LaunchPad Network Blackstone LaunchPad

Entrepreneurs in Residence

Most of our Entrepreneurs in Residence are alumni. They can provide insight into ventures, bringing both subject matter expertise and functional skills to help develop an idea. They can guide a startup through discovery, market research, value proposition and investment thesis. They typically have experience with new-product development, raising capital, building and managing a team and scaling a company. They graciously volunteer their time to the LaunchPad to help coach startups and make connections. Student startups who would like to meet with an Entrepreneur in Residence can make an appointment by e-mailing LaunchPad@syr.edu.

• AJ Damiano, Founder, PowerSpike and Stage TEN
• Bruno Gonzalez Hauger, Co-founder Ambassadoor Technologies and Illumenar
• Corey Lieblein, Founder and CEO of CP8 Capital
• Jack Adler
• James Carver
• Josh Aviv, Founder and CEO of SparkCharge
• Karla Lellis, Lawyer and Professor specializing in Compliance
• Kelsey Davis, Founder and CEO of CLLCTVE
• Matt Shumer, Co-Founder and CEO of OthersideAI
• Mike Gursha, Chairman and CEO of Rookie Road, Inc.
• Nick Monzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Learn Fresh
• Patrick Prioletti, CTO of Your Perfect Dose
• Phil McKnight, Founder at GhostFruit
• Sai Krishna Bolla
• Sam Hollander, Founder of ShareClub
• Sam Sanders, Chief operating officer at North Star Games
• Shawn Gaetano, Co-Founder and CEO of Solace Vision
• Yvonne Hyland, Corporate Leader and Intrapreneur
• Zach Goldstein, Co-founder Cuse Blockchain

Faculty Entrepreneurs in Residence

• Professor Bruce Kingma, School of Information Studies
• Professor Carl Schramm, School of Information Studies
• Professor Don Carr, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Design
• Professor Doug Yung, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Professor Rebecca Davis Kelly, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Professor Saba Siddiki, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Dr. John Torrens, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, COO of Saluber MD

The LaunchPad is supported by amazing people who help our student entrepreneurs succeed. These "Orange Angels" provide extraordinary support which contributes to student personal and professional growth. We thank our "Orange Angels" for their invaluable contributions to building the LaunchPad community.

Todd B. Rubin, Minister of Evolution and President of The Republic of Tea

Todd B. Rubin '04 (School of Architecture) provides generous personal funding as well as gifts through the Rubin Family Foundation to directly support entrepreneurial students at the LaunchPad. He has directed funding to create the Rubin Family Innovation Mentors program and an Orange Ambassadors program. He has changed the lives of the many students benefiting from these professional development and leadership opportunities.

Todd serves as the Minister of Evolution (President) for The Republic of Tea. Dedicated to preserving a legacy that fosters The Republic of Tea’s “Sip by Sip Rather than Gulp by Gulp” lifestyle, he strives to delight Citizens, Ministers, Embassies and Ambassadors with a focus on innovation, education and providing the finest premium teas and herbs.

He has successfully spearheaded new teas and innovative brand partnerships that led to significant growth. Utilizing his Syracuse University degree in architecture, he recently oversaw the feng shui design of the company’s headquarters at The Exchange in Larkspur, California and the company’s production and shipping center in Nashville, Illinois.

Todd was the recipient of Syracuse’s Generation Orange Award for philanthropy. He is also a member of the SU Libraries Advisory Council. His goal is to encourage other Syracuse University alumni to consider gifts that support students and enhances their “Orange Experience.

Adam & Amy Fazackerley, Founders of Lay-n-Go

The Fazackerley team has been “super-mentors” to many Syracuse LaunchPad companies over the past few years, advising on both product and business development.

Adam and Amy founded Lay-n-Go, which designs and manufactures innovative organizational solutions for life, play and travel. Their products are sold through their online marketplace as well as at leading retailers domestically and internationally. Amy is CEO and has been featured on national TV shows such as MSNBC’s Your Business, Fox and Friends and Good Morning America. She is also a guest host for QVC. Adam ’96 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) is COO and a serial entrepreneur. He founded concept2creations, a firm designing and developing corporate brands, digital assets and printed media, and is also a general partner and co-founder at Fortify.vc.

