Alumni Spotlight is pleased to announce The Top 100 Northwestern Alumni in Technology of 2021. Northwestern University has been creating driven leaders who spark new ideas since 1851. For the past 170 years, this innovative, collaborative, and multidimensional community of alumni has been delivering impactful changes across the world in a wide variety of fields. Today we highlight alumni who have the dedication and determination to change the world with technological advancements. Some of this year’s awardees have founded or are involved in dynamic areas like healthcare, transportation technology, advanced food production, venture capital firms, digital marketplaces, supply chain logistics and many more.
It is no surprise that one of the most prestigious institutions in the world is consistently producing alumni like the Founder of QMedic, Sombit Mishra, who has transformed medical care through in-home and on-the-go alert systems, which run off of cellular and GPS networks. Alumni Matt Barnard, Co-Founder of Plenty, is using technological advancements to provide healthy food that enables a 20x reduction in the length of the food system supply chain. Also Riana Lynn, the Founder of Journey Foods, has used her creativity and expertise to create enterprise software to help companies feed 8 billion people better. These alumni and many others embody Northwestern’s mission of disrupting barriers and creating an environment allowing others to thrive. Please join us in celebrating the achievements of the Top 100 Northwestern Alumni in Technology of 2021.
1. Jon Soberg
MS&AD Ventures
Jon Soberg is the Managing Partner of MS&AD Ventures. He first joined the company in 2018. MS&AD Ventures is an early-stage venture fund looking broadly at technology companies in fintech, insurtech, AI, IoT, big data, and cybersecurity.
Previously, Soberg was a Co-Founder at FlexCap Partners and before that a venture partner at CerraCap Ventures. He also co-founded Early Impact Ventures. Earlier in his career, he worked with Capital Group as an Analyst and the Vice President of Engineering at Adforce. Soberg earned an MBA in Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing from The Wharton School, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College.
2. Ari Ojalvo
REEF Technology
Ari Ojalvo is the Co-Founder and CEO of REEF Technology. REEF transforms static parking facilities into thriving mobility and logistical hubs. Ojalvo has 14 years in the information technology and services industry. He began his career in 2007.
Before founding REEF Technology, Ojalvo was a Director at A.T. Kearney. Ojalvo graduated from Northwestern University with an MS and an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering.
3. William Shu
Deliveroo
William Shu began his professional career 19 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of Deliveroo. Headquartered in London, Deliveroo is a technology-driven company building a definitive food company that allows users to order restaurant meals using the web and mobile.
William Shu first got his start in 2002 as an Associate and Analyst at Morgan Stanley. From there, he went on to D.B. Zwirn & Co, before eventually rising to Vice President at ESO Capital, his most recent position prior to founding Deliveroo. William Shu graduated from the University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree.
4. Max Simkoff
Doma
Max Simkoff is the Founder and CEO of Doma. He first founded the company in 2016. Doma is an insurtech platform that uses machine intelligence to remove friction from residential real estate transactions. They were the first to pioneer the use of machine intelligence to enable instant, digital mortgage closings and are executing on a vision to enable instant digital home ownership experiences.
Previously, Simkoff was a Vice President at Cornerstone OnDemand and before that a Co-Founder and CEO at Evolv. Earlier in his career, he co-founded InvestRx. Simkoff earned an undergraduate degree in History from Northwestern University.
5. Brad Flora
Y Combinator
Brad Flora is the Group Partner of Y Combinator. Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that invests in a wide range of startups twice a year. Since 2005, Y Combinator has invested in nearly 3,000 companies including Airbnb, DoorDash, Stripe, Instacart, Dropbox, and Coinbase. Flora has 13 years in the industry. He began his career in 2008.
Before joining Y Combinator, Flora was a Director of Business Development at Brave Software. He founded a company called Perfect Audience that was acquired by Marin Software in 2014. Earlier in his career, he founded publishing company The Windy Citizen. Flora graduated from Northwestern University with a master of science in Journalism and from Princeton University with an undergraduate degree in English.
6. Jeffrey Liu
Jenfi
Jeffrey Liu began his professional career 13 years ago. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of Jenfi. Jenfi is an alternative revenue-based financing company for digital-native businesses and startups for Southeast Asia.
Liu first got his start in 2008 as an Investment Associate at Victory Park Capital. From there, he went on to BeachMint, before eventually rising to Founder and CEO at GuavaPass, his most recent position prior to founding Jenfi. Liu graduated from The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and Economics.
7. Andrew Mason
Descript
Andrew Mason is the CEO of Descript. He first joined the company in 2017. Descript builds simple and powerful collaborative tools for new media creators. They strive to eliminate the tedious work that often stands between an idea and its expression, so that creators can focus on developing their craft instead of their usage of tools. Descript is a next generation digital media platform that offers a new "engine" that lets users edit audio by editing text.
Previously, Mason was a Co-Founder of Detour.com and before that a Founder and CEO at Groupon. Earlier in his career, he founded The Point. Mason earned an undergraduate degree in Music from Northwestern University.
8. Jordan Fudge
Sinai Ventures
Jordan Fudge is the Managing Partner of Sinai Ventures. Sinai Ventures is a uniquely global and distributed venture capital firm that invests in internet and software founders at all stages.
Fudge previously created and managed a venture capital portfolio for Eagle Advisors which is now managed by Sinai Ventures. Fudge earned an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.
9. Matt Barnard
Plenty
Matt Barnard is the Co-founder and Executive Chairperson of Plenty. Plenty works to bring the world memorable, clean, fresh, healthy food everywhere with their modern farm. Their farm is a technological wonder of plant science, software, machine learning, data science, thermal systems, climate systems, robotics, and nutrient delivery that enables a 20x reduction in the length of the food system supply chain. Barnard has 26 years in the food production industry. He began his career in 1995.
Before founding Plenty, Barnard was a VP of Deployment and Delivery at Itron, and before that a Managing Member, Founder, and CEO at Search Fund Capital. Earlier in his career, he worked with Tetra Tech/Whalen as a President and COO. Barnard graduated from Stanford University with an MS in Management and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Music Performance.
10. Scott Dorsey
High Alpha
Scott Dorsey began his professional career 21 years ago. Today, he is the Managing Partner of High Alpha. High Alpha is comprised of High Alpha Studio and High Alpha Capital. High Alpha Studio conceives, launches and scales next generation enterprise cloud companies by providing a blend of services including product development, sales and marketing, finance, brand and design, and talent development. High Alpha Capital invests in High Alpha Studio companies and other emerging enterprise cloud companies.
Dorsey first got his start in 2000 as a Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO at Salesforce. Dorsey graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA and from Indiana University - Kelley School of Business with an undergraduate degree in Marketing.
11. Dick Kramlich
Green Bay Ventures
Richard Kramlich is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Green Bay Ventures, first founding the company in 2012. Green Bay Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm backed by some of the world's most prominent families. Together they are working to create breakthrough technologies and transform industries.
