Oneday

Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Managerial Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), United States.

My research focuses on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) in developing countries. Employing a qualitative approach, I investigate CSR practices of SMEs from a multi-level perspective. I highlight the use of social capital for creating competitive advantage through CSR. My research is interdisciplinary at the interface of strategy and entrepreneurship and contributes to the field by demonstrating the situated and contextual dynamics of CSR in SMEs in emerging markets. By presenting my work at national and international conferences and publishing, I have started to establish a sound academic profile and international networks. My teaching focuses on the process of entrepreneurship from multiple bottom-line perspectives, social enterprises, and social innovation, sustainability and sustainable entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurship, sharing economy, circular economy, and responsible leadership and management.

Dipak Mahato is an accomplished scientist, entrepreneur, and mentor with over 15 years of experience spanning biopharmaceutical R&D, industrial sustainability, and startup leadership. He began his career at Pfizer, where he led research in stem cell biology and endocrinology before transitioning into industrial innovation. As the founder and CEO of SeaChange Technologies, Dipak developed award-winning water treatment technologies recognized by the H&M Foundation Global Change Award and licensed to major energy and mining companies. He currently serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at UNC Charlotte and a mentor at Oneday University, advising early-stage ventures on innovation strategy, commercialization, and global impact. Dipak holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and is deeply committed to advancing ethical, scalable solutions at the intersection of science, policy, and entrepreneurship.

Dr Mils Hills is an Associate Professor of Security at the University of Northampton. He has previously held posts in the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence leading efforts to build national resilience and counter asymmetric threats.

Founder & CEO of Sugar, a venture-backed technology company that helps apartment residents feel more at home. Sugar has raised over $3.5M in VC funding from some of the leading investors in the proptech sector. Prior to Sugar, I worked as a senior product engineer at Procter & Gamble on the upstream innovation team for Olay, Covergirl and Gillette.

Gigi Brett is the founder of Upstream, a 10-week bootcamp helping men optimize their fertility and epigenetic health before fatherhood. With a background spanning law at Oxford, strategy consulting, and venture building, she has co-founded and advised startups from early-stage to growth. Gigi is also a mentor with Oneday, a fellow of Founders of the Future, and a member of Founders Pledge, committed to leveraging entrepreneurship for meaningful impact

Serial Entrepreneur and CEO focused on building industry changing B2B businesses. AI Expert in Residence at Imperial College London.

Recognised as JP Morgan’s Top 200 Female Powered Businesses in the UK, Jyoti is a successful entrepreneur, venture scale-up expert, angel investor and business advisor with the ability to conceptualise and create multi-million-pound businesses (achieving zero to one within the first 12 months in all her businesses). One of the few diverse female founders in the UK to successfully raise significant funding (where <1% of venture funding is awarded to all-female founded teams in the UK, and funding for diverse female founders is even less). Jyoti revolutionised the World Foods grocery sector through transforming access to hard-to-find, authentic groceries and world foods through automation and technology. She developed the UK's first venture-backed sustainability and bio-diversity focused specialist online store delivering fresh, frozen and ambient groceries to over 100K customers across the UK and Europe. Further enhancing the proposition with the globe-trotting D2C recipe box subscription service allowing customers to recreate their favourite meals from their travels abroad. Separately, Jyoti also created an innovative B2B platform serving high-end Michelin star restaurants through unique recipe procurement technology. Winner of several accolades, the highlights of which include being featured in the JPMorgan Top 200 Women-Led Businesses in the UK, Winner of Top Start-up Awards, Winner of Best recipe box on the market (Telegraph, GQ, Evening Standard) and featured/interviewed in the National Press and TV (BBC News, Forbes, This Morning, The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Evening Standard, Metro, GQ).

Julian Espinosa is a serial entrepreneur with a core belief in enhancing healthcare accessibility. His career began in a digital marketing agency, where he spearheaded initiatives that generated $10M in B2B services sales and collaborated with high-profile clients, laying a solid foundation in strategic business development and client relations. Transitioning his focus towards societal impact, Julian dedicated significant efforts to supporting at-promise youth through food bank programs and youth development initiatives, focusing on vocational and career fields.

Julian's commitment to healthcare and community service is further exemplified through his involvement with Health-e-Charity, where he played a pivotal role in conducting medical missions. This work not only underscored his dedication to healthcare accessibility but also enriched his experience in managing complex projects with a significant social impact.

Building on this foundation, Julian ventured into the field of dietetics with a tech company aimed at developing innovative tools for dietitians, furthering his mission to support healthcare professionals. This endeavor paved the way for co-founding Dietitians for a Healthier America (DHA), where he has been instrumental in advocating for dietitians' roles within the healthcare system and emphasizing the critical impact of nutrition on public health.

Julian Espinosa’s journey from a successful digital marketing entrepreneur to a champion of healthcare accessibility and nutrition underscores his versatility, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in people's lives through healthcare innovation.

In our rapidly shifting landscape, the "normal" of work has been redefined. In fact, with the classic definition of "normal" - conforming to a standard, typical, or expected - there is and will be no more normal of work. My stint at Microsoft, surrounded by tech luminaries, served as a potent reminder of the delicate balance between our human need for structure and the ever-blurring lines of innovation and human ambition. From navigating the complexities of tech behemoths to the dynamism of startups, I feel I've been at the epicenter of transformative work experiences.

Today, as the co-founder and resident change management specialist at BillionMinds, I am part of a mission greater than any single role: to help individuals across the globe master the new normal of work. With distributed workplaces becoming commonplace, we find ourselves navigating more unstructured and ambiguous terrains than ever before. This new reality demands a fresh set of skills.

BillionMinds isn't just another platform—it's a culmination of 3 years of intensive research into what makes individuals excel in fluid work environments. Combining the scientific principles of experiential learning and organizational change management, we aim to embed sustainable modern work soft skills, integrating seamlessly into daily workflow, all in just a few minutes each day. Our approach? It isn't about teaching a monolithic "right way," but rather assisting people in uncovering the methods, habits, and routines that resonate with their neurodiversity while aligning with team, company, and family norms.

Every human interaction is a gift, and I'm here to learn with you and from you.

Hi! I have founded two companies with successful exits. I’ve also been an EIR at University of Maryland, a top 10 entrepreneur program, for 10 years. I have advised hundreds of companies founded by students, alumni, and faculty. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with founders and help improve their trajectory and their outcomes.

Supporting diverse early stage founders with developing their ventures. From early idea to launch and beyond, whilst gaining an MBA.

