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Welcome Reception
Feb 26, 2025
From:
5:00 PM
To:
7:00 PM
Join fellow attendees at the Welcome Reception as we kick off the 2025 Marketplace Risk Austin Conference. As the sun sets over the city, connect with global thought leaders, innovators, and experts at a laid-back networking event with old friends and new.
Location will be sent to your email upon registration.
Dell JCC Austin
Check In & Networking Breakfast
Feb 27, 2025
From:
8:00 AM
To:
9:00 AM
Be sure to check in early to connect and network with other attendees over breakfast!
Postmates Room
Keynote: The GenAI Playbook For Transforming Your Existing Trust & Safety, Risk Operations
Feb 27, 2025
- Abhay Antony, Director, Trust & Safety - Risk Analytics & Policy, Thumbtack
From:
9:00 AM
To:
9:40 AM
As GenAI reshapes industries, every company leader is being challenged to rethink their organization’s approach. In this keynote, Abhay will present a practical playbook for transforming traditional Trust & Safety and Risk Operations teams—built on automation rules, human-in-the-loop processes, and policies—into AI-driven, adaptive functions.
Drawing from Thumbtack’s real-world experience, Abhay will share best practices and lessons learned in implementing LLM-led rules, fine-tuned off-the-shelf models, and AI-enabled policy development. Trust & Safety was the first area in which Thumbtack adopted LLMs, and the company continues to refine its AI-driven approach.
This session will guide leaders through the critical steps of starting their AI transformation journey, assessing what is possible, managing change effectively, and successfully launching AI-driven initiatives. It will also cover how to build a one-year transformation plan, recognizing that in such a rapidly evolving field, long-term planning remains uncertain. However, by cultivating a team seasoned in working with GenAI, organizations can stay agile and prepared for the future.
Postmates Room
ROI and Stakeholder Buy-in
Feb 27, 2025
- Monica Aleman-Smoot, Attorney, Texas Department of Transportation
- Alyssa Bamforth, Fraud Operations Team Lead, DoorDash
- Kristin Kupiec, Manager, Critical and Law Enforcement Response, DoorDash
From:
9:50 AM
To:
10:30 AM
This session highlights the critical role of Law Enforcement Response (LER) in fostering community safety. It emphasizes the importance of effective collaboration with law enforcement agencies and outlines strategies for training and structuring teams to handle sensitive requests. Key learning points include the significance of specialized agent roles, the value of separating LER functions from broader operations, and the necessity of ongoing training to maintain compliance and precision. Attendees will gain insights into minimizing exposure to sensitive details while ensuring timely, lawful responses that prioritize community safety and trust.
Sittercity Room
Today’s Disruptors in High-Volume Onboarding
Feb 27, 2025
- Josh Cutler, Chief Technology Officer, Yardstik
- Dennis Dahlmann, COO & Co-Founder, GetScale
- Amy Leff, Assistant Professor of Practice, The University of Texas at Austin
From:
9:50 AM
To:
10:30 AM
The people you hire at your company can make or break your success. The problem is, hiring is getting more and more complex. Fraud attempts are increasing, people are getting crafty with efforts like deepfakes, all while businesses are trying to scale. From virtual hiring to AI to consistent policy changes, there’s a lot to keep up with. All of this creates obstacles and if there’s anything marketplaces need, it’s not more hoops to jump through. Join this informative conversation between three leaders in business, technology, and policy to hear about the latest innovation and change marketplaces need to be aware of and what to do about it.