In addition to his roles with Green Bay Ventures, Kramlich is a General Partner and Co-Founder of New Enterprise Associates. Kramlich earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in History from Northwestern University.
12. John Buttrick
Union Square Ventures
John Buttrick is a Partner of Union Square Ventures, based in New York. He first joined the firm in 2010. Union Square Ventures is a venture capital firm based in New York, New York. The firm prefers to invest in companies operating in the technology, retail, media, transportation, software and commercial services sectors.
Buttrick began his career as a Corporate Lawyer at Davis Polk & Wardwell and was a partner in the firm’s mergers and acquisitions group. He has been a member of the Board of Environmental Advocates of New York since 2004 and currently serves as Board Chair. Buttrick majored in American Studies at Northwestern University and has a JD degree from Villanova University School of Law.
13. Jay Hoag
TCV
Jay Hoag is a Partner at TCV, a leading provider of capital to growth-stage private and public companies in the technology industry. With more than $19 billion of capital raised, TCV has invested over $16 billion in more than 350 technology companies over the last 26 years.
Prior to TCV, Hoag was a Managing Director at Chancellor Capital Management. He is currently on the board of directors of Electronic Arts, Netflix, Peloton, Prodege, TripAdvisor, VICE Media and Zillow. Hoag received a bachelors in Economics and Political Science from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
14. Afif Khoury
SOCi
Afif Khoury began his professional career 19 years ago. Today, he is the CEO of SOCi, a centralized platform for multi-location marketers to reach and engage local customers across local pages. SOCi brings together all the tools to manage the entire customer journey at scale. From search to social, reviews to conversations, ads to chatbots and beyond, SOCi is helping multi-location businesses and digital marketing firms successfully manage digital interactions across thousands of channels.
Khoury first got his start in 2002 as an Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. From there, he went on to Gunderson Dettmer LLP, before eventually founding Seed GC, his most recent position prior to joining SOCi. Khoury graduated from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law with a JD in law and from UC San Diego with an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Physiology.
15. Charles Birnbaum
Bessemer Venture Partners
Charles Birnbaum is a Partner of Bessemer Venture Partners. He first joined the company in 2013. Bessemer Venture Partners helps founders lay enduring foundations to create companies that matter, starting with seed and Series A investments and sticking with their companies at every stage of their growth. They have been part of over 120 IPOs in the last 50 years, including Shopify, Yelp, LinkedIn, Skype, LifeLock, Twilio, SendGrid, DocuSign, Wix, and MindBody.
Previously, Birnbaum was a Director of Business Development at Foursquare and before that a Vice President in Equity Capital Markets at Banc of America Securities. Earlier in his career, he worked with Deutsche Bank as an analyst in corporate finance and enterprise content manager. Birnbaum earned an MBA and MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School and an undergraduate degree in History from Northwestern University.
16. Austin Petersmith
Racket.com
Austin Petersmith is the Founder and CEO of Racket.com. Racket.com is a brand new social audio app where users can share short sound bites similar to mini podcasts. Petersmith has 12 years in the internet industry. He began his career in 2009.
Before founding Racket.com, Petersmith was a Founder and CEO at Capiche and before that a President and General Manager at Inside.com. Earlier in his career, he worked as a reporter. Petersmith graduated from Northwestern University with a master of science in Journalism and from the University of Montana with an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies.
17. John Zhao
Hony Capital
John Zhao is the Founder and CEO of Hony Capital. Hony Capital, founded in 2003 and sponsored by Legend Holdings, is a leading investment management firm. It focuses on the development of China’s real economy with “Value creation, Price Realization” as its investment philosophy. They are currently backing companies focused on technology within sectors such as healthcare and consumer products.
Zhao graduated from Northwestern University with a graduate degree.
18. Eric Acher
monashees
Eric Acher is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of monashees. He first founded the company in 2005. monashees is a Brazilian venture capital firm active globally that invests in entrepreneurs committed to creating innovative technological solutions for a new world.
Previously, Acher was a Director at Monitor Group and before that a Director at Unibanco. Acher earned an MBA in Strategy, Finance, and Marketing from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Advertising from ESPM Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing.
19. Naomi Pilosof Ionita
Menlo Ventures
Naomi Pilosof Ionita is a Partner of Menlo Ventures. Menlo Ventures is a venture capital firm with a focus on early-stage SaaS (Seed/A/B). Their current areas of interest include departmental SaaS, workflow automation, development and data tools, productivity and collaboration, and future of work. Ionita has 15 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. She began her career in 2006.
Before joining Menlo Ventures, Ionita was a Vice President of Growth at Invoice2go and before that a Product Director and Head of Growth at Evernote. Earlier in her career, she worked with Tribune Interactive in New Product Development and Marketing. Ionita graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering.
20. Hiro Tamura
Atomico
Hiro Tamura began his professional career 25 years ago. Today, he is the General Partner of Atomico. Atomico is an international investment firm, focused on helping the world’s most disruptive technology companies scale and become global leaders. Founded in 2006, Atomico has made over 75 investments with a particular focus on Europe including Supercell, Klarna, and The Climate Corporation.
Tamura first got his start in 1996 as an Associate at Lehman Brothers. From there, he went on to IRG Ltd. before eventually founding SP&W Co. Ltd. where he served as the CIO, his most recent position prior to joining Atomico. Tamura graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Economics and International Studies.
21. David Wieland
Motivate Venture Capital
David Wieland is the Founder and Managing Partner of Motivate Venture Capital, first founding the company in 2019. Motivate Ventures invests its investors’ capital into high growth potential startups. Their target first check size is $250k-$1MM and is typically the first professional capital in a business. They invest at the pre-seed and seed stage and are industry agnostic.
Previously, Wieland was a Founder and Director of the Board at InnFlux and before that a Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner at Tantus Networks. Earlier in his career, he owned PowerSurge Technologies and served as the CEO. Wieland earned an MS in Business from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Management from the University of Notre Dame.
22. Jackie Wu
Corvus Robotics
Jackie Wu is the Founder and CEO of Corvus Robotics. Corvus Robotics makes indoor drones for warehouse inventorying. Wu has 4 years in the logistics and supply chain industry. He began his career in 2017.
Wu graduated from Northwestern University with a master’s degree in Robotics and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Mathematical Methods in Social Sciences and Economics.
23. Michael Krakaris
Deliverr
Michael Krakaris began his professional career 5 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder of Deliverr. Deliverr empowers any retailer to offer a Prime-like delivery experience to their customers. They are leveraging cutting-edge machine learning and optimization technology to build a smart fulfillment network, enabling anyone, anywhere to offer fast and cost-effective fulfillment.
