OUR GROWING NETWORK
Our network of global decision-makers manages over $9B in deployable capital and investments, with a focus on conscious capitalism.
PETER BELL
Managing Director
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Peter Bell founded Stowe Capital in 2003 and has a history of successful tech investments, including startups like Accelevents and acquisitions by giants like IBM. He played a key role in a 2013 NYSE IPO, chaired Amity Ventures, and launched SSC Venture Partners in 2016, realizing over $6 billion in investor liquidity. His investments touch areas from AI to Enterprise SaaS. An avid mentor, Peter advises Boston College's Shea Center for Entrepreneurship and holds degrees from Boston College, Harvard, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
ALEX CAPECELATRO
CEO
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Alex Capecelatro is the founder and CEO of Josh.ai, a leader in artificial intelligence for the home. Capecelatro started his career as a research scientist for NASA, the Naval Research Lab, and later Sandia National Laboratory. He then ventured into consumer technology first with electric car company Fisker Automotive, then through founding two social software products At The Pool and Yeti with members in more than 120 countries. Alex's focus is at the intersection of elegant design, cutting-edge software, and purpose driven hardware to offer transformational experiences. Alex received his Materials Science & Engineering degree from UCLA, has won numerous awards including the CEDIA 2017 Young Professional of the Year Award, the 2020 UCLA Rising Professional Achievement Award, and has been featured on multiple occasions as a 40 Under 40. Capecelatro currently serves on the boards of CEDIA, Twenty Summers, and Startup UCLA.
ANDREW MEADOW
General Partner
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Andrew, with 27 years in healthcare innovation, has a diverse background, from therapeutics development and medtech to venture finance and firm establishment. He founded Health Innovation Capital following a successful tenure at Excelyrate Capital Fund I. His investment savvy led to high-return ventures at Essex Woodlands and Michigan Economic Development Corp’s Life Science Venture Fund, with 10 exits and 7 IPOs. At firms like Baxter and startups such as SkinAxis and Conceivex, Inc., he maximized shareholder value and led product commercializations, each earning $85M-$250M within 18 months. He also facilitated three successful company exits. At UBS Warburg, he executed $10 BN worth of biotech and medtech transactions. A renowned speaker, he imparts early-stage capital formation strategies and healthcare innovation knowledge, while working with the NIH and advocacy groups. A Bostonian philanthropist, Andrew focuses on children's welfare, enjoys travel, and pursues his bucket list in his spare time.
JENNIFER SIMON
General Counsel
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Jennifer Simon Lento serves as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Vineyard Offshore, a pioneering company in the offshore wind project development sector. Jennifer provides legal counsel across all sectors of the company’s portfolio including development, contracting, legislative and administrative initiatives, and financing. Jennifer served as the internal project lead and closed the first debt financing deal for a United States offshore wind project as General Counsel for the Vineyard Wind 1 project. Jennifer has been practicing law in the renewable energy and environmental sectors for more than 16 years. She received her Juris Doctorate from New Jersey’s Rutgers School of Law, and her Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College in New York.
NICOLAS ARAUZ
CEO / Chief Creative Officer
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Nicolas Arauz is the CEO of Caswell-Massey, America's original luxury brand, which has been in business for more than 270 years. He has over 20 years of experience in business and creative leadership roles across consumer retail, luxury apparel, footwear, beauty, and fragrance. Before Caswell-Massey, he was an Executive Director at David Yurman for Brand Experience and a founding partner of brand consultancy ABO, where he led brand transformation projects at major brands for over a decade. Nicolas is also active as a non-profit board member and was a co-founder of the global nonprofit 88bikes.
YINGHUANG JI
Head of Structuring
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Yinghuang is the head of structuring of MN8 Energy, formerly known as Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Group. In her role, she combines quantitative analysis and qualitative intelligence to navigate power market dynamics and optimize deal structures of investment in the energy transition space.
She joined Goldman Sachs in July 2019. Prior to that, Yinghuang worked at NRG Energy on renewable energy credits (RECs) trading, as well as power market structuring and fundamentals.
Yinghuang earned her Ph.D. degree in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in Energy and Power System from Tsinghua University.
JAMES TU
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With over 25 years of investment management and advisory experience, Mr. Tu has been a dedicated climate tech investor, advisor, and advocate since 2012. As Founder & Managing Partner of Fusion Park LLC, he invests in and advises climate tech companies on growth and capital market access. He also leads ClimatePlus Capital Advisors LLC, focusing on companies that can potentially reduce 100 million tons of CO2 annually. Mr. Tu advises companies like Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, Vitality 10, and Infinitium, and serves as a climate tech advisor to the Anthropocene Institute and Atlas Capital. Previously, he was Chairman & CEO of Energy Focus Inc., where he led a successful reorganization, NASDAQ listing, and significant sales growth. Mr. Tu holds an MBA in Finance from Baruch College, CUNY, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tsing-Hua University in Taiwan. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), bilingual in Chinese and English, and has received awards including the "EY Entrepreneur of the Year" and recognition as one of the top 100 sustainability leaders in the U.S.
