DWeb Camp 2026

Blake Stoner

Blake Stoner stands at the intersection of legacy and innovation, building infrastructure for the next chapter of civic innovation. Inspired by a lineage of public service, his work focuses on expanding how communities are seen, understood, and represented in the systems shaping society.

Stoner is the Founder and CEO of Vngle, a Civic Insights Company designing trusted systems for real-time, community-verified insight. He also serves as Board Chair of Heart of South Downtown, stewarding the revitalization of ten historic blocks in Downtown Atlanta into America’s most ambitious district for doers, creatives, and innovators.

To advance nonpartisan progress, Stoner launched the Institute for Nonpartisan Innovation in partnership with the City University of New York, building collaborative research and civic technology that elevates community-powered breakthroughs. His leadership has earned national recognition, including honors from MIT Solve, American Public Media Group, and Special Congressional Recognition from the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis.

A recognized thought leader and fellow of Harvard, Stanford, USC, Columbia, and the Goldin Institute, Stoner is also part of the UCLA x National University of Singapore Global Executive MBA program, where he studies markets and shifting power dynamics across the USA and Asia.

He holds an MS in Strategic Communication from Columbia University and a BA in Economics from Morehouse College.


Sessions

07-08
17:00
60min
Demo Night Market Rehearsal
Matthew Schutte, Gopi Mehta, Beth McCarthy, Stefano De Vuono, Luandro, Andrew Chou, Mix Irving, Evan Prodromou, fauno, Mathias Jud, Nano Castro, Max Hampshire, Dan Visel, Guo Liu, Zacchaeus, Pumsuanhang (Michael) Suantak, Dani, Kumavis, rabble, Afri Blanck, Arushi, sammy, Nico@Briar, Václav Pavlín, Gavin Owens, Andre Alves Garzia, LX Cast, Carmel Schare, Christian Tschudin (cft), Wouter Kampmann | Powerhouse, Gabriel, Wesley, Nicolas Luck, James Weir, Zach Alexander, Holmes Wilson, Matthew Hodgson, Guillem Cordoba, Duke Dorje, Othman, Blake Stoner, Joshua Davila, Kevin Triplett, David Dao, Pete Hayman, Eric Harris-Braun, Ira N, Christine Lemmer-Webber, adz, Anton Tranelis, Lee, Jonathan Starr, Lars Gierth, Day Waterbury, Zach Miltz, Willem Wyndham, Alisher, Calum Bowden, brewster kahle, Andre Kudra

Presenters tabling at Thursday's Demo Night Market are invited to gather on the Main Lawn to practice your pitches, hone your storytelling and receive feedback from mentors and peers.

We'll also test out equipment and internet connection, and ensure you feel ready to demo tomorrow!

Protocols and Platforms
Main Lawn & Pool Area
07-09
20:00
120min
Demo Night Market
Matthew Schutte, Gopi Mehta, Stefano De Vuono, Luandro, Andrew Chou, Beth McCarthy, Mix Irving, Evan Prodromou, fauno, Mathias Jud, Ryder Morton, Nano Castro, Max Hampshire, Mark Graham, Dan Visel, Guo Liu, Zacchaeus, Pumsuanhang (Michael) Suantak, Dani, Kumavis, rabble, Afri Blanck, Arushi, sammy, Nico@Briar, Václav Pavlín, Gavin Owens, Andre Alves Garzia, LX Cast, Carmel Schare, Christian Tschudin (cft), Wouter Kampmann | Powerhouse, Gabriel, Wesley, Nicolas Luck, James Weir, Z. D. Alexander, Holmes Wilson, Matthew Hodgson, Guillem Cordoba, Duke Dorje, Othman, Blake Stoner, Joshua Davila, Kevin Triplett, David Dao, Pete Hayman, Eric Harris-Braun, Ira N, Christine Lemmer-Webber, adz, Anton Tranelis, Lee, Jonathan Starr, Lars Gierth, Day Waterbury, Zach Miltz, Willem Wyndham, Alisher, Calum Bowden, brewster kahle, Andre Kudra

Back by popular demand: the DWeb Demo Night Market -- a festive evening kick-off event where you can get a taste of tech from around the world, directly from the decentralized tech stack. We’re highlighting “ready to test” new tools, in a beautifully lit outdoor market, where you can grab a cocktail and wander through dozens of select projects demonstrating their latest breakthroughs.

In part, check out projects to help plan for what sessions to attend in the week ahead.

Take a look at some of the presenters from 2024's Demo Night: https://2024.dwebcamp.org/projects/

Protocols and Platforms
Main Lawn & Pool Area
07-10
11:00
30min
Who Gets Seen? Rebuilding Trust and Visibility in the Age of AI
Blake Stoner

As AI reshapes what we see and trust, many communities remain invisible or misrepresented. This session explores how participatory, decentralized systems can expand visibility and rebuild trust in the age of AI.

Solidarity Tech
Solidarity Station
07-11
10:00
60min
Spotlight Session: Get to know the Pollinators
Marie, Shadrach, Blake Stoner, Camille Nibungco, Esther Jang

Meet the Pollinators, a diverse group of technologists, activists and artists working at the intersection of decentralized web, digital rights, and public interest tech. In this session, 5-6 Pollinators will present their work and projects in P2P, FOSS, and anti-authoritarian tech, highlighting how they empower marginalized communities through solidarity, capacity building, and open social innovation.

Emergent Ideas
Linden Theater