Krakaris first got his start in 2016 as a Product Marketing Manager at Symphony Commerce. Krakaris graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Economics.
24. Samara Hernandez
Chingona Ventures
Samara Hernandez is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Chingona Ventures, first starting the company in 2019. Chingona Ventures invests in founders at the earliest stages. While they are industry agnostic, they like to invest in financial technology, future of work, female technology, food technology, education technology, and health and wellness technology.
Previously, Hernandez was a Venture Partner at MATH Venture Partners and before that she worked in Asset Management Sales at Goldman Sachs. Hernandez earned an MBA in Finance, Management in Organizations, and Entrepreneurship from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan.
25. Chelsea Stoner
Battery Ventures
Chelsea Stoner is the General Partner of Battery Ventures. Battery invests in potentially cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including application software, IT infrastructure technologies, consumer-internet, and mobile services, and industrial technologies. Stoner has 25 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. She began her career in 1996.
Before joining Battery Ventures, Stoner was a Senior Associate at Key Principal Partners and before that an Associate at Classified Ventures. Earlier in her career, she worked with Accenture as a Manager. Stoner graduated from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business with an MBA in Finance and Strategy and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering.
26. Saagar Kulkarni
Stripes
Saagar Kulkarni began his professional career 9 years ago. Today, he is a Partner of Stripes. Stripes is a leading growth equity firm that invests in branded consumer and software companies.
Kulkarni first got his start in 2012 as an Associate at Berkshire Partners LLC, before eventually rising to CEO at Earnest Inc., his most recent position prior to joining Stripes. Kulkarni graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Mathematical Methods in Social Sciences and Economics.
27. Peter Barris
New Enterprise Associates
Peter Barris is the Chairman of New Enterprise Associates. He first joined the company in 1992. NEA partners with founders to turn big ideas and bold aspirations into the products, services, and solutions that shape the future.
Barris earned an MBA in Business Administration and Management from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University.
28. Promod Haque
Norwest Venture Partners
Promod Haque is the Senior Managing Partner of Norwest Venture Partners, a global venture capital and growth equity investment firm. The firm targets early to late stage venture and growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors including: technology, information services, business services, financial services, consumer products/services and healthcare. Haque has 52 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. He began his career in 1969.
Before joining Norwest Venture Partners, Haque was a CEO at Dimensional Medicine Inc and before that a Vice President at Omnimedical Systems. Earlier in his career, he worked with Siemens India Ltd as a Sales Engineer. Haque graduated from Northwestern University with an MBA in Marketing and Finance, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, and from Delhi College of Engineering with an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering.
29. Sheila Gujrathi
Janux Therapeutics
Sheila Gujrathi is on the Board of Directors for Janux Therapeutics. She first joined the company in 2021. Janux Therapeutics is an innovative biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation therapeutics based on its proprietary Tumor Activated T Cell Engager platform technology to better treat patients suffering from cancer.
Previously, Gujrathi was a Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Gossamer Bio and before that a Chief Medical Officer at Receptos, Inc. Earlier in her career she worked with Brigham and Women's Hospital as a physician. Gujrathi earned an MD from Northwestern University - The Feinberg School of Medicine and an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University.
30. Sonya Brown
Norwest Venture Partners
Sonya Brown began her professional career 27 years ago. Today, she is the General Partner and Co-Head of Growth Equity of Norwest Venture Partners. Norwest Venture Partners is a global venture capital and growth equity investment firm. The firm targets early to late stage venture and growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors including: technology, information services, business services, financial services, consumer products/services and healthcare.
Brown first got her start in 1994 as an Analyst at Bear Stearns. From there, she went on to Equity Residential, before eventually rising to Principal at Summit Partners, her most recent position prior to joining Norwest Venture Partners. Brown graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree.
31. Lee Styslinger
Altec Industries
Lee Styslinger is the Chairman and CEO of Altec Industries. He first joined the company in 1983. Altec is a leading provider of products and services to the contractor, tree care, electric utility, and telecommunications markets, always providing the most up-to-date technological innovations. They provide products and services in over 100 countries across the world.
Styslinger earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.
32. Rajeev Mantri
Navam Capital
Rajeev Mantri is the Managing Director of Navam Capital. Navam Capital is a venture capital firm focused on making seed and early-stage investments in the energy, technology, and health care sectors. Mantri has 17 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. He began his career in 2004.
Before joining Navam Capital, Mantri was an Associate at Lux Capital and before that a Contributing Editor at Forbes/Wolfe Emerging Tech Report. Earlier in his career, he worked with NU Nanoalliance as a Vice President. Mantri graduated from Columbia University - Columbia Business School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering.
33. Zach Supalla
Particle
Zach Supalla began his professional career 14 years ago. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of Particle. Particle provides hardware and software tools to help users prototype, scale, and manage IoT products.
Supalla first got his start in 2007 as a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company, before eventually rising to Sales Operations at Groupon, his most recent position prior to founding Particle. Supalla graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA in Technology Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship, and MEM in Design and Innovation, and from Dartmouth College with an undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science.
34. Adam B. Struck
Struck Capital
Adam B. Struck is the Founder and Managing Partner of Struck Capital. He first founded the company in 2014. Struck Capital is a next-generation seed-stage venture capital firm based in Los Angeles. They support visionary founders that leverage core technology innovation to tackle the world’s largest problems. They lead seed investments sourced idiosyncratically through their robust network.
Previously, Struck was a Co-Founder and Board Member at Long Island Iced Tea and before that an Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Struck earned a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.
35. Jed Strong
Tiv
Jed Strong is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tiv. Tiv is a payments platform built with the gaming community at the core. Headquartered in Chicago, Tiv is backed by institutional funding from 4490 Ventures and Silverton Partners. Strong has 21 years in the financial services industry. He began his career in 2000.
Before founding Tiv, Strong was a General Manager of Esports at Intersport and before that a Strategic Partnership and Business Developer of Xbox at Wunderman Thompson. Strong graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism.
36. Richard Bronson
70 Million Jobs
Richard Bronson began his professional career 29 years ago. Today, he is the CEO and Founder of 70 Million Jobs. 70 Million Jobs is the first national, for-profit employment platform for people with criminal records.
Bronson first got his start in 1992 as a President at Biltmore Securities, Inc. From there, he went on to Channels Magazine, before eventually rising to Director at Defy Ventures, his most recent position prior to founding 70 Million Jobs. Bronson graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Journalism.
37. Rob Taylor
Convey
Rob Taylor is the Co-Founder and CEO of Convey. He first founded the company in 2014. Convey leverages unique intelligence to transform customer delivery into a competitive advantage for the world’s largest retailers.
