TEDxArdenwood Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Ali Khani

  Entrepreneur

  Ali Khani is the founder of the Muslim Tech Collaborative (MTC), North America's largest Muslim tech ecosystem with 30+ chapters serving 2000+ students, founders, and professionals across the US and Canada. A recent UC Berkeley computer science graduate from the Bay Area, Ali is passionate about building bridges across various communities — as a lead organizer of Muslim Tech Fest SF, track chair for OPEN Silicon Valley's Annual Forum, co-president of Cal's Muslim alumni network, co-founder of networking tool Bloom (withbloom.app), and continuing to connect top tech talent globally through MTC.

• Amaar Chughtai

  Pianist

  Amaar is a certified CM Level 10 concert and jazz pianist. He performs at local venues across the Bay Area, and he loves classical and jazz genres. Today, he will be performing one of Chopin’s most emotionally rich compositions—the Nocturnes. These pieces are known not just for their technical complexity, but for the depth of feeling they require. Amaar brings both precision and passion to the piano, shaped by 7+ years of dedication, practice, and a deep love for music

• Aydin Rizqi

  Award-winning young author & Founder of AR Books

  Aydin Rizqi is an award-winning author who has published 10 books through Barnes & Noble Press and KDP. He began his writing journey at the age of eleven with the release of Ethan Anderson and the Wielders, and has since published four more fantasy novels and a superhero trilogy series. Aydin has sold thousands of copies of his books across California and other states, with his work featured in bookstores like Books Inc., Barnes & Noble, and at multiple book fairs. His growing success has led to features on several news outlets and podcasts for young authors. Aydin has earned prestigious honors, including being nominated as a Youth Rising Star by OPEN Silicon Valley and becoming one of the youngest authors to win a BookFest Award.

• Ibrahim Bashir

  Product Manager

  Ibrahim Bashir has been creating software for nearly 25 years, a journey he started while earning his Master's in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. He currently works on the product team at Applied Intuition, helping customers build intelligent vehicles. Before that, he scaled the flagship product at Amplitude, new businesses at Box, service infrastructure at Twitter, and the Kindle ecosystem at Amazon. Ibrahim has also been an active civic servant over the last decade, operating as a community organizer and serving as a library commissioner. In the most recent election cycle, Ibrahim ran for a seat on the Los Altos City Council. As a naturalized immigrant and minority candidate, he brought a unique perspective to the race; although he ultimately fell short by a margin of 1%, he managed to execute the most sophisticated campaign in the history of the city.

• Rayah Rizqi

  Singer, Performer

  Rayah Rizqi is a dynamic and multi-talented young entrepreneur and musician from Fremont, California. She is the founder of Petals & Potions, a custom perfume line she launched at just 11 years old—earning her the Best Young Entrepreneur award at the Fremont Children’s Business Fair, as featured in Tri-City Voice. In 2024, Rayah also won the OPEN Silicon Valley Youth Shark Tank Pitch Competition for her team's startup, Money Mentors. Beyond her entrepreneurial achievements, Rayah is a classically trained pianist and vocalist who regularly performs at school and community events. Her passion for creativity, discipline, and social impact shines through in everything she does.

• Saahithi and Saaketh Madhuvarsu

  Founders of Busy Buzzy Bots

  Saaketh and Saahithi Madhuvarsu are the sibling founders of Busy Buzzy Bots, a nonprofit dedicated to making STEM education accessible and inspiring for all. Saaketh, a creative middle schooler with a passion for robotics and basketball, began coding at five and has since built 10+ apps and advanced robotics projects. Saahithi, a driven high schooler, channels her love for tech and innovation into developing mobile apps, STEM kits, and exploring AI in healthcare. Together, they lead hands-on workshops and design educational kits that have reached hundreds of young learners. All profits support underprivileged children worldwide with food, education, and shelter. United by curiosity, compassion, and a love of problem-solving, they aim to spark a lifelong love of STEM in the next generation.

• Samarth Gill

  Aerospace, SE, and Community Leadership

  I am Samarth Gill, an aspiring aerospace engineer, student researcher, and the founder of VoluntHero, a non-profit focused on providing a platform to connect students with meaningful service opportunities across California. I'm a curious builder, community mentor, and lifelong learner. Being able to gain experiences from all walks of life, from volunteering at my temple to interning at NASA, I've been able to deliver these opportunities to once-rejected volunteers and provide a platform that not only helps them embolster their communities but also make a positive impact outside of the classroom. If you want to have a great conversation with me, let's talk about F1, futbol, Minecraft, or Aerospace!

• Sanya Khan

  Competitive Squash Player

  Sanya Khan is a rising 9th Grader at Oakwood High School, a competitive squash player, and public speaker. She is the winner of the 2023 Santa Clara Silver GU13 squash tournament, the 2021 Silver Oak Speech champion, and the recipient of Oakwood’s 2025 Math Momentum Award. Her hobbies include baking, reading, and playing squash, and her favorite school subject is math. Sanya lives in California with her parents, her two sisters, and her dog, Dolce.