From Fashion to Robotics: Building the Future Through Innovation - S3 E16

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with three remarkable innovators shaping the future of fashion, entrepreneurship, accessibility, and technology: Azadeh Riaz, Founder and CEO of House of Azadeh; Ella Shukho, a venture ecosystem leader and startup growth strategist; and Zain Samdani, co-founder of Exoheal and Please Touch This Art. Azadeh is an internationally recognized fashion designer, entrepreneur, and creative visionary with more than 35 years of experience in luxury fashion. After beginning her career designing couture for the Saudi Royal Family, she became the original designer behind Bebe's signature aesthetic, helping transform the company into a nationally recognized public brand. Today, she leads House of Azadeh, a modern luxury retail concept with boutiques in San Francisco and Los Altos, and is the creator of CLOH, an AI-powered platform designed to help people build intentional wardrobes and reconnect with the art of dressing. Ella is a venture ecosystem leader and partnership strategist who specializes in connecting founders, investors, and enterprise organizations to create growth opportunities. Her experience includes leading partnership initiatives at Alma and managing 500 Global's flagship accelerator program, where she worked with high-growth startups across AI, enterprise software, healthtech, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. She is passionate about helping innovative companies scale through strategic relationships and ecosystem development. Zain is an entrepreneur, innovator, and advocate for accessible technology. He is the co-founder of Please Touch This Art, a startup making visual art more accessible for blind and visually impaired individuals through tactile experiences and inclusive design. He is also the co-founder of Exoheal, an assistive robotics company developing AI-powered wearable technology to help stroke survivors and individuals with hand paralysis regain mobility and independence. His work has earned international recognition, including a Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship, The Diana Award, and the Gold Award at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Join us as we explore entrepreneurship, innovation, accessibility, venture capital, AI, fashion, and the power of building products that create meaningful impact. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact. Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact   Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for STEP. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://luma.com/StepSF26?tk=yMvcCv   Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://luma.com/onewaysummit2026   Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.