WARRICK MATTHEWS
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Warrick Matthews joined Tokamak Energy in January 2023. He leads the business and is building the commercial partnership strategy to scale Tokamak Energy, a world leader in two transformative technologies – fusion energy and High Temperature Superconductor magnets.
Warrick leads a team of over 250 people with experts from around the world. It combines world-leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities, with the goal of delivering clean, secure and affordable fusion energy in the 2030s.
Prior to Tokamak Energy, Warrick worked at Rolls-Royce for 24 years where he held a variety of customer-facing and operations leadership roles and was most recently Chief Procurement Officer for the Civil Aerospace division.
ASHER JAY
CEO / Founder
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Asher Jay, National Geographic explorer turned entrepreneur, is the founder of Henoscene, a consumer-facing blockchain application that brings accountability and radical transparency to brand Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Jay’s work has contributed to raising consumer awareness and empowering citizen action for well-known brands like AbinBev, Prada, Adidas, Citizen Watches, Loreal, John Deere, and others. Jay advises corporations and multinational companies on their sense of purpose, and the conviction evidenced by their ESG and CSR efforts. Jay is on the Expert Council of OpenESG a DAO with fellow world leaders in the impact sector, associated with the World Economic Forum, on the Advisory boards of Plastic Pollution Coalition and Legado, and on the Boards of Wildlife Direct and One Green Thing.
ANDREAS REIFFEN
CEO / Founder
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Andreas Reiffen is the founder and CEO of Crealytics. He was born and raised in Germany, and lives in New York City since 2016. With the expansion to the US and offices around the globe Crealytics is one of the few successful German Ad Tech exports.
For the past five years, Andreas has been on a mission to democratize the retail media ecosystem with a supply-side platform for sponsored products and display. What initially seemed to fail is now fueling the growth of some of the largest retail media networks in the United States.
LINCOLN BROWN
Social Impact Focused Investor & Chairman and Co-Founder
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Lincoln Brown is a social impact focused entrepreneur and investor. He has started four businesses, of which three succeeded and in aggregate, have generated over $1.5 billion in revenue. These businesses have been in Mobile Gaming, Precision Healthcare, and Early Childhood Development.
He is currently the Chairman and Co-Founder of KidStrong, a fast growing children’s training program that recently opened it’s 100th location.
In addition, he co-founded Grant Ready Kentucky, which is helping to bring hundreds of millions in new grants to the most distressed areas in Kentucky.
He also serves on the board of Rare, an international environmental conservation nonprofit.
Lincoln graduated from the Wharton school with a BSE in Economics and double concentration in Finance and Management.
Lincoln has one child, Wilungula (“Will”), whom he adopted, and is from Africa.
JEAN ARNAUD
Founder
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Jean Arnaud, the founder of Nova Company, is leading the way in responsible AI research. He's pioneering the development of a personalized research tool that offers rapid access to scientifically reliable and verified information from trusted sources.
His journey from an award-winning educator to a published author reflects his unwavering commitment to the proliferation of knowledge and the spearheading of groundbreaking innovations.
His expertise has earned him speaking and mentoring roles at prestigious venues such as SXSW and Harvard, among others, where he has shared his insights and vision for the future of innovation, education, and art.
CHRIS COMBS
Chief Business Officer & Founder
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As Chief Business Officer, Chris is responsible for managing strategic partnerships and corporate relationships across the company.
Chris is a serial entrepreneur who has built multiple companies from concept. He brings a unique perspective on how to build and take products to market, while developing strategic relationships across prospects, customers, and partners.
Chris graduated from Centre College and also studied at the University of London.
WILLIAM POPEO
Strategic Advisor to CSC Global Financial Markets & Chairman of the Board of Delaware Trust Company
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Over Bill’s 34-year career, he’s focused on operating and growing companies. In his most recent
role, he served as President of CSC Global Financial Markets where he combined three
disparate businesses with 45 employees in two US offices and laid the foundation for growth
into a global financial powerhouse. CSCGFM now has over 5000 employees and operates in
over 40 countries. Prior to that, Bill ran CSC’s Corporate & Legal Services Division as VP
Operations while also serving as CSC’s CFO and General Counsel. Outside of CSC, his other
senior executive experience involved commercial real estate development, motor sports and
gaming.
Bill’s start-up company experience spans high-tech, bio-tech and commercial real estate
development. The most notable of these was Raptor Systems Inc., an internet firewall company
in the mid-1990s, where he served on the board and as CFO until VC funding. Raptor
subsequently went public and was bought by Symantec.
Bill currently serves in an advisory capacity to CSC Global Financial Markets and as Chairman
of the Board of Delaware Trust Company.
He is an attorney and a certified public accountant. He received his JD, MBA, and BA-Economics
from Boston College.
CARL PEREZ
Co-Founder & CEO
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Carl completed his undergraduate degree at Babson College and spent nine years developing advanced nuclear systems, eventually becoming CEO of Elysium Industries, a company specializing in molten salt reactors. He co-founded Exodys Energy, focusing on nuclear waste recycling technology, and plays a key role in industry groups, particularly the Nuclear Energy Institute's Recycling Task Force, to develop regulatory guidance for recycling facilities.
Recently, he contributed as an author to a leading textbook on molten salt reactor & thorium fuel cycle, recognized in top university nuclear engineering programs.
LIZ WALD
CEO, COO, Global Operations, Investor and Board Director
B2C E-commerce, Web3/AI and Cannabis companies
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Liz Wald has 25+ years of experience building company operations and mobilizing global teams in emerging, disruptive industries. Whether opening the original Nike Town that changed the face of retail, working in the ‘You’ve got mail!’ days at AOL, building and selling a strategy consulting firm during Internet 1.0, founding an import business working with women in East and West Africa, or being part of early leadership teams and building global operations at Etsy and Indiegogo, Liz has always leveraged innovative technologies and business models to upend existing industries and open new markets. Most recently, Liz has led, advised, and invested in the emerging (and challenging!) cannabis and Web3 industries.
BRANDON L. THORNE
Director of the Office of the Vice President for Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
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Dr. Brandon Thorne is the Director of the Office of the Vice President for Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University, overseeing governance at PPPL. A certified helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, Dr. Thorne has over 20 years of experience in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DoE) sectors. Most recently, he served as Director of Business Development for Merrick & Company's Nuclear Services and Technology business unit. Previously, he was the COO of the Physics Department and Superconducting Magnet Division at Brookhaven National Laboratory, with leadership roles in international projects at CERN and RIKEN. Dr. Thorne holds an executive certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard's Kennedy School and is a Senior Executive Fellow in National and International Security. His education includes programs at Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, Wharton, and Oxford. He earned his doctoral degree in foreign policy, focusing on nuclear non-proliferation policy.
JOHN SCHRIER
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John Schrier is a Director of Business Development with SS&C Technologies, Inc., the largest fund administrator in the world, structuring accounting and technology solutions for hedge, private equity, venture capital, and registered funds. Mr. Schrier leverages his 30+ years of experience in the asset management community. Mr. Schrier's experience includes work in private legal practice (as Partner in Charge of Tax and Co-Head of the Asset Management Group at Gilbert, Segall and Young, which has since merged into Holland & Knight) and Lorence S Schrier, public accounting firms (as Principal at Deloitte and KPMG), and in-house legal practice at Nikko Asset Management Americas (as Chief Counsel).
ANDREW HOLLAND
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With over two decades of experience in science, energy, policy, and politics, Andrew has been at the forefront of discussions surrounding sustainable energy security and addressing climate change.
Since 2021, Andrew has been the founding CEO of the Fusion Industry Association, providing strategic direction and advocating for fusion energy through direct action. Prior to his time at the FIA, he was active in policy discussions about energy security, Arctic policy, climate security, and water resources at high-profile events around the world.
As an expert in energy policy and international strategy, he previously worked for the American Security Project and on Capitol Hill for Senator Chuck Hagel.
Andrew holds a MSc. in International Strategy and Economics from the University of St. Andrews and is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
He lives with his family in Alexandria, VA.
COLLEEN NHEL
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Dr. Colleen Nehl is a program manager in the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, part of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. Her focus is public-private partnerships, and she manages the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program and the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE). Dr. Nehl received her Ph.D. in Physics from Rice University and her BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Prior to joining FES, Dr. Nehl worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, where she provided strategic scientific and technical advice to government clients at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). During her time at Booz Allen, she worked with ARPA-E program directors on the first three ARPA-E fusion programs, the first ARPA-E fission program, and many other energy-related programs.
THOMAS R. BURTON
Member / Chair, Energy & Sustainability
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Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century that he currently chairs.
He deploys integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale the most innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him for creative and strategic legal solutions, and he has completed hundreds of venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs.
He guides the industry’s next generation of leaders through active involvement with start-up organizations and accelerators. The Northeast Clean Energy Council recognized his pioneering role in the Northeast with a Decade of Influence award in 2017.
JASON CHANG
Investor
Bedari Collective (Family Office)
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Jason has a unique combination of financial and operational experience, having worked in M&A investment banking, private equity, and for several successful Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) companies. Jason currently manages investments at a family office with a focus on early-stage catalytic capital in “infratech.” Outside of work, Jason enjoys golfing on the weekends.
JONATHAN CHANTI
President / Chief Growth Officer
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Jonathan Chanti is the President of Talent at Viral Nation and CGO of Viral Nation Group. He plays a pivotal role in overseeing key business units like the talent agency, Creator Studios, and Original Programming. With over ten years of experience in business development, talent management, and influencer marketing, Jonathan previously served as the Executive Director at InfluencerDB and was instrumental in its North American expansion. He also co-launched HYPR Brands, the first Influencer Search Engine, securing partnerships with over 100 Fortune 500 brands. Earlier, he was associated with Platinum Rye Entertainment, pioneering influencer marketing deals as early as 2012. Jonathan is frequently featured in renowned publications such as Forbes, AdWeek, and Bloomberg.
NATHAN CRYDER
Chief Operating Officer
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As the Chief Operating Officer of Edelen Renewables, Nathan leads a dedicated team to execute the company's mission-driven goals.
He's a founding board member of KYSEIA and chairs its Utility-Scale Committee since 2021. In government, Nathan advised Edelen Ventures' founder, Adam Edelen, during his tenure as Kentucky State Auditor.
Academically, he has taught a range of subjects from economics to video editing. Previously, he directed the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation and remains an advisor to the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Holding dual masters from the University of Kentucky and a B.A. from Miami (OH) University, Nathan is a father who loves international travel.
BRENDAN DUKES
Vice President of capital markets
Ardour Capital Investments
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Brendan Dukes is the Vice President of capital markets at Ardour Capital Investments, a firm founded in 2002 with an emphasis on Clean & Renewable technology. Ardour Capital keeps a broad view on other opportunities as well, including media & entertainment and healthcare. Additionally, Mr. Dukes is Vice President at Blue Fuels Horizon, a transitional energy development company with full EPC capabilities and offices in Geneva, New York, and Houston.
SONIA FARBER
Partner
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Sonia Farber is a venture lawyer who specializes in guiding companies in sectors like SaaS, consumer-tech, health-tech, AI, and CPG from inception to exit. With a strong foundation in both daily business legal matters and litigation, her background includes serving as a litigator for a top global practice and as an SDNY clerk.
Sonia is adept in handling board and governance issues, commercial partnerships, and executive compensation matters, and she leverages her litigation prowess to resolve co-founder and governance disputes.
An advocate for women’s and children’s rights, Sonia has a robust pro bono practice and sits on the board of Yamba Malawi, focusing on alleviating childhood poverty. She is a recognized speaker and author on venture law and women in law, and is multilingual in French and Spanish.
Previously, before her tenure at Perkins Coie, she co-founded a boutique law firm dedicated to startups and venture capital.
MICHAEL GINSBERG
President US
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Dr. Michael Ginsberg is President of Tokamak Energy Inc in the US. Tokamak Energy is a leading commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford, UK. It is pursuing the global deployment of commercial fusion through the combined development of spherical tokamaks with high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets.
Michael leads the US business and is building the commercial partnership strategy to scale Tokamak Energy. Tokamak Energy is building upon over a decade of experience and will bring clean fusion power to the grid in the 2030s.
Michael Ginsberg is a renewable energy leader and author with 15+ years of experience developing green hydrogen plants and utility-scale solar + storage and microgrid projects worldwide.
Michael holds a Doctor of Engineering Science from Columbia University where he specialized in the techno-economics and scalability of polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer systems.
JIM GRAY
Secretary of The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
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Jim Gray is the former mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, and currently secretary of the KentuckyTransportation Cabinet.
Gray earned a B.A. from Vanderbilt University, then came back home to Kentucky to help grow his family’s construction business, serving as the company’s CEO and chairman.
Today, Gray Construction is routinely ranked among the top 5 builders in the U.S. within major industry sectors including manufacturing, automotive, food and beverage, and distribution. In 1996, Gray was appointed a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University.
As Lexington’s mayor, Gray drew upon his CEO experience to bring a management approach to government. He righted Lexington’s financial ship through a series of major reforms, including the police and fire pension plan. He revitalized the city’s downtown and guided Lexington to become the largest gigabit city in the nation. Under his leadership, Lexington was named the 4th best run city in the country.
In December 2019, Governor Andy Beshear appointed Gray Transportation Secretary, managing more than 4400 employees across Kentucky, and an annual operating and construction budget of $3.2 billion.
In addition, Governor Beshear assigned Gray to provide leadership in Kentucky’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Project in 2020. In 2021, he was tasked with helping lead the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief and Recovery efforts. And recently he was named Kentucky’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Coordinator.
LORI GLOVER
Managing Director
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Lori Glover leads global partnerships and alliances for MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) – the largest lab at MIT with over 1000 researchers and 60 research groups.