Outdoorsy Room
Enforcing Misinformation Policies: Strategic Partnerships & Practical Strategies for Marketplaces
Feb 27, 2025
- Sarah Brandt, EVP, Partnerships, NewsGuard
- Alex Popken, VP Trust & Safety, WebPurify, an IntouchCX company
From:
9:50 AM
To:
10:30 AM
Misinformation remains a growing challenge for online marketplaces and platforms, further amplified by recent industry shifts like Meta’s announcement on reducing fact-checking partnerships. This session delves into practical strategies for enforcing misinformation policies amid an evolving landscape. Learn how to align on content categories, define risk thresholds, and adapt policies to address emerging risks. Discover how to train and scale human moderation teams for consistent enforcement while leveraging third-party reliability ratings, data, and technology to enhance impact. Through a real-world case study, we’ll explore how platforms can stay resilient and foster trust as the misinformation threat intensifies and industry support diminishes.
Postmates Room
Google Play Policy Education Programs
Feb 27, 2025
- Joe Davis, Product Innovation Leader, Google
From:
10:40 AM
To:
11:10 AM
In this session, we'll cover how Google Play Academy can help drive app policy comprehension through developer education. We'll highlight the key tools we use: Google Play Policy scaled courses on Play Academy, Play PolicyBytes for policy GTM, and the Play Strike Removal Program. We'll highlight how these tools use visual media and targeted training to drive policy comprehension, and help contribute to a more trusted apps marketplace ecosystem.
Sittercity Room
The Critical Role of KYB in Marketplaces: Building Trust in a World Where Everyone is a Business
Feb 27, 2025
- Ajay Guru, CEO, Kount
- Jason Howard, CEO, Caf
- Robert Segovia, Senior Manager, Trust & Safety Operations, uShip
From:
10:40 AM
To:
11:10 AM
The digital landscape has transformed into a vast marketplace where individuals are not just consumers but also merchants. Online marketplaces now serve as hubs for shopping, sharing information, and peer-to-peer transactions, creating an interconnected environment of trust and commerce.
To ensure these platforms thrive, trust must remain at the forefront. KYB (Know Your Business) has emerged as a vital practice for marketplace platforms, enabling secure and compliant transactions in a world where every individual can operate as a business. From verifying merchants to meeting global payment and data regulations, robust KYB protocols are essential for creating a secure and seamless experience for all participants in the marketplace ecosystem.
Outdoorsy Room
The Rise of Scams: Protecting Your Marketplace and Rebuilding Trust
Feb 27, 2025
- Elena Michaeli, PM Marketplace Risk Strategy, Walmart Marketplace
- Roy Zur, Founder & CEO, Charm Security
From:
10:40 AM
To:
11:10 AM
Scams and social engineering attacks are escalating, creating urgent challenges for digital platforms. In this session, Roy Zur, founder of Charm Security, will present a comprehensive approach to combating these threats by focusing on human vulnerabilities and behavior-driven fraud. Attendees will explore cutting-edge strategies for prevention, detection, and intervention, including AI-powered tools, personalized risk profiling, and actionable scam intelligence. Gain practical insights to protect your platform, safeguard users, and maintain trust. This session is ideal for marketplace leaders seeking innovative ways to outsmart scammers and create a secure, trustworthy ecosystem for users.
Postmates Room
Navigating the US Privacy Landscape: Best Practices for In-House Counsel at Marketplace Platforms
Feb 27, 2025
- Karen Brio, Senior Privacy Counsel, Thumbtack
- Damaris Quijano, Corporate Counsel, uShip
- Heather Stewart, Managing Director, Red Maple Strategies
From:
11:20 AM
To:
11:50 AM
US marketplace platforms face unique privacy challenges in today's complex regulatory environment. This panel of leading in-house counsel will share best practices for navigating this landscape, covering key issues like state privacy law compliance (CCPA/CPRA, VCDPA, etc.), consumer rights management, US data sharing agreements, and the potential impact of federal privacy legislation. The discussion will also touch on targeted advertising, tracking, and future privacy trends. This session is crucial for legal professionals in the US marketplace platform industry.
Sittercity Room
Online Firearm Sales: Obstacles to Effective Policy Enforcement
Feb 27, 2025
- Andy Bayley, Associate General Counsel, LegitScript
From:
11:20 AM
To:
11:50 AM
Even if your platform prohibits the sale of firearms, your users may be engaged in the sale of weapons without your knowledge. That’s because weapons and weapons components are increasingly difficult to identify and detect, especially components that turn otherwise legal semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic ones.
