2025 - 2026

 2026 Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge Finals
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 

Li Ka Shing Learning and Knowledge Center
Berg Hall C
291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA

8:00am – 9:00am     Check-in & Coffee 

9:00am – 9:15am     Stanford Center on Longevity Welcome
Laura Carstensen, Stanford Center on Longevity

9:15am – 9:45am     Keynote: What is good sleep and why does it matter for healthspan?
Jamie Zeitzer, Professor (Research) of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Sleep Medicine), Stanford University

9:45am – 9:55am   Design Challenge Finals Introduction
Marie Conley-Smith, Stanford Center on Longevity

 9:55am – 10:55am     Finalist Presentations, Part 1 

10:55am – 11:10am     Break 

11:10am – 12:00pm     Finalist Presentations, Part 2 

12:00pm – 1:00pm     Networking Lunch  (provided by Stanford Catering) 

1:00pm – 2:00pm     Judges Meeting 

1:00 pm – 1:45pm     Founders in Preventive Health

Panelists:

• Amy Li, CEO & Founder, Concha Labs
• Monique Nadeau, CEO & Co-Founder of EatLove
• Melis Yilmaz Balban, CEO & Founder of Neurosmart

Moderator:

• Barbara Waxman, Founder & CEO, Odyssey Group Coaching LLC; Advisory Council Member, Stanford Center on Longevity & Stanford Lifestyle Medicine

1:45pm – 2:00pm     Break 

2:00pm – 2:15pm     Introduction to Design Challenge 2027
Marie Conley-Smith, Stanford Center on Longevity; Steve Cousins & Michelle Baldonado, Stanford Robotics Center

2:15pm – 2:30pm     Awards

                                                      1^st prize: $10,000

                                                      2^nd prize: $5,000

                                                      3^rd prize: $2,000

2:30pm – 3:30pm     Networking Reception (Light snacks provided) 

Li Ka Shing Learning & Knowledge Center | Berg Hall C
291 Campus Drive
Stanford, CA 94305

From Highway 280 North or South:
• Take the Sand Hill Road exit, head east
• Turn right on Stock Farm Road
• Go past Oak Road
• Make the next left‐hand turn into Stock Farm Lot

From Bayshore US Highway 101 North or South:
• Take the Embarcadero Road/West exit
• Follow Embarcadero Road for about two miles
• Cross El Camino Real, after which the road becomes Galvez St.
• Turn right at Arboretum Road
• Turn left on Sand Hill Road
• Turn left on Stock Farm Road
• Go past Oak Road
• Make the next left‐hand turn into Stock Farm Lot

Visit Stanford Visitor parking to pay for a parking permit, or use the ParkMobile app.

Walking to LKSC from the Parking Structure (10 minute walk):

• After parking, go to the South‐East corner of the parking lot (you’ll see the Hoover Tower in the distance).
• Take the elevator down to street level and make two rights, or take the stairs down to the street level and make a right.
• Turn left at the white fire hydrant and walk across the parking lotMake a right when you get to Welch Road.
• Make a left and cross the street at the corner
• Follow the path and the LKSC Event signs
• Turn left at the first palm tree
• Walk up the stairs of the Li Ka Shing Center, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford
• The Conference Center is located on the 2nd Floor.
  (An elevator is available if you enter on the first floor.)

Recommended hotels in the area include:

• Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel 
• Cabana Hotel Palo Alto
• The Nest Hotel Palo Alto
• Hotel Lucent
• The Westin Palo Alto

We will provide lunch on the day of the conference. For dinner options, see the below list of recommended local restaurants:

• Saint Michael’s Alley
  
• Reposado
• Left Bank, Menlo Park
• Stanford Park Hotel
  
• Rosewood
  
• CucinaVenti
  
• iTalico
  
• Café Riace
  
• Flemings Steakhouse, Palo Alto

Please direct any initial logistical questions to concerns to:

Nikki Tran Duff
[email protected]
[email protected]