Previously, Taylor was a President and General Manager of BlackLocus at The Home Depot. Earlier in his career, he worked with Michelin Tire Corporation as a Senior Industrial Engineer. Taylor earned an MBA in Finance, Marketing, and Organizational Behavior, and MEM in Engineering Management from Northwestern University, and an undergraduate degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
38. Matt Abrams
Graphite Health
Matt Abrams is the Strategic Advisor and Co-Founder of Graphite Health. Graphite Health establishes a trusted digital ecosystem composed of an interoperable data platform and application marketplace. Abrams has 27 years in the hospital and healthcare industry. He began his career in 1994.
Before founding Graphite Health, Abrams was a General Partner at Seven Peaks Ventures and before that a Principal and Mentor at FoundersPad. Earlier in his career, he worked with US Government Agencies as a Data Analyst. Abrams graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering.
39. Agustin Soler
MURAL
Agustin Soler began his professional career 15 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of MURAL. MURAL is the leading provider of digital workspaces for guided visual collaboration. MURAL enables innovation at scale by providing a platform for everything from product strategy and planning to leading immersive workshops using agile and design thinking methodologies. Industry-leading teams at companies including IBM, IDEO, Autodesk, Intuit, GitHub, and Atlassian use MURAL to work together.
Soler first got his start in 2006 as a Business Analyst at Coteminas. From there, he went on to Three Melons, before eventually rising to Product Manager at The Walt Disney Company, his most recent position prior to founding MURAL. Soler graduated from Northwestern University with a master’s degree in Industrial and Product Design and from Universidad Católica Argentina with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.
40. Vlada Bortnik
Marco Polo
Vlada Bortnik is the Co-Founder and CEO of Marco Polo, the popular video communication app that is changing the paradigm for millions of people about how they stay in touch. Marco Polo is designed to help foster closeness between friends and family. She is also the Co-Founder of Joya Communications, the parent company of Marco Polo, combining skills and experience to create a better way to help people stay close, no matter the distance.
Earlier in her career, Bortnik spent 5 years at Microsoft where she helped design and launch the first content publishing platform for Office Online. She also is the Co-Founder of Bortnik Labs, a consulting firm specializing in startup strategy, product management, and design. Bortnik is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Computer Engineering.
41. Nathaniel Harley
MANTL
Nathaniel Harley is the Co-Founder and CEO of MANTL, an enterprise SaaS company helping traditional financial institutions modernize and grow. MANTL is the first customer-centric outer core ecosystem that gives banks and credit unions the flexibility to innovate using modern technology, while owning their brand throughout the entire customer lifecycle. Harley has 9 years in the financial services industry. He began his career in 2012.
Before founding MANTL, Harley was a COO and founding team member at Spoon University and before that an Analyst at Goldman Sachs Investment Banking. Harley graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Mathematical Methods.
42. Brian de Haaff
Aha!
Brian de Haaff began his professional career 27 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aha!, a high-growth SaaS company. The Aha! founders codified their approach to building successful companies and pioneered a new framework for personal and business success called The Responsive Method. It is the engine that powers Aha! and is grounded in the belief that sustainable, lasting success originates in respect for and service to others.
de Haaff first got his start in 1994 as a Marketing Manager at Software co. and consulting firm. From there, he went on to work in Project Management with Concentric Network, RouteScience, and Netli before eventually rising to Vice President and CEO of Network Chemistry. He also co-founded Paglo which was later acquired by Citrix where he went on to become a Vice President, his most recent position founding to founding Aha!. de Haaff graduated from Northwestern University with an MS in Marketing and from U.C. Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
43. Tod Francis
Shasta Ventures
Tod Francis is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Shasta Ventures, first starting the company in 2003. Shasta is an early-stage venture capital firm with over a billion dollars under management. They have a 15-year track record of investing in groundbreaking startups like Anaplan, Zuora, Nest, Nextdoor, SendBird, Tonal, Lattice, Glint, Highspot and hundreds more.
Previously, Francis was a General Partner at Trinity Ventures and before that a Partner at RAM Group Marketing Services. Earlier in his career, he worked with Johnson & Johnson as a Marketing Manager. Francis earned an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Northwestern University.
44. Gary Beasley
Roofstock
Gary is Co-Founder and CEO of Roofstock, an award-winning technology-enabled marketplace for the $4 trillion Single-Family Rental (SFR) sector. Their marketplace and transaction platform is designed to dramatically improve liquidity and lower transaction costs in the $2 trillion single-family rental sector. The marketplace features leased, cash-flowing investment homes that have been certified and can be purchased on-line, with professional management in place.
Previously, Beasley was Co-CEO of Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust and the CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality and a solar technology start-up called Greenvolts. Beasley was also CFO of ZipRealty before eventually rising to President of the company. Beasley also spent six years with KKR-backed KSL Resorts. Earlier in his career, he worked for leading real estate industry firms LaSalle Partners and Security Capital Group. Beasley earned a BA in Economics from Northwestern University and an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
45. James Johnson
Apex Venture Partners
James Johnson is the Founder and Partner of Apex Venture Partners. Apex Venture Partners, established in 1987, has six funds and more than $600 million under management. They are an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in start-ups grounded in unique and protectable technology.
Johnson graduated from Northwestern University with an MBA.
46. Jack Ojalvo
Supplementler
Jack Ojalvo is the CEO of Supplementler. Supplementler.com is a Turkish e-commerce site providing a wide range of dietary supplements. The company's products range from weight gain to performance-enhancing supplements for athletes.
In addition to his roles with Supplementler, Ojalvo is the Co-Founder of Millimetric.ai. He was previously a Manager at Rothschild and an Analyst at Cisco, BRF and Allen & Company. Ojalvo graduated from Stanford University with an MS and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering.
47. Thomas Hoegh
Arts Alliance
Thomas Hoegh began his professional career 25 years ago. Today, he is the Founder of Arts Alliance. Arts Alliance is a venture capital organization supporting a growing network of entrepreneurs. They are also the world’s leading software solutions provider to cinemas. They equip cinemas with the technology that will keep them running.
Hoegh first got his start in 1996 as a Content Manager at Firefly Communications. From there, he went on to LOVEFiLM, before eventually rising to CEO at Garden Studios, his most recent position prior to founding Arts Alliance. Hoegh graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Theatre.
48. Charlie Kemper
Beta Bridge Capital
Charlie Kemper is a Partner of Beta Bridge Capital. He first joined the company in 2015. Beta Bridge Capital is a seed-stage venture capital fund focused on investing in emerging ecosystems.
Previously, Kemper was a Founder and Chairman at New York City Venture Connection and before that a Founding Managing Director at Revel Partners. Earlier in his career, he worked with Avalanche Systems as a Web Architect. Kemper earned an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University.
49. Chris Erickson
Range Ventures
Chris Erickson is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Range Ventures. Range Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm backing the best tech entrepreneurs in the Denver area and beyond. Erickson has 17 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. He began his career in 2004.
