David Awad
David Awad is an investor, attorney, and engineer who helps organizations navigate complex technology risk and scale engineering teams effectively. Drawing on experience from CTO leadership at Tumblr and Ecoverse to strategic investments in SpaceX and other deep-tech ventures, he provides practical guidance on AI due diligence, technical evaluation, and startup growth.
New Jersey, United States
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David serves as Principal Investor at the Dubai Future District Fund and works as fractional CTO for firms including Quinlan Partners. He is a member of the California State Bar and the IEEE Artificial Intelligence Policy Committee, and has participated in late-stage investments in SpaceX, Anduril, x.ai, and Groq. His background includes technical due diligence for private equity and venture capital firms, litigation strategy consulting, and deploying private blockchain solutions at R3 for financial institutions.
David's cross-functional expertise allows him to identify technical risks that others miss, whether evaluating architecture decisions, assessing engineering team quality, or spotting regulatory vulnerabilities before they become costly problems. He understands how legal frameworks, investment structures, and engineering realities intersect because he has operated in all three domains, from supporting Alpine Investors during acquisitions to modernizing infrastructure for telecom companies.
Audiences gain practical guidance on evaluating startups, building engineering teams, and navigating technical and legal challenges in high-growth environments. His presentations provide actionable insights for investors, founders, and technology leaders while illustrating the interplay between engineering decisions, legal frameworks, and business strategy.
Book David to gain an investor's perspective grounded in hands-on technical and legal experience across multiple asset classes and geographies.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
David Awad outlines a practical framework for evaluating startups from a technical perspective, covering architecture risk, engineering team quality, scalability, and security. He highlights how to identify red flags early in venture and private equity deals, providing insight into rigorous assessment and decision-making processes that bridge engineering and investment perspectives.
David Awad explores how legal, regulatory, and technical considerations intersect in modern technology companies. He examines litigation risk, intellectual property, and compliance, showing how engineers and lawyers can collaborate more effectively to manage technical and business risk.
Drawing from his experience as CTO and fractional CTO, David Awad shares lessons on hiring, leadership, system design, and scaling engineering teams. He addresses the challenges of growing technical capacity without slowing innovation, focusing on practical strategies for sustainable team growth.
David Awad highlights insights from transitioning between hands-on engineering leadership and venture investing. He explores how founders can communicate more effectively with investors and how investors can better support technical teams, bridging operational and financial perspectives.
David Awad examines modern cybersecurity threats across financial systems, critical infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Drawing from experience in blockchain, telecom, and public-sector initiatives, he presents practical frameworks for managing risk in complex technical environments.
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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
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We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
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Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
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PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
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