LaunchPad Network Blackstone LaunchPad

Entrepreneur Mentors

The LaunchPad can connect you with our Entrepreneur Mentors, many of whom are alumni. They can provide insight into student 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. 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 Mentor can e-mail LaunchPad@syr.edu.

Faculty Entrepreneur Mentors

• 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
• Professor Sean Branagan, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Dr. John Torrens, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, COO of Saluber MD

To connect with a Faculty Entrepreneur Mentor, e-mail LaunchPad@syr.edu.

The LaunchPad is supported by amazing people and organizations who help our student entrepreneurs succeed. "Orange Angels" provide funding that contributes to student impact in the following ways:

• Competition prizes, which provide early-stage funding that enables student ventures to work on customer discovery, prototypes, legal and financial advice, inventory needs and other critical business development support to grow their business.
• Student employee scholarships, which provide funding for students to gain professional, hands-on experience working in the LaunchPad, planning events, promoting services, supporting professional staff and working as peer mentors for other early-stage founders.
• Grants that support individual student ventures, including The Orange Innovation Fund, The Intelligence++ Ventures Fund and the SU Libraries Forever Orange Student Innovation Fund (Student Innovation Fund), which provide direct startup funding for student ventures, helping students overcome financial obstacles they may encounter when developing their ideas.

If you're interested in supporting the LaunchPad, contact launchpad@syr.edu to learn more.

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
• Bakary Darboe, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• 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
• Grace Conturso, School of Information Studies
• Julie Gross, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Kathryn Kelley, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Kevin Nguyen, School of Information Studies and Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Lindy Truitt, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Megan Kane, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Mian Hamid, School of Information Studies
• 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
• Stacey 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

• Alaina Rice, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Alan Malekar, School of Information Studies
• Andrew Kim, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Anthony Thomas, School of Information Studies
• Anya Shah, School of Information Studies
• Ashtha Singh, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Bintou Manneh, School of Information Studies
• Brandon Henry, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Celine Wang, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & School of Information Studies
• Christopher Amato, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Christy Liu, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Di Wang, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Dylan Rode, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & School of Information Studies
• Elliot Salas, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Enrique (Rico) Lopez, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Emma Lueders, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Frank Marin, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Frazia Jan, School of Information Studies
• Jae Bin Lee, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Jaime Mauricio Luna, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Jake Hyman, School of Information Studies
• James Estabrook, School of Information Studies
• Jennie Bull, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Jeremy Shinder, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Jessica Grace McGhee, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• John (Jack) Rose, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Jordan Michael Pierre, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Joseph Han, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Josephine Jenifer Fernando, School of Information Studies
• Joshua Koshy, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Justin Diaz, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Katy Arons, School of Information Studies
• Kevin Nguyen, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and School of Information Studies
• Kishan Rathor, School of Information Studies
• Maram Ahmed, School of Information Studies
• Motolani Oladitan, The College of Arts & Sciences
• Neil Adams, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Nesline D’Silva, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Noah Richard, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Olisa Tasie-Amadi, School of Information Studies
• Phoebe Gullingsrud, Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Prabin Shrestha, School of Information Studies
• Priscilla Cruz, School of Information Studies
• Sean P. Lattimore, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Shaleah Colaire, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Sydney Hess, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Tyler Marma, School of Information Studies
• Vanessa Noi, The College of Arts & Sciences
• Wesley Knights, School of Information Studies
• William Sherfey, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Xheneta Sopjani, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Yogita Adari, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Zach Cohen, School of Information Studies
• Zev Kalechofsky, The College of Arts & Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

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
• Alexandra Cianfarani, School of Information Studies
• 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
• Sai Krishna Bolla G'23, School of Information Studies
• Sam Holland, Martin J. Whitman School of Management & S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Selim Dangoor, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Sydney Grosso, 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
• Catherine Forrest, School of Information Studies
• Damaris Munyua, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• 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 G'24 College of Visual and Performing Arts, '22 School of Information Studies
• Nolan Kagan, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Paul Franco, Arts & Sciences
• Paul Hultgren, Entrepreneur In Residence
• 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 G'22 Martin J. Whitman School of Management, '21 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
• Kaizhao Lin, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications & Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• 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
• 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 G'21, '20 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
• Somtochukwu C. Obiagwu, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• 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

• Annmarie 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