Techstars Startup Weekend Boston
Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur in 54 hours!
September 22nd to 24th, 2023
Techstars Startup Weekend Boston
Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur in 54 hours!
September 22nd to 24th, 2023
Judges
Jennifer Davis
Shawn Broderick
Jennifer Davis
Investment Principal - Techstars Boston Accelerator
Greg Raiz
Shawn Broderick
Jennifer Davis
Founder, General Partner - Raiz Capital
Early Stage Investor - TBD Angels
I build companies and products that improve lives with technology and design. I do that by collaborating with amazing organizations and people to hire, mentor, train, build and deploy new technology and innovations.
Awards include
- Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company
Founder, General Partner - Raiz Capital
Early Stage Investor - TBD Angels
I build companies and products that improve lives with technology and design. I do that by collaborating with amazing organizations and people to hire, mentor, train, build and deploy new technology and innovations.
Awards include
- Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company (2014/2015/2016/2017)
- Innovation All-Star Award
- BBJ Pacesetters Award
I've helped ship apps to over 100 million customers. I've personally worked over a dozen Fortune 500 companies driving innovation and products across a diverse set of markets.
Shawn Broderick
Shawn Broderick
Shawn Broderick
General Partner - dlabs.vc
Venture Partner - SOSV
Shawn is a Venture Partner at SOSV and is responsible for Food-X and dlab. Previously with TechStars Boston, Shawn brings extensive expertise and benchmarking knowledge around other global accelerator models. He has refined the SOSV model in alignment with best practice and has pioneered a
General Partner - dlabs.vc
Venture Partner - SOSV
Shawn is a Venture Partner at SOSV and is responsible for Food-X and dlab. Previously with TechStars Boston, Shawn brings extensive expertise and benchmarking knowledge around other global accelerator models. He has refined the SOSV model in alignment with best practice and has pioneered a number of emerging trends in the space. Adept at sourcing talent and managing business teams, technical teams, and creative teams, Shawn has broad experience raising institutional and angel funds for businesses and in sourcing LPs for investment vehicles.
A successful entrepreneur, Shawn has more than 20 years of success designing, building, funding, growing, and selling technology companies. He has founded and grown numerous firms, including play140, TrustPlus, Genetic Anomalies, DigitalShares, and Voxx Inc.
Shawn has also served as an advisor and/or investor to more than 50+ startups, many through his role as Managing Director of TechStars Boston. In addition to numerous TechStars alums, he has served as an investor, advisor, and/or director to Aylien, CoreStreet, iFactory, Kefta, Red 5 Studios, Speranza Systems, and more.
Raza Shaikh
Parna Sarkar-Basu
Shawn Broderick
Managing Director at Launchpad Venture Group | Angel Investor |
Raza Shaikh is an active angel investor in early stage companies in New England area and has been investing with Launchpad since 2016. He co-manages The Beacon Venture Partners Fund, which invests in a diversified basket of local early stage companies including the Launchpad
Managing Director at Launchpad Venture Group | Angel Investor |
Raza Shaikh is an active angel investor in early stage companies in New England area and has been investing with Launchpad since 2016. He co-manages The Beacon Venture Partners Fund, which invests in a diversified basket of local early stage companies including the Launchpad portfolio. He mentors and advises several Boston-based companies.
Raza co-founded NorthBay which is one of the largest independent Amazon AWS partners helping large enterprises with their transition to the cloud and the new world of AI and ML. He built Kendall Square Labs in the early days of casual mobile gaming and mobility.
Previously, Raza was part of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard building large-scale science platform for small molecule synthesis and high-throughput screening. Before that Raza was early start-up employee at Formulatrix building software and robotics for drug discovery applications.
Raza did technology consulting in a number of areas and industries including telecommunications CRM, facial recognition, financial services, IT governance and healthcare.