She is responsible for corporate and organizational engagement with the lab through the CSAIL Alliance Program, research initiatives, the Visiting Industry Researcher program, start-ups and technology ecosystem, professional development programs and talent acquisition/recruiting within CSAIL.
She also serves as Executive Director of FinTech@CSAIL, MachineLearningApplications@CSAIL and MIT’s Future of Data, Trust and Policy Initiative.
Lori is also a member of the Board of Directors for the American Society of Engineering Education, College and Industry Partnership Division, the Advisory Board of EBSCO and the Massachusetts Cyber Education and Training Consortium (CETC).
She often speaks on research advances and their impact to industry at conferences and professional associations as well as on the development of successful industry-academic partnerships both nationally and internationally.
She holds a Juris Doctor and has also practiced law as a member of both the bar in both Massachusetts and Florida.
BRIAN GREENSTEIN
Founding Partner
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Brian Greenstein, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Ardour, has over 28 years in financial services, leading capital markets initiatives. Before Ardour, he directed capital markets at Bluestone Capital Partners (1996-2001) and managed institutional sales at Commonwealth Associates (1991-1996), with prior roles at Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch, focusing on asset management services marketing for ITT/Hartford. His career commenced in actuarial science at George Buck Consulting Actuaries in 1981.
DONNA HAZARD
Board Member and General Partner
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Donna is a key member of SeaAhead, joining their Board of Directors in 2019 and staff in 2020. She leads their bluetech angel investor group, the Blue Angels, and contributes to the first fund, SeaAhead Ventures, as well as strategic partnerships. Previously, she was Interim President & CEO of the New England Aquarium, where she led significant institutional changes and exceeded fundraising goals, earning recognition such as a Governor’s Citation, Resolution of Honor from the MA House of Representatives, Official Citation from the MA State Senate, and Certificates of Recognition from US Senators Warren and Markey, US Congresswoman Clark, and Mayor Walsh for her efforts. Donna co-founded and was Vice President of Business Development for biotech diagnostics company Exact Sciences. Her past roles also include senior positions at Genzyme Genetics, Company Assistance Limited, Bain & Company, and BioTechnica International. She holds an AB in Biology from Princeton, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Masters in Sustainability from Harvard Extension.
AMANDA HAVARD
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Amanda Havard transforms ideas into tangible creations. Leading the telehealth-focused mental health practice, Oria, since 2021, she combines her healthcare expertise and personal experiences to emphasize telehealth's potential and community collaboration. She also co-founded Kith + Kin, an app for caregivers, and developed Medicaid data processes.
At Oria, she pioneered an innovation methodology, further employed at the WKU Innovation Campus with her venture, Lunae. Lunae collaborates with Warren County entities, promoting innovation and partnership.
A Dallas native, Havard launched startups during her 17 years in Nashville. A Vanderbilt graduate, Peabody fellow, author, and patent holder, she's now dedicated to enriching Kentucky with her talents.
IVY JACK
Senior Advisor at Diverse Investing Collective & Former Co-CIO at NorthStar Asset Management
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Ivy Jack, senior advisor at the Diverse Investing Collective and former co-CIO of NorthStar Asset Management, Inc., has an extensive background in socially responsible investing and wealth management.
Her Wall Street tenure includes vice presidency at Barclays Capital, with recognition in the Institutional Investor Survey, and early analyst roles at Morgan Stanley. She also gained corporate finance experience at TJX Companies.
Currently, Ivy serves on the finance committee of YW Boston, addressing race and gender issues, and has past governance roles with the Harvard Business School Association of Boston. An avid reader and traveler, Ivy hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
CHIP HORTON
CEO
Tellus Markets
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CHIP Is CEO of Tellus Market, a technology that helps businesses manage and reduce their carbon emissions. Their main product, Tellus Climate Suite, combines tools for tracking emissions, planning decarbonization strategies, and a marketplace for clean energy and carbon credits, all in one platform. Seasoned cofounder of 3 companies, including USBX – FinTech marketplace backed by Carlyle. Early career includes successful run as a venture investor with an active east coast investment group, and as a finance lawyer with large law firms.
THIERRY VAN LANDEGEM
Executive Director Accelerator
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Thierry is the Executive Director of mHUB Accelerator, focusing on sustainability in various industries. Thierry has incubated over 50 businesses and led an open innovation consortium to improve energy efficiency in communication networks. Thierry has experience designing and implementing corporate programs to promote entrepreneurship and led technology strategy in telecom. His interests include mentoring entrepreneurs and transforming businesses.
JASON KRAUS
Partner EQX Fund
Founder & CEO Prepare 4 VC
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Jason Kraus is the partner at EQx Fund and the founder and CEO of Prepare 4 VC, a visionary platform dedicated to empowering startup breakthroughs and guiding founders towards success.