Eric Haywood is a seasoned entrepreneur, startup advisor, and MIT graduate with MBA and MS degrees. As a founder and executive, he has built multiple ventures across industries, including procurement software, agricultural technology, and sustainable consumer products. In 2024, Eric was selected to represent MIT in its prestigious Delta V accelerator, where his startup, Vikri.IO, was recognized as one of MIT’s 23 startups to watch. Through Vikri.IO, he has led efforts to streamline procurement processes, driving an estimated $4 million in annual recurring revenue pipeline within the company’s first year.

Eric’s expertise spans platform strategy, marketplace dynamics, and B2B SaaS development. His master’s thesis, written under the mentorship of MIT Sloan Dean Michael Cusumano, focused on designing labor marketplaces that enhance efficiency and transparency in critical industries such as agriculture. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, he was a Global Product Manager for a Japanese manufacturer, where he played a key role in global market research and international expansion across 12 countries and four continents.

In addition to his work as a founder, Eric is a dedicated mentor and educator. He serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at OneDay’s MBA program, where he advises students on business development, fundraising, and scaling strategies. He has also been a guest lecturer and startup mentor at Northeastern University, providing guidance to early-stage founders on MVP development and venture strategy. Eric is deeply engaged in the startup ecosystem, working from Aethos, an AI-focused innovation hub at the Cambridge Innovation Center, and frequently serving as a judge for hackathons and pitch competitions.

I am a dynamic startup leader known for my ability to take early-stage ventures from zero to significant growth. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Live Chair Health, I led a major pivot from a barber booking app to a healthcare engagement platform, growing the company to ~ $3 million in ACV with an additional $10 million+ in the pipeline. Currently, as the Head of Growth at CLARA, I took the company from pre-revenue, coming out of stealth mode.

I was blessed to win the 2022 Thomas J. Main Ignite Award. The 2022 American Heart Association Stroke Hero Award. Also, I landed on Maryland's Governor Hogan Future 20 Start-Up list in 2022 for Live Chair Health.

Skipper and CEO of Pesky Fish, working alongside an amazing team to feed the world sustainably with seafood. Techstars London Alumni 2018.

A serial entrepreneur who founded 4 startups in healthcare payments, energy, eCommerce, and restaurant tech and exited 3 of them through various acquisitions. Currently, MK is the head of product for an energy AI startup funded by Nokia Ventures, working on commercializing patented research from Bell Labs. He also runs the Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund, a fund and incubator focused on underrepresented founders. He is an Entrepreneur in Residence for the Advanced Technology Development Center, which is a part of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

I’m the founder of Augur, a business design and strategy company where I help social enterprises and climate-focused startups build sustainable, purpose-driven organizations. My journey has been anything but linear—I’ve been a business owner, startup executive, and project leader, navigating career shifts and gaining fresh perspectives along the way. With international experience living and working across different markets, I bring a global lens to strategy, leadership, and growth.

What sets me apart is my ability to make strategy and implementation feel approachable. I cut through the noise to help founders streamline operations, refine business models, and create healthy, scalable cultures. My coaching style is structured yet laid-back, with a focus on real solutions that empower leaders to grow, collaborate effectively, and scale with purpose. I’m here to help early-stage founders turn big ideas into thriving businesses.

As a professional with a passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development, I am dedicated to supporting and advancing these areas. Throughout my career, I have actively contributed to the startup ecosystem and played a pivotal role in driving business growth.

As an Executive in Residence (EIR) at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), I have the opportunity to work closely with startup founders in scaling their businesses. Guiding them through our various programs, including the Founders Business Accelerator and the Innovator Program, I provided strategic coaching and support in areas such as strategy, sales, marketing, leadership, and finance. I also played a crucial role in reviewing new applications and identifying potential candidates for our Incubation and Market Access Program.

In addition, I served as a Venture Scout for The Venture City, actively seeking pre-seed SAS and marketplace startups globally. Identifying and connecting these startups to potential investments, I contributed to the growth and success of early-stage product-centric software companies.

One of my significant accomplishments was co-founding Hub101, a startup center and coworking space in Westlake Village, California. With a mission to encourage businesses to "create, launch, and grow," I helped bring the idea to life and fostered collaborations with government entities, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies. Through regional events, we facilitated interactions between our founders and these entities, promoting knowledge exchange and supporting their entrepreneurial journeys.

Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my contributions to the community and higher education, receiving certificates of recognition from various esteemed institutions. These accolades are a testament to my commitment to making a positive impact in the regions I operate.

With a track record of success in business development, partnership building, and talent nurturing, I am well-positioned to leverage my skills and expertise in supporting the growth of startups and fostering innovation. I thrive on connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations to create meaningful and lasting impact in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Ranked as one of the UK's Top 20 Most Influential Female Founders, Stephanie is the Co-Founder of BOMBA, and former CEO of the award-winning marketing agency, Bloom, which she founded before the age of 30. Prior to Bloom, Stephanie led marketing efforts for Meitu, a Top 10 Global App Developer. Today, Stephanie leverages her extensive experience to help ambitious founders scale their technology businesses, offering a unique perspective on the world of early-stage, high-growth startups.

Technology entrepreneur with a background in Finance. Founding team of Uber India. Worn multiple hats in various startups. Particularly specialise in Launching markets / products in technology businesses. Have extensive experience in building out strategy and operations teams globally. Love investing in equities / startups / crypto.

Co-Founder & CEO @ Jobtest.org.

As a serial tech entrepreneur and inventor of 5 patents, I am passionate about creating innovative solutions that make a positive impact on the world. I co-founded and lead Jobtest.org, a platform that empowers individuals to find fulfillment and success in their professional lives, by providing them with personalized assessments, insights, and coaching. We achieved a profitable product-market-fit in less than 2 weeks and are now profitable.

Previously, I founded and scaled Resonado Labs, an avant-garde audio technology licensing company. With its patented FCS Technology, we managed to disrupt an intensely saturated and standardized industry. Under my leadership, Resonado attracted over $7M in venture capital from esteemed investors. The company also secured multiple global collaborations, notably with distinguished brands like Klipsch and Notre Dame Athletics, collaborated with the US Department of Defense, and generated multi-million dollars in revenue. Beyond my patents in audio transducer designs, I've been a pillar of support as an advisor and mentor to early-stage startup founders.

I have strong skills in lean startup, product innovation, and venture capital, and I am always eager to learn new things. I am looking for mission-aligned team players who share my vision and values, and who are ready to join me in building the future of work.

