{"id":5442,"date":"2026-11-05T18:27:01","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T14:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skwozniak.com\/index\/2026\/11\/05\/silicon-mountains-2026-wraps-up-kam-ghaffarian-s-advice-to-students-and-what-investors-pay-for-after-ai\/"},"modified":"2026-11-05T18:27:01","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T14:27:01","slug":"silicon-mountains-2026-wraps-up-kam-ghaffarian-s-advice-to-students-and-what-investors-pay-for-after-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skwozniak.com\/index\/2026\/11\/05\/silicon-mountains-2026-wraps-up-kam-ghaffarian-s-advice-to-students-and-what-investors-pay-for-after-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Silicon Mountains 2026 Wraps Up: Kam Ghaffarian\u2019s Advice to Students and What Investors Pay For After AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yerevan, November 4, 2026<\/strong> \u2014 The two-day Silicon Mountains Summit & Expo 2026, held under the theme \u201cInvest in Innovation,\u201d came to a close in Yerevan. After a first day<\/a> led by figures from space, telecommunications and semiconductors, the second day turned to how next-generation chips are designed, what role AI plays in engineering, how women lead in tech and government, and how to invest wisely in a fast-changing world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The closing panel \u201cAfter AI: What Are Investors Actually Paying For?\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kam Ghaffarian meets students: \u201cImagine, Believe and Execute\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kam Ghaffarian \u2014 co-founder of X-energy, Intuitive Machines, Axiom Space and Quantum Space, and laureate of Armenia\u2019s 2026 State Prize for Global Contribution to High Technology \u2014 met with students from Armenian universities that offer technology education. The conversation centred on one question: what should a student invest their time in?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenting his group of companies, IBX, he shared its motto \u2014 \u201cImagine, Believe and Execute.\u201d His advice to the students was simple: find your passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cFind your passion, because once you find it, going to work every day is no longer work \u2014 it\u2019s a pleasure. Have the courage to do it. Think without limits.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Ghaffarian also spoke about persistence, determination and resilience as the qualities needed to reach a big goal. Among his favourite quotes he cited Carl Sagan: \u201cThe sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Students
Students and guests in the audience on day two<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter AI\u201d: what are investors actually paying for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The summit ended with a closing panel on investment, \u201cAfter AI: What Are Investors Actually Paying For?\u201d Participants discussed how to plan and how to invest sensibly in a world where technologies, markets and projects change very quickly. The panel brought together Rem Darbinyan (SmartClick AI), Astghik Zakaryan (SIA Angel Hub), Ruben Osipyan (Science & Technology Angel Network), Deputy Minister Tatev Aslanyan, Sona Grigoryan (Plug and Play Armenia) and Leo Derikyants (Mind Simulation Lab), moderated by Artur Karapetyan (Text\u2019nPayMe, UEICT Board member).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Investors,
Investors, founders and government representatives on the closing panel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Also on day two<\/h2>\n\n\n\n