Beyond his role at Prepare 4 VC, Jason is a respected investor, having made impactful investments in over 20 ventures as a partner in EQx Fund and Equity Venture Partners. This reflects his commitment to fostering innovative ideas across various sectors. Jason is also the acclaimed author of "Venture Forward: Lessons from Leaders," a book that distills extensive experiences from a range of entrepreneurs into actionable advice for up-and-coming founders.
PATRICK MCGRATH
Program Director for Climate Tech
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Patrick McGrath is the Program Director for Climate Tech at The Schmidt Family Foundation. Pat has spent his career in R&D for low-carbon energy technologies. Most recently, Pat has served as an advisor to climate tech companies and investment funds across a range of sectors and development stages.
Pat was previously the Deputy Director for Technology at ARPA-E in the U.S. Department of Energy, where he led a diverse staff of technical and commercialization experts to develop and deploy next-generation energy technologies. In his time at ARPA-E, Pat oversaw new program initiatives in long duration energy storage, advanced fission and fusion technologies, flexible carbon capture, advanced grid optimization, renewable generation, and low-GHG agriculture.
Prior to ARPA-E, Pat served as a technical advisor to DARPA on power and energy technologies for defense applications. Pat completed a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and a BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia.
JOHN MYER
Senior Counsel
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Formerly general counsel and corporate secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), John joined Husch Blackwell in 2024 to help businesses at all stages develop large, government-funded energy, science, and engineering projects.
John is passionate about the promise of new technologies to improve our lives, and works closely with commercial fusion, renewables, and utility companies and their investors, to develop and scale new technologies, overcome regulatory challenges, address unique government contracting challenges, and facilitate the commercial use of innovations developed at research universities and national laboratories.
John is a graduate of Oberlin College and the University of Michigan Law School.
MICHAEL NELSON
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With over 25 years of experience in investment banking, legal, management, Michael has held pivotal roles in several early-stage healthcare companies. His diverse career spans from managing a $2 billion proprietary portfolio at Barclays Capital to specializing in healthcare services and information, pharmaceutical technology for private and public offerings, and M&A at CIBC World Markets. Nelson began his career as an attorney at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, focusing on debtor and creditor representation and structured finance counseling. A Cornell University graduate, he also holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law.
ALI PARSA
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Dr. Ali Parsa is a British-Iranian healthcare entrepreneur and engineer. He is the founder and CEO of Babylon, a revolutionary AI and digital health company with a mission to provide accessible and affordable health services to people worldwide.
Dr. Parsa is also the founder of Circle, which became Europe's largest partnership of clinicians, with a successful IPO. Dr. Parsa has received multiple awards and recognition for his entrepreneurial achievements, including The Times 100 people to watch and Health Service Journal's 50 most influential people in UK healthcare.
STEVEN V. POPEO
Vice President Private Wealth Management
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Steven joined Goldman Sachs in 2005 after receiving his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College where he studied Finance. Prior to graduate school, Steven worked in the advertising industry for six years. He served as New England Sales Manager of PC Magazine and Smart Business Magazine for Ziff Davis. He previously taught at two private high schools and served as a Legislative Aide for the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance. Steve received his B.A., cum laude, from Bowdoin College where he played hockey and lacrosse. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Boys and Girls Club of Boston and on the Investment Committee for The Roxbury Latin School (an approximately $200 million endowment). He has been a “heavy hitter” fundraiser and rider in the Pan Mass Challenge supporting “Team Quinn” and the Center for Pediatric Cancer Therapeutics for Dana-Farber for each of the last 4 years. Steven has four children and lives in Needham, MA.
JOSEPH PETEUL
Founder & Managing Partner
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Joseph Peteul is the Founder and Managing Partner at Kendall Gateway Group (KGG), a boutique investment firm that specializes in linking the US, Europe, and Latin America. With deep expertise in international business and finance, he supports global company growth by connecting entrepreneurs and investors across these regions.
Before establishing KGG, Joseph was an investment banker in Paris, focusing on small and mid-cap M&A transactions, and later became Deputy CEO of a French company, leading its North American operations and strategic initiatives.
He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan with a specialization in business analytics and a graduate degree from ESSEC Business School in France, enhancing his skills in data-driven investment decisions and international business. Joseph is committed to aiding entrepreneurs and investors in navigating the complexities of international business to foster growth and opportunity.
BRIAN POTTS
Partner
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Brian is a business attorney, litigator, entrepreneur, and writer with extensive experience advising Fortune 100, 500, and smaller clients. Brian has been involved in billions of dollars’ worth of business transactions, helping clients obtain regulatory approvals to build more than $4 billion dollars’ worth of utility infrastructure. In his free time, Brian helps startups, invented the LegalBoard®, and co-founded Goods Unite Us®. Besides Forbes.com, his articles and opinion pieces have been published in the Wall Street Journal, Politico, Bloomberg. Brian is also a regular guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
MONIKA PROFFITT
Ecosystem Development Manager
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Monika Proffitt leads Ecosystem Development initiatives for one of the world's largest cryptocurrency companies, TRON.
