See How Fast Company Combined a Business Summit with a Black-Tie Gala

The third annual event honored the brands featured on the publication's 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2025 list.

Michele Laufik
June 11, 2025

Last year's summit and gala was hosted at the Javits North Pavilion, and “sold out quickly, forming a waitlist to attend,” Mooney explained. “We needed a larger space to match the demand, which is why we decided to move to the River Pavilion at Javits.'Last year's summit and gala was hosted at the Javits North Pavilion, and “sold out quickly, forming a waitlist to attend,” Mooney explained. “We needed a larger space to match the demand, which is why we decided to move to the River Pavilion at Javits."Photo: Courtesy of Fast CompanyNEW YORK—Fast Company hosted its third annual Most Innovative Companies Gala & Summit at the River Pavilion at Javits in New York City on June 5. 

The event brought together execs from brands featured on Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2025 list—which included Waymo, the WNBA, YouTube, and FX—along with past honorees. 

With the theme, "Leading for Tomorrow," the daytime summit featured conversations and panels with leaders across industries, while the evening culminated in a black-tie gala honoring the companies that made this year's list.

The roster of summit speakers included Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter, co-founder and chief brand officer of Bombas Randy Goldberg, and chief brand officer at e.l.f. Beauty Laurie Lam. Bluesky Social CEO Jay Graber appeared for an onstage conversation during the gala. 

Kristin Mooney, senior vice president of events for Mansueto Ventures-owned Inc. and Fast Company, said that 2025 marked the second year of the event’s all-day, in-person format, “combining both the summit and the gala into a full day filled with thought leadership, meaningful networking, and high-energy celebration.” 

Event partners and sponsors Atlassian, Lumen Technologies, Pella, and Texas A&M presented panel discussions, while design and technology company Huge was on site with an AI-powered activation that transformed attendees' visions into unique digital sculptures.

Summit attendees were also entered into a raffle to win prizes courtesy of 2025 honoree, SharkNinja, including the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine, the Shark Cordless Vaccum, and the viral Ninja SLUSHi.

At the gala, guests enjoyed an open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres during the reception portion, which featured a custom bar from KahlĂşa, in partnership with Tony’s Chocolonely. Here, guests could sip a specialty cocktail, The Espresso MarTony, an espresso martini topped with Tony’s chocolate shavings. Each guest also snagged a chocolate bar to take home. 

The evening included a three-course dinner with wine service, along with a mix of yellow, white, and black decor. The honorees received custom keepsake awards, and enjoyed tricks from magician and mentalist Ryan Oakes, along with a live DJ set from electro-funk duo Chromeo.

The combined attendee count across both the summit and gala totaled nearly 800. A summit and gala ticket cost $1,295, while a summit-only ticket cost $595, and a ticket to the gala cost $1,095.

Keep scrolling to see key vendors and more from inside this year's Most Innovative Companies Gala & Summit...

 

VENDORS

AV Production: Metro Multimedia
AV Tech Producer: Sight Effects
Catering: Cultivated
Event Production: 360 Design Events
Florals: Showplace Floral and Event Design
Photography: Alyssa Ringler
Print/Signage: C2 Imaging

 

Last year's summit and gala was hosted at the Javits North Pavilion, and “sold out quickly, forming a waitlist to attend,” Mooney explained. “We needed a larger space to match the demand, which is why we decided to move to the River Pavilion at Javits.'
Last year's summit and gala was hosted at the Javits North Pavilion, and “sold out quickly, forming a waitlist to attend,” Mooney explained. “We needed a larger space to match the demand, which is why we decided to move to the River Pavilion at Javits."
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar, sat down with Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, to discuss how the studio is reigniting its storytelling magic while staying true to its roots.
Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar, sat down with Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, to discuss how the studio is reigniting its storytelling magic while staying true to its roots.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
Design and technology company Huge was on site with an AI-powered activation that transformed attendees' visions into unique digital sculptures.
Design and technology company Huge was on site with an AI-powered activation that transformed attendees' visions into unique digital sculptures.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
The summit portion of the day featured interactive activations including a celebratory photo moment that allowed attendees to snap a photo with their company message on a Vestaboard, a modernized version of the split-flap mechanical displays that were once a mainstay of airports and train stations.
The summit portion of the day featured interactive activations including a celebratory photo moment that allowed attendees to snap a photo with their company message on a Vestaboard, a modernized version of the split-flap mechanical displays that were once a mainstay of airports and train stations.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
The dress code for the gala was creative black tie—a dress code that allowed attendees to slightly tone down their formal attire by adding hints of their own personal style. Fast Company described creative black tie-outfits as including “the use of different textures, prints, patterns, colors, or accessories to create your own fun (and still elegant) look. Colors should not be overly whimsical or mismatched, but you can explore outside the box with deep burgundy reds, plums, grays, and navy blues.”
The dress code for the gala was creative black tie—a dress code that allowed attendees to slightly tone down their formal attire by adding hints of their own personal style. Fast Company described creative black tie-outfits as including “the use of different textures, prints, patterns, colors, or accessories to create your own fun (and still elegant) look. Colors should not be overly whimsical or mismatched, but you can explore outside the box with deep burgundy reds, plums, grays, and navy blues.”
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
At the gala, guests were welcomed with a red-carpet step-and-repeat captured by a Getty photographer.
At the gala, guests were welcomed with a red-carpet step-and-repeat captured by a Getty photographer.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
Bluesky Social CEO Jay Graber appeared for an onstage conversation during the gala.
Bluesky Social CEO Jay Graber appeared for an onstage conversation during the gala.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
A custom bar from Kahlúa, in partnership with Tony’s Chocolonely, served up a specialty cocktail, The Espresso MarTony, an espresso martini topped with Tony’s chocolate shavings.
A custom bar from Kahlúa, in partnership with Tony’s Chocolonely, served up a specialty cocktail, The Espresso MarTony, an espresso martini topped with Tony’s chocolate shavings.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
The same space used for the daytime summit was repurposed for the evening gala.
The same space used for the daytime summit was repurposed for the evening gala.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
The gala included a live DJ set from the electro-funk duo Chromeo.
The gala included a live DJ set from the electro-funk duo Chromeo.
Photo: Courtesy of Fast Company
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