Thrive 2026 / SEPT 29 - OCT 1Los Angeles, CA
Agenda
September 29th
Registration Open
Upon arrival, please stop by the Registration Desk to check in and pick up your conference badge. Your conference badge is required for entry to all conference sessions, meals, networking events, and activities, so be sure to keep it with you throughout the event.
Welcome to Thrive 2026
Kick off Thrive with an evening of great food, networking and unforgettable energy in the heart of LA Live. Connect with fellow attendees while enjoying an iconic Los Angeles style block party, featuring food trucks from across Southern California.
September 30th
Networking Breakfast
Start the day with breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees, sponsors, and AppDirect team members. It's a great opportunity to meet new contacts, spark conversations, and prepare for the day's sessions.
Opening keynote & product roadmap
See the forces reshaping B2B commerce and the platform innovations built to help you win. Nicolas Desmarais, Andy Sen, and Colin Chong bring both together in one powerful opening session.
PartnerStack keynote: Winning through partnerships
Hear Bryn Jones dive into how the PartnerStack platform helps companies grow effectively through partnerships. Hear an overview of the business, its core offerings, and how organizations use partner-led growth to reach more customers and drive growth.
Tackle.io keynote: Winning through cloud marketplaces
Get to know Tackle and how it helps software companies grow through cloud marketplaces. Hear an overview of the business from John Jahnke, including Tackle's core offerings, and how organizations use marketplace channels to reach buyers, simplify selling, and accelerate revenue.
Better together: Powering what’s next in B2B commerce
Hear from Tackle and PartnerStack leaders John Jahnke and Bryn Jones about why each company chose AppDirect, what partners and customers can expect from these integrations, and how this combined vision will shape the future of B2B commerce. Moderated by Emanuel Bertolin the group will also discuss the impact of AI in today's B2B arena.
Break
Enjoy a brief refreshment break before the next session begins.
How AI and marketplaces are reshaping growth
Hear from Lewis Howarth, AWS, on how AI and cloud marketplaces are reshaping how businesses discover, buy, and deploy technology. Learn what these shifts mean for providers and advisors, and explore what’s possible across AppDirect, Tackle, and PartnerStack, from today’s opportunities to what comes next.
A Conversation with Burt Podbere, Chief Financial Officer at CrowdStrike
Gain a Fortune 500 CFO's perspective on navigating AI disruption, building resilient companies, and positioning your business to grow through rapid change.
Selling certainty: Why the future of tech belongs to the trusted advisor
Hear Verizon’s Dawn McNellis break down why trusted advisors matter more than ever in an AI-first world, and how to help customers cut through the noise with clarity, confidence, and human connection.
Networking Lunch Break
Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow attendees, sponsors, and AppDirect team members. This is a great opportunity to build new relationships, exchange ideas, and continue conversations from the morning sessions.
Laurie Segall interviews a humanoid robot
What happens when a veteran tech journalist interviews a humanoid robot live on stage? Find out. Laurie Segall sits down with Ameca for a conversation at the edge of what AI can do today.
AI innovators & adopters
Move beyond AI experimentation. Hear from executive IT leaders Dean Alms, Chris Bomberger, Collin McCarty, Matt Smyth, about how to build a clear path to human-first, AI-driven operations. Walk away with a plan for creating real impact across your business and your customers.
AI maturity: A phased roadmap for growth with Microsoft
Get a clear, phased roadmap for AI adoption from Microsoft's Monica French. From security and data readiness to copilots and autonomous AI agents, learn how to lead AI conversations.
Keynote: Zack Kass, Global AI Advisor & Former Head of GTM at OpenAI
Leave with more than an AI opinion. Get a practical, optimistic perspective on where the market is heading and what it actually takes to lead through the next wave of business transformation.
Expo Hall & Networking Reception
Meet the providers building the future of B2B technology and explore the solutions that can move your business forward.
October 1st
Networking Breakfast
Join us for breakfast and informal networking as we kick off Day 2. Reconnect with fellow attendees, sponsors, and the AppDirect team before diving into another day of insightful sessions and discussions.
Keynote: Steven Bartlett, Entrepreneur, Investor, Founder of Steven.com, and Host of The Diary of a CEO Podcast
In conversation with Laurie Segall, walk away with hard-won lessons from building and investing in fast-growing companies and insights drawn from deep conversations with global tech leaders. Leave knowing how to navigate chaos, embrace AI-driven change, and build a resilient self and a high-velocity organization.
The modern advisor: Expanding your business for what's next
Hear how leading advisors are growing beyond a single technology focus to unlock new revenue, deepen customer relationships, and build strong businesses for the future. Moderated by Emanuel Bertolin, panelists include: Bill Frohriep, Donna Kruse, and Seth Penland.
Break
Enjoy a brief refreshment break before the next session begins.
The marketplace playbook: Building, scaling & growing your catalog
Hear how leaders from HPE, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and Workday are approaching marketplace strategy, from launching and scaling their platforms to building the right catalog for growth. Learn what is driving their decisions and what other technology companies can take from their experience. Speakers include: Tobias Icks, Ron Kafka, Jake Zborowski, and Brent Johnson.
Digital Heroes & Provider Awards
This event will celebrate the AppDirect Digital Heroes & Provider Awards winners, individuals and organizations who challenge the status quo, drive innovation, and embody AppDirect's core values, while inspiring others through their commitment to transforming the digital economy.
Networking Lunch
Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow attendees, sponsors, and AppDirect team members. This is a great opportunity to build new relationships, exchange ideas, and continue conversations from the day's sessions.
Breakout Sessions
Choose from a variety of breakout sessions and interactive roundtable discussions designed to provide actionable insights, practical strategies, and opportunities to connect with peers and industry experts.
Expo Hall & Networking Reception
Meet the providers building the future of B2B technology and explore the solutions that can move your business forward.
Final night party at The Majestic
Kick back, relax, and connect! Thrive’s closing party featuring Lovestoned at The Majestic Downtown promises an unforgettable finale — blending historic LA glamour, elevated energy, and a one-of-a-kind celebration in an iconic setting.