PSC LIVE Chicago: Q&A With LightSource, CEO

Launching Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE in the US this May, the event series builds on the success of its London event with its expansion into Chicago. 

Marking a major milestone, the event will bring together the world’s leading supply chain and procurement leaders in co-location with Sustainability LIVE Chicago.

With one ticket providing access to all stages, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago is designed for senior professionals in procurement, supply chain, logistics and operations. As well as those working in and have a keen interest in sustainability. 

Don’t miss out on your chance to attend Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago – Secure 2 for 1 entry on tickets NOW!

Illuminating the future of procurement

Born from frustration with outdated procurement processes, LightSource was founded by Spencer Penn (ex-Tesla) and Idan Mintz (ex-GoogleX) to revolutionise how companies strategically source direct materials to build amazing products. 

After witnessing countless professionals struggle with legacy tools, spreadsheets and endless email chains, they built what the industry was missing – a procurement platform truly powered by AI.

LightSource empowers procurement teams across automotive, retail and consumer goods, aviation, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial manufacturing, aerospace and defence, paper and pulp and consumer electronics to work smarter, not harder. 

The platform automates tedious RFX processes, uncovers qualified suppliers and tracks costs with unprecedented precision.

Recently backed by US$33mn in Series A funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Bain Capital Ventures (BCV), with participation from J2 Ventures, LightSource is rapidly expanding its vision to become the operating system for procurement, transforming a traditionally tactical function into strategic sourcing and procurement advantage.

Below we speak to Spencer Penn, CEO at LightSource about the company's sponsorship of Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago and what the future holds for the industry. 

What were the deciding factors for sponsoring the event?

The ability to get in front of this audience and also create a lot of on-site ‘evergreen’ content that we can use to market the rest of the year.

Provide an overview of what your fireside chat will focus on.

Our fireside chat between Founder and CEO Spencer Penn and a special guest analyst will discuss AI in procurement, tariff mitigation and the challenges surrounding today's CPO and procurement leadership.

What do you hope to achieve through the event?

We hope to gain awareness and thought leadership to further promote and widen the scope of our growing audience.

What emerging trends do you believe will shape the future of the procurement and supply chain sectors over the next decade?

• Increased adoption of advanced technologies – especially AI.
• Growing emphasis on sustainability and ESG.
• Navigating global trade uncertainties and geopolitical tensions.
• Shift towards probabilistic supply chain planning.
• Procurement’s evolving role as a strategic business partner.
• Increased focus on talent development and specialised skills.
• Risk management as a core competency.
• Leveraging data and analytics for decision making.

NEW Innovation Zone

Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago is elevating its impact and global relevance with the launch of a brand-new ‘Innovation Zone’ – designed to spotlight the most exciting and transformative technologies driving procurement and supply chain forward.

Across two days, this space will host a series of focused 15-minute technology pitches, giving pioneering startups, scaleups and solution providers the chance to present their innovations to a high-calibre audience of procurement and supply chain leaders, investors and C-suite executives. 

From AI-powered decision-making tools to predictive logistics platforms and next-generation spend management systems, this new space will highlight practical solutions that deliver measurable business value.

Don’t miss out on your chance to attend Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago – Secure 2 for 1 entry on tickets NOW!

Networking opportunities

Beyond insights and trends, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago is a unique opportunity to network with industry experts and peers across the intersection of sustainability, procurement and supply chain. 

Join us in Chicago and take part in this transformative journey. Discover how sustainability, procurement and supply chain can work together to achieve sustainable development. Get your tickets TODAY.

Essential diary dates for 2025

Discover the essential diary dates for Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital, as well as its sister publications – Manufacturing Digital and Sustainability Magazine.

To follow Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE on LinkedIn, click here.

To enter for the Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards, click here.

• Sustainability LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May

• Procurement LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May

• Supply Chain LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May

• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London | 23-24 September 

• The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards | 24 September

Explore the latest edition of Supply Chain Digital Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE.

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today. 

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