Akriti Puri is a seasoned entrepreneur and academic assessor with a proven track record of success built over fifteen years. As the Founder of Slateshare, she has empowered countless students to gain admission to top-tier universities worldwide, including Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, and more. Prior to founding Slateshare, Akriti successfully launched Urbiana, a sustainable fashion brand based in Brick Lane, East London. Her entrepreneurial journey involved building a strong brand identity, managing supply chains, and scaling businesses through online and offline channels. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovation, Akriti has consistently demonstrated her ability to identify opportunities and drive growth. Her Oxford-Bayes education, and strong leadership skills, coupled with a deep understanding of the academic and business sectors, make her a valuable asset to any organization.

Passionate CEO, Entrepreneur, and Investor dedicated to fostering innovation and driving business growth. Committed to crafting extraordinary ventures! Currently serving as an advisor for the development of Jordan's innovation strategy, I focus on empowering research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Actively involved in building a resilient ecosystem that seamlessly aligns the private sector, universities, and the government in Jordan. I also contribute to the startup ecosystem as an angel investor and board member for several startups in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, I mentor and teach startups in the USA and UK through an innovative MBA program called OneDay. Beyond my professional pursuits, I share my expertise through entrepreneurship education. My journey into the world of technology was sparked by a profound fascination for its transformative potential across various industries. From exploring realms like gaming, 3D printing, and health-tech to the current focus on AI, I specialize in propelling product innovation, ensuring exceptional customer service, and maintaining operational flexibility. Distinguished accomplishments include successfully raising $50M from high-profile investors in the USA and Asia, active participation in major tech accelerators, securing licensing deals with renowned gaming companies, negotiating strategic partnerships, and the successful exit of my company into Integral Reality Labs.

Mary Lemmer is a creative impact-driven entrepreneur, She is the founder of Improve, and designs and delivers engaging keynotes, offsites, trainings, and conference sessions. Mary has helped startups she’s advised raise over $50 million and played a key role in several startup teams that have collectively raised over $3 billion, gone public and been acquired (one by Facebook, another by Lawgix). She was a Director of a philanthropic fund that deployed over $500,000 across 28 nonprofits, and has been part of venture investing teams investing in dozens of startups.

Jai Fletcher is an award-winning entrepreneur, CPG GTM strategist, and CEO of PawGone Good, a woman-owned, minority-owned, and EDGE-certified company transforming pet wellness through innovative, natural, and holistic products, including the industry-first Pawlicious Organic Potato Chips for dogs. With over seven years of experience in consumer packaged goods, tech analytics, and retail strategy, Jai has mastered the 5 Ps—pricing, promotion, placement, product availability, and personal selling—to drive measurable growth across grocery, hospitality, and convenience store channels. She is recognized for designing disruptive packaging solutions that capture consumer attention, enhance brand differentiation, and optimize product placement. Jai also leverages data-driven insights, leading cross-functional teams to build dashboards and analytics tools that enhance decision-making, support GTM strategies, and strengthen partnerships with major retailers like Walmart and Amazon. As a visionary leader and educator, Jai has expanded youth entrepreneurship pipelines through the PawPreneur Pioneer Program, preparing the next generation for business and workforce readiness, and has consulted with the Watson Institute x Walmart to design retail readiness curricula for CPG and agricultural startups. She serves as a mentor for Oneday and WeBuild Tulsa, guiding minority women and emerging founders in launching and scaling their ventures. Recognized for winning six pitch competitions in 2024, including SuperZoo, Jai combines servant leadership with strategic vision to empower high-performing teams, drive innovation, and make a lasting impact in the pet CPG and tech industries.

Advisor, GTM Sales Strategy, Strategic Planning, Real-estate Investor.

Remote Team Building, Growth, Diversity Equity Inclusion, and Belonging, Avid Cyclist ride on 👍🏻and Adventure Enthusiast, Rv'er. I see team building, professional growth, and individual PEOPLE as the most important investments companies can make. People need to feel fulfilled, be challenged, and be appreciated to truly outperform and thrive.

I'm a first-generation college graduate, and an entrepreneur who's passionate and invested in growth. As a critical thinker, innovator, and a creative problem solver I look to data to drive decisions. I shape and execute growth strategies and operations for start-ups and emerging market sectors.

I believe in fulfilling dreams and "Body in Motion" which means that once you stop moving, learning, experiencing, growing, you slow down until you stop. I work and invest with people who are equally unique, and that share the same passions for life, adventure, and hard work.

Co-founded Shepherd, a VC-backed SaaS startup that helps companies set & run more productive meetings. An active angel investor and board member in 6+ tech startups. With experience in Fintech, Finance and Tech startups, Jamie is passionate about taking products from ideation, through to PMF and then scale.

I am currently spearheading the growth of GreenlightGO, an enterprise space marketplace for content creators. At GreenlightGO, we empower professional creatives to bring their visions to life with curated facilities and services, enabling production anywhere, anytime.

In addition, I am mentoring early-stage startup founders through Oneday, sharing insights to help them navigate the startup landscape as they earn an MBA.

In my past role as a co-founder, I led a team in creating and scaling an alternative funding platform, which was later acquired in a deal valued at $15MM. Subsequently, I served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Citi Ventures incubating new business ideas.

Daniil Shcherbakov is an experienced venture builder with more than 12 years in launching and scaling technology startups worldwide. Holding an MBA from the Cambridge Judge Business School, his notable achievements include successfully distributing over 50,000 VR headsets at Fibrum via major retail channels such as Best Buy and Amazon, and expanding Radario, an event analytics platform, into the US and UK through a key partnership with Eventbrite. Daniil also co-founded Libi & Daughters, a luxury direct-to-consumer skincare brand, and currently serves as the head of TonTon Games, a Web3 gaming venture.

Across his entrepreneurial journey, Daniil has secured over £3.5 million in funding.

Committed to fostering entrepreneurial success, he actively mentors startup founders through global programs including Barclays Eagle Labs, LSE Generate, OneDay and Accelerate Cambridge, helping them streamline their path to product-market fit.

Steph Hamill is a seasoned entrepreneur, consultant, and mentor with nearly two decades of experience in the digital, tech, consumer, and media industries. She is the co-founder of Divergence Supplements, a wellness company that offers supplements for a whole new, underserved category - neurodivergent individuals. She is also a senior entrepreneur-in-residence at Oneday, an EdTech accelerator that supports aspiring entrepreneurs to launch their dream businesses with expert mentorship and accreditation, and she has personally mentored over 200 start up and scale up founders. She maintains her role as advisor for Mettle, co-founded by Neil Smith and Bear Grylls, following on from being first investor and first team member.