Before founding Range Ventures, Erickson was a COO and Co-Founder at Apartment List and before that a Project Leader at The Boston Consulting Group. Erickson graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering.
50. Michael Stark
Crosslink Capital
Michael Stark began his professional career 41 years ago. Today, he is the Founder and General Partner of Crosslink Capital. Crosslink, founded in 1989, is a premier early-stage venture capital firm with over $1.3B in assets. They invest in highly dynamic enterprise and consumer technology sectors
Stark first got his start in 1980 as a Financial Analyst at Intel before eventually rising to Partner at Robertson, Stephens, his most recent position prior to founding Crosslink Capital. Stark graduated from the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Engineering.
51. Steve Olechowski
Blinkfire Analytics
Steve Olechowski is the Founder of Blinkfire Analytics, first starting the company in 2013. Blinkfire Analytics is the leading business intelligence and marketing analytics platform to evaluate sports, media, and entertainment sponsorships across social media, digital, and advanced television.
Olechowski has 25 years in the industry. Earlier in his career, he worked with Accenture as a Manager. He moved on to roles like COO at spyonit and Vice President of Project Management and Engineering at 724 Solutions. He was also previously the COO and Director of Feedburner and the CEO of Red Foundry. Olechowski earned an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Economics from Northwestern University.
52. Annie Tao
Horizon Robotics
Annie Tao is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Operations of Horizon Robotics. Horizon Robotics focuses on artificial intelligence computing for smart mobility. Tao has 13 years in the computer software industry. She began her career in 2008.
Before founding Horizon Robotics, Tao was an Associate Director of Analysis and Planning at Baidu, Inc., and before that a Business Analyst at Google. Earlier in her career, she worked with Performics as a Digital Analyst. Tao graduated from Northwestern University with a master of science in Integrated Marketing Communications and from Nanjing University with an undergraduate degree in Economics.
53. Justin Newton
Netki
Justin Newton began his professional career 27 years ago. Today, he is the CEO of Netki. Netki is the leading provider of tools to foster the adoption of blockchain technology. Netki technology is uniquely adapted to the needs of ICOs and token sales and indeed is the first and only solution built specifically for blockchain companies.
Newton first got his start in 1994 as a Vice President of Technology at Digital Gateway Systems. From there, he went on to Erol's, before eventually rising to CTO at BlackLine Systems, his most recent position prior to joining Netki. Newton graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science.
54. Garry Cooper
Rheaply
Garry Cooper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rheaply. He founded the company in 2015. Rheaply is a B2B SaaS resource management technology to scale reuse and the circular economy within organizations, helping lower procurement and storage costs and reduce waste.
In addition to his duties with Rheaply, Cooper is the General Partner of LongJump. He earned a graduate degree Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Chemistry from Indiana University Bloomington.
55. John Cowgill
Costanoa Ventures
John Cowgill is a Partner of Costanoa Ventures. Costanoa Ventures leads seed and series A investments in companies that change the way business is done. The firm's investments include companies such as Alation, BillGo, Demandbase, Kenna Security, Roadster, and Quizlet. Cowgill has 8 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. He began his career in 2013.
Before joining Costanoa Ventures, Cowgill worked in Business Operations at Techweek. Cowgill graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Learning and Organizational Change.
56. Shaun Passley
Ameritek Ventures
Shaun Passley began his professional career 8 years ago. Today, he is the Chairman and CEO of Ameritek Ventures, a manufacturing company with software abilities to provide innovative commercial products to companies and government agencies.
Passley first got his start in 2013 as a CEO and President at FlexFridge, Inc. Passley graduated from Benedictine University with an MBA, and Ph.D. in Business Administration, from Northwestern University with a masters of science in Law in Intellectual Property, and a master’s in Product Development, and from DePaul University with an undergraduate degree in Finance.
57. Dan Pinto
FingerprintJS
Dan Pinto is the Co-Founder and CEO of FingerprintJS. He founded the company in 2020. FingerprintJS empowers developers to solve online fraud. Their software works in all browsers, including mobile and embedded in apps to identify visitors, perform instantaneous history checks, detect incognito mode reliably and much more.
Previously, Pinto was a Co-Founder and CTO of Machinio.com and before that a Founder of Lead Alpha. Earlier in his career, he co-founded Tubeyak.com. Pinto earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from Northwestern University.
58. Michael B. Hoffman
Riverstone Holdings
Michael Hoffman is a Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings, first joining the company in 2003. Riverstone Holdings LLC is a leading private markets asset management firm dedicated to real assets investing primarily in energy, power and infrastructure. They are a creative organization focused on partnering with top-tier management teams to deliver market-leading returns to our investors.
Before joining Riverstone, Hoffman was Senior Managing Director and Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Business of The Blackstone Group. Prior to joining Blackstone, Hoffman was Managing Director and Co-Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Department at Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co. Hoffman received his bachelors and masters degrees from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School
59. Anis Harb
Deliveroo
Anis Harb is the General Manager of the Middle East for Deliveroo. Deliveroo is an online food delivery service that allows users to order restaurant meals using the web and mobile. Harb has 14 years in the internet industry. He began his career in 2007.
Before joining Deliveroo, Harb was a Category Manager at Amazon and before that a Co-Founder at Buyers Unite Inc. Earlier in his career he worked with J.P. Morgan as an Analyst of Real Estate, Gaming and Lodging Investment Banking. Harb graduated from The Wharton School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Economics.
60. Michael Thompson
MDT Ventures
Michael Thompson is the Founder and General Partner of MDT Ventures. He first founded the company in 2014. MDT Ventures is an early growth-stage venture capital fund focused on helping entrepreneurs grow scalable and durable companies.
Thompson earned an MBA from Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Northwestern University.
61. Matt McCall
Pritzker Group Venture Capital
Matt McCall began his professional career 29 years ago. Today, he is a Partner of Pritzker Group Venture Capital. Pritzker Group Venture Capital is a trusted partner helping entrepreneurs build market-leading technology companies. Unlike private equity and venture capital firms with traditional limited partner structures, Pritzker Group’s permanent capital base brings significant advantages, including alignment with management teams, efficient decision-making and flexible transaction structures.
McCall first got his start in 1992 as a Case Leader at Boston Consulting Group. McCall graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA and from Williams College with an undergraduate degree in Economics, Computer Science, and History.
62. Todd Connor
Bunker Labs
Todd Connor is the Founder of Bunker Labs, first founding the company in 2014. Bunker Labs is a national nonprofit organization with the mission of ensuring that the military-connected community has the network, tools, and opportunities they need to start successful ventures.
Previously, Connor was an Executive Director of military schools at Chicago Public Schools and before that an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton. Earlier in his career, he worked with McMaster-Carr as a Regional Manager. Connor earned an MBA from The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business and an undergraduate degree in American studies from Northwestern University.
63. Jimmy Kim
SparkLabs Global Ventures
Jimmy Kim is the Co-Founder and General Partner of SparkLabs Global Ventures. SparkLabs is a technology startup accelerator founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs in South Korea. Kim has 20 years in the information technology and services industry. He began his career in 2001.
Before founding SparkLabs Global Ventures, Kim was a President and Chief of Global Business at N3N and before that a CEO at Innotive Inc Korea. Earlier in his career, he worked with Nexon Corp. as a CFO. Kim graduated from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with an MS in Engineering and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Engineering.
64. Jim White
Sutter Hill Ventures
Jim White began his professional career 40 years ago. Today, he is the Limited Partner of Sutter Hill Ventures. Sutter Hill Ventures has financed technology-based start-ups and assisted entrepreneurs in building market-leading companies since 1962.
White first got his start in 1981 as a Product Manager at Hewlett Packard. From there, he went on to Silicon Graphics Inc, before eventually rising to VP at Macromedia Inc., his most recent position prior to joining Sutter Hill Ventures. White graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences.
65. Riana Lynn
Journey Foods
Riana Lynn is the Founder of Journey Foods, first starting the company in 2018. Journey Foods solves food science and supply chain inefficiencies with enterprise software to help companies feed 8 billion people better.
Previously, Lynn was a Senior Advisor and Director at Cleveland Avenue and before that, a Founder at FoodTrace Inc. Earlier in her career she co-founded Peeled. She has served as a top consultant and VC to fortune 500 food and CPG companies and is currently an angel investor and former Google Entrepreneur in Residence. Lynn earned a master's degree in Leadership, Business, and Policy from Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
66. Mert Iseri
SwipeSense
Mert Iseri is the CEO of SwipeSense, first joining the company in 2011. SwipeSense, part of SC Johnson Professional, an SC Johnson business, helps hospitals save more lives. They are a technology platform that reduces preventable errors and avoidable costs in healthcare. Iseri began his career in 2009.
In addition to his role with SwipeSense, Iseri is a Board Member with the Academy for Global Citizenship. He also was the Co-Founder and Fellow of Design for America. Iseri graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurial Design.
67. Imam Hoque
Quantexa
Imam Hoque is the COO, CPO and Co-Founder of Quantexa. Quantexa develops network analytics tools for the detection and prevention of financial crime. Hoque has 23 years in the information technology and services industry. He began his career in 1998.
Before founding Quantexa, Hoque was a Managing Director of Fraud and Financial Crime at SAS. Before that he was a Managing Director at Detica and the Head of Technology at Rubus. Hoque graduated from Northwestern University with an MSc in Computer Science and from Brunel University with an undergraduate degree in Engineering.
68. Gary Kremen
CapGain Solutions
Gary Kremen began his professional career 30 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder of CapGain Solutions. CapGain Solutions uses their technologies to help venture capitalists, private equity general partners, and angel investors divest private assets to realize taxable losses that offset other taxable gains.
Kremen first got his start in 1991 with co-founding Full Source Software. From there, he went on to Los Altos Technologies, before eventually co-founding Pace Avenue where he also served as Executive Chairman, his most recent position prior to founding CapGain Solutions. Kremen graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business with an MBA in Entrepreneurship and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
69. Drew Stein
Audigent
Drew Stein is the Co-Founder and CEO of Audigent, first starting the company in 2016. Audigent is a next generation first party data management platform and leading edge data agency. Audigent is transforming how data powers the programmatic campaigns of the largest brands and global media agencies with verified, opt-in data from some of the biggest content publishers, influencers, athletes and artists including Warner Music Group, Condé Nast, American Media, Penske Media Group and many others.
Previously, Stein was a Founder and board member at DashBid. He also served as the Chairman and President of The Harriet & Esteban Vicente Foundation. Prior to founding Audigent, Stein was a Founder and Executive Producer of The Station Media. Stein earned an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.
70. David Beazley
Alumni Ventures Group
David Beazley is the Executive Partner of Alumni Ventures Group. Alumni Ventures Group provides diversified venture portfolios to individual investors who previously haven't had access to venture capital. They offer a Deep Tech Fund which invests in a venture portfolio of 20 to 30 diverse companies tackling the toughest and potentially most lucrative tech challenges. Beazley has 19 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. He began his career in 2002.
Beazley graduated from Northwestern University with a masters and an undergraduate degree in Journalism.
71. Richard J. Stephenson
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Richard J. Stephenson began his professional career 33 years ago. Today, he is the Founder and Chairman of the Board for Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). CTCA has been helping patients win the fight against cancer using advanced technology and a personalized approach.
In addition to his roles with CTCA, Stephenson is the Founder of Gateway for Cancer Research, Sheridan Capital Partners and International Capital & Management Company. Stephenson graduated from Northwestern University with a JD and from Wabash College with an undergraduate degree.
72. Dorothea Koh
Bot MD
Dorothea Koh is the Founder and CEO of Bot MD, first founding the company in 2018. Bot MD is an AI assistant for doctors. The company's mission is to empower doctors around the world. Bot MD can be trained on any type of hospital content to provide instant answers to clinical questions.
Previously, Koh was a General Manager of Singapore, Indonesia & Philippines at Baxter International Inc. and before that a Senior Manager of Business Development and Strategy at Medtronic. Earlier in her career, she worked with Singapore Economic Development Board as a Senior Officer. Koh earned an MS in Bioengineering from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and Economics from Northwestern University.
73. Jason Trost
Smarkets
Jason Trost began his professional career 20 years ago. Today, he is the CEO and Founder of Smarkets. Smarkets used modern technology to build one of the world's largest betting exchanges, also known as a prediction market, with significantly better odds than the competition.
Trost first got his start in 2001 as the Founder of Descipher, before eventually moving on to become an Analyst at UBS, his most recent position prior to founding Smarkets. Trost graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science.
74. Enrique Posner
Taiga.io
Enrique Posner is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Taiga.io, first starting the company in 2014. Taiga is a project management platform for everyone looking for an intuitive, quick and beautiful tool that makes work truly enjoyable. Some of their features include backlog, sprint planning, burn down chart, Kanban board, Epics, issue tracking, wiki, swimlanes and extensive customization options.
Previously, Posner was a Director at Phasor and before that a Co-Founder and CTO of The IOU Project. Earlier in his career, he worked with CineVista, Inc. as a Manager. Posner earned an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from Northwestern University.
75. Jason Booma
Columbia Capital
Jason Booma is a Partner at Columbia Capital. Columbia Capital has been partnering with top executives to help build communications, media, and technology companies. Booma has 21 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. He began his career in 2000.
Before joining Columbia Capital, Booma was a Product Manager at Level 3 Communications. Booma graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering.