She is also is a nationally-recognized speaker, author and serial entrepreneur, as well as the host of two podcasts, one in partnership with The Street with a reach of over 20M visitors per month, one with Inc. Magazine's Tracy Hazzard. She has spoken at MIT, Princeton, Notre Dame, and other universities throughout the US and Europe on topics ranging from tokenomics, consensus mechanisms, cultural capital, access-driven economic models, regulatory compliance, equity and sustainability in Web3. She serves as a resource for Inc. Magazine, Forbes, Nikkei, Vogue, Venturebeat, Hackernoon, GritDaily, etc.
She is the author of Blockchain 101, a straightforward explanation of how cutting edge technology is moving finance and capital markets into the future. She also teaches Blockchain as an Adjunct Professor at City University of New York (CUNY).
KAREN SCOFIELD SEAL
CEO, Founder
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Karen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oceanium, in addition to her 20+ years of experience in corporate, entrepreneurial, and third sector roles. She has expertise in strategic planning, business and partnership development, brand building, and marketing communications, working with organizations including (RED), Comic Relief, NFL, and USTA. Previously, Karen was the Founder and President of Lucza, an international e-commerce business, where she managed brand strategy, product development, marketing, manufacturing, team building, and partner development. Karen was also a semi-finalist in The Economist Group's Women and the Ocean: Changemakers Challenge.
JIAQI REN
Vice President of Finance
Accutar Biotech
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Jiaqi Ren has over ten years of experience in financial consulting, management, fund raising, and capital markets in the US and China. Currently, she is the VP of Finance at Accutar Biotechnology, a company specializing in AI-driven drug discovery. Before joining Accutar, Jiaqi was an early employee and Director of Finance at a leading AI chip startup, where she successfully led over 10 fundraising transactions, raising more than $500M. She expanded a finance team from zero to over 30 members to support a company that grew from 50 to 1,800+ employees after she joined. Her background includes working at major accounting firms on IPO readiness and complex financial analyses. Jiaqi holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from Zhejiang University, China, and a Master’s in Accounting and Finance from Rochester University, New York. She is also a certified CPA.
JOHN SEAL
Chief Financial Officer
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John has extensive experience in finance, business development, and impact investing. As CFO of Oceanium, he manages fundraising and business development. Prior to this role, he led a private corporate debt investment platform for Aberdeen Standard Investment and co-founded his own business where he invested in private equity buyouts, distressed debt, and start-ups. John also has experience in wide range of investments and a passion for impact-driven businesses.
DEREK SILVERMAN
Co-Founder
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Derek Silverman is the co-founder of Basis Climate, a clean energy tax credit marketplace for projects of all sizes. To date, they have facilitated nearly $200M of tax transfers. Prior to founding Basis Climate, Derek was on the founding team at CrowdTangle, a social media analytics tool acquired by Facebook in 2016. He left Facebook in 2022 to work full-time on climate.
He was fortunate enough to lead product at Rewiring America, the leading electrification non-profit, during the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
SCOTT SHAPIRO
Chief Innovation Officer, Housing Development and Internet Connectivity
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Scott focuses on addressing the housing and high-speed internet shortages, drawing from his public service experience.
He's currently developing Midland Station, a landmark 250-unit apartment in Lexington, and consults in the fiber industry to enhance internet access in underserved cities.
Previously, as Lexington’s Chief Innovation Officer under Mayor Jim Gray, he spearheaded the $80M Gig Project, transforming Lexington into the nation's largest gigabit city.
He also managed a pivotal police and fire pension reform and introduced the "University City" concept.
Before public service, Scott led marketing for a Nasdaq-listed healthcare tech company and founded a NYC marketing firm.
He has a BA from NYU and an MPA from Harvard's Kennedy School.
ANDREW SISPOIDIS
CEO / Board Member
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Andrew is an angel investor, serial entrepreneur, and advisor to startups and large enterprises with game-changing ideas. He has started five companies that have pioneered software, VoIP, pattern recognition, and advertising technology, and he has developed award-winning products that were recognized globally for their innovation.
He speaks publicly on issues of leadership, technology, and innovation, entrepreneurship, cyber security, the impact of technology on culture, and untapped human potential. Andrew’s most recent role is the Co-Founder and CEO of Carbon-Ion Energy, Inc.