Amy and Adam both serve on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. They are pioneers in the virtual workspace, having built a virtual global business and managing remote teams that include design, manufacturing and logistics. They are also members of the SU Libraries Advisory Council.

The Fazackerleys have directly supported Syracuse student startups and have employed them as interns and independent contractors. They serve as advisors and subject matter experts for many LaunchPad startups and have generously hosted and sponsored students at professional association and trade shows as well as at high profile national events.

Jeff Rich '67, Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP

Jeffrey Rich ’67, partner at Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP, and a member of the Syracuse University Libraries Advisory Board, provides generous grants to help LaunchPad student ventures move ideas from concept through research and discovery, to proof and commercialization. Innovation Fund grants can be used for prototypes, research, patent applications, incorporation, legal counsel, development of technology platforms and related startup expenses. Jeff graduated from The College of Arts and Sciences and The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and received a J.D. from New York University School of Law. He specializes in commercial law and financial restructuring at the firm Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP. In addition to being active in various legal and charitable organizations, he is an active mentor with the LaunchPad and was recently appointed to represent the Libraries on the University’s National Campaign Council.

The Founders Circle is a group of dedicated LaunchPad alumni who significantly contributed to the development of the program as students. As entrepreneurs and innovation professionals, they continue to be mentors and role models for current students. They exemplify Syracuse University’s spirit of entrepreneurship. Feel free to connect with them through their LinkedIn profiles.

2025 Founders

• Adam Thomson, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Aditee Malviya, G’25 College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Adya Parida, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Aidan R Turner, School of Architecture
• Alie Savane, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Anjaneya Padwal, G’25 School of Information Studies
• Anthony Smith, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Anthony Thomas, School of Information Studies
• Asha Breedlove, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Bryson Carter, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Cesar Sassoon, School of Information Studies
• Dhwani Vora, G’25 School of Information Studies
• Dominique Camp, G’25 David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Donovan Capdeville, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Elizabeth Paulin, The College of Arts & Sciences
• Emily Santiago, School of Information Studies
• Fatim Batrou Cisse, G’25 David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Julie Gross, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Kathryn Kelley, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Lindy Truitt, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Megan Kane, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Nicholas Panetta, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Oliver Raycroft, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Paula Ibelings, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Skylar Takac, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Stacy Collier, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Sydney Moore, G25 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Thomas O'Brien, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Tosin Alabi, G’25 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Tyler Marma, G’25 S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Waqar Hussain, G’25 Martin J. Whitman School of Management

2024 Founders

• Kevin Nguyen, School of Information Studies and Martin J. Whitman School of Management

2023 Founders

• Aidan Mickleburgh, G’23 College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Alesandra (Sasha) Temerte, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Alexander Santangelo, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ben Delmarsh, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Ben Ford, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Carlos Magdeleno, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Claire Howard, G‘23, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Coral Hunter Coad, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ethan Tyo '17 School of Information Studies, G'23 David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Fabio Xie, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Gabriel Ruoff, College of Engineering & Computer Science
• Jack Adler, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Jared Anderson, College of Engineering & Computer Science
• Justin Gluska, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Kelly Davis, Martin J. Whitman School of Management/S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Lexi Cianfarani, School of Information Studies
• Maya Tsimmer, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Nicholas Graham, Martin J. Whitman School of Management & S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Noah Mechnig-Giordano, G’23 College of Engineering & Computer Science
• Olivia Sauta, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Rob Goldblatt, G’23 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Sam Holland, Martin J. Whitman School of Management & S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Selim Dangoor, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Sydney Groso, G'23 David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Zach Stahl, College of Engineering & Computer Science

2022 Founders

• Ben Olender, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Brian Burton, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs & School of Information Studies
• Bruno Gonzalez-Hauger, G’22 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Catherine Forrest, School of Information Studies
• David Williams, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs & School of Information Studies
• Diego Luna, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jack Lyons, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Jack Ramza, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• James LePage, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Josh Alter, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Koi Damaris Munyua, G’22 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Marcus Webb, G’22 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Matt Keenan, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Mike Young, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Natasha Brao College of Visual and Performing Arts & School of Information Studies
• Nolan Kagan, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Paul Franco, Arts & Sciences
• Paul Hultgren, Entrepreneur In Residence
• Sam Hollander, Martin J. Whitman School of Management & S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Simran Lakhani, College of Engineering & Computer Science
• Sophia Sparrgrove, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Travis Ghirdharie, G’22 Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Zach Goldstein, School of Information Studies
• Ze Zeng, Martin J. Whitman School of Management