Parna Sarkar-Basu
Parna Sarkar-Basu
Parna Sarkar-Basu
Brand Architect | Entrepreneur | Thought Leadership Strategist | Women in Tech Advocate
A tech evangelist, Parna Sarkar-Basu serves as a strategic advisor to transformational leaders and tech pioneers, and helps them launch and reinvent companies. A brand architect, Parna designs powerful programs to build and boost brands – corporate and
Brand Architect | Entrepreneur | Thought Leadership Strategist | Women in Tech Advocate
A tech evangelist, Parna Sarkar-Basu serves as a strategic advisor to transformational leaders and tech pioneers, and helps them launch and reinvent companies. A brand architect, Parna designs powerful programs to build and boost brands – corporate and individual. She also spotlights entrepreneurs and innovators and elevates them to industry thought leaders.
Her expertise include changing industry perception, building market relevance, corporate (re)-positioning and new market entry as well as supporting fund raising activities. Recipient of multiple awards, she has propelled tech companies into innovation leaders in highly competitive markets – artificial intelligence and enterprise software to robots and consulting services.
She frequently speaks and writes on a range of topics, including cognitive robotics, innovation for social good, digital transformation, tech trends and automation’s impact on the workforce.
A STEM champion, Parna builds and supports programs to inspire women in technology and future innovators. She empowers women entrepreneurs by expanding their digital footprint so they can enhance their personal brand and grow the business.
Adriana Mallozzi
Parna Sarkar-Basu
Parna Sarkar-Basu
Entrepreneur | Innovator | Disability Advocate
Adriana Mallozzi is a passionate advocate for innovation and accessibility. As the founder of Puffin Innovations, she's dedicated to breaking down barriers for individuals with disabilities and enhancing their quality of life through innovative solutions. With a background in technology and
Entrepreneur | Innovator | Disability Advocate
Adriana Mallozzi is a passionate advocate for innovation and accessibility. As the founder of Puffin Innovations, she's dedicated to breaking down barriers for individuals with disabilities and enhancing their quality of life through innovative solutions. With a background in technology and a personal commitment to empowerment, Adriana is thrilled to support and celebrate the next generation of entrepreneurs at Startup Weekend.
Audra Gibson
Audra Gibson
Audra Gibson
Program Lead - Techstars Founder Catalyst
Audra is an entrepreneur and ecosystem builder who has supported Startup Weekends for the last five years as a National Organizer, Facilitator, and Judge. She is the Program Lead for the Techstars Founder Catalyst sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker focused on serving early-stage diverse and unders
Program Lead - Techstars Founder Catalyst
Audra is an entrepreneur and ecosystem builder who has supported Startup Weekends for the last five years as a National Organizer, Facilitator, and Judge. She is the Program Lead for the Techstars Founder Catalyst sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker focused on serving early-stage diverse and underserved founders in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. She has also served the startup community as a board member for Charleston Women in Tech and Lead Organizer for 1 Million Cups.
Agenda
Mentors
Marsh Sutherland
Marsh Sutherland
Marsh Sutherland
Serial Tech Entrepreneur
Marsh Sutherland is a serial tech entrepreneur having worked on 8 startups, launched 4 applications, and sold 2 companies. He's also an alumni of 9Mile Labs (Seattle), Ignite Northwest (Spokane), Co.Accelerator (Gainesville), and LAUNCH! Boston accelerators.
Marsh is AngelHack Boston Ambassador, a former Solutio
Serial Tech Entrepreneur
Marsh Sutherland is a serial tech entrepreneur having worked on 8 startups, launched 4 applications, and sold 2 companies. He's also an alumni of 9Mile Labs (Seattle), Ignite Northwest (Spokane), Co.Accelerator (Gainesville), and LAUNCH! Boston accelerators.
Marsh is AngelHack Boston Ambassador, a former Solution Evangelist for the Microsoft BizSpark startup incubator in Boston, and ran the Boston JavaScript meetup group for several years. He was also co-founder of StartupWeekend Spokane which produced 5 startups pitching on Shark Tank.
Follow: @marshsutherland
Trish Fontanilla
Marsh Sutherland
Marsh Sutherland
Startup Mentor & Community Builder
Trish previously worked as the Director Accelerate Co-op for Entrepreneurs (ACE) Summer Sophomore Experience at Wentworth Institute of Technology and also is a community builder.
Rhoda Serafim
Marsh Sutherland
Rhoda Serafim
Founder & Startup Mentor
Rhoda has an academic background in History & Philosophy of Science, especially, the history of Technology in relation to Binary Code. She’s also an expert in Pitch building and business development.
Her international upbringing, experience with corporate and Startup mentorship, allows for innovation and business
Founder & Startup Mentor
Rhoda has an academic background in History & Philosophy of Science, especially, the history of Technology in relation to Binary Code. She’s also an expert in Pitch building and business development.
Her international upbringing, experience with corporate and Startup mentorship, allows for innovation and business growth to develop side by side backed by research. Passionate about ideas and creativity, as a founder herself, Rhoda is eager to support budding startups to become successful leaders that impact their communities locally and abroad.
Reuben Katz
Reuben Katz
Rhoda Serafim
Founder @Sensorydata @Hack4Good @Geeklist Labs, @iLeon.com • Investor @Sprint.ly, @Geeklist Labs, @Mango @Modulus, A Progress Company
Reuben launched his ad agency at age 22, sold it at 26 to launch his first startup and raised 6+ million and built first online Spanish Bookstore (think about it as Amazon for spanish books when all amazon did was books and CDs) sold it at 29.
Tom O'Keefe
Reuben Katz
Tom O'Keefe
Creative Director - My card. My work.
28 Years experience in:
Branding
User Experience
User Interface
Product Design
Advertisement
Design
Dan Manning
Reuben Katz
Tom O'Keefe
Chief Story Architect - Build The Story
Storytelling for Real Life | Be Heard, Understood, & Trusted | Techstars & gener8tor Mentor
Dan helps startup Founders cut through their own noise and build stories that connect with investors, customers, and employees.
Noah Hyams
Yuliya Pokhylko
Philip Barrar
Head of Community + Events - Songathon
Program Director - WEVE Acceleration
Noah's work has been featured by the Recording Academy//GRAMMYs, Bloomberg Radio, Variety, BrooklynVegan, Business Insider, Green Queen, Plant Based News, and American Songwriter Magazine.
He has also been invited to speak and mentor in entrepreneurship classes at N
Head of Community + Events - Songathon
Program Director - WEVE Acceleration
Noah's work has been featured by the Recording Academy//GRAMMYs, Bloomberg Radio, Variety, BrooklynVegan, Business Insider, Green Queen, Plant Based News, and American Songwriter Magazine.
He has also been invited to speak and mentor in entrepreneurship classes at New York University, the City University of New York, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Philip Barrar
Yuliya Pokhylko
Philip Barrar
Founder - Stealth Startup
Phil Barrar is on a mission to help people achieve their financial goals. As a hands-on, serial entrepreneur and founder with two successful exits under his belt, he’s always looking for innovative solutions that create value for consumers and companies alike, and is focused on building financially inclusive prod
Founder - Stealth Startup
Phil Barrar is on a mission to help people achieve their financial goals. As a hands-on, serial entrepreneur and founder with two successful exits under his belt, he’s always looking for innovative solutions that create value for consumers and companies alike, and is focused on building financially inclusive products for people around the world.
With the ingenuity and drive to make ideas become reality through research, go-to market strategies, international outsourcing and team management, his direct experience ranges from product conceptualization and business development to full in-market execution—all as a bootstrapped entrepreneur. He’s an excellent communicator with proven people skills as demonstrated in successful idea pitching, fundraising and public-speaking.
As CEO and founder of Moka (formerly Mylo), the leading Canadian investing app, Phil raised $17 million from major Canadian financial institutions, acquired an asset management firm with $250M in AUM, scored a deal on CBC’s Dragons’ Den and led the company’s international expansion to France in July 2020.
His work is frequently featured in major Canadian media, including BNN, CBC, The Financial Post, Global, and The Globe and Mail. Phil has also been recognized as a leader in the space: he made the Bay Street Bull’s 30 under 30 list for 2018 and was a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 and 2019. As an active entrepreneur, he speaks regularly to the startup and financial services industry as an expert on the future of finance, and he shares his valuable knowledge and expertise through mentorship, coaching, and angel investing.
Yuliya Pokhylko
Yuliya Pokhylko
Yuliya Pokhylko
Partnerships at Sequel.io
Co-Founder at Ukraine Forward
Yuliya is a driven and self-motivated partnerships and marketing leader experienced in building lasting ecosystem alliances that translate into measurable business outcomes.
She was also one of the Ukrainian natives in New England who put together an Amazon wish list that amassed $1
Partnerships at Sequel.io
Co-Founder at Ukraine Forward
Yuliya is a driven and self-motivated partnerships and marketing leader experienced in building lasting ecosystem alliances that translate into measurable business outcomes.
She was also one of the Ukrainian natives in New England who put together an Amazon wish list that amassed $16,000 in items donated to Ukraine.
A former associate director at Cambridge's Venture Café, she's originally form Khartsyzk, Ukraine.
Jessica Carlson
Jessica Carlson
Yuliya Pokhylko
Principal of Foundational
Go-to-Market Strategist and Product Marketing Consultant
Jessica is the principal of Foundational, a Go-to-Market Strategy consulting firm that helps innovative companies with product marketing, messaging & positioning, product launches, and developing a customer-first product culture.
She has held Head of Mark
Principal of Foundational
Go-to-Market Strategist and Product Marketing Consultant
Jessica is the principal of Foundational, a Go-to-Market Strategy consulting firm that helps innovative companies with product marketing, messaging & positioning, product launches, and developing a customer-first product culture.
She has held Head of Marketing and Product Marketing positions at a number of successful start-ups for the last 15 years, and brings that experience, as well as her experience as an entrepreneur, to bring products to market confidently and effectively.
Jessica brings focused, analytical positioning and messaging that reflects a deep understanding of the customer and where they are in their buying journey to her work. Connecting with customers and breaking through the noise is hard work; her roll-up-your-sleeves, straight-forward approach helps companies focus on their strengths, strengthen their weaknesses, and align their offerings to their customers’ needs.
When she’s not launching products, Jessica offers pro bono marketing consulting services to progressive organizations focused on education, equity, and food insecurity.
Learn more about her work at www.foundationalco.com or reach out to jessica@foundationalco.com.
Rafaela Nita
Jessica Carlson
Rachel Cossar
Founding Partner - Aelon Consulting Group
Driven by curiosity and a passion for innovation 😊, I am an accomplished executive thriving at the intersection of technology, science, and business. Equipped with a unique blend of scientific knowledge, financial acumen, and leadership abilities 👨💼, honed by my PhD in Chemistry 🧪 and MBA in E
Founding Partner - Aelon Consulting Group
Driven by curiosity and a passion for innovation 😊, I am an accomplished executive thriving at the intersection of technology, science, and business. Equipped with a unique blend of scientific knowledge, financial acumen, and leadership abilities 👨💼, honed by my PhD in Chemistry 🧪 and MBA in Entrepreneurship 📚, I navigate various sectors with ease.
My experience spans Life Sciences 🧬, Healthcare 🏥, Aerospace ✈️, Defense 🛡️, Chemicals ⚗️, and Advanced Materials 🧱, providing me with a comprehensive understanding of these domains. I am recognized for my strategic thinking 🧠, trust-building, relationship fostering, and leading global cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact results 💼.
As the Founding Partner of Aelon Consulting Group, I harness the power of emerging technologies 💡 to drive growth, innovation, and value for our clients. I also serve as a Business Strategy Mentor at Florida Atlantic University 🏫, where I guide startup CEOs, helping them refine their business strategies and enhance leadership skills 🚀.
Before Aelon Consulting Group made its public debut, in my role as a Director, Transaction Strategy & Execution at Ernst & Young - Parthenon, I contributed to business development initiatives and various internal projects, led and enabled engagements in the Life Sciences, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defense sectors. Prior to this, I was a Lead Science & Engineering Technical Advisor at Ernst & Young – Parthenon/ Quantitative Scientific Solutions, offering a unique fusion of scientific insights and strategic management services to a diverse portfolio of clients 🎯.
In each role, I’m recognized for my ability to understand complex technological landscapes and translate them into strategic opportunities 🌐. I am also multilingual, with proficiency in Romanian, English, Spanish, and basic knowledge of Italian and French 🗣️.
In my spare time, I enjoy golfing ⛳ and mentoring youth towards college and career paths 👩🎓👨🎓. I am an ardent believer in continuous learning 📖, and this philosophy guides my pursuit of the latest developments in science, technology, and business 🚀.
I’m always excited to connect with like-minded professionals who are passionate about turning scientific innovation into real-world applications 👩🔬👨🔬.
Rachel Cossar
Jessica Carlson
Rachel Cossar
CEO/Co-Founder at Virtual Sapiens
Rachel Cossar is a leader in the field of nonverbal communication and leadership presence facilitation. As a former nationally ranked athlete and professional ballet dancer, Rachel combined her unique experiences and learning on stage and beyond to found Virtual Sapiens in 2020.
Virtual Sapiens comes as a
CEO/Co-Founder at Virtual Sapiens
Rachel Cossar is a leader in the field of nonverbal communication and leadership presence facilitation. As a former nationally ranked athlete and professional ballet dancer, Rachel combined her unique experiences and learning on stage and beyond to found Virtual Sapiens in 2020.
Virtual Sapiens comes as an evolution of Rachel’s combined work as founder of Choreography for Business, a nonverbal communication consulting firm as well as a faculty member with Mobius Executive Leadership and as a leadership presence facilitator with Ariel Group. Rachel has worked with leaders from GE, BCG, Pfizer, Accenture, McKinsey, HBS and more.
With the increased dependency of video as a way to connect and drive impact across organizations, Rachel and her team at Virtual Sapiens are excited to open up a world of access when it comes to one of the most human, and most important skills in business – communication.
Abhi Yadav
Ali Baghchehsara
Rahul Singh
Co-Founder: AI Innovators Community
3x Entrepreneur, Operator, Investor, Advisor, SaaS business exec with successful exits.
Abhi has proven experience across many stages of the business life-cycle: MVP, owning P&L, venture funding, Platform scale-up, growth, and M&A.
For the past two decades, his primary focus has been on optimizing gro
Co-Founder: AI Innovators Community
3x Entrepreneur, Operator, Investor, Advisor, SaaS business exec with successful exits.
Abhi has proven experience across many stages of the business life-cycle: MVP, owning P&L, venture funding, Platform scale-up, growth, and M&A.
For the past two decades, his primary focus has been on optimizing growth and customer lifecycle (CX) through AI and data-driven approaches for Enterprises, B2B, and consumer businesses. He has operational experience on both the build and sales sides, and has helped generate ~$100 million in revenue through companies that he has started, resulting in billions of dollars worth of impact.
His combination of strategic perspective and disciplined tactical execution is well-suited for environments where uncertainty is commonplace rather than unusual.
Personally, he aspire to be a giver, with a deep passion to help people win!
Rahul Singh
Ali Baghchehsara
Rahul Singh
General Partner - Dual Use Ventures
Business Development & Venture Capital
Former Amazonian & Marine Veteran
Defense Innovation, Global eCommerce and Supply Chain.
Web3 enthusiast. Robotics and AI in art and music.
Helping startups go from ideation to launch.
Commercializing technology and products.
Obsessing over connecting the dots for
General Partner - Dual Use Ventures
Business Development & Venture Capital
Former Amazonian & Marine Veteran
Defense Innovation, Global eCommerce and Supply Chain.
Web3 enthusiast. Robotics and AI in art and music.
Helping startups go from ideation to launch.
Commercializing technology and products.
Obsessing over connecting the dots for everyone he meets.
Motto: Listen. Lead with empathy. Encourage others to think bigger and reach their potential.
Ali Baghchehsara
Ali Baghchehsara
Darius Russell Kish
General Partner - plasmos.vc
Ali is an entrepreneur and people magnet who has a deep understanding of physics, people and business. He has previously started 6 companies and sold one.
His efforts have been recognized by the Royal Aeronautical Society in (Achievement Award, London, 2014), and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Outst
General Partner - plasmos.vc
Ali is an entrepreneur and people magnet who has a deep understanding of physics, people and business. He has previously started 6 companies and sold one.
His efforts have been recognized by the Royal Aeronautical Society in (Achievement Award, London, 2014), and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Outstanding Service Award, Montreal, 2015).
He has written 3 books that summarize his interests: Physical mechanism of Love, Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering(Beginner's guide), and co-authored Electric Space - Space-Based Solar Power.
During his corporate career, he designed the first Autonomous System in Commercial aviation which is flying in A320 aircraft today, then was promoted several times and eventually led the building of the risk and opportunity department for all aircraft cabins - a $400 Mio portfolio of risks and ops that he led at age 25.
Today he is disrupting space mobility by building a reusable third stage at Plasmos.
Darius Russell Kish
Darius Russell Kish
Darius Russell Kish
Senior Software Engineer @ Ocient
Team lead with experience building high performance SQL database engines and query optimizers
Andrei Lougovtsov
Darius Russell Kish
Andrei Lougovtsov
Senior Software Engineer @ Ocient
Software engineer in back-end and distributed systems.
Vasant Narayan
Darius Russell Kish
Andrei Lougovtsov
Founder - GATO
Entrepreneur and seasoned executive experienced with companies of all sizes in multiple capacities: cybersecurity, business development, relationship management, risk assessment, M&A integration, compliance, process re-engineering, statistical analysis, and strategic-planning initiatives.
Enjoy networking and helping other
Founder - GATO
Entrepreneur and seasoned executive experienced with companies of all sizes in multiple capacities: cybersecurity, business development, relationship management, risk assessment, M&A integration, compliance, process re-engineering, statistical analysis, and strategic-planning initiatives.
Enjoy networking and helping other like-minded individuals.
Proven ability to acquire, build, and manage large accounts, influence buying decisions, and develop revenue-generation strategies.
Strong business development history in US, Europe, Caribbean, and Latin America. Natural ability to build new relationships and create business opportunities at anytime, and in any setting. Adept at quickly relating to client prospects, diagnosing needs/challenges, and crystallizing best-fit solutions.
Experience in general operations across multiple domains, with well-developed general management skills and the ability to think fast and act decisively.
Dynamic interpersonal and communication skills; high degree of comfort interacting with senior executives on their turf; highly developed presentation and public-speaking abilities; skilled negotiator; vision, thought leadership, and creativity; inclusive approach to problem-solving and conflict mediation.
Mo Saeed
Jack Nedelman
Jack Nedelman
Founder - OrbisPay
Mo is a Social Entrepreneur. He is developing OrbisPay, a venture-backed financial wellness platform for employees. Orbispay provides an alternative to predatory lending and builds financial security for the workforce. They work with employers to provide inexpensive financial products and services to their employees.
Hi
Founder - OrbisPay
Mo is a Social Entrepreneur. He is developing OrbisPay, a venture-backed financial wellness platform for employees. Orbispay provides an alternative to predatory lending and builds financial security for the workforce. They work with employers to provide inexpensive financial products and services to their employees.
His goal is to help democratize financial services for millions of Americans.
He founded Firefly Capital, a Technology brokerage firm for institutional investors, and grew it from an idea to a multimillion-dollar enterprise. He has experience in developing business plans, conceptualizing product and service offerings, marketing, sales, and operations.
He also works with startups helping them understand why a business model is more important than technology, product, or service for the ultimate success of the business.
Jack Nedelman
Jack Nedelman
Jack Nedelman
Investor & Ex-Founder
Jack helped start AutomaTech, a Massachusetts-based technology distributor/rep firm, in 1995. Over the nearly 28 years, he wore many hats, seeing the company go from four people to over 50 and under 1 million dollars in the first year to $35 Million at the end of 2022.
In 2005 he shifted from the technical side of
Investor & Ex-Founder
Jack helped start AutomaTech, a Massachusetts-based technology distributor/rep firm, in 1995. Over the nearly 28 years, he wore many hats, seeing the company go from four people to over 50 and under 1 million dollars in the first year to $35 Million at the end of 2022.
In 2005 he shifted from the technical side of the business into sales and quickly became one of the top performers – the number 1 salesperson for three years running,
At the end of 2022, he retired from AutomaTech and am now a coach for social conscience companies to improve their sales and marketing challenges. Mostly with Rhode Island-based Social Enterprise Greenhouse (https://segreenhouse.org/).
Jason Mackey
Jack Nedelman
Jason Mackey
General Partner - Athenian Capital
Jason Mackey is a serial entrepreneur, emerging venture capitalist, and strategy consultant with a solid track record of building and growing successful businesses in both the United States and United Kingdom. He has co-founded several successful ventures across various sectors, including CXOHQ, Occam St
General Partner - Athenian Capital
Jason Mackey is a serial entrepreneur, emerging venture capitalist, and strategy consultant with a solid track record of building and growing successful businesses in both the United States and United Kingdom. He has co-founded several successful ventures across various sectors, including CXOHQ, Occam Strategy Group, and Advanergy Energy Services.
Alongside his entrepreneurial pursuits, Mr. Mackey has imparted valuable insights to over 200 startups and small businesses, advising on growth strategies, fundraising, and operations management. His extensive knowledge encompasses a variety of industries, including artificial intelligence, finance, e-commerce, clean energy, and social impact.
As an adept negotiator, Mr. Mackey has successfully facilitated the acquisition of over $250 million in private equity for both burgeoning and well-established ventures around the world. Currently serving as Co-founder and General Partner at Athenian Capital, a pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital fund investing in highly capital-efficient technology companies with clear pathways to long-term profitability, Mr. Mackey oversees the firm’s daily operations and spearheads its worldwide investment strategy.
Dedicated to driving positive societal change, Mr. Mackey actively engages in advocacy and political initiatives. He is Founder and Executive Chairman of the Economic Rights Council (ERC), a non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to implementing FDR’s Second Bill of Rights (Economic Rights), nationwide. A fervent advocate for diversity, Mr. Mackey is currently serving his second term as Diversity Officer for the Somerville Democratic City Committee. Exhibiting his commitment to community service and representation, he campaigned as a candidate for State Representative in Massachusetts’ 27th Middlesex District in 2022 on a platform of inclusivity and pragmatic progressivism.
Recognized as a leader in Boston’s entrepreneurial and investment community, Mr. Mackey’s enthusiasm for fostering innovative companies, along with his expertise in fundraising and strategic advice, make him a valuable resource for startups and businesses seeking to enhance their impact, efficiency, and value.
David Ponraj
Louide-Meyard Xavier
Jason Mackey
CEO - Economic Impact Catalyst
MBA and Founder of EIC, David Ponraj knows first-hand what it’s like to jump head first into entrepreneurship waters without knowing when or how he will surface for air.
The self-described serial entrepreneur has taken several leaps of faith in his more than 20-year career in business management, which led to
CEO - Economic Impact Catalyst
MBA and Founder of EIC, David Ponraj knows first-hand what it’s like to jump head first into entrepreneurship waters without knowing when or how he will surface for air.
The self-described serial entrepreneur has taken several leaps of faith in his more than 20-year career in business management, which led to the creation of Economic Impact Catalyst.
Leaving his home in India at an early age to pursue a degree in international business from St. Petersburg College in Tampa, FL, was his first leap of faith to starting his own business not long after and continuing his path in entrepreneurship.
David has traveled the world engaging various entrepreneurial ecosystems on behalf of companies like Nielsen Media where he was Vice President of Global Innovation. It was there he recognized startup leaders of all backgrounds have a need for stronger support systems, and where the idea for a solution — Economic Impact Catalyst — was born in 2018.
Today Economic Impact Catalyst partners with more than 70 organizations to build the infrastructure they need to practice entrepreneurship-led economic development.