In this presentation, regulatory expert Andy Bayley will:
- Review the current regulatory landscape of weapons as it relates to online sales.
- Talk about enforcement rules and rapidly changing trends in the weapons space.
- Show examples of problematic weapons sales and give tips on how to avoid them.
Outdoorsy Room
Incident Response Best Practices
Feb 27, 2025
- Jeremy Gottschalk, CEO & Founder, Marketplace Risk
- Kristin Kupiec, Manager, Critical and Law Enforcement Response, DoorDash
From:
11:20 AM
To:
11:50 AM
Incidents and legal threats are inevitable, regardless of how robust your trust and safety policies may be. Join this session for a comprehensive roadmap for preparing and responding to such events, emphasizing the importance of centralized monitoring and information preservation. It details effective engagement strategies with users, media, law enforcement, and attorneys, highlighting empathy and timely responses. The session will offer practical advice on managing user complaints, social media crises, and legal inquiries while maintaining a strong legal posture. Attendees will learn how to turn challenging situations into opportunities to reinforce trust and safety within their platforms.
Postmates Room
Reduce Marketplace Risk While Maximizing Profit
Feb 27, 2025
- David Pickerell, CEO, GigSafe
- Ryne Ring, Insurance's Mad Scientist, Citadel
From:
12:00 PM
To:
12:30 PM
Most marketplaces know they need insurance, but many overlook the critical first step: getting the basics right. Continuous compliance isn’t just an operational necessity; it’s the foundation for smarter, more effective insurance policies.
This session explores how compliance lays the groundwork for tailored insurance solutions that not only reduce customer costs but also create a new revenue stream for your platform. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to turn compliance and insurance into a competitive advantage—and a source of profit.
Sittercity Room
The Impacts of North Korea IT Workers Across ALL Industries
Feb 27, 2025
- Chris Horne, Director Trust & Safety Intelligence and Investigations, Upwork
- Meghan Kalliavas, Manager, Trust & Safety Intelligence, Upwork
From:
12:00 PM
To:
12:30 PM
The DPRK is consistently looking to infiltrate US & European markets to earn money in support of their Nuclear Program, and Military objectives. Now more than ever, companies face attacks from all aspects of the regime, including employment, ransomware, and insider threats. This behavior sits across every industry - with one goal - To earn money...... But not always how you think !
Outdoorsy Room
Unmasking Deepfakes: Revolutionizing Trust & Safety for Platforms
Feb 27, 2025
- Caroline Humer, Co-Founder, Trust & Safety Forum
- Amitabh Kumar, Co-Founder, Contrails.ai
- Kristin Kupiec, Manager, Critical and Law Enforcement Response, DoorDash
- Roy Zur, Founder & CEO, Charm Security
From:
12:00 PM
To:
12:30 PM
This session will explore the critical role of deepfake detection in safeguarding trust and safety for digital platforms and marketplaces. Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge AI technologies used to identify and analyze deepfakes in real-time, ensuring content authenticity and minimizing reputational risks. The discussion will cover evolving deepfake trends, their implications for platforms, and best practices for proactive risk management. Key takeaways include actionable strategies for implementing AI-driven solutions, building user trust, and fostering safer digital environments. Attendees will also learn how innovative tools like Contrails.ai are reshaping the fight against misinformation and media manipulation.
Epstein Community Hall
Networking Lunch
Feb 27, 2025
From:
12:30 PM
To:
1:30 PM
Grab lunch with old friends and new colleagues in the Epstein Community Hall.
