Know Before You Go | Yotta 2026

Welcome, welcome, welcome everyone to know Before You Go. I'm your host Jamie Scott Kataya, CEO and founder of JSA. What is No Before You Go? It is your show that covers everything us attendees need to know as we walk into our next big conference. We are talking insider talking points, what to know, what to say to conference logistics, everything in between. So, let's get started with our next big industry event. Today, we are spotlighting Yatta 2026, taking place September 28th through the 30th in good old Las Vegas. And joining me today, by the way, guys, none other than the founder of Data Center Dynamics and Yada. We are talking with George Rocket himself, the legend. George, welcome, welcome, welcome. We are so excited to have you today. >> What a glowing intro. Uh Jamie, um it's lovely to speak with you again. You know, we've done this so many times over our careers that have kind of like gone side by side through this industry over many years and it's all changing so much. So I I love speaking with you. Um >> me, too. >> So we're going to get deep into the yata, right? What do you want to know? I mean, okay, so Zada is the event that sits at the very intersection of AI, energy, and digital infrastructure. What makes this year event a must attend? >> Oh, gee. Well, I would say everything, but let's let's break it down. Um, I think from an audience side, it's scale and seniority this year, right? So, we're only in the third year and we're going to have more than 6,000 people in Las Vegas this year. So, it's grown. Um, so is the industry, right? Uh, the seniority bit is really interesting. Last year, nearly a quarter of the attendees were sea level. There were over 300 CEOs in attendance. So, we're building this very senior audience. I think because of the content that we've put together. So, if any of you take some time to go online and have a look at the speakers we've got, it's, you know, they're great and they're good and some really interesting people um from a broad spectrum across the industry, right? So, we're not in a silo. We're really picking people from the leaders in compute, the leaders in building AI factories, you know, leaders in investment, and we're bringing them all together, which is quite exciting. And that makes for a not to miss show at this point in this industry because you need to know a bit about everything that's going on right now because it's all going so quickly. So that's kind that's my initial pitch on why you need to be there. >> No, it's true. And 6,000 attendees as you said, more than 250 speakers and as you mentioned that full AI infrastructure ecosystem being represented. What are you some common themes that are emerging across this year's programs and which conversations should be us attendees paying most attention to? >> I think there's there's so many conversations. Can I outline how the conference works quickly and then I think there'll be a bit of context around that. Um, you know, over the three years we've ended up kind of like in these four main tracks, if you will, and each of those tracks of of thematic content covers the three days at the event, right? So, we've got something focused on compute, right? And the future of compute, and it's really the future of compute for infrastructure people, right? It's it's the the the this new silicon, the way that we integrate in racks, um um the workloads we're having to serve are changing how we're building things. And that's what this track's about. What's the impact of inference? What's the impact of hardware diversification? How are people buying this capacity that they now need? Because it's completely different to three or four years ago, right? So, we're trying to build a theme around that. Second theme um is uh uh more old school. It's how data centers and AI factories are built, how they're actually deployed, but we get even deeper into how the supply chains moving around that. What does advanced manufacturing look like, right? And everything behind this is like a one megawatt rack, you know, how are we going to even do this? So, it's like the conversation about how we even going to do this. Then we got a third conversation which is energy, right? We go all the way from um energy innovation, what's going on at 800 uh uh uh VDC, um how the industry is accepting innovation, all the way through to the grid, what utilities are doing, what the regulators are doing. So that's the third kind of like leg uh of the chair. And the fourth leg of the chair is investment, right? um with a little bit of a an add-on on day three where we've got the first orbital compute summit of anywhere uh in the world. So, we're going to be looking at orbital compute, you know, data centers in space, but >> yes, you know, not this kind of like vacuous, oh, can they go up there or not? This this hard conversation about the economics of it, the economics of energy. So, we've got something for everyone and I think they're broad enough that we're inviting people from outside the traditional side of that conversation to speak. So, what I like to say, it's at the intersections that the core conversations are happening these days, right? So, it's what's happening between that point of compute and data centers being built. How's energy and investment colliding, right? and and one of the big topics you I think we'll go deeper into in our conversation today is is the investment community because that's just really interesting in each of those four tracks. >> Yeah, it you know it's it's one thing to talk about building it and where but also the the how and with whom. Um that really is a you know stimulating conversation these days. uh it seems like everyone with dollar bills in their hands wants to jump into the game but uh you know I what we do what we have done for years is really built on trust and relationships too. Um, so again I feel like Yatada comes at a perfect time and perfect location to really get the right people in the right room having that crossindustry dialogue helping us move AI infrastructure forward and like you said it's it's those conversations about the the interconnection where where those cross-sections are uh that are generating the most me momentum. Um, a central theme this year is whether the industry can build power and finance infrastructure fast enough to meet AI demand. Where are you seeing the greatest opportunities for innovations and what challenges still need to be solved? Can we talk about the the details here? >> I'm going to like turn that around and go to the challenges first because you mentioned trust. >> Yeah. >> Right. So the biggest headwind is the trust with the public about what's going on and all the money in the world that's coming into this is meeting something that is very solid a wall called this public trust and I think that's going to be an underlying conversation throughout the event. I mean one of the first panels we have is looking at the new social contract. I think we we uh we've kind of like got this mainstage interview with Tag Grien