, la Repubblica Democratica del Congo, nel continente che ospita le più laceranti contraddizioni e che offre la luce della speranza per il futuro. Alessandro De Filippo è docente di Storia del cinema e di Storia del reportage presso l’Accademia di Belle Arti di Catania. I suoi argomenti di ricerca sono concentrati soprattutto sul cinema del reale e sulla relazione tra la paura per il terrorismo islamico, dopo l’11 settembre, e l’immaginario cinematografico e televisivo. Si è dedicato anche agli archivi del cinema d’impresa e della rappresentazione del tema dell’immigrazione con l’ultima monografia, dal titolo Propaganda Lampedusa. Attualmente lavora in progetti di cooperazione internazionale in Repubblica Democratica del Congo e in Benin. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Sebastian Delgado discusses how life, culture, and social media makes us strive for validation and connection from our peers and those around us, despite never really needing to in the first place. Sebastian Delgado is a Junior attending NeoCity Academy, pursuing in the BioDesign Pathway. Sebastian is very involved within his school community, participating in various activities and clubs. He wishes to pursue becoming a surgeon, as it has been a lifelong interest of his to do hands-on medicinal work and to help others. One of his passions is being involved in HOSA, a medical competition in which he focuses on doing CPR/First Aid with his teammate. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Ashleigh Barritt discusses how important our favorite TV shows and Movies are - the ones we've watched countless times over - and how comfort media assists mental health. Ashleigh Barritt is a junior at Neocity Academy, she is involved in over 7 clubs and is an active member of her community. Ashleigh is taking 5 AP classes and has over a 3.8 unweighted GPA. She has a job at her local dance studio, where she also takes classes and participates in competitive dance. Dance is a huge part of Ashleigh’s life, she has been dancing for over 10 years. But dance and school aren’t the only things important in her life as she loves hanging out with her friends and family whenever she has free time. Ashleigh also enjoys volunteering for her school and community, in fact she has over 300 volunteer hours. Her hours can range from completing teaching dance classes at her studio to giving tours as an ambassador at Neocity. Overall, Ashleigh is a hard worker and decided to the things she loves the most whether that is dance, school, friends or family, she will do whatever it takes to make them great and will never give up. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Ayden Monegro discusses the importance of perspective taking in empathy and understanding the people around us. Ayden is an intuitive, determined, and creative student at NeoCity Academy. He has been certified in multiple coding languages such as Python, Java, and HTML/CSS. Working in the AI pathway, he has worked through multiple means and ethics involving Artificial Intelligence, developing chatbots and predictive models that provide outlook on a multitude of fields. He is a hard worker, and he's here to talk about a topic that personifies a double-edged sword, that there are two sides to every story. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Luke Osborne discusses how much people, as a society, rely on the getting and giving second chances to the people around us. Luke Osborne is a student at NeoCity Academy, currently in the AI pathway. He has been going to NeoCity Academy for three years, looking for a place to learn skills for his desired career. He strives to become a game designer, and works hard to achieve that goal - learning C# and other programming languages. In the future, he dreams to get into MIT, but looks for a more reasonable position at UCF. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Margo Barthle discusses her own competitiveness and struggles in school when her life is measured by grades, scores, and athletic competitions. Margo’s name means pearl, and her parents named her after a college professor. She is in the BioDesign pathway here at NeoCity, and she wants to use her experience here to pursue a passion in biomedical engineering. She enjoys playing sports in her free time, especially soccer. She also likes watching games and learning about teams and players. She is an active member of 4-H and love raising animals; they are all so cute! She wanted to give this talk on competition because she sees it every day; playing sports and entering so many competitions make it easier to spot in real life. She hopes something here resonates with you and hopes you enjoy the event! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In his TED Talk, “Get Your Maverick On,” Jay Gross challenges listeners to break free from conventional expectations and embrace their authentic, trailblazing selves. With passion and humor, he shares personal stories and hard-won insights about the power of showing up boldly, taking risks, and leading with heart. It’s a call to action to live unapologetically, think differently, and create impact by being the maverick you were meant to be. “After a motorcycle accident in 1986 crushed the 7th thoracic vertebrae in my back and left me less than a ¼ of an inch from being paralyzed from my chest down, I take each day as a gift. While I was recuperating for six months, my Mom mentioned how I would be a good teacher and how the neighborhood kids flocked to me when I was outside to learn football plays and hear me tell stories. It stuck. I recently retired after 30 years of teaching at Shepherd High School, and 34 days later accepted a position teaching Speech/Debate at Morley Stanwood High School. I am still being told countless times my stories make learning relate, and make it easier to understand. My name is Jay Gross, and I am an English, Speech, & Debate teacher. I also teach as an adjunct professor of English and Speech at Montcalm Community College and am currently teaching at St. Louis High School for dual enrollment. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

"Navigating the Unknown of A.I," the talk emphasizes the urgency of approaching AI with curiosity, caution, and critical thinking—recognizing its potential to revolutionize the world while remaining mindful of the complex risks it introduces. It encourages listeners to be proactive participants in shaping the future of AI, not passive observers. Angle Bush, CEO - Black Women In Artificial Intelligence Visionary. Innovator. Advocate. Angle Bush embodies the transformative power of leadership in technology. In 2020, Angle founded Black Women In Artificial Intelligence, driven by a singular mission: to Educate, Engage, Embrace, and Empower Black Women in AI. Under her leadership, the organization has become a global force, uniting members across five continents and forging partnerships with industry leaders such as Amazon, Microsoft, Capital One, and NVIDIA. These alliances reflect her unwavering commitment to opening doors, creating opportunities, and shaping the future of AI through inclusivity. Angle’s influence extends beyond her organization. As a sought-after speaker and thought leader, she challenges the tech world to think bigger, innovate smarter, and build with purpose. Her dedication to creating spaces where Black Women thrive is not just a mission, it’s a movement. An alumna of Central Michigan University with studies at Harvard, Angle brings both academic rigor and a relentless drive to her work. Currently, she serves as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Miami and sits on the Central Michigan University College of Science and Engineering Advisory Board, championing the next generation of innovators. Notable Highlights- New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell, NPR, Bloomberg, M.Live, Inc.Magazine, PBS-North Carolina, Forbes, National Urban League Conference, National Black Women In Artificial Intelligence Day This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx