Joshua Reid is a husband, father, and entrepreneur who founded LunchTable, a Cincinnati-based fan activation platform that helps brands turn casual fans into influencers. He launched LunchTable the day after his daughter was born and has since raised over $3M while building partnerships with iconic brands across sports and consumer goods. Married to Dr. Ashley Reid, an OBGYN and Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Joshua is the proud father of Logan and Roman. Deeply rooted in Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem, Joshua is passionate about giving back, mentoring, and championing the belief that “engagement is the new currency."

J.B. Kropp is CEO of Cintrifuse and Managing Director of Cintrifuse Capital, where he leads efforts to grow Cincinnati into the best place in the Midwest to start and scale a high-growth startup. Since 2010, he has held impact-building roles that helped shape the region’s entrepreneurial landscape, including Co-Founder and Board Member of the Brandery, a nationally ranked accelerator leveraging Cincinnati’s branding and marketing expertise; Co-Manager of Vine St. Ventures, a regional early-stage investment fund; and Co-Founder and Board Member of Main Street Ventures, a non-profit empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. He has also held strategic and operational leadership roles at Gorilla Glue, Scripps, and Twitter.

Huff Millard is a Managing Director with StepStone Group, a private markets investment platform with ~$200bn in AUM. Huff works with the Venture Capital and Growth Equity team, which focuses on fund, direct and secondary investments.

I am an investor, builder, and creative. I am an investing partner at OutlanderVC, a top-decile performing venture capital fund that already boasts 18+ unicorns out of ~150 investments, and a portfolio that includes Lyft, Scale, Wish, Postmates, Gusto, ID.me, and more. 

I am previously a co-founder at LvlUp Ventures, a top-scoring early-stage venture capital firm & venture ecosystem that invests in and supports the most dynamic and innovative startups in AI, SportsTech, Gaming, Web3, and other exciting sectors. 

Exercising the other side of my brain, I have been a writer and performer of charting songs that have reached millions of listeners on major streaming platforms and media outlets. My passion for music and creativity always drove me to pursue excellence and innovation in everything I’ve done, whether it is building the venture ecosystem of the future, developing award-winning technology platforms, or crafting viral hits. I am always eager to learn, collaborate, and challenge myself to achieve new levels of success and impact.

My early-stage investment portfolio includes companies like VersusGame, Cosmic Wire, MOGL, Lockerverse, and more. 

Jason is a Managing Partner at Origin Ventures, and has been a venture investor since 2001.   Before his venture career, Jason was a software engineer and began coding in 1987. He's also an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Chicago Booth. 

Ilana Habib is a Principal at Cintrifuse Capital, where she partners with early-stage founders and fund managers to accelerate innovation in Cincinnati. An active angel investor and longtime ecosystem builder, she previously invested with Impellent Ventures and helped scale Mainstay (formerly AdmitHub), an AI-powered student support platform that reached over 14 million learners. Ilana also founded Ohr, an early-career support startup that reached the finals of Booth’s Social New Venture Challenge, and she embraces the lessons of being a “failed founder” as fuel for growth. With degrees from MIT, Harvard, and UChicago Booth, she brings a strategy-meets-empathy lens to venture—and when she’s not backing founders, she’s an internationally exhibited wildlife and landscape photographer who has traveled to all seven continents.

Rahul Desai is presently COO of Saddletree Partners, a holding company that buys and builds group travel business (think: corporate offsites, church trips, etc). 

He began his career in strategy consulting, working on products like Google Maps AR and Uber Driver Hubs. He then worked for insurtech startups in Silicon Valley, including Y Combinator Top 50 company Newfront and Max Levchin-backed Pathpoint.

Most recently, he was an Operating Partner at Sylva, a micro-cap private equity fund focused on corporate training businesses. He oversaw the Chief of Staff and BizOps Network businesses, where he grew revenue 70% YoY while cutting costs.

Rahul brings tactical insight into how startups grow, scale, and build smart from the start.

Lindsay is a partner in the firm’s New Ventures practice. She advises entrepreneurs, investors and fund managers on venture capital and startup matters, venture capital fund formation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, federal and state securities filings and compliance, including public and private securities offerings, and corporate organization and governance matters.

Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Lindsay served as a partner and chief legal counsel at a Midwest-focused venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed, seed early stage and growth stage technology companies serving several industries. There, her efforts primarily focused on deal structuring, portfolio management, limited partner relations, fundraising and exit transactions.

Simultaneously, she ran her own private practice representing emerging and diverse venture fund managers across the country, startup clients and founders, investors, and small businesses, assisting with venture fund formation and strategy, strategic deal formation, unique deal structuring and other corporate legal matters.

She also acquired significant experience while serving as Chief Operating Officer and Fund Manager, and subsequently Chief Investment Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Managing Partner for a venture development organization in upstate New York, where she led that firm to have one of the most active seed funds in the country and spearheaded the formation and development of the largest seed fund in the history of the area.

Lindsay’s unique blend of legal, fundraising and operational experience as a founder and venture capitalist provides her with the ability to acutely understand the issues facing her venture and startup clients. She understands firsthand the matters most important to her clients and can creatively solve problems and efficiently design solutions to rapidly close transactions for investors and entrepreneurs alike.

Carl Fraik is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Cincinnati AI Catalyst, leading efforts to establish the Cincinnati region as one of the top AI hubs in the USA.  He also founded and leads the Cincinnati AI Builders Forum, a community platform advancing collaboration among AI builders. Internationally, Carl serves as a Board Member and STEM Acceleration Program Leader for Build Your Future Today Center in Cambodia, expanding education opportunities for rural youth. Carl spent 35 years with Procter & Gamble in senior leadership positions in manufacturing, supply chain, innovation and transformation based in Asia, Europe and USA.

Jim Friedman is a Cincinnati native and resident Wordsmith/ Dreambuilder who may be best known for his Emmy-winning television shows and movies.  He is a serial creative entrepreneur.  In addition to his broadcasting ventures, he has created national marketing campaigns; been granted multiple patents; written books; written, recorded, and performed music; and danced the hokey pokey on television at age four.  

Friedman teaches multiple courses on creativity for Miami University’s Entrepreneurship Department in the Farmer School of Business and is a frequent speaker on topics of creativity and personal branding.  Friedman’s consulting and coaching work centers on connecting creative/innovative thinking to entrepreneurship for companies and individuals across the country.

Besides wordsmithing, Friedman enjoys asking questions, finding second right answers, silencing his voice of judgment, taking risks, and failing often and well.

Lindsay Amos is the founder of Amos Comms, where she advises startup founders and investors on communications strategy. From 2018-2024, she led communications at Y Combinator (YC), building the YC brand and guiding more than 3,000 startups on narrative, launch strategy, and media. In 2010, she was one of the first 30 employees at Square and its first communications hire. She worked on the team that designed and executed the comms strategy for Square's IPO. She also directed technology communications at Meta, overseeing global engineering offices, data centers, infrastructure hardware, and sustainability initiatives.

Rahul Desai is presently COO of Saddletree Partners, a holding company that buys and builds group travel business (think: corporate offsites, church trips, etc). 

He began his career in strategy consulting, working on products like Google Maps AR and Uber Driver Hubs. He then worked for insurtech startups in Silicon Valley, including Y Combinator Top 50 company Newfront and Max Levchin-backed Pathpoint.

Most recently, he was an Operating Partner at Sylva, a micro-cap private equity fund focused on corporate training businesses. He oversaw the Chief of Staff and BizOps Network businesses, where he grew revenue 70% YoY while cutting costs.

Rahul brings tactical insight into how startups grow, scale, and build smart from the start.

Brett Brohl is Managing Partner of Bread and Butter Ventures. He is the former Managing Director of the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, partnered with Cargill and Ecolab. An experienced entrepreneur, investor and mentor, Brett is driven by making a difference in the world through helping entrepreneurs succeed.

Christy Johnson is a Partner at Fireroad Ventures where she manages the investment and fundraising process for the inception-stage practice focused on technology applied in SMBs and service-sectors. Since launching in 2023, Fireroad has made 23 investments out of its inaugural fund. Christy entered Venture Capital as the COO of Ocean Accelerator where she managed recruitment, diligence, interviewing and equity negotiations, as well as operations and growth for the non-profit that served hundreds of entrepreneurs each year with programs for SMBs. Prior to Ocean, she led the marketing, fundraising, and technology teams at a global non-profit organization. Her non-profit leadership experience brings a unique focus to Christy's investment philosophy, where a focus on founder identity and health is an integrated piece of both evaluating and supporting a portfolio company. 

Brett's practice focuses on assisting entrepreneurs in the design and optimization of their corporate strategy and roadmap for growth. He also routinely advises venture capital (VC) funds on matters related to venture investment and manages deal work with knowledge and ease. He has experience working with startups, emerging companies, VC funds, and established organizations, regarding their corporate, fundraising, and governance legal needs. His professional work ethic, responsiveness, knowledge of the law, and advocacy on behalf of clients makes him invaluable to current and prospective clients.

Brett helps lead a team of professionals who focus primarily on the venture space and deliver immense value across multiple interdisciplinary practice areas (Corporate, Intellectual Property, Tax, Securities, Data Privacy) under one roof.

As a Cincinnati native, Brett has built connections with Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky organizations of all sizes ranging from single-member LLC start-ups to nine-figure annual profit companies with hundreds of employees. He is skilled in predicting blind spots and mitigating risk and is the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) for a variety of start-ups, developing, and established companies. Brett has an extreme passion for entrepreneurialism and has dedicated his professional life to investing in the venture ecosystems both in the Midwest and all across the country.

Megan Hymore has been a patent attorney for almost 20 years. She has a passion for helping early-stage, venture-backed, and growth-stage companies. Her goal is to sprinkle intellectual property considerations throughout a startup’s lifecycle – from those just starting out (e.g., forming a legal entity and choosing a company name and brand identity) to those who are more established (e.g., raising another round of funding, preparing for an exit, or licensing and asserting their IP). Megan uses a creative and progressive approach to develop comprehensive IP, branding, advertising, and regulatory compliance strategies that support a client’s vision and business needs. As a registered patent attorney, she loves helping clients discover and pursue patentable subject matter. Megan helps clients create a right-sized executable IP roadmap and budget, check their IP due-diligence boxes, perfect their competitive matrix slide, tout their points of differentiation, substantiate their advertising claims, comply with FTC guidelines, and collaborate with partners and influencers. She also provides definitive and actionable IP advice on clearance, use, ownership, agreements, protection, and enforcement strategies related to trademarks, trade dress, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Jonathan Mardis, MBA is Director of Innovation Services at Alloy Development Co. and Founder & CEO of GiveToGet™, combining his work with entrepreneurs and his own startup to drive innovation, collaboration, and community impact.

4-time Founder | Angel Investor | Founder Growth Expert | Board Member | Advisor to Founder Led High Growth Companies | Business Mentor | Business and Lecturer

Jason Hammond is Vice President, Business Partner Manager at Fidelity Private Shares, where he helps cultivate relationships across the startup and investor ecosystem to strengthen community and support early-stage growth. He works closely with founders and centers of influence to streamline equity management and prepare companies for critical fundraising moments. With decades of experience in startups and technology, Jason has contributed to multiple successful exits—both as an operator and advisor. Prior to Fidelity, he held leadership roles at several high-growth companies, gaining firsthand insight into what it takes to scale and succeed. Known for his collaborative, founder-first 

approach, Jason can be a trusted ally to teams navigating the complexities of  growth, capital, and community

Bringing an extensive healthcare analytics background, leveraged a benchmarking database covering $1.8T in charges from 2,000 hospitals to uncover $2.5M in vendor overbilling and launch a consulting firm’s analytics service line, expanding data-driven solutions for healthcare clients. 

Jeanette Renshaw is a Partner and the Head of Startup Growth at GrowthX, where she helps B2B founders get to market and grow revenue as a unique way to identify compelling investment opportunities. Jeanette is passionate about this—because a great product is only half the battle.

She’s spent over 10 years working with B2B startups across 20+ tech industries, helping them fine-tune their sales strategies and build go-to-market engines that produce systematic revenue growth. If you're trying to figure out how to land your first customers or scale revenue without burning out, she's the one you want in your corner.

Jeanette has been coaching founders through The Revenue Accelerator since day one of the 16-week sales coaching program, bringing hands-on experience from working with hundreds of startups worldwide. Before GrowthX, she built sales tech stacks and lead generation playbooks for early-stage companies through her consulting practice, giving her a deep understanding of what it really takes to move from product to traction.

Outside of work, Jeanette channels her energy into teaching spin classes in Indianapolis and geeking out over mixed martial arts. She’s all about high intensity—whether it’s in the gym or helping founders reach their full potential.

I help startups scale by providing strategic talent solutions that empower startups in technology, engineering, and life sciences. Through tailored direct hire, statement of work (SOW), and interim project professional solutions, I help clients bridge critical skill gaps, accelerate innovation, and deliver on complex workforce demands.

Luke Bivens is the Founder of QC Growth, helping Seed to Series A startups build high performing Go-to-market motions. 

- 3x Founding Account Executive - Previously Gatsby, Netlify, CrescendoAI

- The team currently partners with 30+ startups to provide a full GTM team and accelerate growth.

JD Audena is an investor at Connetic Ventures, where he helps make venture capital more accessible to founders and everyday investors. His career spans hospitality, finance, and entrepreneurship, with experience at Marriott International, JP Morgan, and building founder focused startups. JD revels in solving problems and empowering others to do the same. At Connetic, he combines this diverse background with a data-driven approach to back early-stage companies and strengthen the startup ecosystems.

Tim is the CEO and Founder of Topo Advisors, a company that provides outsourced accounting and finance services for early-stage companies.

Somesh Saxena is the President & Founder of Pantomath. Pantomath is an automating data operations platform powering a future where humans and AI rely on trusted data. Before Pantomath, Somesh was the Head of Data & Analytics at GE Aerospace where he led a 100-person organization supporting 18,000 data consumers for the company. He saw his teams, stakeholders and organization struggle with data reliability issues and set out to build a first-of-its-kind AI solution to enable organizations to drive a data-driven culture. Pantomath is trusted by Total Quality Logistics, Wex, Franciscan Health and other large F500 customers to enable AI and data analytics initiatives.

Cofounder of the only AI coach backed by personality science. Lover of people. And my front porch. Believer that AI can unleash Human Intelligence – if we so choose. Mother. Wife. Card player. Strategist. Best Selling Author. Keynote Speaker. 

Tim Metzner is a serial entrepreneur (x5), father (x4), and husband (x1).

Tim is the founder and CEO of Fireroad. Fireroad is part VC; investing in pre-seed and seed stage tech startups, and part holding company; building, buying, and growing cash-flowing small businesses and the technology and solutions needed to scale them.

Before Fireroad, Tim was co-founder of Coterie Insurance, a fast-growing small business insurance company that has raised over $150M in capital and is growing profitably. 

Before Coterie, Tim was co-founder of Differential, an early venture studio that spawned a series of successful businesses including Astronomer ($1B+ valuation) and Apollos, a digital platform for churches.

Tim also helped start and lead OCEAN Programs, a faith-based non-profit that teaches, mentors, invests in, and gathers entrepreneurs around both business and biblical principles critical to their success. Through OCEAN Accelerator, over 75 high tech companies and founders have been trained, funded, and launched. 

Tim is a graduate of the Lindner Business Honors Program at the University of Cincinnati, where he now serves as an adjunct professor teaching entrepreneurship and venture capital. 

The experience and lessons learned from a career in marketing & communication, strategic planning & project management, as well as fundraising & development is what Kaup brings to her role as a Certified Coach with Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub. She’s been the executive director of Social Venture Partners; the vice president of marketing for Downtown Cincinnati Inc.; the vice president of tourism for the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau; and the vice president of Community Outreach for the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Her community-wide programs include I Do Downtown (an affinity shopping club with 52 participants 1994-1996); Holidays Downtown (1993-1996); OTR Flags (more than 100 hand-painted silk flags adorned Washington Park when it re-opened in 2012); and Second Sunday on Main, (the street festival that rocked Main Street from 2006-2024). Kaup is a meeting facilitator, business coach, urbanist, collaborator, marketing strategist, connector, avid reader, gardener, dog lover and host of ON THE FLY! podcast produced for Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub.

Evan Nolan grew up on the West Side of Cincinnati in Cheviot, the son of parents dedicated to public service – his father, Greg, has worked as a career Public Defender, and his mother, Michele, for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Evan is a proud graduate of St. Xavier High School and obtained his BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania as well as his Law Degree from Georgetown University.

Evan began his career as a public sector consultant for IBM, first with the US Air Force in the Pentagon and then with the US Postal Service.  Evan’s work focused on process-mapping, identifying efficiencies, and workforce development.  After returning to school, Evan served as a legal fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown.

Evan currently works at Katz Teller Law Firm, where he practices transactional and real estate law, representing everyone from start-ups and privately held companies to family-owned businesses and their owners.  In 2022, Evan spent time in the City of Cincinnati’s Law Department working with the Mayor and Councilmembers as Chief Counsel for Special Projects and Policy Initiatives. 

He served for eight years on the Oakley Community Council, all as chair of the Zoning and Economic Development Committee and five of those years as Vice President.  Evan and his family are active members of Knox Presbyterian Church, where he served three years on the Session of Elders and continues to serve as a liturgist.

Evan and his wife, Lisa, live in Oakley with their two young daughters.  Evan enjoys his time outside of work coaching his daughters’ volleyball and basketball teams.

Samuel baker is a young social creative devoted to the inspiration, education, and collective flourishing of his community.

He currently serves as the Program Manager at Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, where he leverages a rich background in program leadership and execution to empower social entrepreneurs to drive sustainable change in Greater Cincinnati. As a graduate of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber's Cincy Next program and a participant in United Way’s Champions of Change, He is deeply committed to fostering equity and community-driven impact in his hometown of Cincinnati. His efforts also include directing the Rising Scholars program at City Gospel Mission, a multi-site high school career readiness initiative, serving as Board President of Sprouting Minds, a Black Empowerment Works Grant recipient and nonprofit that promotes mental health and resilience for at-risk youth through therapeutic horticulture, and actively serving as a youth pastor at River of Life Church.

With more than a dozen years of non-profit experience and twice as long as an entrepreneur, Jill Morenz is leading Aviatra Accelerators into its 15th year. Jill has created two businesses in her career and leverages those insights as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviatra, as she works with women entrepreneurs to set them up for business success.  

Jessica Kirschner is a national board-certified Health & Wellness Coach and the founder of Mindful Modern Living, a wellness lifestyle brand and community. Through private and small group coaching, immersive mindfulness workshops, and sound therapy experiences, Jessica helps individuals move out of autopilot and into healthier, more intentional ways of living. Her work supports long-term lifestyle change by addressing stress, burnout, and mind-body connection, empowering people to create sustainable well-being in both their personal and professional lives.

Tian Philson is a Leadership, Wellness & Mindset Coach who helps high-achieving professionals and organizations reconnect with their inner clarity and power. Blending over 20 years of corporate sales experience with certifications in yoga, mindfulness, and coaching, she guides clients through burnout, decision fatigue, and life transitions using evidence-based practices and holistic tools. Through her signature VOICCE℠ framework and curated wellness experiences, Tian equips leaders to go inward so they can lead upward—with resilience, authenticity, and impact.

Carolon Donnally is a Burnout Prevention Strategist and CEO of Carolon Donnally Consulting, a certified minority woman-owned small business. A former Head of Leadership Coaching at the IRS with 15 years of federal experience, she now helps mission-driven leaders and organizations break the burnout cycle. Through her RESET and BARK frameworks, Carolon blends behavior science with real-world compassion to equip leaders with practical strategies for building burnout-resistant lives and workplaces. She has worked with organizations including NOAA, the American Bankers Association, and the Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF), and is known for her down-to-earth approach that brings clarity, courage, and hope to conversations about exhaustion and leadership.

Tammy Waldron, M.Ed., IFS Informed, Advanced ThetaHealing® & Silent Counseling® Teacher,
guides therapists and healers to access energetic root causes for lasting transformation. Founder of Towanda Wellbeing and RISE Intuitive Healing Arts Center, Tammy bridges science, spirit, and trauma-informed tools to awaken clinical intuition and resilience.

I go by Sangeeta.  Five years ago, I left the corporate world after 25+ years (c-suite roles at GE, Nielsen, and Amazon) to launch my tech-startup, “Gotara”.  It is a Business and Leadership Accelerator platform coupled with Business Advisor/coaches. At Gotara, we help remove hurdles at work from two fronts – Business opportunities (Scaling the business, post M&A Integrations and Transformations), and leadership growth.  We also have a free service for 33K+ Gotara members providing confidential 24/7 advice from influential STEM leaders which helps us close the gender/talent gap in the industry.

I gave up a corporate career four years ago to join my great friend, Sangeeta, as she launched Gotara. After 30+ years of delivering results in companies, transforming operations, training and coaching leaders in the consulting space, and teaching at universities, I am absolutely delighted to pursue now my ultimate passion—coaching and advising tech talent to achieve their full potential and deliver impact for their organizations. 

I held project, design, and engineering management roles in oil and gas, operation engineer roles in manufacturing, process improvement roles in various organizations, and consulting roles in financial services and tech. My journey with Sangeeta began at Nielsen, where we collaborated on a leadership development program that trained 35,000 employees and 130 leaders, transforming the global culture into one that values process thinking, metrics, and continuous improvement while delivering a significant top and bottom-line impact. This experience honed my skills in leading large-scale transformative initiatives and working with diverse teams. I have held senior roles at HUB International and Nielsen and consulted with premier organizations such as Northrop Grumman, GE Capital, and CHANEL.  

At Gotara, I played a pivotal role in creating and launching our flagship product, achieving a speed four times faster than the industry standard. I educate, coach, and mentor hundreds of women and men worldwide. I lead operations and create content to ensure we deliver the very best programs that solve real business problems and deliver business impact while developing leaders. I also leverage my deep statistical background to provide analytics and insights to our customers.  

I completed my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and subsequently earned an MBA from the University of Chicago. I co-authored two industry-standard Lean Six Sigma books (sold on Amazon.com). I am a proud parent of three adult children and a grandmother of two girls. I have a wonderful husband who supports me in everything I do. My go-to hobbies are traveling, cooking, and playing raucous board games. 

Dan Catalano is a seasoned business leader with a remarkable career spanning over three decades in the manufacturing industry. Dan began his current role the President and CEO at TechSolve Inc. and its subsidiary, Juxtum Inc. in March 2023.  

TechSolve is a trusted partner for manufacturers that drives operational excellence, enhances competitiveness, and fosters growth within the manufacturing sector. His previous roles include Vice President and General Manager at Dover Corporation, where he spent 13 years, and President of North America at Zotefoams Inc., where he oversaw North American operations and completed a two-year international assignment as Director of Operations at Zotefoams PLC in the UK. 

He holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, earned in 1991 from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, and further honed his skills by completing the premier Advanced Management Program offered by the Harvard Business School in May 2009. 

In his spare time, Dan and his family are active members of their community in Florence, Kentucky, and he enjoys quality moments with his family, an active lifestyle, and the great outdoors. 

Chris Berry serves as the President and CEO of OhioX, a statewide nonprofit working to build Ohio into a tech hub. 

OhioX is a member-based organization with representation from Fortune 500 companies, universities, research organizations, startups, and tech-focused businesses. The work of OhioX centers around connecting, promoting, and advocating for tech and innovation in Ohio. 

For more information on OhioX, please visit www.ohiox.org.

Jon J. Snyder is the Managing Director, Investor Relations for the Ohio Life Sciences Association, a non-profit trade association for the state.   He holds over 30 years of global management experience in biomedical and healthcare sales, marketing, and operations with significant experience in bringing new products into the marketplace.  His background covers company formation, business development, product development, intellectual property, market management, sales management, venture capital investment, and fundraising at start-up and Fortune 500 (Top 20) companies including Cyberonics (N/K/A LivaNova), Cardinal Health, Neuros Medical (founding CEO), Imalux, and STERIS, having raised $40 million in venture capital and strategic partner investment.   The Company's patented platform technology, Altius® Direct Electrical Nerve Stimulation System, received FDA Premarket Approval for the treatment of chronic intractable phantom and residual limb post-amputation pain.  

Snyder sits on several non-profit and for-profit boards. He sits on the Boards of Ohio University’s College of Business Executive Advisory Board, OsteoDx, Anemed, Peloton Medical Devices, Lake County YMCA Governing Board, Tiffin University Board of Counselors, Lakeland Foundation (chair), Case Western Reserve University Research & Technology Commercialization Visiting Committee, University Hospitals Ventures’ Technology Validation Start-up Fund, Cleveland Stokes VA/APT Center Advisory Board and was previously an elected member of the Kirtland Local Schools Board of Education.
He is a recipient of two exclusive awards from Ohio University – the 2022 Medal of Merit and the 2024 Konneker Medal for Innovation and Commercialization, and is also the Co-Founder of the Papay Snyder Medical Impact Award – designed to support efforts at Ohio University focusing on research in life sciences, which he co-led with Dr. Frank Papay from Cleveland Clinic.

Snyder enjoys family activities, recreational sports, is an avid Cleveland sports fan and frequent speaker/class lecturer.

I help startups grow, scale, and find funding. 

An experienced and innovative economic development and startup community leader committed to leveraging the assets of legacy communities in creative and imaginative ways. As leader and coach I am dedicated to carrying the mantle of innovation and entrepreneurship. I consult with existing and new businesses to identify needs, improve performance, and deliver outstanding services or solutions that directly benefit the startup community (#startupcincy) and the region. I have a broad array of experience in the civic space that has progressed from urban planning, historic preservation, business development, economic development, innovation, and environmental sustainability. Eternally curious, adaptable, flexible, and open to new, refreshing ways of getting things done.

Adam Bianco is the Founder & Chief Strategist at Offtrail Marketing, an email and lifecycle marketing agency that helps startups turn new customers into loyal advocates through smarter onboarding, retention, and personalized journeys. With 15+ years of experience driving revenue and engagement, Adam has led customer marketing at fast-growing startups like Givelify, The Beard Club, and Tide Spin, as well as at the national nonprofit Move For Hunger. Along the way, he’s launched campaigns in partnership with iconic brands like Harley-Davidson, Disney, the Chicago Cubs, Kroger, the NFL, and more.

Anne Oudersluys is the founder of Core Impact, a company that helps launch and grow purpose-driven brands. With a background in brand management and sustainability at P&G, Anne has a deep passion for using business to solve the world’s social and environmental challenges.  Anne works with a diverse range of clients—from startups to large corporations—to help brands define what they stand for, attract more customers, and create a positive impact. 

With more than a dozen years of non-profit experience and twice as long as an entrepreneur, Jill Morenz is leading Aviatra Accelerators into its 15th year. Jill has created two businesses in her career and leverages those insights as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviatra, as she works with women entrepreneurs to set them up for business success.  

Leah Wyman is the Director of Startup Services at Alloy Growth Lab, where she helps entrepreneurs scale through strategic programming and hands-on support. She brings over 15 years of engineering and operations experience with a strong record of supply chain impact—reducing costs by 10%, inventory by 40%, and SKU complexity by 75% as COO of 3Doodler, cutting plastics lead times by 12 weeks through supply chain redesign, and leading an initiative at L3Harris Technologies projected to save $11M across its engineering operations.

Shailah Maynard is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sew Valley, a nonprofit garment factory and incubator in Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood. With over 18 years of experience in the fashion industry, she is dedicated to building a more ethical and environmentally responsible apparel manufacturing industry, one that strengthens local economies while contributing to broader global sustainability efforts. Under her leadership, Sew Valley provides essential resources including production services, space, equipment, and training, to apparel brands and entrepreneurs, empowering them to bring their designs to market responsibly. By integrating sustainable material sourcing, circular economy principles, and training opportunities, Shailah is bridging the gap between local impact and global change, creating scalable solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

Dan Catalano is a seasoned business leader with a remarkable career spanning over three decades in the manufacturing industry. Dan began his current role the President and CEO at TechSolve Inc. and its subsidiary, Juxtum Inc. in March 2023.  

TechSolve is a trusted partner for manufacturers that drives operational excellence, enhances competitiveness, and fosters growth within the manufacturing sector. His previous roles include Vice President and General Manager at Dover Corporation, where he spent 13 years, and President of North America at Zotefoams Inc., where he oversaw North American operations and completed a two-year international assignment as Director of Operations at Zotefoams PLC in the UK. 

He holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, earned in 1991 from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, and further honed his skills by completing the premier Advanced Management Program offered by the Harvard Business School in May 2009. 

In his spare time, Dan and his family are active members of their community in Florence, Kentucky, and he enjoys quality moments with his family, an active lifestyle, and the great outdoors. 

As Executive Director of the European American Chamber of Commerce Greater Cincinnati (EACC Cincy) since 2023, Nicole drives vision, strategy, and execution to connect European and American business leaders, strengthen transatlantic trade, and expand local business relationships.

Kerry Taft is the expert entrepreneurs call when their business systems are holding them back. She’s the one founders turn to when they’re ready to stop duct-taping systems together and start running a company that works without them.

With over 20 years in the health sciences as an exercise physiologist and former university professor, Kerry brings both analytical rigor and a deeply human-centered approach to every system she builds.

In 2024, she acquired and integrated a digital agency into her growing portfolio, further solidifying her role as a strategic force in the operations space. Founders seek her out when they’re ready to reclaim their time, streamline their backend, and build businesses that run smoothly—and feel better.

Based in Cincinnati, Kerry speaks five languages and leads a global company helping service-based entrepreneurs scale with clarity, confidence, and ease.

Tanvi Mittal is a startup founder and AI educator passionate about helping entrepreneurs build and scale with creativity and efficiency. She draws on her own experience launching and growing ventures on lean budgets to share practical strategies that others can apply immediately. As an advocate for AI in business, she empowers early-stage founders to harness emerging tools to streamline operations, validate ideas, and market smarter. Her mission is to make entrepreneurship more accessible, resourceful, and impactful.

Ann Keeling is President of Cristofoli-Keeling, Inc., a savvy, common-sense, marketing communications firm, with best-in-class clients. With over twenty years of marketing communications experience, Ms. Keeling has been named one of the Top 10 Women In Advertising, Marketing & PR by Women’s Business Cincinnati, one of fifteen Business Women to Watch by The Cincinnati Enquirer, and has been named a Wise Woman in the 100 Wise Women Program.  Ms. Keeling was the Chair of the 2024 & 2025 Cincinnati Art Museum Art in Bloom weekend of events, currently serves as a Trustee for the Cincinnati Art Museum and is a member of Aviatra Accelerators board of directors.  

Shailah Maynard is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sew Valley, a nonprofit garment factory and incubator in Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood. With over 18 years of experience in the fashion industry, she is dedicated to building a more ethical and environmentally responsible apparel manufacturing industry, one that strengthens local economies while contributing to broader global sustainability efforts. Under her leadership, Sew Valley provides essential resources including production services, space, equipment, and training, to apparel brands and entrepreneurs, empowering them to bring their designs to market responsibly. By integrating sustainable material sourcing, circular economy principles, and training opportunities, Shailah is bridging the gap between local impact and global change, creating scalable solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

Riley O’Grady, MA, is the Founder and Executive Director of LEAD Training, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping youth in Greater Cincinnati with the social-emotional, career-readiness, and life skills needed for life beyond graduation. A former AP Psychology and Health/PE teacher turned social psychology researcher, Riley recognized that many young people, although academically prepared, often lacked the tools to navigate their futures confidently. This realization sparked her departure from research and return to education, partnering with schools and nonprofits to design and deliver dynamic, evidence-based programs that foster self-efficacy through real-world learning experiences.

Since its founding in 2018, LEAD Training has grown its reach to 20 schools and serves 3,000+ students. It has achieved success rates with 93% of seniors having clear career pathways, and college-career readiness and interpersonal skills growth were evident across program participants via qualitative/quantitative program evaluation methods. Beyond her nonprofit work, Riley brings her free-spirited drive and passion for experiential learning into her personal life, teaching scuba diving to teens and university students and pursuing adrenaline-fueled adventures like shark dives, skydiving, and a goal to get paramotor training in 2026.

With more than a dozen years of non-profit experience and twice as long as an entrepreneur, Jill Morenz is leading Aviatra Accelerators into its 15th year. Jill has created two businesses in her career and leverages those insights as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviatra, as she works with women entrepreneurs to set them up for business success.  

Kristy Sieve is President and Partner of Mertz Design Studio, a certified woman-owned creative agency in Cincinnati. She leads with a focus on collaboration, culture, and design innovation, helping startups and established brands grow through brand identity, packaging, and digital experiences. Kristy is passionate about championing women in business and building opportunities for the next generation of designers through Mertz’s LaunchPad program, which connects students with small businesses for real-world impact.

Sierra is the Founder and CEO of We Outside Cincinnati, a movement dedicated to reconnecting Black and Brown communities with nature through culturally relevant experiences. With a background in green youth program development, urban agriculture, and environmental stewardship, she has spent a decade cultivating spaces where wellness, creativity, and community can thrive outdoors.

She brings a grounded, visionary approach to her work, designing experiences that range from nature-based workshops and active outdoor adventures to sustainable retail through her storefront at Ziegler Park. Through We Outside, Sierra is redefining what it means to be outdoorsy by building a new narrative of belonging in nature, one that uplifts culture, restores balance, and reimagines how outdoor spaces are experienced in the city.

Sierra is an active leader within Cincinnati’s social impact and entrepreneurial ecosystem, cultivating conversations and experiences that center environmental equity, collective healing, and joy in the outdoors.

With more than a dozen years of non-profit experience and twice as long as an entrepreneur, Jill Morenz is leading Aviatra Accelerators into its 15th year. Jill has created two businesses in her career and leverages those insights as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviatra, as she works with women entrepreneurs to set them up for business success.  

Greg Forté is Vice President at Alloy and Director of the Hamilton County Office of Small Business powered by Alloy Development Company. Greg’s past experiences includes a corporate career at Procter & Gamble. Greg was also a management consultant where he collaborated with clients to drive business growth through improved work systems, training and organization development. Greg has been an entrepreneur and also a founder, starting a company from idea to market.  

Pat Longo is a 29 veteran of #StartupCincy and has engaged with many entrepreneurs during that time.  He has spent all 29 years with Alloy Development and Alloy Growth Lab.  He is President and CEO.  Longo believes in the ever growing entrepreneurial spirit that looms large in Greater Cincinnati and understands the importance that startups play in our local and regional economy.

Willie Hill has been in banking, finance, and community development for over 34 years.  He has been the Executive Director at The Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI) for the last 21 years.  For 27 years, GCMI provides entrepreneurial education, small business development training, business coaching and technical assistance, and access to capital with their microlending programs.  Under his direction, GCMI has provided entrepreneurial education and business development training to over 1800 low to-moderate income clients, helped create over 700 businesses, provided over $3.0 million in microfinancing, and created over 930 jobs and counting. Willie has a true passion for entrepreneurship and the importance it plays in our everyday life.  A native Cincinnatian, he has great ties to the community and has been a high school varsity head basketball coach for over 21 years. 

With more than a dozen years of non-profit experience and twice as long as an entrepreneur, Jill Morenz is leading Aviatra Accelerators into its 15th year. Jill has created two businesses in her career and leverages those insights as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviatra, as she works with women entrepreneurs to set them up for business success.  

Trevor Johnson is Vice President of Partnerships at HANDLE Global, a Louisville-based SaaS startup that helps health systems improve capital equipment planning and purchasing. He also founded the Cincinnati Healthcare Professionals Network, a community of hundreds of healthcare business leaders across providers, payers, MedTech, and startups in the region. After starting his career in private equity and earning his MBA, Trevor has spent more than a decade commercializing innovative healthcare products across MedTech and SaaS. He is passionate about connecting people, data, and ideas to bring innovative healthcare products to life.

Leah Wyman is the Director of Startup Services at Alloy Growth Lab, where she helps entrepreneurs scale through strategic programming and hands-on support. She brings over 15 years of engineering and operations experience with a strong record of supply chain impact—reducing costs by 10%, inventory by 40%, and SKU complexity by 75% as COO of 3Doodler, cutting plastics lead times by 12 weeks through supply chain redesign, and leading an initiative at L3Harris Technologies projected to save $11M across its engineering operations.

Jeni is a faculty member of the Department of Entrepreneurship at Miami University, where she teaches courses on Business Models and High-Growth Startups. Her work focuses on student growth and development, building mentoring relationships with students that continue beyond graduation, and fostering development not just as entrepreneurs but as lifelong learners and leaders.

She is the founder of the Luas Group, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to providing consulting and coaching services for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and entrepreneurship programs. She is passionate about empowering people to create their own opportunities by increasing access to entrepreneurship. She earned her undergraduate degree at Thomas More University. She completed a master's in entrepreneurship and innovation from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, with a concentration on a global perspective of entrepreneurship ecosystems, the entrepreneurial process, and building entrepreneurial programs. She earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership with a focus on the connection between Entrepreneurship Education and Workforce Readiness from Northern Kentucky University.

Brett's practice focuses on assisting entrepreneurs in the design and optimization of their corporate strategy and roadmap for growth. He also routinely advises venture capital (VC) funds on matters related to venture investment and manages deal work with knowledge and ease. He has experience working with startups, emerging companies, VC funds, and established organizations, regarding their corporate, fundraising, and governance legal needs. His professional work ethic, responsiveness, knowledge of the law, and advocacy on behalf of clients makes him invaluable to current and prospective clients.

Brett helps lead a team of professionals who focus primarily on the venture space and deliver immense value across multiple interdisciplinary practice areas (Corporate, Intellectual Property, Tax, Securities, Data Privacy) under one roof.

As a Cincinnati native, Brett has built connections with Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky organizations of all sizes ranging from single-member LLC start-ups to nine-figure annual profit companies with hundreds of employees. He is skilled in predicting blind spots and mitigating risk and is the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) for a variety of start-ups, developing, and established companies. Brett has an extreme passion for entrepreneurialism and has dedicated his professional life to investing in the venture ecosystems both in the Midwest and all across the country.

Leah Wyman is the Director of Startup Services at Alloy Growth Lab, where she helps entrepreneurs scale through strategic programming and hands-on support. She brings over 15 years of engineering and operations experience with a strong record of supply chain impact—reducing costs by 10%, inventory by 40%, and SKU complexity by 75% as COO of 3Doodler, cutting plastics lead times by 12 weeks through supply chain redesign, and leading an initiative at L3Harris Technologies projected to save $11M across its engineering operations.

Megan Hymore has been a patent attorney for almost 20 years. She has a passion for helping early-stage, venture-backed, and growth-stage companies. Her goal is to sprinkle intellectual property considerations throughout a startup’s lifecycle – from those just starting out (e.g., forming a legal entity and choosing a company name and brand identity) to those who are more established (e.g., raising another round of funding, preparing for an exit, or licensing and asserting their IP). Megan uses a creative and progressive approach to develop comprehensive IP, branding, advertising, and regulatory compliance strategies that support a client’s vision and business needs. As a registered patent attorney, she loves helping clients discover and pursue patentable subject matter. Megan helps clients create a right-sized executable IP roadmap and budget, check their IP due-diligence boxes, perfect their competitive matrix slide, tout their points of differentiation, substantiate their advertising claims, comply with FTC guidelines, and collaborate with partners and influencers. She also provides definitive and actionable IP advice on clearance, use, ownership, agreements, protection, and enforcement strategies related to trademarks, trade dress, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Zak Kelley is 3CDC's Dir. of Sales, overseeing the Sponsorship & Event Sales teams for all seven of 3CDC's Downtown Civic Spaces. Prior to this role, Zak worked in hospitality management in both Cincinnati & New York City, working for hotel groups, such as Standard Hotels & Marriott, & restaurant groups, such as Thunderdome & Boca Restaurant Group. 

Zak loves a black iced coffee & hanging out with his dog, Martini.

After years of pursuing a diverse set of entrepreneurial ventures, Wolf is now focused on connecting resources to meet needs within the entrepreneurial community. Wolf's goal is to create opportunities and relationships for organizations our community feel passionate about. Wolf's immediate areas of concentration are venture equity, and helping to develop angel capital collectives.

Paul is the Founder/CEO of Flamel.ai - the hub for franchise marketing. 

Prior to this - he led operations for Gifthealth (acq by Eir Partners), founded Sixty8 Capital, and had a weird distant hallucination of being an engineer for Wallaby Medical and Medtronic.

Has an extensive healthcare marketing background, helping owners leverage their data to scale their organizations generating about $25.7M in annual revenue, tripling engagement and halving campaign duration. 

Bringing an extensive healthcare analytics background, leveraged a benchmarking database covering $1.8T in charges from 2,000 hospitals to uncover $2.5M in vendor overbilling and launch a consulting firm’s analytics service line, expanding data-driven solutions for healthcare clients. 

Pete Millspaugh is a software engineer and writer. He's currently working on a book about Internet domains at www.dotcom.press.

Dari Daniels is a strategic leader and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience driving growth through innovation, data, and collaboration. She has held leadership roles at GE Aerospace, Gap Inc., SoLo Funds, and PMM Agency, and now serves as Chief of Staff at Lightship Foundation, where she helps empower remarkable entrepreneurs through partnerships, mentorship, and access to capital.

Passionate about culture and community, Dari has launched ventures like Black Cycle Cincy Society Cycle and Black Girls Backpack, blending her love for empowerment and exploration. A proud North Carolina A&T engineering alumna and Cincinnati native, she has also shared her journey in a TED Talk on innovation and resilience. Dari continues to build spaces where strategy, culture, and impact come together to create meaningful change.

Tim is a Cincinnati native but grew up Dayton, OH. It was his education and graduation from Xavier University that brought him back home and provided the tools necessary to grow his career in Cincinnati and beyond. Tim has a deep passion for community and creating meaningful impact through relationships. 

Currently Tim owns and operates his own business, making the success of not only his own business but of other Black, brown and minority entrepreneurs one of his passions. Tim is excited to join the MORTAR as the Expansion Manager and is looking forward to enriching relationships within Cincinnati and beyond to scale the impactful work that MORTAR has been doing.

Tim has a wide range of skills from bartending to pottery wheel throwing and even roller skating. When at home Tim is an active Plant Dad and Dog Dad. Things that bring Tim joy are traveling, listening to music, karaoke with friends, fine dining, and spending time with his twin, family, and close friends. 

Kara Willis is the Program Manager for RedHawk50, a growth recognition program out of Miami University’s John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship—ranked 5th among public undergraduate entrepreneurship programs by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine. In this role, she builds strategy and programming to highlight and support Miami’s most successful alumni-founded companies, bridging the university’s entrepreneurial resources with the broader startup ecosystem.

Beyond Miami, Kara serves as Marketing Director for the Mercantile Library, Cincinnati’s historic literary hub, where she develops strategies and events that bring book lovers and thought leaders together.

With a background spanning marketing, events, and operations across the non-profit and startup sectors, Kara is passionate about using creativity, strategy, and collaboration to build networks that drive meaningful change.

Hey I'm Kam, Ohio native, software engineer, soccer player & music lover! 

Rising Moon Consulting's laser-focus for clients... To Amplify & Accelerate Ambitious Aims.

Ann is a CPG industry veteran who made her mark at P&G as a commercially savvy marketer, brand builder, strategist and self-styled “intrapreneur” - an unconventional corporate pioneer successful at thriving across brands, roles, departments, retail channels & regions. In 2009, with equal doses of daring, moxie & blind entrepreneurial zeal, Ann launched Rising Moon Consulting - a boutique consultancy operating at the intersection of branding building, strategy, marketing, retail & innovation. She works with both Fortune 500 companies and high-growth start-ups. Ann has a demonstrated track record of successfully bridging promising start-ups with innovative capabilities into BigCo's to get to initial revenue-producing pilots, and then to quickly hyper-scaling. 

With a passion for immersive, hands-on education, Dayton Ward leads initiatives at Xavier University’s Sedler Center, helping students translate academic learning into real-world impact. He collaborates across campus and within the community to design, coordinate, and scale experiential programs that empower students to lead and learn through action.

Dayton draws on his background in student leadership and program management to cultivate environments where learners are challenged, supported, and inspired to make measurable progress. Outside of work, he’s an enthusiastic connector, mentor, and advocate for meaningful engagement in higher education.

Keith Miller is a senior Marketing major from Cincinnati, OH, passionate about brand management and strategy. He serves as Co-President of Xavier Element, the university’s award-winning student-led, student-run digital marketing agency and consultancy, and as President of Xavier’s American Marketing Association chapter. Through the Sedler Xavier Center for Experiential Learning (XCEL) in Business, Keith has played a key role in operationalizing and scaling student-run ventures. Following a successful internship with The J.M. Smucker Co., he will return after graduation as a Brand Marketing Analyst.

Joshua Reid is a husband, father, and entrepreneur who founded LunchTable, a Cincinnati-based fan activation platform that helps brands turn casual fans into influencers. He launched LunchTable the day after his daughter was born and has since raised over $3M while building partnerships with iconic brands across sports and consumer goods. Married to Dr. Ashley Reid, an OBGYN and Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Joshua is the proud father of Logan and Roman. Deeply rooted in Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem, Joshua is passionate about giving back, mentoring, and championing the belief that “engagement is the new currency."

Daniel Arnold is the president and co-founder of Medality, a digital education platform for radiologists. Founded in 2020, Medality was acquired in 2025 by TrueLearn. 

Nicole Armstrong is the Founder and CEO of Ellequate, an award-winning SaaS platform that helps employers create fair, inclusive, and high-performing workplaces. With more than 15 years of experience in design thinking and social innovation, she launched the nation’s first employer certification for workplace equity and has partnered with over 40 organizations across industries to strengthen employee experience and retention through better systems and strategies.

Ellequate leverages behavioral science, real-time data, and AI to help HR leaders make smarter decisions on pay, policies, and culture. Nicole also spearheaded the development of Ellequate’s compensation intelligence tool, which enables employers to move beyond market benchmarks and align pay with internal value, skills, organizational priorities, and sustainability.

A frequent national speaker at SHRM, WELCOA, and DisruptHR, Nicole is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduate and has been recognized with honors including the CLIMB Award, Best in Tech: Woman/Minority to Watch, and the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40.

Dawn Parks is a strategist and educator working at the forefront of AI adoption, helping individuals and organizations make sense of emerging technologies. She is the creator of a one-of-a-kind, hands-on AI bootcamp series—designed to demystify AI through real-world application. Over the past year, she has led sessions across sectors, combining practical training with cutting-edge insights you won’t find anywhere else in the country.

Laurence Jones co-founded RiskVersity in 2015 and CyberSure in 2021. He brings 22 years’ experience in accounting, risk management, finance, and business operations. He is responsible for client management, risk audits, insurance program management, strategic relationships for client resources and talent resources. He has experience working with K-12 schools, nonprofit organizations, public entity organizations, higher education, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, professional services, and restaurant clients. Laurence is active in Cincinnati’s business community. Laurence served as partner at the accounting firm Brixey & Meyer and a senior accountant at Ernst & Young before starting RiskVersity and CyberSure. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Cincinnati.

Zac Strobl is a Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University. He has created award winning programs, including the INKUBATOR and several start up internship initiatives, that connect students with start ups and small businesses to build real world experience and fuel regional innovation. In 2024, he was honored with the Next Generation Leader Award from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for his impact as an educator and entrepreneurial leader.

Tim Metzner is a serial entrepreneur (x5), father (x4), and husband (x1).

Tim is the founder and CEO of Fireroad. Fireroad is part VC; investing in pre-seed and seed stage tech startups, and part holding company; building, buying, and growing cash-flowing small businesses and the technology and solutions needed to scale them.

Before Fireroad, Tim was co-founder of Coterie Insurance, a fast-growing small business insurance company that has raised over $150M in capital and is growing profitably. 

Before Coterie, Tim was co-founder of Differential, an early venture studio that spawned a series of successful businesses including Astronomer ($1B+ valuation) and Apollos, a digital platform for churches.

Tim also helped start and lead OCEAN Programs, a faith-based non-profit that teaches, mentors, invests in, and gathers entrepreneurs around both business and biblical principles critical to their success. Through OCEAN Accelerator, over 75 high tech companies and founders have been trained, funded, and launched. 

Tim is a graduate of the Lindner Business Honors Program at the University of Cincinnati, where he now serves as an adjunct professor teaching entrepreneurship and venture capital. 

Andrew Cothrel is co-founder and CEO of Kilele Health (a medtech startup). His 1st career was 20 years at Exxon, Abbott Labs, and Roche. He ended his BigCo days as VP/Site Manager of Roche’s $100M U.S. life sciences business area. Career #2 has been 18+ years working a mix of consulting, startups, and venture, with a medtech emphasis. He has supported over 100 clients, led seven startups (Kilele is his 8th), transacted four exits, and raised $60M+ for early-stage companies. He has an extensive angel investing portfolio and serves as an independent director on the boards of Royal Biologics, Scioto Biosciences, and Amplified Sciences.

Katherine Jackson is the Director of OSINT Engineering at Level 6 Cybersecurity. Katherine manages and trains a team of OSINT Engineers and leads the development of a cutting-edge data harvesting process. Katherine also works with the Data Engineering team on ETL process management and data lineage tracking and works to improve Level 6’s core cybersecurity strategy analytic model. Additionally, as a lead team member, she engages with all other departments regularly to provide input and advice. Prior to Level 6 Katherine worked as an Associate cybersecurity consultant with Waypoint Cybersecurity where she directly supported internal and external policy creation, NIST and ISO Cyber Security Gap Assessments, and general cybersecurity program governance consulting.

Katherine is passionate about emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion within the cybersecurity industry. Outside of work she enjoys creating art, cooking, and spending time with her very orange cat.

Kevin E. Jackson is a visionary CEO, Chief information Security Officer (CISO), cybersecurity consultant, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience as a technologist and security practitioner. He is the founder and CEO of Level 6 Cybersecurity, producer of a revolutionary, industry-specific predictive intelligence platform for cybersecurity strategists. Kevin is a business management leader with a diverse background in information systems development and integration, hardware/software engineering, management consulting, IT infrastructure management, compliance management, and general project management. Kevin is experienced in both government and commercial sectors including pharmaceuticals, finance, defense, healthcare, electric power utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, and academia. A happily married father of five, Kevin resides in southwest Ohio and enjoys writing novels and playing music (guitar and drums) in his spare time.

Rachel DesRochers is a serial entrepreneur, international speaker, thought leader on the power of gratitude, community builder, mother, dreamer, author, and podcast host. Gratitude and community are the foundation of everything she creates.

Her diverse projects, businesses and nonprofit are housed under her umbrella, The Gratitude Collective. They include: The Incubator Kitchen Collective, a shared-use commercial kitchen space; Good n' Local, a regional wholesale food show celebrating and accelerating growth in the local food ecosystem; and her largest project to date, Power to Pursue, a women’s empowerment movement offering programming in multiple cities. 

Additionally, Rachel is a board member, advisor, and consultant. With more than two decades of experience, she shares her insights on healthy entrepreneurship, heart-centered community building, the power of gratitude, and women's empowerment. As a speaker, she has  inspired audiences worldwide with her authentic and engaging style.

Her innovative spirit and community impact have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. 

When not managing her multiple businesses, Rachel revels in being a mom to three wildly wonderful children.

Abby Grimm is the Director of Engagement & Experience at Cintrifuse, where she drives community programming and helps lead the StartupCincy ecosystem. A proud advocate for Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine, she also serves on the OTR Chamber board and is passionate about showcasing her city as the best place to live, work, and grow.

Natasha Williams, affectionately known as Resident Lush, began her professional journey in Talent Acquisition, a field where she thrived until 2022. In 2018, she founded Lush Life Brands LLC, a wine concierge company that specializes in hosting inclusive wine events designed to bring people together. Among her signature events are Blk Wine Fest, which highlights Black-owned wine brands and producers, and Cincy's Rosé Wine Festival, a celebration of everything rosé. Both festivals have seen remarkable success, consistently selling out within their first three years.
Natasha's passion for wine stems from her love of connecting with friends over meaningful conversations and a great glass of wine. She takes pride in fostering communities through wine, helping people build networks and lasting relationships.
Natasha grew up in Forest Park, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, and studied Communication at The University of Cincinnati. Outside of her thriving professional life, she enjoys spending time with her adult son, indulging in wine (of course), working out, traveling, and creating unforgettable memories with friends and family.

Sid Dutta is a Data Protection and Cybersecurity Executive, a Security Advisor, and an Entrepreneur. With 23+ years of industry experience, Sid has been driving Data Protection and Privacy programs for the last 10 years across multiple large enterprises such as American Express, Worldpay, Activision Blizzard, and has led Product Management for Voltage Security within Micro Focus. He has also served on several vendor and Cybersecurity advisory boards and provides security advisory services to startups. Sid has multiple issued patents to his name and majority of them are within the domain of cryptography, blockchain, and tokenization.

Kevin E. Jackson is a visionary CEO, Chief information Security Officer (CISO), cybersecurity consultant, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience as a technologist and security practitioner. He is the founder and CEO of Level 6 Cybersecurity, producer of a revolutionary, industry-specific predictive intelligence platform for cybersecurity strategists. Kevin is a business management leader with a diverse background in information systems development and integration, hardware/software engineering, management consulting, IT infrastructure management, compliance management, and general project management. Kevin is experienced in both government and commercial sectors including pharmaceuticals, finance, defense, healthcare, electric power utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, and academia. A happily married father of five, Kevin resides in southwest Ohio and enjoys writing novels and playing music (guitar and drums) in his spare time.

Megan is the Vice President of Development for The Dragonfly Foundation, which supports pediatric cancer patients and their families as a whole at the time of diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond. She is also the Founder and former CEO of COVERD Greater Cincinnati, which provides basic hygiene items like diapers and period supplies to Greater Cincinnati families. Megan is a Miami University graduate, member of C-Change Class 15, and Board President of Leadership Council for Nonprofits. 

Michael is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Oxford, OH. His research and teaching focus on how entrepreneurial action can contribute to solving social and environmental problems and the ways in which social enterprises are changing the role of business and organizations in society.

A marketing graduate of Miami University, Christine spent 20 years in the corporate world of public relations, until her youngest son Matt, at age 10 was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma stage 3A.  That journey changed her entire family life and while there, discovered that children and families need additional  support while facing a life-threatening cancer diagnosis at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.  Today, Mat t is healthy, and Christine founded The Dragonfly Foundation 15 years ago to support these families.  

Nicholas Archer brings over two decades of experience across healthcare's full continuum, operations, innovation, and commercialization, with a clear perspective that true transformation requires both operational discipline and entrepreneurial vision.
 
At Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Nick oversees the translation of scientific discovery into real-world impact, shepherding innovations from bench to bedside through technology transfer and venture creation. This role represents the convergence of his diverse experience building sustainable business models within academic medicine and fostering collaboration between clinicians and researchers, ensuring that promising innovations reach the patients who need them.
 
Prior to Cincinnati Children's, Nick joined Hippocratic AI as an early team member at the seed stage, helping scale the company from its $50M seed funding to a $1.6B Series B valuation. Throughout his career, he has witnessed healthcare's profound shifts while learning a critical truth: innovation alone doesn't create change. Real transformation happens at the intersection of operational excellence, financial sustainability, and human need, a balance he's pursued whether restructuring care delivery networks, building digital platforms, or advising emerging companies.
 
A graduate of Oakwood University and an MBA from University of Florida with executive education from Harvard Business School, Nick has served on numerous boards focused on healthcare access and community development. He enjoys spending time with his sons and family and is an avid cyclist and sports enthusiast.

I'm raising three kids with my wife, Leah, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

I'm a modern ritual designer, and started Wolf House Fables to help leaders and teams rediscover their moxie.

Before that I co-founded a creative agency (Rebel Pilgrim later renamed Boonrise) that produced pioneering marketing campaigns, feature films, and immersive experiences and workshops for startups, non-profits, and Fortune 50 companies from 2012-2023.

I graduated from the University of Cincinnati DAAP, as a graphic designer who loved creative storytelling.

Rolando Archila is a strategic storyteller, coach, and creator who helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into influence through AI-powered Pitch Decks. He’s helped entrepreneurs raise over $1B+ by crafting pitches and narratives that attract capital, inspire trust, and drive action. Through his company, SLIDEAS, Rolando teaches founders how to cut through the noise, pitch with power, and close more deals in today’s hyper-competitive market.

Gabrielle Blocher serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Sunflower Fuels, handling day-to-day operations and the strategy for the business. Ms. Blocher holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Masters of Business Administration in Economics from Columbia Business School. She is an Airborne qualified former Marine Logistics officer. Her professional career has included extensive start-up management and business growth experience. She has served as president of the board of the Mercantile Library of Cincinnati, and she is a partner in multiple real estate investment companies. She solves complex problems with ingenuity and has a passion for building and growing dynamic teams with varying skills.

Tracy Agyemang Vroom, attorney and founder of Tracy Vroom Consulting, helps leaders build inclusive workplaces that are both legally sound and deeply human. A first-generation American and lawyer, she’s spent two decades navigating employment law—as a federal prosecutor, in-house counsel, and now as a trusted advisor to executives. She brings both expertise and lived experience to this panel, guiding a candid conversation on how founders are reimagining inclusion in real time.

I hold a Master's in Health Administration from the University of Cincinnati, where I studied healthcare management and environmental sustainability. My capstone project explored the environmental and economic impact of sharps waste management, shedding light on an important aspect of healthcare operations.

Prior to my master's, I earned a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Administration from SUNY Buffalo State, and I am proud to have been inducted into the Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Society. My passion for hospitality and service excellence led me to participate in the Walt Disney World College Program, where I gained invaluable hands-on experience in the hotel industry while working for a world-renowned company.

With a shift in focus from hotels to healthcare, I spent the next five years managing various departments within hospitals, including environmental services, patient transport, and linen services. This journey has provided me with extensive insights into the healthcare industry and the critical role these departments play in patient care and facility operations.

Today, I am fortunate to contribute to the healthcare industry from a vendor perspective, where I offer innovative solutions and support healthcare facilities with their medical waste management. I co-founded Greenway Innovations, where our mission is to contribute to the health of healthcare by partnering with providers to safely, economically, and ethically manage all medical waste streams. 

I am always open to sharing advice and insights, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like to connect or discuss the healthcare industry.

Andrew Bliss (Founder and CEO of Ecoshell LLC) recently relocated back home to the USA after living and working in Asia for the past 21 years, 17 of them in Taiwan. While there, after stints in higher education, educational publishing, and international trade and procurement, he set his sights on giving back to Taiwan and ultimately on sustainability. His most recent business in Taiwan was a consulting firm that helped local companies expand to Western markets, assisting them with product development, branding, positioning, and establishing sales channels. In this role, he developed the partnership that would send him back to the West and found Ecoshell. He immediately saw the potential with the patented eggshell bio-calcium, and he jumped headfirst into the science and tech behind the material development. He has already innovated and further improved the eco-benefit of the material through the use of ocean bound plastics and natural materials such as sunflower seeds. His goal is to make eggshell derived bio-calcium a standard filler for the plastics industry. More, his goal is to continually explore material, process, and design advancements in packaging and find ways to connect new technologies and methods to bring about real and significant plastic reduction. As a leader in the charge against greenwashing, he endeavors to help brands tell the very best story that is also the best story for the environment, preferring collaboration of approaches over dogmatically adhering to one solution. When Ecoshell is not the best solution for one of his clients, or if a client is able to avoid plastic altogether, he is thrilled to offer them solutions he has discovered around the world and across the sustainability community.

John Bentley, II, is a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur who guides founders and product teams on the journey from idea to market — and from market to scale. With decades of experience in software, product,, and startup strategy, John acts as a technical expedition leader, helping teams navigate the unknown, avoid costly detours, and summit their product goals with confidence.

With more than a dozen years of non-profit experience and twice as long as an entrepreneur, Jill Morenz is leading Aviatra Accelerators into its 15th year. Jill has created two businesses in her career and leverages those insights as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviatra, as she works with women entrepreneurs to set them up for business success.  

Tamia Stinson is the Executive Director of the Cincinnati Artist Network (CAN), and a longtime supporter independent artists and creatives in Cincinnati. She thrives on connecting people to resources, opportunities, and clients. With a background in creative direction, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Tamia is passionate about fostering a thriving, sustainable creative economy in our region.

Vanny Mwamba is the Co-founder of Urban Hikers, a movement that blends walking, wellness, and community connection to reimagine how people experience cities. A filmmaker and community builder, he has led over 400 curated walks across multiple cities, using movement as a tool for mental health, cultural exploration, and team building. At StartupCincy, Vanny brings insights on leadership, pace friction, and designing experiences that align people and ideas.

Abby Grimm is the Director of Engagement & Experience at Cintrifuse, where she drives community programming and helps lead the StartupCincy ecosystem. A proud advocate for Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine, she also serves on the OTR Chamber board and is passionate about showcasing her city as the best place to live, work, and grow.

Tammie Scott is a seasoned entertainment marketer with stints at the NFLPA, Jay Z's Roc Nation and currently Barstool Sports. She is also founder and co-owner of Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, a cozy wine bar and intimate live music venue in OTR. The lounge celebrates the evolution of jazz by blending traditional influences with contemporary music and features underrepresented wine brands. A self proclaimed Cincinnati-enthusiast, she's carving out intentional spaces to blend culture, community and creativity – with a glass in hand. 

Brett Brohl is Managing Partner of Bread and Butter Ventures. He is the former Managing Director of the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, partnered with Cargill and Ecolab. An experienced entrepreneur, investor and mentor, Brett is driven by making a difference in the world through helping entrepreneurs succeed.

Christy Johnson is a Partner at Fireroad Ventures where she manages the investment and fundraising process for the inception-stage practice focused on technology applied in SMBs and service-sectors. Since launching in 2023, Fireroad has made 23 investments out of its inaugural fund. Christy entered Venture Capital as the COO of Ocean Accelerator where she managed recruitment, diligence, interviewing and equity negotiations, as well as operations and growth for the non-profit that served hundreds of entrepreneurs each year with programs for SMBs. Prior to Ocean, she led the marketing, fundraising, and technology teams at a global non-profit organization. Her non-profit leadership experience brings a unique focus to Christy's investment philosophy, where a focus on founder identity and health is an integrated piece of both evaluating and supporting a portfolio company. 

With more than a dozen years of non-profit experience and twice as long as an entrepreneur, Jill Morenz is leading Aviatra Accelerators into its 15th year. Jill has created two businesses in her career and leverages those insights as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aviatra, as she works with women entrepreneurs to set them up for business success.  

Greg Forté is Vice President at Alloy and Director of the Hamilton County Office of Small Business powered by Alloy Development Company. Greg’s past experiences includes a corporate career at Procter & Gamble. Greg was also a management consultant where he collaborated with clients to drive business growth through improved work systems, training and organization development. Greg has been an entrepreneur and also a founder, starting a company from idea to market.  

Pat Longo is a 29 veteran of #StartupCincy and has engaged with many entrepreneurs during that time.  He has spent all 29 years with Alloy Development and Alloy Growth Lab.  He is President and CEO.  Longo believes in the ever growing entrepreneurial spirit that looms large in Greater Cincinnati and understands the importance that startups play in our local and regional economy.

Willie Hill has been in banking, finance, and community development for over 34 years.  He has been the Executive Director at The Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI) for the last 21 years.  For 27 years, GCMI provides entrepreneurial education, small business development training, business coaching and technical assistance, and access to capital with their microlending programs.  Under his direction, GCMI has provided entrepreneurial education and business development training to over 1800 low to-moderate income clients, helped create over 700 businesses, provided over $3.0 million in microfinancing, and created over 930 jobs and counting. Willie has a true passion for entrepreneurship and the importance it plays in our everyday life.  A native Cincinnatian, he has great ties to the community and has been a high school varsity head basketball coach for over 21 years. 

Rahul Desai is presently COO of Saddletree Partners, a holding company that buys and builds group travel business (think: corporate offsites, church trips, etc). 

He began his career in strategy consulting, working on products like Google Maps AR and Uber Driver Hubs. He then worked for insurtech startups in Silicon Valley, including Y Combinator Top 50 company Newfront and Max Levchin-backed Pathpoint.

Most recently, he was an Operating Partner at Sylva, a micro-cap private equity fund focused on corporate training businesses. He oversaw the Chief of Staff and BizOps Network businesses, where he grew revenue 70% YoY while cutting costs.

Rahul brings tactical insight into how startups grow, scale, and build smart from the start.

Jonathan Mardis, MBA is Director of Innovation Services at Alloy Development Co. and Founder & CEO of GiveToGet™, combining his work with entrepreneurs and his own startup to drive innovation, collaboration, and community impact.

4-time Founder | Angel Investor | Founder Growth Expert | Board Member | Advisor to Founder Led High Growth Companies | Business Mentor | Business and Lecturer

Jeanette Renshaw is a Partner and the Head of Startup Growth at GrowthX, where she helps B2B founders get to market and grow revenue as a unique way to identify compelling investment opportunities. Jeanette is passionate about this—because a great product is only half the battle.

She’s spent over 10 years working with B2B startups across 20+ tech industries, helping them fine-tune their sales strategies and build go-to-market engines that produce systematic revenue growth. If you're trying to figure out how to land your first customers or scale revenue without burning out, she's the one you want in your corner.

Jeanette has been coaching founders through The Revenue Accelerator since day one of the 16-week sales coaching program, bringing hands-on experience from working with hundreds of startups worldwide. Before GrowthX, she built sales tech stacks and lead generation playbooks for early-stage companies through her consulting practice, giving her a deep understanding of what it really takes to move from product to traction.

Outside of work, Jeanette channels her energy into teaching spin classes in Indianapolis and geeking out over mixed martial arts. She’s all about high intensity—whether it’s in the gym or helping founders reach their full potential.

I help startups scale by providing strategic talent solutions that empower startups in technology, engineering, and life sciences. Through tailored direct hire, statement of work (SOW), and interim project professional solutions, I help clients bridge critical skill gaps, accelerate innovation, and deliver on complex workforce demands.

Luke Bivens is the Founder of QC Growth, helping Seed to Series A startups build high performing Go-to-market motions. 

- 3x Founding Account Executive - Previously Gatsby, Netlify, CrescendoAI

- The team currently partners with 30+ startups to provide a full GTM team and accelerate growth.

I go by Sangeeta.  Five years ago, I left the corporate world after 25+ years (c-suite roles at GE, Nielsen, and Amazon) to launch my tech-startup, “Gotara”.  It is a Business and Leadership Accelerator platform coupled with Business Advisor/coaches. At Gotara, we help remove hurdles at work from two fronts – Business opportunities (Scaling the business, post M&A Integrations and Transformations), and leadership growth.  We also have a free service for 33K+ Gotara members providing confidential 24/7 advice from influential STEM leaders which helps us close the gender/talent gap in the industry.

I gave up a corporate career four years ago to join my great friend, Sangeeta, as she launched Gotara. After 30+ years of delivering results in companies, transforming operations, training and coaching leaders in the consulting space, and teaching at universities, I am absolutely delighted to pursue now my ultimate passion—coaching and advising tech talent to achieve their full potential and deliver impact for their organizations. 

I held project, design, and engineering management roles in oil and gas, operation engineer roles in manufacturing, process improvement roles in various organizations, and consulting roles in financial services and tech. My journey with Sangeeta began at Nielsen, where we collaborated on a leadership development program that trained 35,000 employees and 130 leaders, transforming the global culture into one that values process thinking, metrics, and continuous improvement while delivering a significant top and bottom-line impact. This experience honed my skills in leading large-scale transformative initiatives and working with diverse teams. I have held senior roles at HUB International and Nielsen and consulted with premier organizations such as Northrop Grumman, GE Capital, and CHANEL.  

At Gotara, I played a pivotal role in creating and launching our flagship product, achieving a speed four times faster than the industry standard. I educate, coach, and mentor hundreds of women and men worldwide. I lead operations and create content to ensure we deliver the very best programs that solve real business problems and deliver business impact while developing leaders. I also leverage my deep statistical background to provide analytics and insights to our customers.  

I completed my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and subsequently earned an MBA from the University of Chicago. I co-authored two industry-standard Lean Six Sigma books (sold on Amazon.com). I am a proud parent of three adult children and a grandmother of two girls. I have a wonderful husband who supports me in everything I do. My go-to hobbies are traveling, cooking, and playing raucous board games. 

Adam Bianco is the Founder & Chief Strategist at Offtrail Marketing, an email and lifecycle marketing agency that helps startups turn new customers into loyal advocates through smarter onboarding, retention, and personalized journeys. With 15+ years of experience driving revenue and engagement, Adam has led customer marketing at fast-growing startups like Givelify, The Beard Club, and Tide Spin, as well as at the national nonprofit Move For Hunger. Along the way, he’s launched campaigns in partnership with iconic brands like Harley-Davidson, Disney, the Chicago Cubs, Kroger, the NFL, and more.

Anne Oudersluys is the founder of Core Impact, a company that helps launch and grow purpose-driven brands. With a background in brand management and sustainability at P&G, Anne has a deep passion for using business to solve the world’s social and environmental challenges.  Anne works with a diverse range of clients—from startups to large corporations—to help brands define what they stand for, attract more customers, and create a positive impact. 

Kerry Taft is the expert entrepreneurs call when their business systems are holding them back. She’s the one founders turn to when they’re ready to stop duct-taping systems together and start running a company that works without them.

With over 20 years in the health sciences as an exercise physiologist and former university professor, Kerry brings both analytical rigor and a deeply human-centered approach to every system she builds.

In 2024, she acquired and integrated a digital agency into her growing portfolio, further solidifying her role as a strategic force in the operations space. Founders seek her out when they’re ready to reclaim their time, streamline their backend, and build businesses that run smoothly—and feel better.

Based in Cincinnati, Kerry speaks five languages and leads a global company helping service-based entrepreneurs scale with clarity, confidence, and ease.