LAS VEGAS — Automotive Ventures Principal Justin Charbonneau will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural Startup Symposium. The half-day, agent-focused event will be held as part of the 16th annual Agent Summit, which kicks off with a welcome reception on the evening of Sunday, April 12, at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

All registered attendees are welcome at Startup Symposium, including a 7:30 a.m. breakfast with sponsors. Charbonneau will present “AI, China, and the Next Wave of Innovation in Auto Retail — Why F&I Sits at the Center” at 8:30.

“Agents are hearing a lot about AI and global competition, but very little about what it actually means for the F&I office,” Charbonneau said. “Automotive Ventures spends every day evaluating startups building the next generation of tools for dealers, agents and providers. In this keynote, we’ll share a behind-the-scenes look at our investment thesis, the emerging AI-driven F&I stack and why the potential arrival of Chinese OEMs in the U.S. could create both disruption and opportunity for agents who are prepared.”

Show chair David Gesualdo said Charbonneau’s topic is in keeping with Agent Summit’s long-term objective of creating a forum and delivering content that keeps agents on the leading edge of F&I technology.

“Much is asked and expected of today’s agent, who must be experts in countless subjects to be effective agency-builders and dealer advisors,” Gesualdo said. “We are fortunate to have a speaker of Justin’s caliber to deliver this timely and mission-critical address.”

To learn more or register for Agent Summit, visit the event’s website.