Visionaries in Villette: The X Summit 2025:

Day 1: Parisian Prestige & Visionary Voices at the Ritz

The 2025 X Summit opened its doors in the most iconic of settings — the Ritz Paris. From the moment guests stepped through its wrought-iron gates and into its serene courtyard, there was a sense that something rare and meaningful was beginning.

Against the backdrop of towering magnolia trees, glittering chandeliers, and classic French architecture, attendees from around the world gathered to reconnect and realign. Conversations flowed easily on the terrace over coffee and cocktails. Inside the salons, laughter mingled with insight, and the energy was palpable — a global braintrust coming together in one of the world’s most storied hotels.

As the formal program began, guests were treated to a series of impactful keynote speeches from a world-class lineup of innovators and leaders:

• Max Hodak (Founder of Science, former President and Co-Founder of Neuralink)

• Chris Yin (Co-Founder, Plume)

• Tony Kim (Managing Director, BlackRock)

• Kevin Guo (Co-Founder, Hive)

• Omar Bailey (Creator of the Yeezy shoe, Founder of FCTRY Lab)

Each shared bold visions from the front lines of their industries — from neurotechnology to AI to global capital. But the day was far from over.

As the sun set, guests were transported to one of Paris’s most cherished cultural landmarks: the Musée Rodin, privately rented in its entirety for the X Summit. Among the manicured gardens and marble sculptures, attendees sipped cocktails beside The Thinker and dined under the open sky in the museum’s historic courtyard.

It was here that Xu Xiaoping, legendary Chinese investor and Co-Founder of ZhenFund and New Oriental, delivered the evening keynote. In a heartfelt and elegant address, Xu officially welcomed guests to the summit — a beautifully written speech that set the tone for the days to come. His words were thoughtful, personal, and quietly powerful — a reminder that behind every great venture is a deeper purpose. It was a fitting close to a first day that blended beauty, brilliance, and belonging — the very spirit of the X Summit.

Day 2: Ideas in Bloom at Château de Villette

Day 2 of the X Summit began with the soft morning light falling across the sweeping lawns of Château de Villette — a Louis XVI masterpiece just outside Paris, often called the “Little Versailles.” With its ornate gardens, sculptures, and serene lakes, the estate provided the perfect backdrop for a day designed to stretch both mind and spirit.

Guests arrived dressed in light linens and summer whites, greeted by the scent of fresh pastries and blooming lavender. Breakfast conversations flowed freely as attendees wandered the château grounds, catching up on the previous night’s moments at the Rodin and preparing for a full day of programming.

The morning opened with a keynote from Xu Xiaoping, (Co-founder of ZhenFund and New Oriental) in conversation with Andrew Zhu (Founding Partner, Serafund), titled: “A Life of Meaning: What Stays When Everything Fades”

In a rare and intimate dialogue, Xu shared reflections not on finance, but on legacy — offering a deeply personal lens into success, purpose, and the fragility of time. The room was silent. No phones. Just reverence.

Following that, the momentum continued with a bold session from Laura Deming (Founder, Cradle Health & Longevity Fund) on: "Freezing Time: Cryopreservation & the Future of Life Extension" Deming offered an exciting glimpse into the scientific revolution unfolding in longevity — and how we may soon preserve life far beyond current imagination.

Then came a powerhouse investment panel on the state of frontier tech capital:

• Sarah Warrington (Head of Private Investments, Gresham Partners – $10B AUM)

• Sean Liu (Partner, Founders Fund)

• Olive Wang (Founding Partner, Olive Capital)

Together, they unpacked where capital is flowing — from early-stage AI to late-stage biotech and the latest in deep tech.

The morning closed with an exclusive fireside between Will Gains (President, MOVE Industries) and Anthony Wang (Founding Partner, Serafund)

Will shared MOVE’s bold vision for programmable blockchain infrastructure and what lies ahead for the Movement ecosystem — a roadmap that combines technological precision with creative disruption.

Afternoon: Play, Curiosity & Mystery

As the structured talks wound down, the day gave way to curiosity, creativity, and connection. A picnic lunch unfolded under the shade of century-old trees, featuring fresh French cuisine, local rosé, and top Burgundy wines custom-labeled for the X Summit.