Postmates Room
Crafting a Strategic and Operational Plan for Optimal Results
Feb 27, 2025
- Chad Dennis, Manager, Global Trust & Safety Strategy, DoorDash
- Kristin Kupiec, Manager, Critical and Law Enforcement Response, DoorDash
From:
1:15 PM
To:
1:55 PM
In a fast-moving, real-world environment like DoorDash, ensuring user safety requires seamless collaboration between Strategy and Operations functions. This panel will explore how these two functions work hand-in-hand to build innovative safety products, proactively mitigate risk, and respond to critical incidents in real time. Leaders from DoorDash’s Safety team will share insights on designing scalable interventions, leveraging experimentation, and operationalizing safety solutions that balance user protection with business needs. Attendees will gain an understanding of the complexities of Trust & Safety at a global scale, learning how cross-functional teams drive impact in an ever-evolving ecosystem.
Sittercity Room
Championing Customer Trust: Building a World-Class Support Experience
Feb 27, 2025
- Drew Fowler, Co-Owner, CoFowler Consulting
- Eric Gloris, Managing Director, Red Maple Strategies
- Benjamin Newcomer, Senior Escalations Manager, Rover.com
- Heather Stewart, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Marketplace Industry Association
From:
1:15 PM
To:
1:55 PM
In today's competitive landscape, trust and safety are paramount to a positive customer experience. This panel discussion will explore how leading companies are prioritizing trust and safety within their customer support operations, not just as risk mitigation, but as a core component of building customer loyalty and advocacy. Our expert panelists will share practical strategies for proactively addressing potential safety concerns, empowering support teams to handle sensitive situations, and creating a seamless and secure experience for every customer. Join us to learn how to transform trust and safety from a potential challenge into a key differentiator in your customer support strategy.
Outdoorsy Room
Networking & Meeting Scheduling
Feb 27, 2025
From:
1:15 PM
To:
1:55 PM
Maximize your networking opportunities through the Marketplace Risk app. Easily connect with relevant professionals by sending and accepting meeting requests, with automatic calendar synchronization and assigned locations for in-person or virtual interactions. Avoid scheduling conflicts, stay organized with reminders, and focus on building meaningful connections throughout the event.
Postmates Room
From Dock to Digital: Transforming Traditional Industries into Scalable Marketplaces
Feb 27, 2025
- George Bonelli, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Acceleratize
From:
2:10 PM
To:
2:40 PM
This session explores how traditional industries can leverage digital platforms to disrupt markets, create new revenue streams, and scale effectively. Using SailTime as a case study, attendees will learn how to identify underserved markets, craft innovative marketplace solutions, and navigate challenges unique to non-tech-first industries. Discover actionable strategies for overcoming operational complexities, building trust in niche communities, and achieving sustainable growth in the digital era. Whether you're launching or scaling a marketplace, this talk will provide practical tools to successfully bridge the gap between legacy industries and modern digital platforms.
Sittercity Room
Risk Signals Unveiled: Leveraging Identity Verification for Smarter Decision-Making
Feb 27, 2025
- Laura Chen, Senior Product Policy Advisor, Google
- Drew Fowler, Co-Owner, CoFowler Consulting
- Jeff Sakasegawa, Trust and Safety Architect, Persona
From:
2:10 PM
To:
2:40 PM
Marketplaces face constant challenges in differentiating legitimate users from bad actors. This session will delve into how platforms can proactively mitigate risks by leveraging identity verification and leading indicators. By focusing on actionable metrics, cultivating cross-functional collaboration, and fostering vendor partnerships, platforms can strengthen onboarding processes, reduce fraud, and enhance trust—all while maintaining a seamless user experience.
Outdoorsy Room
Navigating the Maze: Marketplace Tax Legislation in Texas, New York, and Beyond
Feb 27, 2025
- Stephen Kranz, Partner, McDermott, Will & Emery
- Damaris Quijano, Corporate Counsel, uShip
- Heather Stewart, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Marketplace Industry Association
From:
2:10 PM
To:
2:40 PM
The proliferation of online marketplaces has presented states with new challenges and opportunities regarding tax collection. This panel will delve into the complexities of marketplace tax legislation, focusing on proposed legislation including Texas's SB 265 and HB 2767, and New York's SB 173, as well as ongoing litigation with implications for businesses. Our expert panelists will provide insights into the legal landscape, practical considerations for online marketplaces, and the future of marketplace taxation. Join us as we navigate this evolving area of tax law and discuss strategies for compliance and advocacy.