Steph has a passion for innovation, marketing, and social impact. She has helped numerous brands and businesses, from start-ups to FTSE 100 companies, to create and deliver high-impact products, services, and campaigns that solve business challenges and generate positive outcomes. She is a recognised leader and advocate for neurodiversity and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in consumer neuroscience, neuromarketing, and AI. She is also an active angel investor and advisor for several start-ups and organisations in the fields of mental health, education, and sustainability. Steph is a dynamic and engaging keynote speaker and regularly shares her insights and learnings at events and publications.

As a consultant, mentor and MBA faculty for Oneday, I specialise in providing brand, marketing, experience, and creative expertise to creatively-minded start-up and scale-up founders. My goal is to transform their insights and concepts into business realities by offering tailored services and innovative solutions that unlock growth potential. I have also angel invested in five businesses/founders I have had the pleasure of working with through Oneday.

Key Contributions:

• Consultancy and business advisory services for start-ups and scale-upsBrand, marketing, experience, and creative specialism;

• One of the platform's top-performing mentors;

• Mentor on the newly launched Global MBA programme;

• Collaborative approach with an emphasis on open communication;

• Supporting the Product Team and CPO in enhancing member retention;

• Improving experience, engagement, and personalised communication for clients;

• Providing hands-on feedback and sharing best practises with other mentors;

• Regular communication with CPO Richard on mentorship initiatives.

As part of a dynamic team, I have contributed to the development of the brand's visual and tonal style and creative alignment with brand uplift. My involvement has spanned various aspects of the marketing and comms process, from ideating new concepts to supporting member acquisition and retention.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing creative assets in line with the brand's new visual and tonal style;

• Brand partnership offering and presentation Generating new concepts and scripts Supporting new member acquisition through integrated campaigns, ambassadors and brand partnerships;

• Leading the PR agency pitch and award process for third party for external launches, business press, and media queries;

• Negotiating and optimising third-party PR agency deal on behalf of COO and CEO;

• Thriving in a fast-paced, scale-up environment with a hands-on approach.

Mike started his career as an M&A banker at Citigroup in London in 2006. He secured the role despite no background in finance and has been coaching others in identifying and landing their dream jobs in the industry ever since. Mike moved to the buy side as an active angel and early stage VC investor in 2011 before launching a venture studio in 2014. He is a fund LP, 2x VC-backed founder and was also an early participant in Antler VC’s startup accelerator. He now runs Underdog Accelerator, supporting hundreds of founders to launch world changing startups.

Mike's career in ~5-year sprints:

(i) investment banking (M&A at Citigroup);

(ii) startup investing (hands-on angel, Associate / Principal @ #1seed VC, venture fund & accelerator LP);

(iii) venture building (ran an incubator, Antler alumnus, 2x VC-backed founder);

(iv) accelerating early-stage founders + leading teams in launching innovative initiatives at Underdog Accelerator.

I specialise in the earliest stage of venture building. I have helped launch or turn around scores of businesses over the last 15 years. These range from solopreneur-run lifestyle businesses to VC-backed tech startups. Timing is everything. My aim is to come in and shake things up in 90 days or less - whether that's helping you start a new business or turning round your existing venture. I provide a mix of no-nonsense strategic advice and functional, operational insights. This can include designing and implementing any required changes to your team dynamics.

EIR / Founder Mentoring.

In 2023 I launched Underdog Ventures to support solo founders launch startups from scratch. More info: UnderdogAccelerator.comI also spent twelve months helping 100+ early stage founders as an EIR at Oneday.io

Guest Lecturing.

Separately, I am a visiting lecturer at leading business schools across the UK and Europe under the iLovetobe brand, with a focus on careers in finance, VC and entrepreneurship. I was also one of the first members of the faculty for Oneday's MBA programme.

Iasha is a dynamic operator with experience in executive leadership and consulting. Areas of expertise include startups, fundraising, pitch deck creation, strategy and innovation, PR and operations.

Iasha currently works as an Innovation Analyst at VentureFuel helping corporations fuel their innovation and become commercial ready faster. She also works as a Startup Mentor, helping founders around the world launch or grow their startup in different industries.

Iasha has a unique experience of working with non-profit and for-profit companies, as well as experience living abroad for several years. With a background in human rights, she is able to bring together both hard and soft skills to help solve some of the most challenging problems that startups face while bringing new and diverse perspectives.

Past Co-founder of SOLO Secure and Go-SOLO Go-SOLO: A personal health and safety app that helps keep users safe 24/7, anywhere around the world, while allowing users to own and control their data.

SOLO Secure: Personalized health and safety tools

Darius Grandberry is a dynamic entrepreneur, finance professional, and mentor with over 20 years of experience in accounting, private equity, and venture-backed startups. His career spans high-level finance roles, technology innovation, and deep involvement in fostering entrepreneurial success. With an MBA from Northwestern Kellogg, a CPA designation, and a background in private equity, fintech, and venture capital, Darius has evaluated over 1,000 deals and helped businesses secure critical funding to scale and sustain growth.

Darius’s journey began in finance and accounting, where he worked as an auditor before spending a decade in private equity. As Principal & CFO at Muller & Monroe Asset Management, he played a key role in growing the firm’s assets under management from $100M to $1B, overseeing fund administration, financial strategy, and investment due diligence. This experience gave him firsthand insight into what investors look for in scalable businesses, a skill that would later define his work with startups.

His transition into entrepreneurship came with the founding of Leagueswype, a Techstars-backed fintech startup that reimagines the fantasy sports experience. Raising capital through VC funding and equity crowdfunding, Darius navigated the challenges of building and scaling a tech company firsthand, giving him unique insight into the realities of being a founder.

Beyond his own ventures, Darius is passionate about mentorship and education. As Managing Director at Gold Leaf Capital Partners, he helps underrepresented founders secure funding from both traditional and non-traditional sources, ensuring they have access to the capital needed to build sustainable businesses. Additionally, as a faculty member and advisor at the Joseph Business School, he has trained thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them develop business acumen and secure funding through scholarship programs. His work with Grand Financial Services, a consulting firm specializing in small business and nonprofit financial management, further underscores his commitment to economic empowerment.

Darius’s approach to mentorship is rooted in his personal journey of resilience and adaptability. From overcoming setbacks early in his career to building and leading successful companies, he understands the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. His ability to blend financial expertise with real-world startup experience makes him a trusted advisor to early-stage founders navigating growth, fundraising, and strategic execution. Whether through direct mentorship, investing, or thought leadership, Darius remains dedicated to helping the next generation of entrepreneurs thrive.

John is the Co-Founder and Head of Product at TransActioner, a platform that helps real estate agents manage their transactions. John previously co-founded FairClaims, where $4MM+ was raised in venture capital and tens of thousands of legal disputes were resolved. John also founded a social app, GoFindFriends, that was VC-backed and was accepted into the 500 Startups accelerator program. John’s expertise is in lean startup development, product strategy, and finding product-market fit.