Isabella Mandis
Louide-Meyard Xavier
Louide-Meyard Xavier
Founder & CEO - Girls who VC
Isabella is bBuilding the first organization dedicated to bringing young women into the field of venture capital with over 2,000 members and 100 female mentors internationally (6 continents)
Louide-Meyard Xavier
Louide-Meyard Xavier
Louide-Meyard Xavier
Analyst - Knightsbridge Adviser
Louide-Meyard Xavier is an analyst at a fund of fund with $3B in AUM. She is responsible for performing due diligence for both fund and secondary investments, evaluating portfolio companies, providing Marketing and Investment Committee support.
In her free time, Louide volunteers at Startup Boston, Innovate@
Analyst - Knightsbridge Adviser
Louide-Meyard Xavier is an analyst at a fund of fund with $3B in AUM. She is responsible for performing due diligence for both fund and secondary investments, evaluating portfolio companies, providing Marketing and Investment Committee support.
In her free time, Louide volunteers at Startup Boston, Innovate@BU and the Women’s Foundation of Boston.
Louide holds a B.S. in Business Administration, with a focus on Information Systems from Boston University.
Irina Sychov
Kiran Panjwani
Kiran Panjwani
Founder - ANIMA
Irina Sychov (ISHA), widely recognized for her dynamic presence on the esteemed British show, X Factor, has extended her influence far beyond the realm of performance. On the show, she made a lasting impact on audiences and judges alike, notably Sharon Osbourne and the famously discerning Simon Cowell.
As the Vice President
Founder - ANIMA
Irina Sychov (ISHA), widely recognized for her dynamic presence on the esteemed British show, X Factor, has extended her influence far beyond the realm of performance. On the show, she made a lasting impact on audiences and judges alike, notably Sharon Osbourne and the famously discerning Simon Cowell.
As the Vice President of Global Music Development at Dialogue Key, the premier social network in the entertainment industry, Irina has applied her expertise and broad connections to build strong relationships with high-profile cultural organizations, corporate brands, and record labels globally.
Furthermore, Irina's enthusiasm for innovation and technology led her into the entrepreneurial world. As a blockchain patent holder, she founded two technology startups and effectively steered Dialogue Key to go public in 2020.
At present, she is devoted to fostering the ANIMA Women community that empowers women from diverse backgrounds, providing them guidance to navigate the US market and enhance their visibility. With her personal experiences as an immigrant and a woman in a predominantly male industry, Irina is driven to challenge barriers and inspire others to pursue their dreams without hesitation.
Irina is also a distinguished speaker at global innovation forums, such as WEB3 Expoverse. Her speeches provide valuable insights into the future of technology and its impact on the entertainment industry.
Her reach as a speaker has extended to include key events in notable locations such as Monaco and London. Here, she has delivered compelling presentations and conducted voice and pitching sessions that have inspired a wide range of audiences.
Irina has also used her platform at inspiring events like Women Gone Wild and She Talks to encourage women to confidently voice their ideas, assume leadership roles and empower themselves.
Whether it's in the world of entertainment, technology, or investor relations, Irina Sychov (ISHA) epitomizes resilience, innovation, and female empowerment.
Kiran Panjwani
Kiran Panjwani
Kiran Panjwani
Founder - FounderWay
I leverage my extensive experience in startup advisory and innovation strategy to empower founders worldwide. With over a decade of working with startups at various stages, from pre-seed to Series C, I have gained a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs face in building success
Founder - FounderWay
I leverage my extensive experience in startup advisory and innovation strategy to empower founders worldwide. With over a decade of working with startups at various stages, from pre-seed to Series C, I have gained a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs face in building successful products and businesses.
FounderWay.ai is a founder-forward platform that provides founders with action-based guidance to strategically build a product their customers want to use. Our AI guidance and analytics provide feedback on guidance questions, assisting the founder in thinking deeper and being more articulate with their ideas. The AI advisors are engineered to know them and their companies to provide bespoke advice to help founders spend time more practically with their advisors and mentors