Postmates Room
Annotation to Automation: How T&S Risk Ops Teams Can Train Models Themselves
Feb 27, 2025
- Abhay Antony, Director Trust & Safety, Thumbtack
- Lenin C K, Masters Candidate, Data Analytics, Texas State University
From:
2:55 PM
To:
3:25 PM
Self service your own dataset creation and AI model builds without waiting on costly ML resources using off the shelf and open source labelling tools. Use the dataset to create your own models that work for niche use cases. We will showcase a workflow that requires low-code / no-code solutions to make this happen. Balancing privacy and cost.
Sittercity Room
Why Stop at Payments Orchestration?
Feb 27, 2025
- Shawn Curtis, Director of Payments Sales, Solutions by Text
- Andy McHale, Senior Director of Product and Market Strategy, Spreedly
From:
2:55 PM
To:
3:25 PM
Mastering payments orchestration was just the beginning. The real competitive advantage, moving forward, will be in the development towards open payments-a paradigm that takes traditional payment capabilities to the next level by fundamentally changing them.
Why Open Payments? Why Now? Open payments capitalize on the robust backbone of payments orchestration, incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as open banking APIs. This evolution is not merely a trend; it is a paradigm shift that enables companies to offer unparalleled levels of personalization, safety, and speed in transactions.
Session Highlights:
- Unravel the Building Blocks: Delve deep into how payment orchestration works and serves as “the gateway” to embracing open payments.
- Strategic Benefits: Understand how open payments drive business innovation, create transparency, and further the cause of inclusivity in the payments ecosystem.
- Navigating Risks and Regulations: Master the complexities of risk management and compliance in an open payment framework, with the latest strategies to protect your payments operation.
- Success Stories: Learn from trailblazers who have made the leap to open payments, through measurable outcomes.
- Looking ahead: The future of payments in a connected world and how to future-proof your business to lead, not just adapt.
Outdoorsy Room
Networking & Meeting Scheduling
Feb 27, 2025
From:
2:55 PM
To:
3:25 PM
Maximize your networking opportunities through the Marketplace Risk app. Easily connect with relevant professionals by sending and accepting meeting requests, with automatic calendar synchronization and assigned locations for in-person or virtual interactions. Avoid scheduling conflicts, stay organized with reminders, and focus on building meaningful connections throughout the event.
Dell JCC Austin
Afternoon Coffee Break
Feb 27, 2025
From:
3:25 PM
To:
3:45 PM
Have a coffee with old friends and new colleagues.
Postmates Room
Building an AI-Powered Marketplace: Automating Growth, Retention & Optimization
Feb 27, 2025
- Avinash Joshi, Co-Founder & CTO, Cravd
- Ajith Govind Satheesh, Co-Founder & CEO, Cravd
From:
3:45 PM
To:
4:15 PM
In this presentation, we'll share our hands-on experience building an AI-powered marketplace from the ground up, focusing on three critical areas: growth automation, customer retention, and data-driven optimization. Drawing from our experience at Cravd, we'll demonstrate how AI agents reduce customer acquisition costs by automating lead engagement and chef onboarding processes. Attendees will learn how we implement AI co-pilots for chefs, develop advanced culinary assistance systems, and leverage our proprietary ChefOS to optimize chef-customer matching. We'll explore how building a robust data moat through customer preferences, feedback, and operational metrics drives continuous marketplace improvement and sustainable growth.
