Cage fighter CEO takes on childhood cancer

Stan Liberatore is all about pushing limits.

Driving the news: The tech CEO is gathering healthcare and biotech leaders from around the world for the third annual Disrupt the Bay conference tomorrow.

• The conference is virtual, but happening on Liberatore's Vsummits platform in an augmented reality expo hall. Global attendees create their own avatars, move freely from booth to booth around the conference and have private conversations.
• It features a pitch competition for international startups to get in front of private equity firms and compete for a $10,000 innovation award.
• Local leaders and CEOs such as Johnny Crowder of Cope Notes and Rosa Shores of Blockspaces are speaking.

His goal: Raise $100,000 for innovative care solutions in pediatric cancer research by donating ticket proceeds to the Save the Kids foundation, of which he's chairman.

• After several friends lost their children to cancer, Liberatore tells Axios he has made it his mission to fill the gaps in pediatric cancer treatment.
• "There just needs to be some new methods and new medicines, and unfortunately you have to rely on private money to get there," Liberatore said.

Point of intrigue: When Liberatore isn't fighting old ideas in tech, he's fighting in the ring.

• Being an amateur cage fighter has actually fueled his personal and professional success, Liberatore says. It's his antidote for fear.
• "There's a lot of emotions that go into training for fighting, leading up to the fight and then actually getting into the ring. ... Some of the fear is so great that it washes out any of the fears I have about anything else."