Ari is the Co-Founder & CEO at Blossm, a marketplace for plant enthusiasts to buy, sell, trade, and build community around a shared love of plants. Previously, he was COO & VP Product at LaborVoices, building a "Glassdoor" for apparel workers to rate their factories. He was also a Co-Founder & COO at NextDrop, a social enterprise providing real-time water availability alerts for residents in South Asia and a smart-grid for utility engineers.

Founder / investor / advisor in multiple high growth tech startups. Speaking about innovation, climate tech and building products.

Co-founder at Memrise. Language learning app with 65M+ users.

Co-founder and CEO at Angry Teenagers, using Web3 technology to plant forests.

I am currently the Managing Partner of The Holistic Design Group, a strategic health and wellness growth consultancy I founded. We guide pre-seed to Series A consumer startups through launch, build, and capital strategy. Previously, I founded and ran Made by Yoke, a CPG wellness and beauty brand sold in 25,000 retail doors, hotels, and airports globally for nine years. Before entrepreneurship, I led digital product development teams at HBO, Sony, and The Gap.

I am serial entrepreneur with 10+ years of experience in working, building & scaling companies from 0 to $5M in revenue, leveraging a deep understanding of SaaS, e-commerce, and venture ecosystems to drive early-stage growth. My career has been defined by the ability to identify market opportunities, build high-performing teams, and execute go-to-market strategies that deliver results. I built my first startup which was a design agency when I was 19 and led it through an acquisition. I also worked for Mozilla scaling their open source initiatives through offline and online events as the Regional Marketing Ambassador. After that I joined HackerEarth as the 15th employee where I gained firsthand experience in scaling a tech startup from the ground up, by scaling user acquisition through community initiatives. This foundation led me to co-found RepHike, a SaaS platform for ambassador and influencer marketing, where I spearheaded growth initiatives, optimized acquisition channels, and built scalable revenue models which were key to crossing critical early-stage revenue milestones. I led the company through a cash acquisition in 2019. Beyond my own ventures, I actively mentor and advise early-stage founders, helping them navigate the challenges of product-market fit, GTM execution, and operational scaling. I bring a hands-on approach, offering practical insights that move startups from ideation to sustainable traction. My experience in telecommunications, SaaS, food & beverage & consumer brands gives me a well-rounded perspective on how to turn early traction into predictable growth. I thrive in environments where speed, strategy, and execution intersect, helping founders make the right decisions to accelerate their journey from startup to scalable business.

I am the Co-Founder & CMO of Flamme – The Couples App, where I drive global marketing and content strategy to create a truly engaging experience for couples worldwide. Over the past two years, we’ve grown to over 100K users and 10 million cumulative views across various platforms, with a vision to reach couples all over the world within the next five years.

Before Flamme, I led an international team at TikTok HQ (ByteDance), managed community and startup initiatives, honed my operations skills at Daimler AG, and kickstarted my journey as an Entrepreneur-In-Learning at Era India Tours. Across these roles, I’ve developed a passion for community-building, innovation, and technology. Now, I’m excited to keep pushing boundaries at Flamme, transforming it into an all-in-one, AI-powered marketplace for couples everywhere.

A serial entrepreneur, I have extensive business experience including starting three companies of my own and working alongside 150 of Europe's most successful tech entrepreneurs.

As a solo founder I developed my primary business, Ode + Rae, from $0 to selling globally to more than 50 countries and surpassing $1,000,000 in revenue. I personally raised £250,000 in angel investment for Ode + Rae while maintaining a commitment to sustainability, focusing on eco-friendly practices and ethical production.

As an Operations Director, I was solely responsible for managing the deal flow and operations for one of Europe's largest angel investment syndicates, investing in two companies weekly at pre-seed and seed levels.

My dual expertise in brand development and investment management equips me with unique strategic insights, which I utilise to guide and support other new founders beginning their entrepreneurial journey.

Helen Murphy is CEO and co-founder of Opply, a B2B tech marketplace revolutionizing procurement for Food & Beverage SMEs through automation. She has raised $10M in funding for Opply and has been awarded female tech founder of the year and startup of the year at the National startup awards. She brings a diverse background from leading sales and operations at Procter & Gamble, (specialising in e-commerce), to consulting for a variety of industries (FMCG, private equity, tech, finance and construction) at Bain & Company, running product at Fintech Moneybox, and starting and selling her own consumer goods brand.

I'm Gus Bartholomew, the Co-Founder of Leafr, a vetted marketplace of top-tier freelance sustainability specialists.

At Leafr, we connect businesses with the talent they need to deliver their most pressing sustainability initiatives, be that overarching sustainability strategies, Life Cycle Assessments, B Corp certification guidance, Sustainability Software Procurement, or Emissions Calculations. The list is endless, but we have specialists for most companies' needs. Our mission is to empower companies with the talent, knowledge and resources needed to make impactful sustainability decisions.

My foundational entrepreneurial experience comes from SupplyCompass, a B2B SaaS platform I co-founded solving product development and supply chain management for fashion and retail businesses and their supply chains. We raised £2.5m in Venture Capital funding (Episode 1, Ascension & Angels) and grew the team to 30 across the UK and India. This venture was not just about streamlining operations but also about instilling sustainable practices within the industry. I lived and worked in India full-time for 2 years and on and off for 5, visiting over 300 factories which was one of the most fulfilling and enlightening experiences of my career.

After SupplyCompass I honed my skills as a Fractional Exec/Consultant/Advisor to companies in the UK, US, Europe & Asia where I guided B2B & B2C startups and scale-ups in refining their Go-To-Market strategies. My focus was on building optimised processes and teams across Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success.

With a background in Civil Engineering and being a Chartered Surveyor in Project Management, my career has been a blend of technical expertise and creative problem-solving. My industry experience spans across diverse sectors, including Supply Chain, Fashion, E-commerce, Retail, Sustainability, and more, embracing technologies like AI and SalesTech.

Consultant, Mentor, and MBA teacher at Oneday, Having guided more than 150 startups at Oneday using lean startup methodologies, I'm poised to assist entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into a profitable, revenue-generating businesses.

Juan Linares is an entrepreneur with 16 years of experience in the field. With a strong passion for entrepreneurship and education, he has built a career marked by strategic thinking, leadership, and project management.

As the CEO and Founder of Tutolk (Formerly Volangua), Juan has successfully raised £1M in funding. Under his leadership, he has recruited, built, and developed a multidisciplinary team, effectively organizing marketing functions and operations to achieve exceptional outcomes and offer more than 10,000 language courses.Juan is also the Founder of Alman Studio, a boutique agency based in London and Barcelona, specializing in forging distinctive brand stories for startups.

