Office Hours with UNY50 & Mentors: Buffalo ft Claude Arpels, Impact Angel & Activist and Co-Chair of Slow Money NYC

​Join us for a fireside-style keynote and discussion designed to be practical, candid, and highly relevant to founders and tech employees.

​Founders will have the option to apply for 1:1 office hour slots with mentors and select investors to receive tailored feedback and strategic insight on their companies.

**​​Agenda: **

​**2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: **Snacks & networking

**2:20: **Opening Remarks from Olivia Goldstein and Lauren Washington. A word from our sponsors

​​**2:30 pm - 3:30pm: **Fireside chat featuring Claude Arpels, moderated by Leslie Woodward CEO & Founder of Edenesque

4**:00 pm - 5:30 pm: **1-1 Office Hour slots with mentorsYou must sign up and be approved for the office hours ticket to be eligible. UVC will assign your schedule after you sign up.

Confirmed mentors:Claude Arpels, Impact Angel & Activist and Co-Chair of Slow Money NYCChuck Stormon, General Partner of StartFast VenturesZach Mizener, Investment Manager, LaunchNYLauren Washington, UB Director of CultivatorDan Magnuszewski, CEO of Radial VenturesJim Aroune, Cofounder of Brown and White VenturesJosh Nelson, NY VenturesJason Hammond, VP Fidelity Private SharesRebecca Gielowski, COO at Hum FinancialPatrick Bosek, Founder of HerettoJack McGowan, Buffalo AngelsJohn Baldo, Partner, S2 VenturesJay Katz, NY Ventures Andrew Joseph, Head of GTM, Winner AI

Speaker Bio

Claude Arpels, Impact angel & activist

After spending 20 years in fashion and luxury businesses, Claude chose to dedicate himself to his interests in food, the environment, social enterprise, and the arts. He has become an avid impact angel investor, particularly in businesses with a sustainable food and agriculture mission. Claude is the Co-Chair of Slow Money NYC and a founding member of Foodshed Investors New York, which recently merged with Investors Circle. He also serves as Board President of International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), the nation’s pre-eminent contemporary music ensemble.

Our Partners

Winner AI is an AI-driven hiring engine built for fast-scaling startups, combining advanced machine intelligence with human expertise to deliver top-tier technical talent with speed and precision. We primarily support Seed to Series B companies, embedding senior AI and software engineers who help scale product and execution long-term — not just fill roles.

Fidelity Private Shares is committed to supporting the startup and venture capital ecosystem. They help companies prepare for their next round of funding with their cap table management and data room platform and offer educational content, events, and opportunities for community connections.