Guests could choose from a range of leisurely side experiences, including:

• Live portrait painting

• A wellness zone with massages and guided meditative dreaming

• Boat racing across the estate’s private lake

• Flower arranging and basket weaving

• A whimsical yet intense murder mystery game that had teams of guests investigating clues scattered across the property

The afternoon drifted by like a midsummer dream — laughter in the hedges, champagne on the terrace, art being created in real time.

Evening: The March for Napoleon

As the sun dipped low, drums echoed across the lawn. The final act of Day 2 wasn’t a dinner. It was a historic reenactment — a full-scale Napoleonic marching experience where guests were enlisted into the French Imperial Army. Dressed in makeshift military regalia and guided by drummers and uniformed officers, attendees marched across the gardens of Château de Villette, reenacting a call to arms for Napoleon. The line between spectacle and immersion disappeared as guests laughed, shouted commands, and surrendered to the drama of the moment. Dinner followed — a candlelit long-table affair set along the water’s edge, where guests broke bread after “battle,” under the stars. It was a day of deep thought, playful connection, and theatrical surprise — the kind of experience that can only happen at X Summit.

Day 3: Legacy, Luxury, and the Future of Everything

The final day of X Summit unfolded with a sense of both reflection and anticipation. The grandeur of Château de Villette felt familiar by now, yet no less breathtaking. Beneath cloudy skies and among tapestries and gilded mirrors, the morning began with deep conversations and cutting-edge visions.

The day kicked off with a captivating keynote from Trevor Martin, founder of Mammoth Biosciences, in conversation with Rowan Hooper from WIRED UK. Together, they explored the frontier of gene editing — how CRISPR-based tech is quickly shifting from theoretical to actionable, from lab to life. With over $500 million in funding behind Mammoth, the session painted a vivid picture of what the next decade in health could look like.

That was followed by a high-alpha panel on institutional crypto strategy, led by:

• Olivier François (CEO, BTQ Tech & DeFiTech Global)

• San Lee (Co-Founder, Echelon Market & Thala Labs)

They tackled everything from sovereign digital reserves to stablecoin regulation, M&A activity in crypto, and how traditional capital is finally taking DeFi seriously.

Then came a closing tech panel at the edge of three converging revolutions: Crypto x AI x IP — featuring:

• Michael Heinrich (Co-Founder, 0G Labs)

  Dan Wang (Co-Founder, Aethir)

• James Chi (Co-Founder, Camp Network)

Their discussion dove into how decentralized infrastructure will support the new wave of AI models, and how blockchain could preserve ownership, incentives, and creative rights in a world shaped by generative intelligence.

Afternoon: Fencing, Fragrance, and French Flourishes

The intellectual firepower gave way to exploration and joy. After a refined lunch in the château, guests dispersed for a final round of hands-on, curiosity-driven activities — each a sensory indulgence in its own right:

• Fencing on the lawn, where guests channeled their inner musketeer

• Calligraphy and brushwork in a sun-dappled studio

• Perfume making using rare French essences

• Sound baths and guided meditation

• Waltz lessons and a surprise Victorian dance circle that swept everyone into twirls of laughter

The line between programming and play blurred beautifully.

Evening: Masquerade, Opera, and a Sky Lit in Celebration

As twilight approached, guests reemerged in full masquerade — feathers, masks, gowns — for a sunset dinner in the gardens. Set on a long gravel path lined with perfectly sculpted trees, the table itself became a piece of art: crystal goblets, vintage china, fresh fruit, and florals flowing endlessly across its length.

As dessert was cleared, the next surprise arrived: a troupe of opera singers in full costume appeared to perform modern songs reimagined through classical voices — haunting, powerful, and unforgettable.

And just as their final note lingered in the air… the sky exploded.

A private fireworks show erupted over the château — lighting up the French countryside in gold, crimson, and silver. Cheers, champagne, arms around shoulders. The kind of shared memory that needs no caption.

A Final Celebration in the Château

The night carried on with a private afterparty inside the château, where a historic stone corridor pulsed with light and sound. Masked DJs, stilted performers, thumping bass, and one last chance to dance beneath 18th-century beams — a surreal fusion of old world and new energy.