76. Brian Sullivan
Troy Capital Partners
Brian Sullivan began his professional career 24 years ago. Today, he is a Partner of Troy Capital Partners. Troy Capital Partners invests in technology businesses across SaaS, consumer internet, digital media, AR/VR, retail, and e-commerce.
In addition to his roles with Troy Capital Partners, Sullivan is the Owner and CEO of Rolling Oaks Enterprises and the Co-Founder and Director at ForwardLine Financial. Sullivan graduated from the University of Southern California with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Communication and Media Studies.
77. Amit Damani
Vista Rooms
Amit Damani began his professional career 11 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder of Vista Rooms. Vista Rooms is South Asia's largest luxury holiday home rental management company offering tech-enabled services and products for tourists and travel players.
Damani first got his start in 2012 as an Associate Consultant at Dalberg Global Development Advisors, his most recent position prior to founding Vista Rooms. Damani graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Economics and International Studies.
78. Shelly Hod Moyal
iAngels
Shelly Hod Moyal is the Founding Partner and Co-CEO of iAngels. She first founded the company in 2013. iAngels offers accredited investors worldwide exclusive access to tech startups and scaleup investment opportunities originated in Israel and curated through a streamlined due diligence process.
Previously, Moyal was an Associate at Goldman Sachs Investment Bank, a Financial Advisor at UBS and a Research Analyst at Avenue Capital. She is also currently the General Partner of iNgenuity Fund. Moyal earned an MBA from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Economics from City University of New York-Hunter College.
79. Shannon Williams
SUSE
Shannon Williams is the Chief Revenue Officer of SUSE. SUSE is a global leader in innovative, reliable, and enterprise-grade open source solutions, relied upon by more than 60% of the Fortune 500 to power their mission-critical workloads. Williams has 22 years in the computer software industry. He began his career in 1999.
Before joining SUSE, Williams was a CEO at Rancher Federal, Inc and before that a Co-Founder, President, and CRO at Rancher Labs. Earlier in his career, he worked with Securant Technologies as a Marketing Manager. Williams graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Political Science.
80. Eric Kirby
Verdome Ventures
Eric Kirby began his professional career 23 years ago. Today, he is the Founder of Verdome Ventures. Verdome Ventures is an investment firm that helps growth and private equity companies.
Kirby first got his start in 1998 as a Vice President of Interactive Services at Brierley & Partners. From there, he went on to Worldprints.com, before eventually rising to Group VP of Oracle Data Cloud at Oracle, his most recent position prior to founding Verdome Ventures. Kirby graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering.
81. David Binet
The Woodbridge Company Limited
David Binet is the President and CEO of The Woodbridge Company Limited. He first joined the company in 2013. The Woodbridge Company Limited is a privately held investment holding company. It has a number of investments, including a 55% stake in Thomson Reuters, listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.
Binet earned a graduate degree from Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree from Queens University of Charlotte.
82. Fiona Darmon
Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP)
Fiona Darmon is the General Partner of Jerusalem Venture Partners. She first joined the Fund in 2009 as Vice President of Investor Relations and Business Development. Jerusalem Venture Partners has raised over $1.5 billion and is ranked by Preqin as one of the top-ten consistently performing venture capital firms worldwide. They currently focus on Israeli technology startups.
Previously, Darmon was a Vice President at CCG and before that a Vice President at Koor Industries Ltd. Earlier in her career she worked with Koor Corporate Venture Capital as a Partner. Darmon earned an MBA from Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in Finance and IT from The College of Management Academic Studies.
83. Kristy Caylor
For Days
Kristy Caylor is the CEO and Co-Founder of For Days. For Days is on a mission to transform commerce into a circular economy by offering insanely great organic clothing in a zero-waste system available to everyone. Caylor has 21 years in the retail industry. She began her career in 2000.
Before founding For Days, Caylor was a Co-Founder at Cerci Collective and before that a President, Creative Director, and Co-Founder at Maiyet. Earlier in her career, she founded Elite Reservations where she also served as CEO. Caylor graduated from the University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business with an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Finance and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and Painting.
84. Justin Moore
Caplight
Justin Moore began his professional career 9 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder and CTO of Caplight. Caplight enables institutional investors to take long and short private company positions via synthetic, cash-settled derivatives.
Moore first got his start in 2012 as a Co-Founder at uHoused, LLC. From there, he went on to ChannelIQ, before eventually rising to Engineering Manager at Forge, his most recent position prior to founding Caplight. Moore graduated from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Economics, Math, and Computer Science.
85. Ming Yang
Horizon Robotics
Ming Yang is the Co-founder and Vice President of Software of Horizon Robotics. Horizon Robotics is a global leader in automotive-grade edge AI computing platforms for intelligent vehicles and was the first Chinese company to commercialize both autonomous driving processors and software. Yang has 13 years in the automotive industry. He began his career in 2008.
Before founding Horizon Robotics, Yang was a Research Scientist at Facebook and before that a Senior Research Staff Member at NEC Laboratories America. Yang graduated from Northwestern University with a Ph.D.
86. Howard Tullman
G2T3V
Howard Tullman is the General Managing Partner of G2T3V. G2T3V is an early stage investment firm committed to financing and developing disruptive technological innovations. Tullman has 50 years in the venture capital industry. He began his career in 1971.
Before joining G2T3V, Tullman was a CEO at 1871 and before that a Director at NameVehcon, Inc. Earlier in his career he worked with Levy and Erens as a Partner. Tullman graduated from Northwestern University School of Law with a JD and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Math.
87. Kevin Comolli
Accel
Kevin Comolli began his professional career 27 years ago. Today, he is the Managing General Partner of Accel. Accel is a leading venture capital firm that invests in technological sectors from the earliest days through all phases of private company growth.
Comolli first got his start in 1994 as an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, before eventually rising to Partner at Doughty Hanson, his most recent position prior to joining Accel. Comolli graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in Engineering.
88. Lara Hood Balazs
Intuit
Lara Hood Balazs is the Executive Vice President, General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer of Intuit. She first joined the company in 2018 as the Chief Marketing Officer. Intuit is a global technology platform that helps customers and communities overcome their most important financial challenges. Serving millions of customers worldwide with TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma and Mint, they believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper, and they work tirelessly to find new, innovative ways to deliver on this belief.
Prior to joining Intuit, Balazs was the Vice President of Worldwide Prime and North American Marketing with Amazon. Before that she was the Senior Vice President and Head of North America Marketing for Visa. Over the years she has spent time at several other well-known companies like Gap, Nike and General Mills. Balazs graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Pre-Law and from Northwestern University with an MBA.
89. Genevieve Thiers
Sittercity
Genevieve Thiers is the Founder of Sittercity.com, a Bright Horizons company serving 10 million users. Sittercity is a technology platform working to reimagine the child care industry by finding, hiring and managing high-quality, trustworthy and enriching child care for parents or caregivers.