His passion for innovation and enriched insights into entrepreneurship is palpable through his creation of "The Lean Launchpad" podcast. A space where AI-driven dialogues and in-depth analysis of real business cases converge to provide listeners with forward-thinking, globally aware perspectives rooted in lean startups. In addition to his roles at Tutolk, Alman Studio and The Lean Launchpad Juan serves as Senior Entrepreneur in Residence at Oneday, where he leverages his vast experience to guide and support more than 150 startups. Using lean startup methodologies, he develops and executes strategies that align with organizational goals, ensuring efficient scaling and achievement of initial sales milestones. Through personalized advice and group sessions, Juan empowers founders to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and achieve success.

Juan's expertise is further acknowledged through his mentoring roles at renowned accelerators like MassChallenge, Supercharger Ventures, and Techstars, nurturing and developing budding startups.

Throughout his career, Juan has held leadership marketing positions in established educational organizations in the UK and beyond his professional endeavours, Juan is actively involved in mentoring programs and serves on the boards of various tech organizations, demonstrating his commitment to driving innovation and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs.

Juan holds two Bachelor's degrees, one in Business Administration and another in Advertising, Marketing, and PR. He further pursued his education and obtained an MBA, enhancing his knowledge and skills in business management. Additionally, Juan completed a Global Executive Program on Negotiation and Leadership from Harvard Law School, further honing his negotiation and leadership abilities.

As a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in brand marketing leadership, I have a proven track record of creating impactful and measurable results through innovative products, projects, and experiences. My passion lies in crafting exceptional experiences that inspire and add value for customers, employees, and fans.

Through my extensive experience in brand marketing leadership, I have developed a deep understanding of how to create effective and data-driven multi-channel campaigns, from B2B to B2C. I have led teams and worked with renowned brands like the NFL, Amazon, HGTV, DreamWorks Animation, CapitalOne, M&Ms, Cartoon Network, among others to imagine innovative and immersive experiences.

In addition to my professional experience, I am also an experienced advisor and mentor for startups, helping new entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of building and growing their businesses. I am deeply passionate about personal development, mental health, and creating employee experiences that enable people to thrive.

Highlights of my career include:

• Launching an award-winning non-profit youth theater company at the age of 18 which has empowered thousands of students over the past 20 years;

• Co-founding and leading the development of HubSpot Academy, which has educated and certified hundreds of thousands of business professionals;

• Conceptualizing and leading the initial years of HubSpot's annual INBOUND event, which now welcomes over 100k attendees and includes high-profile speakers such as President Obama and Oprah;

• Being privileged to serve as head of marketing, brand, and creative strategy for industry leading companies and teams as well as co-founding a start-up aimed at making mental-emotional fitness exciting and accessible for all.

As a creative and strategic leader, I am dedicated to fostering a positive and productive work environment. My leadership style is results-driven and focused on the wellbeing of my team. I am excited to connect and share my experience with like-minded professionals.

Yashar Faranjani, a visionary entrepreneur and CEO of Smiletronix Inc., has pioneered advancements in AI digital health, successfully transitioning a concept to launch. As its CEO, he's adept at driving product innovation and strategic growth, leveraging his MBA from IESE Business School. Yashar possesses a distinct blend of expertise in healthcare, AI, and business strategy, marking him as a dynamic leader dedicated to impactful entrepreneurship.

CPO at Oneday - where we are democratising entrepreneurship - building the world's most practical university.

Our mission is to create an alternative to university for the 50% of society who dream of something more than a corporate career. At Oneday we provide aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced business mentors, a rich community of same-stage founders and all the inspiration they need to turn their idea into a business.

Fortune 500 marketer turned agile entrepreneur with 18 years of management, branding, and product development experience across multiple consumer product categories. Founded, scaled and funded two companies, closing multiple funding rounds. Developed and harnessed IP to differentiate, protect and sell businesses. Seasoned communicator, influencer, and people developer with distinctive ability to lead strategically while delivering tactically.

As an entrepreneur, for the past 20 years I’ve launched, managed, and grown my own companies. As an advisor, I’ve helped start-ups launch businesses, and global corporations launch new products and marketing campaigns. My combination of empathy, expertise and imagination enable me to quickly become a valuable part of any team and help businesses make the quality decisions they need to succeed.

I am an entrepreneurial leader and senior executive with 2 exits and decades of global experience with startups, funds and Fortune 500 companies. I have led high performing teams to move from the idea phase to commercialisation, both as independent ventures and within a corporate context and always by leveraging authentic relationships.

My multidisciplinary work has allowed me to build broad technical and commercial knowledge and a wide-ranging network. I am passionate about creating meaningful connections across sectors, organisational boundaries and between people and ultimately, working on products and services that are impactful.

Currently, I advise founders and firms on how to scale their ventures and meet their growth objectives. Most of my coaching is done via Oneday. I do also take on a very limited number of clients privately. Please reach out to learn more.

I have mostly pivoted away from angel investing and currently focused on acquiring sustainable digital products and real estate development.

Specialties: Venture architecture, Early stage development & investment, Strategic partnerships, Product and market development, Team building, Ecosystem cultivation, Corporate innovation, Strategy & system thinking, Program and framework design, Strategic operations, Understanding emerging technologies.

Turning ideas into high growth companies.

Our mission is to create an alternative to university for the 50% of society who dream of something more than a corporate career.

At Oneday we provide aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced business mentors, a rich community of same-stage founders and all the inspiration they need to turn their idea into a business... all whilst earning a fully accredited MBA in Entrepreneurship.

Bilal is the Founder & CEO of Rewind Bar, a retail medical spa launching in early 2024 that's aimed at making luxury laser and skincare treatments affordable and transparent for everyday people. Prior to Rewind Bar, he was the Global Head of Marketing at CEX.IO, a crypto exchange with 5M+ users as well as the Fractional CMO of various Seed, Series A, Series B companies across Consumer, Media, Fintech, B2B/B2C SaaS, Education technology, and more. Bilal also founded two companies which both have been acquired; Master the Crypto, a media company aimed at simplifying crypto investing to the masses, and My Life Is Desi, a South Asian content platform to share curated stories, inspiration, and more (over 4MM+ users/month). He has raised millions of dollars in capital, spent close to $70MM+ on paid ads across his career, and have directly managed teams as small as 3 to as large as 70+.

Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Managerial Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), United States.