P. KEVIN SMITH
Chairman & CEO
IAG Mobility and Electrification Fund, LP
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Kevin is a proven investor/advisor, successful in commercial and public sector ventures with deep technical competence, analytic skill, and the ability to quickly produce results. He has traveled extensively throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa; growing start-up ventures, driving revenue for various Fortune 100 companies, and successfully implementing solutions and strategies for numerous public and private sector entities (Accenture and Computer Sciences Corporation). Having joined the founding team of LTU Technologies, he grew the company’s revenue from a nascent start-up to significant annual sales and profitability, ultimately leading the company to acquisition by JASTEC Co., Ltd. (TYO: 9717).
A graduate of Morehouse College, he has participated in various advanced leadership and training programs at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is regularly cited in business trade journals and consistently shares industry subject matter expertise at various conferences and speaking engagements.
Kevin is a member of the Urban Land Institute and recently completed service as a board director of the City Kids Wilderness Project located in Jackson Hole, WY, and Washington, DC.
WARREN J. WILSON
Founder & Managing Partner
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Warren J. Wilson is CEO and Managing Partner of YARDSTK and INSIGHT COLLAB Roundtables, launching and scaling early-stage technology companies through 5X successful exits. Warren has a rare 360-degree POV from deep corporate, startup, and investment experience. An expert in revenue growth and investor relations, his clients have included multiple high-growth emerging technology companies and corporate enterprises such as Unilever, Omnicom, and Simon and Schuster.
He founded the INSIDE NYC Mediatech summits, gathering C-suite executives from the largest corporate enterprises in Europe and the US, such as eBay, eMarketer, SONY, and 360i. He is also the founder of the fast-growing INSIGHT COLLAB Roundtables community.
Warren's international experience includes studying and working for two years in England and France. Prior to founding YARDSTK and ICRT, he served as a marketing and business development executive at global agency R/GA, producing award-winning projects for brands such as Pepsi, American Express, Chrysler, and United Airlines.
ELIZABETH TAVEL
Managing Director, Institutional Sales
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Elizabeth Tavel is a Managing Director at Alliance Global Partners, which oversees over $4 billion in assets across 5,102 customer accounts, making it one of the larger firms in the nation by assets under management. Tavel is a member of both the Advisory and Institutional Sales teams at A.G.P. Throughout her career, she has held roles at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Deutsche Bank, Credit Agricole, and other sell-side firms, where she specialized as an institutional equity sales professional. Tavel holds Series 7, 63, and 66 licenses and is currently in the process of obtaining her Series 79 Investment Banking license. She is qualified as a securities representative and is approved to operate in several states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Colorado, Massachusetts, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, and New York.
JEFF GITTERMAN
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Jeff Gitterman is a partner at Gitterman Wealth Management and the CEO of Gitterman Asset Management. Widely seen as a thought leader in the climate change and sustainable investing fields, he is the creator of the firm's SMART (Sustainability Metrics Applied to Risk Tolerance) Investing Services, which offer climate-focused investing solutions to both financial professionals and individual investors. Jeff has been featured in Forbes, Barron's, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Advisor, Morningstar Magazine, and on CNN, among many others. He is a co-host of The Impact Show, which films at the NYSE and airs on Fintech.TV, and also speaks frequently about climate-focused investing at conferences throughout the United States. Jeff is the author of "Beyond Success: Redefining the Meaning of Prosperity," and also an associate producer of the feature documentary film "Planetary.
ANANTHA KRISHNAN
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Anantha Krishnan joined General Atomics in October 2020 as Senior Vice President of the Energy Group, which leads in fusion energy research and operates the largest magnetic fusion facility in the U.S., DIII-D.
From 2005 to 2020, he held leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), overseeing 2,500 personnel in engineering, science, and technology. Prior to that, he served as a Program Manager at DARPA, earning the Medal for Exceptional Public Service in 2005.
Anantha also held positions at CFDRO from 1989 to 1999, including VP for Advanced Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 1989.
JOHN WERNER
Managing Director
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John Werner, an MIT Senior Fellow and Managing Director/Partner at Link Ventures, has cultivated a diverse career as a 5x-founder, columnist in AI for Forbes, and VC investing in AI. His past roles include VP at Meta, a Y-Combinator augmented reality startup based in Silicon Valley and Head of Innovation at the MIT Media Lab's Camera Culture Group. he was also the Managing Director of Emerging Worlds SIG, where he led the launch of collaborative innovation centers in Mumbai, Nashik, and Hyderabad.
He founded ARIA, a community focused on augmented reality, and cofounded TEDxMIT and Ideas in Action Inc., which produces TEDxBoston. His work has been recognized by Harvard Business Review and BostonInno. John also co-founded Citizen Schools and serves as an advisor for several innovative companies.
A Loeb Senior Fellow at Harvard's Graduate School of Design and a Hamilton College graduate, John is a passionate photographer and accomplished triathlete, living in Brookline, MA. He was recently ranked among the 50 Tech Power Players by Boston Globe.