In addition to founding Sittercity, Thiers is a Co-Founder and CEO of NewFounders HQ and a Co-Producer and Tech Trainer for RUN the Series. She has invested in over 10 women-in-tech companies, including Brideside, Itsbyu, Zipfit, Founding Moms, MoxieJean, BallotReady, Knowledgehound, Pixavo, Openbooks, and The Graide Network, among others. Thiers graduated from Northwestern University with a masters in Music and from Boston College with a bachelor's degree in English and Music.
90. Jacob Babcock
NuCurrent
Jacob Babcock is CEO and Founder of NuCurrent, Inc., a venture-backed wireless power company based in Chicago. NuCurrent is the world’s leading wireless power technology company, launching more products into mass production than any other wireless power company across auto, consumer, medical and industrial segments.
Babcock first got his start in 2004 as a high school teacher for Teach for America where he also coached football. He later went on to become a Technology Attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP, a 900-person global law firm, before taking the role as Legal Counsel for cleverbridge, Inc., a leading e-commerce provider for digital distribution. Babcock is a named inventor on over 30 patents. He has a JD from Northwestern University School of Law and a BA from Indiana University,
91. Mark DePristo
BigHat Bioscience
Mark DePristo is CEO and Co-Founder of BigHat Biosciences, an early-stage startup reimagining antibody discovery and engineering with synthetic biology and machine learning to create better antibodies faster and undertake novel designs far beyond what's possible today.
DePristo founded and led the Genomics team at Google Brain, was Vice President of Informatics at SynapDx, and co-director of Medical and Population Genetics at the Broad Institute. DePristo has many academic articles that are widely published and have received more than 87,000 citations. He has a BA in Computer Science and Math from Northwestern University, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge as a Marshall Scholar, and was a Damon Runyon Fellow at Harvard University in evolutionary biology.
92. Lee Bailey
US Renewables Group
Lee Bailey is the Managing Director of US Renewables Group (USRG), a private equity firm focused exclusively on investing in renewable power, biofuels and clean technology infrastructure. The firm was founded in 2003 and has mobilized over $750 million of capital commitments to invest in renewable energy projects. Bailey first joined the firm in 2005.
In addition to his roles with USRG, Bailey serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for Fulcrum Bioenergy and for Energy Internet Corporation. Bailey received a law degree from Washington University School of Law, an MS from Northwestern University and a BA from St. Lawrence University.
93. Sombit Mishra
QMedic
Sombit Mishra is Founder and CEO of QMedic, a device-agnostic care management platform to help aging and disabled populations live independently at home. Combining wearable computing, two-way voice and machine learning, QMedic has been recognized as a leader in home health, with nationwide clients including Fortune 500 health partners Anthem, BCBS, Centene, UCare and United Healthcare.
Sombit is also an active angel investor supporting startups across climate tech, health tech and fintech. He graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Economics, from MIT Sloan School of Management with an MBA and from London School of Economics and Political Science with an MSc.
94. David Scalzo
Kirenaga Partners
David Scalzo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Kirenaga Partners. He first founded the company in 2013. Kirenaga Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on building great businesses from cutting edge technologies.
Previously, Scalzo was a COO of Sales and Client Management at Credit Suisse and before that a Head of Investor Relations at Citadel Solutions LLC. Earlier in his career he worked with Precision Plating Company as a Director of Operations. Scalzo earned an MBA from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University.
95. Anju Mathew
OncoLens
Anju Mathew is the CEO and Co-Founder of OncoLens. OncoLens designed a platform that connects the care teams of patients with cancer in order to better coordinate on treatment plans. The system uses its proprietary algorithm to connect clinical radiological and pathological data. Mathew has 22 years in the health, wellness and fitness industry. She began her career in 1999.
Before founding OncoLens, Mathew was a Head of Technology and Innovation at McKesson Medical Surgical and before that a Co-Founder of LumaMed LLC. Earlier in her career she worked with IBM Global Service India Pvt Ltd as a software engineer. Mathew graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA and from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering.
96. Tyler Felous
Wisely
Tyler Felous is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Wisely. He first founded the company in 2012. Wisely is the leading customer intelligence platform for restaurants. They enable restaurants like Chuy’s, First Watch, Global Franchise Group, Lazy Dog, P.F. Chang’s, and thousands of other restaurants to personalize the guest experience to maximize customer lifetime value with their platform. Wisely’s software solutions include the first-ever CDP purpose-built for restaurants, an all-in-one CRM with marketing automation, waitlists, reservations, table and order management and guest sentiment.
Prior to founding Wisely, Felous was a Business Analyst for Strategy Practice for Accenture. He graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Economics.
97. Yoav Schreiber
Glassbox
Yoav Schreiber began his professional career 20 years ago. Today, he is the Co-Founder, COO and Head Business Development of Glassbox. Glassbox develops an analytics platform designed to automatically record, index, and analyze digital interactions.
Schreiber first got his start in 2001 as a Software Team Manager at VManage before eventually rising to Senior R&D Manager at Mercury / HP Software, his most recent position prior to founding Glassbox. Schreiber graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA.
98. Priyanka Murthy
Access79
Priyanka Murthy is the CEO and Co-Founder of Access79. She first founded the company in 2019. Access79 is a styling service platform that helps women discover and shop unique fine jewelry from the comfort and convenience of their home or office, while supporting independent fine jewelry designers.
Previously, Murthy was a Litigator at Private Legal Practice and before that a Judicial Law Clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Earlier in her career she worked with McMaster-Carr as a Sales Operations Manager. Murthy earned a JD from Northwestern University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.
99. Paul Brown
Inspire Brands
Paul Brown is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Brands. Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, Rusty Taco and SONIC Drive-In restaurants worldwide. Using a wide variety of systems segmented by brand, they use best in class technology to help with productivity, scheduling, time keeping and inventory levels.
Brown first got his start in 1994 as a Manager with Boston Consulting Group before moving on to become a Partner of McKinsey & Company. He was previously the President of Expedia North America and the President of Brands and Commercial Services with Hilton Worldwide. His most recent position prior to joining Inspire Brands was as the Chief Executive Officer of Arby’s. Brown graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelors in Business Administration and Management and from Northwestern University with an MBA in Marketing and Finance.
100. Richard Preschern
RoboSig
Richard Preschern is the Founder of RoboSig, where they analyze financial market data and strive to advance the AI of quantitative research to the next level. They have built the leading platform for generating exceptional yield on cash. Their algorithmic, automated cash management solution generates consistent returns with low risk, low volatility, and zero correlation to traditional asset classes.
Prior to founding RoboSig, Preschern was an Options Trader with CME Group and was a Co-Founder and Director of CPH Trading, LLC. He spent nearly 10 years with Lerner Trading as an FX Option Trader. Preschern graduated from Northwestern with a bachelor's degree in Economics.