My research focuses on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) in developing countries. Employing a qualitative approach, I investigate CSR practices of SMEs from a multi-level perspective. I highlight the use of social capital for creating competitive advantage through CSR. My research is interdisciplinary at the interface of strategy and entrepreneurship and contributes to the field by demonstrating the situated and contextual dynamics of CSR in SMEs in emerging markets. By presenting my work at national and international conferences and publishing, I have started to establish a sound academic profile and international networks. My teaching focuses on the process of entrepreneurship from multiple bottom-line perspectives, social enterprises, and social innovation, sustainability and sustainable entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurship, sharing economy, circular economy, and responsible leadership and management.

Building companies that have a positive impact on our planet, helping others do the same.

Highly driven, successful entrepreneur, executive, CEO, mentor and speaker in tech, innovation, sustainability and the circular economy.

A creative at heart, love's building businesses from scratch that solve the world’s biggest challenges whilst enabling and inspiring others to do the same.

I took myself from bankruptcy to millionaire by bootstrapping six companies, including two that exceeded $1M in annual revenue. With 30 years of sales and marketing experience focused on B2B, I have led teams of up to 50 people in hybrid and remote settings, winning multiple awards for company culture and women-owned businesses.

I’m a published author of three books, including a New York Times bestseller with HarperCollins, and an experienced speaker who has presented in six countries for organizations like Cisco, Vistage, TEDx and NATO. I developed one of the first textbooks on social media marketing and created a trademarked system for content creation.

Passionate about coaching entrepreneurs, I leverage decades of real-world success, failure and lessons to help founders grow and lead inclusive, thriving businesses.

Visionary tech leader & serial entrepreneur with 16+ years in AI, cloud, big data. 2X founder with $M dollar exits. Mentored 50+ founders at Alchemist Accelerator & WomenInTech. Co-founder/CTO at SignAI & CEO at Brainex AI

Mentor. Learning Enthusiast. I help L&D teams build impactful mentoring programmes at scale. Exited bootstrapped founder (2011); Start-Up Commercial Specialist. Mental Health Advocate.

Experienced Growth and Marketing leader with 15 years experience across a variety of sectors. Lately, I've been working with high-growth startups to build and develop their commercial plans.

I've founded 2 businesses, one with a successful exit and one...well, COVID happened, right? I'm passionate about helping people develop entrepreneurial talent and do this through my work with founders as a coach, mentor and lecturer.

I have a vested interest in the F&B sector and love working with founders who are building something in this space.

Joanna is the founder of Little Riot and the creator of 'Pillow Talk,' a globally recognised product sold in over 70 countries and adopted in children's hospitals worldwide. With 14 years in the business, she has successfully raised multiple rounds of VC investment across several ventures. Her achievements include a patented product that showcases her innovation and dedication to enhancing human connections, firmly establishing her as a product leader with a significant global footprint.

3x Founder. Built a consumer app in India which reached millions of users and six figures in ARR. Sold it. Built a B2B company that failed. Built a med-tech company in the smoking cessation space that raised $2M and won a NIH Phase 1 Grant.

With over 14 years of go-to-market and customer-facing experience at industry giants like Maersk and AkzoNobel, I’ve taken a bold leap into entrepreneurship as the founder of Rekindle Club—a companionship app designed specifically for previously married individuals. My mission? To create a global brand that resonates with divorced subcontinental citizens, celebrating the rich tapestry of brown culture.

Currently incubated by Antler, we’ve already attracted 20,000 users through bootstrapping and are monetizing already. When I’m not busy building connections, you can find me helping startups scale, pivot or just brainstorm

Resourceful, commercially focused finance professional, and registered Chartered Accountant and member of the IR Society with experience in the Financial Services industry across South Africa, New York and London with proven consistent record of delivery across Finance, Investor Relations and Strategy.

Hello, I'm a passionate, highly driven entrepreneurial leader, public speaker and ambassador.

I'm currently operating as a consultant, to both scaling businesses and corporates looking to engage the SME space in better ways. In addition, I’ve always got one eye on finding the next FT project I can become obsessed with. If you’d like to chat about anything of this nature, do reach out.

What really energises, me is driving strategic growth in businesses with a clear value proposition and a desire to use business as positive influence on the world.

My deep experience is in F&B, with the last 4.5 year focussed on the incredible progress in plant based products. I believe in multi-channel models, and have extensive experience across retail, foodservice, D2C and delivery.

And, having founded and run an advertising agency pre founding F&B businesses, I've a particular understanding of the power of brand.

Kait Brown is a Ross MBA, an ex-Bain consultant and the founder of Savorista, a craft decaf cpg company. She has led due diligence for the Social Venture Fund, an-impact oriented venture fund, was the Head of Strategy at a VC-backed growth stage EdTech company and has consulted for and advised start ups at a variety of stages.

My mission is to deliver outstanding and exciting learning products to empower a diverse group of future leaders at the start or midpoint of their career.

I am inspired by a meaningful life of learning and I believe in the tremendous potential of the post-pandemic revolution in the way we learn and work.

Founder, Mentor, Angel Investor. I love startups 🚀Most recent venture was CAPSLOCK (EdTech/Cyber). We raised £1m @ seed and scaled from idea to £3m+ in ~2 years, really enjoyed that journey taking a personal exit Q2 2023. Currently working with founders, accelerators, VCs, PE, & others in the startup ecosystem.

A marketing professional with 15 years of experience specialising in brand strategy through digital transformation. Experience across multiple industry sectors brings an integrated perspective to growing global brands at a local level.

Mentor and MBA teacher at Oneday, assisting entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into a profitable, revenue-generating business, while receiving an MBA.

Founder-operator with technology, early-stage growth, and investment banking experience; two venture-backed exits and sector knowledge across SaaS, travel & hospitality, consumer goods, and healthcare / medical devices.

** Named one of Business Insider's "changemakers shaping the future of the travel industry" (2020) ** Nominated for LA Times CFO Leadership Award (2022)

Co-founder of a fintech focusing on channelling capital to cleantech companies in emerging markets. His previous start-up, a solar industrial refrigeration company has been operating for 12 years and he led the company past the series-B fundraise in 2020 during the covid lockdown. Timothy has 20 years of experience in finance, impact investment, clean technology and emerging markets, He is a qualified business coach and a specialist in creative, collaborative solution-building and a builder and leader teams focusing on disruptive innovation.

Dr Mils Hills is an Associate Professor of Security at the University of Northampton. He has previously held posts in the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence leading efforts to build national resilience and counter asymmetric threats.