and Chris Crosby and Dan Golding. It's going to be really awesome like looking at this. We've got content all the way through, if you like, of a virtual track looking at that. So, we're up against a headwind of trust. The other headwind is can you get enough capital in quickly enough to do what people need? And I think that's being started set as a real headwind. And of course, there's the energy headwind. Where are we getting the energy from? And soon there's going to be sustainability headwinds back again and all sorts of things. So, you know, yeah, absolutely. you know scale with scale comes responsibility and with scale come bigger challenges and I think that's just going to be behind every conversation whether it's you know adopting new innovation at scale is a huge challenge right you know for for an industry that's been so riskaverse for years when it comes to power infrastructure in the data center suddenly having to look at all sorts of new ways of energizing data centers really quickly and it seems that the person that can do that best can in you know it's like turn the table so conversations everywhere um and that's opportunity right uh but opportunity and challenge at the same time which I think the industry should relish right >> yeah I mean we want it all we want to do it fast uh and efficiently u sustainably uh you know not just uh not just fast but fast smartly um and uh there's there's a lot of opportunity But uh a lot of growth too, a lot a lot that we can learn from together and partner together and >> and that's why yada is so critical with thousands of senior leaders like you said 6,000 coming together in Las Vegas. >> Yeah. >> What's your best advice for uh us executives looking to maximize our time at Yata and leave with meaningful connections? >> Okay, so you're at an event for two things, right? Okay. No, three things. um to get a pulse of an industry to hear firsthand from leaders what's going on so you can respond really quickly because it's only in the environment of conversation that people say things often that are genuine that you god I know I need to think about that so plan what sessions you're going to go and see take see what interests you what you need to do I take just a look at the main stage maybe we'll cover that in a bit I'll go over the event plan leave the main stage page later. Um, so plan conference, plan networking, right? There are so many networking events going on. There are so many opportunities that we've created for people to find net new connections in the market. I think that's important because when you go to an event, you gravitate to your buddies, to the people that you know. It's great for reinforcing relationships, but often you only know a certain number of people in that room. So, how do you find people that you don't know? And we've got information online about the different networking opportunities that are up there. It's from, you know, buyer opportunities to meet new uh uh uh uh tech vendors to to gatherings around certain subjects to breakfast gatherings. Go do it. You never know who you're going to find. Again, on the networking, the app, the event app is open two weeks before the event for all registered delegates. It's going to have all of those names of people in there. And a great way of nailing meetings is using LinkedIn. You heard this from me. You've probably heard it from other people. Event apps are great to see who's there, but it's just another new app that somebody needs to use to make the connect, but they're used to doing it on LinkedIn. So, use LinkedIn. People you really want say, "Hey, I've seen you go to the event. I'm going to be there. Let's try and hook up. We can use the app maybe to uh coordinate a meeting but just just do that right. Um and then there's just technology discovery and just getting into it. We have got a massive show floor of technology from compute all the way through we we we've got a I call it the trailer park but we're not allowed to call it the trailer park because that has a different connotation in the US. Right. It's a technology campus. I'd call it that because it's coming in on trailers. We've got 40 foot by 30 foot exhibits of full modular data centers that you can see there, right? And we've got a a show floor of in excess of 120,000 square feet of all technology. We've got nearly 300 different exhibitors there. So you can go and find some cutting edge stuff and just revel in technology as well. So content, learning, meeting people, finding new tech, uh um that's what you need to be thinking about and it's all on our website. So, please do take a bit of time before you attend to make the most of what's going on there. Don't go at the end and say, "Oh god, I didn't know that was happening or I didn't know that was there." Because you'll have missed it. It's gone. >> The trailer park is closed. Um, I have to say I, you know, listening to you, being inspired by you, I just want to thank you so much. like our whole industry I feel like can can rally with me with this big thank you because you have always kept us a step forward. You've always thought okay well what else do we need? How else should we interconnect? What other what other silos should we bring in? How many walls can we break down? And and uh your innovation has truly inspired us all. So thank you so much for for your time, your energy, your commitment to our digital infrastructure. Thank you so much is I remember what three four years ago you were here going I think we need uh something more ecosystem you need to gather more people and talk about all these and pieces and and I was like yeah it was post pandemic right so that we were like gather >> post pandemic and pre-GAI moment right >> which accelerated the need for it right >> and boy were you so spot on and look at what God has become 6,000 of us gathering in Vegas so soon. So important, such perfect timing, such perfect content. Thank you so much. We so appreciate you. >> Oh, well, do you know what? There's, you know, it's built off the back of teams, you know, that have lots of hard work. The Otter team's incredible and the DCD team's in support as well. So, uh, uh, um, you know, we've got that covered. >> And guys, you heard a lot of great details from George himself. Um, but to get more details and get yourself prepared for yada, go ahead and visit yada-event.com. We have it down below for you. And of course, over my shoulder is a QR code. Go ahead and check that out. Click there and use discount code JSA20. We love our partnership and we want to send you there with a little little extra JSA and and Yata love. And when you're ready to register, go ahead, use that JSA 20. Uh we will also are very excited about this be on the ground at yada broadcasting interviews live from the expo hall. So be sure to follow us on LinkedIn like we talked about and uh we can give you some uh uh some insight as who's stopping by our JSA TV set. So uh tune in there as well. Thanks for tuning in to hear no before you go. We will see you at Yada and as always happy networking.