2021 Founders

• Aanya Singh, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Bruno Andres Gonzalez Hauger, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Cassianne Cavallaro, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Daniel Green, School of Information Studies
• Emma Rothman, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Erica Morrison, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Erica Jules, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ethan Clearfield, G’21 College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Gokul Beeda, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• James Rudman, School of Information Studies
• Jules Moskowitz, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Kyra Thomas, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Madison Worden, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Max Freund, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Patrick Linehan, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Patrick Prioletti, G’21 School of Information Studies
• Raul Guardans, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ricardo Sanchez, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Russell Fearon, G’21 College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ryan Ondocin, G’21 School of Information Studies
• Sam Chazen, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Sam Hollander, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Sardor Askarov, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Shawn Gaetano, School of Information Studies
• Sloane Sexton, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Vaishnavi Subhedar, G’21 College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yasmine Goring, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Zain Elwakil, School of Architecture
• Zero Lin, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

2020 Founders

• Aakash Parekh, G’20 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Adam Johnson, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Alden Morris, G’20 SUNY ESF
• Alec Gillinder, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Amos Cohen, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and School of Information Studies
• Annabelle Lincoln, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Anthony Obas, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Audrey Miller, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Brendan O’Keeffe, School of Information Studies
• Brianna Howard, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Caleb Obiagwu, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Courtney Jiggetts, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Daniel Zimmerman, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Elizabeth Diaz, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• James Carver, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Jane Lee, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Jiaman (Maggie) Peng, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Maxim Glagolev, G’20 Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Michael Paris, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Nick Barba, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Nicole D'Souza, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Nikita Chatterjee, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Nikita Kuckian, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Oladeji Awe, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Peter Mignacca, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Quinn King, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Russell Fearon, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ryan Taggart, School of Information Studies
• Sammy Steiner, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Sharif King, G’20 S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Sophia Jaberi, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Victoria Lawson, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• William DeVito, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Wilson Hunsinger, School of Information Studies

2019 Founders

• Aja Selbach-Broad, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Angelica O'Hara, Engineering & Computer Science
• Attila Melegh, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Bridget McDonough, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Brooke Walden, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Chris Chomicki, School of Information Studies
• Chris Sekerak, School of Information Studies
• Daniel McMurray, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• David Fox, School of Information Studies
• Divya Murthy, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Elizabeth Tarangelo, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Geena Matuson, G’19 S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Jaclyn Hingre, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacob deHahn, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Jose Garcia, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Josh Jackson, G’19 School of Information Studies
• Justina Hnatowicz, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Kaelan Selbach-Broad, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Kayla Simon, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Kelsey Davis, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Kennedy Rose, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Kevin Rieck, University College
• Marcus Cook, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• McKenna Murtha, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Peter Hartsock, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Phil McKnight, School of Information Studies
• Randy Ginsburg, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Ryan Williams, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Samantha Santoni, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Saniya More, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Tay Lotte, University College
• Zeus Rocancourt, Martin J. Whitman School of Management

2018 Founders

• A Wortz, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• AJ Damiano, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Amanda Chou, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Angela Kim, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Brandon Eng, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Brian H.C. Kam, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Brittany Berry, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Charles Keppler, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Chase Guttman, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• David Zuleta, The College of Arts and Sciences
• Diethard Struelens, Janklow Arts Leadership
• Dylan Gans, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Dylan Kim, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Emily Dang, School of Information Studies
• Erin Miller, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Gabriela Escalante Mejia, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Giorgio Parlato, G’18 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Jack Phillips, School of Architecture
• James Ransom, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Jason Kuperberg, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Joshua Aviv, G’18 School of Information Studies
• Joshua Moon, The College of Arts and Sciences
• Julia Haber, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Kate Beckman, G’18 S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Kennedy Patlan, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Lawrence YongZhang Lin, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Logan Bonney, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Losa Amara Meru, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Louis Bookoff, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Luka Negoita, PhD’18 The College of Arts and Sciences
• Matthieu D. Menand, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Nathan Elequin, School of School of Education
• Quentin Rosso, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Ryan Brinkerhoff, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Thuy Nguyen, G’18 Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Will McKnight, The College of Arts and Sciences