Sittercity Room
Bridging the Divide: Strengthening Collaboration Between Platforms and Content Owners
Feb 27, 2025
- Michael Gortovnik, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Webkyte
- Caroline Humer, Co-Founder, Trust & Safety Forum
From:
3:45 PM
To:
4:15 PM
The relationship between platforms and content owners is shaped by a shared goal—maximizing content reach and engagement—yet challenges arise in ensuring proper content identification while maintaining a seamless user experience. This session will explore the complexities of content identification, the evolving ways users attempt to circumvent such systems, and how platforms can enhance their tools to better support both content owners and users. Rather than focusing on enforcement, we’ll discuss how effective content identification builds trust, creates monetization opportunities, and strengthens the platform’s role as the best place for creators to grow and engage with their audience.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding the evolving challenges of content identification and how circumvention impacts both platforms and content owners.
Scalable solutions to improve accuracy in content recognition while enhancing user engagement.
How proper content identification strengthens platform trust, expands monetization opportunities, and reinforces platforms as the best avenue for creators to connect with their audience.
Outdoorsy Room
Networking & Meeting Scheduling
Feb 27, 2025
From:
3:45 PM
To:
4:15 PM
Maximize your networking opportunities through the Marketplace Risk app. Easily connect with relevant professionals by sending and accepting meeting requests, with automatic calendar synchronization and assigned locations for in-person or virtual interactions. Avoid scheduling conflicts, stay organized with reminders, and focus on building meaningful connections throughout the event.
Postmates Room
AI in Marketplaces: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
Feb 27, 2025
- Colin Gardiner, General Partner, Yonder
- Ryan Moser, Founder & Principal, Protean Partners
- Mikhil Raja, CEO & Co-Founder, SonicJobs
From:
4:30 PM
To:
5:00 PM
The intersection of AI and online marketplaces is reshaping digital commerce. This panel explores how AI technologies are revolutionizing marketplace operations, from personalized product recommendations to dynamic pricing and fraud detection. We'll examine real-world applications of machine learning in customer service automation, inventory management, and seller-buyer matching. Key discussions will cover the challenges of implementing AI solutions, including data privacy concerns and algorithmic bias. Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends like visual search capabilities and predictive analytics, along with practical strategies for marketplace operators to leverage AI responsibly. The session will conclude with future predictions and actionable takeaways for businesses considering AI integration.
Sittercity Room
Learning from Market Research: How to Detect Fake Reviews
Feb 27, 2025
- Henry LeGard, Founder & CEO, Verisoul
- Joey Maddox, Chief Strategy Officer, Verisoul
From:
4:30 PM
To:
5:00 PM
Just as AI renders traditional response validation useless in market research, AI reviews severely limit the effectiveness of traditional content moderation in online marketplaces.
It’s time for marketplaces to take a page from market research and focus on real user authentication.
In our presentation, we'll discuss two topics. First, we’ll discuss why content moderation no longer works with the rise of AI bots. Second, we’ll examine how Market Research companies have solved this problem by analyzing a user's device, browser, network, email, behavior, and more, and how we can apply this approach to an online marketplace.
Outdoorsy Room
Networking & Meeting Scheduling
Feb 27, 2025
From:
4:30 PM
To:
5:00 PM
Maximize your networking opportunities through the Marketplace Risk app. Easily connect with relevant professionals by sending and accepting meeting requests, with automatic calendar synchronization and assigned locations for in-person or virtual interactions. Avoid scheduling conflicts, stay organized with reminders, and focus on building meaningful connections throughout the event.
Dell JCC Austin
Networking Recepcion
Feb 27, 2025
From:
5:00 PM
To:
7:00 PM
Close out the Marketplace Risk Austin Conference with our Networking Reception hosted at Dell JCC! This end-of-day event offers a perfect opportunity to unwind, reflect on the day's insights, and strengthen connections with fellow attendees, speakers, and industry leaders. Enjoy refreshments in a relaxed atmosphere as you wrap up a productive day of learning and collaboration. Don’t miss this final chance to network and engage with peers before concluding the conference on a high note!
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