Kojo Botsio is an education consultant, researcher and venture development professional with experience in program management, funding, partnerships, and business development across PR Consulting, Strategy Consulting, and Venture Development organisations. Kojo has over 10 years of experience in US and UK university admissions, working with 150+ students and families from 12 countries. He runs a university admissions, careers and enterprise consultancy, Access Careers and Education (ACE) Global, specialised in mentoring students and guiding them into top global higher education destinations including Oxbridge, The Russell Group, Ivy League, and top Canadian universities. Kojo also works as an independent education consultant, providing academic assessment services for Oneday’s online Entrepreneurship and MBA programs.

Highly experienced CEO, entrepreneur, and leader. I led Wefarm from idea stage to become the world’s largest farming network with over 3.5 million users by 2022. Growing and leading the company from 1 person to over 120 employees, raising over $35m in venture capital and building a world-class, diverse company culture and team.

I have spent my entire career building successful businesses and organizations from early stage to significant growth and revenue, and all with mission, people and data at the heart of it.

I’m a technically capable entrepreneur that is deeply proficient in using AI. I’ve architected and built software systems as well as built companies from scratch. I raised $3.4m for Tallyfy from investors in Silicon Valley and St. Louis and also raised $90k in grant funding.

Heather Sandford graduated from Cornell in 1997 with a BS from the Ag & Bio Engineering Technology. She co-founded The Piggery Farm and Butcher Shop in 2004 and is the owner of Empire Food Consultants.

The Piggery was a whole animal butcher shop specializing in handcrafting value-added products like nitrate-free deli meats, sausages, bone broths, charcuterie, and more from pasture-raised pigs and turkeys. In 2014, Heather lead a 7 figure raise and oversaw the build-out and management of a USDA-inspected processing facility and launched a successful CPG pastured meats line that was currently distributed from Maine to Florida and as far West as Minnesota. Her business was lauded as an industry disrupter and was featured in Forbes, Bon Apetit, The Wall Street Journal and more.

As the owner of Empire Food Consultants, she actively lectures at universities, helps great clients launch new CPG lines, and consults e-commerce grocery operations.

She is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at Cornell University where she coaches small to mid size founders, leads the a product commercialization class and regularly leads workshops and facilitates panel across the Cornell University Entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Additionally, Heather is a business coach for the Grow NY business pitch competition and a Sr. Manager at Instacart.

Kerstin founded and scaled a business called Nix & Kix from idea to multi million revenue with product available in 1,000s of outlets in the UK and abroad. Amongst her responsibilities was running Finance and Marketing, including fundraising and shareholder and debt provider communications, financial modelling, forecasting and preparation of accounts, board meeting preparation and management and company returns. In her time in the business she raised over £4mm in funding from angel investors and syndicates and secured a programme of loans (without personal guarantees) and a generous invoice financing facility, all at the pre profitability stage.

Currently she is self-employed helping other business founders make important business decisions by analysing their financial set up and history and providing financial forecast models amongst other strategic support.

Gabrielle is a trailblazer in the spirits industry as the youngest woman to create, launch and build a Tequila RTD brand that is nationally distributed and award-winning. She led the company’s expansion into high-growth markets and is responsible for maintaining all supply chain logistics and distribution partnerships. She single-handedly founded the company, driving its growth in revenues, brand development, achieving national recognition and led it through an acquisition.

Rooney is a category creator in the cutthroat spirits industry and a passionate entrepreneur with a talent for building. From her time bartending, she noticed the billion dollar Tequila industry had ignored women. Because of this, she set out to create exactly what was missing in the industry: the world’s first USDA certified organic, 100% de Agave Tequila Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Cocktails made for The Modern Woman. Since inventing Damn Right Cocktails at the age of 24, she has secured distribution for her company in ten markets and over three hundred doors across the United States leading to a 150% average monthly growth in just 18 months.

It is Rooney’s mission to pave the way for other underrepresented groups in the beverage world by encouraging them to disrupt the market with innovative products and ideas like her own. She has taken her own path to execute her purpose of challenging the status quo in an archaic industry. Her tenacity and fearlessness caught attention, ultimately leading to Damn Right's acquisition by All Things Agave through an acquihire.

Today, Rooney serves as CRO and Co-founder of All Things Agave where she is responsible for supply chain management and go-to-market strategies for five unique brands across two countries. She has a knack for building something out of nothing and is consistently referred to as “the glue” across an organization. Her problem-solving skills, resourcefulness and relentless attitude are what has yielded her success in the beverage industry.

Gabriel Leavell is an accomplished multi-industry entrepreneur with a focus on hospitality, technology, and real estate. From fashion to property management, Gabriel has always prioritized intention and community. His recent project, Daze House, marks the beginning of a boutique hotel brand he aims to grow internationally.

Gabriel attended the University of Washington, where he earned an undergraduate degree in marketing. Following his studies, he joined a telecommunications giant, working in sales and marketing while simultaneously running a clothing brand and exploring entrepreneurship. This experience provided him with invaluable knowledge and skills that he leveraged to co-found a successful clothing brand, selling at tradeshows, events, and online.

Gabriel later relocated from Seattle to New York City, gaining high-level skills across various industries, including retail, film, and technology. His passion for art, creativity, and business led to the creation of a company with a partner, focusing on high-quality Airbnb properties across the country. They quickly excelled in acquiring, designing, and managing vacation rentals.

Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, Gabriel embarked on a journey to develop a boutique hotel chain in Africa. He successfully opened the first Daze House in Johannesburg, South Africa, becoming the first African American to develop a boutique hotel in the region. Gabriel's achievements extend to managing over 75 vacation rental properties and raising $5 million for a real estate project in private equity.

In addition to his hospitality ventures, Gabriel has made significant strides in the tech industry. He has raised $1 million in venture capital for a proptech and AI startup and has successfully created an AI artist with over 75k followers across platforms. Gabriel's innovative approach includes working with major record labels to revitalize their back-catalogs with engaging visuals.

Gabriel Leavell's diverse experience and commitment to community impact continue to drive his ventures forward, with a vision to expand Daze House globally and support emerging artists of color.

Daniel Martin is an experienced entrepreneur and business builder with a background in launching and scaling mission-driven ventures. As the founding COO of Producers Trust, he helped grow the company from the ground up, securing significant funding through innovative models like a Security Token Offering (STO). His past work includes the successful sale of a high-pressure processing (HPP) fruit facility in Guatemala and a boutique hotel in Panama.

Currently a founding partner of a media and advisory firm focused on regenerative business, Daniel brings two decades of international experience across sectors including technology, trade, real estate, insurance, micro-finance, and consumer goods. He’s known for his ability to connect people and ideas, and for his strategic approach to business development in both emerging and established markets.

Daniel holds an MBA from the University of Houston and a Master of Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.