UVC

Meet the UNY50

50 of Upstate New York's most experienced founders, operators, and investors. They volunteer their time, networks, and capital to help the next generation build.

57 members
John Alexander
John Alexander
Founder @ CBORD | Investor @ Red Bear Angels · The CBORD Group Inc.
Nasir Ali
Nasir Ali
Co-founder @ UVC | Investor @ StartFast · Upstate Venture Connect
Martin Babinec
Martin Babinec
Founder @ TriNet, UVC | Investor @ UpVentures · Upstate Venture Connect (UVC)
Guha Bala
Guha Bala
President of Velan Ventures; Co-founder of Velan Studios · Velan Ventures
Karthik Bala
Karthik Bala
CEO and Cofounder · Velan Studios
Bob Bedard
Bob Bedard
CEO · deFacto Global
Robert Bojanek
Robert Bojanek
Founder @ ShoreGroup | Investor @ KAP First · ShoreGroup
Patrick Bosek
Patrick Bosek
Co-founder and CEO · Heretto
JP Bourget
JP Bourget
President @ Blue Cycle LLC | EIR @ Lytical Ventures · Blue Cycle LLC
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn
Board Member & Founder, Casana | Principal, Happy Sleep · Happy Sleep
Brian Corrigan
Brian Corrigan
Founder · Rocket Science
Ralph Dandrea
Ralph Dandrea
Founder · ITX Corp
Peter Dean
Peter Dean
Founder · RenderTribe
Anthony DeBonis
Anthony DeBonis
President · Troy Web Consulting
David Deutsch
David Deutsch
Founder @ DND Co & Presidents Council | Angel Investor · David N. Deutsch & Company
Joe DiSorbo
Joe DiSorbo
Founder and CEO · Ship.com
Frank DuRoss
Frank DuRoss
Vice President for Community Development and Executive Director of Institutional Advancement · Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC)
Jeff Frankel
Jeff Frankel
Serial Exited Founder
Stephen Gilfus
Stephen Gilfus
Chairman @ Gilfus Education Group | General Partner @ Oversight Ventures · Gilfus Education Group
Richard Glaser
Richard Glaser
Co-founder · RocGrowth
Jack Greco
Jack Greco
Founder @ ACV | Angel Investor · ACV Auctions
Charles Green
Charles Green
President & CEO · Assured Information Security
Michael Gursha
Michael Gursha
Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO · Point Curve
Chedy Hampson
Chedy Hampson
Community-minded investor and philanthropist · UVC
Darrin Jahnel
Darrin Jahnel
Founder & CEO · Jahnel Group
John Jahnke
John Jahnke
CEO · Tackle.io
Jordan Karp
Jordan Karp
Co-Founder @ The Adirondack Distilling Company | Angel Investor, Mentor · The Adirondack Distilling Company
Chris Keller
Chris Keller
Chief Marketing Officer · Empower Federal Credit Union
Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly
Co-founder @ Treo Solutions | Angel Investor · POMCO
Heidi Knoblauch
Heidi Knoblauch
Professor of Practice · University at Albany
Cherylyn LeBon
Cherylyn LeBon
Partner · Cohen Seglias
Alain Leroy
Alain Leroy
Principal & CEO · Fourth Strategies
Dan Magnuszewski
Dan Magnuszewski
CEO · Radial Ventures
Mary McCarthy
Mary McCarthy
Founder and CEO · M3 Placement & Partnership
Jay McHarg
Jay McHarg
CEO · Aerosafe Global
Elisa Miller-Out
Elisa Miller-Out
Founder @ Singlebrook | Managing Partner @ Chloe Capital · Chloe Capital
Nick Nickitas
Nick Nickitas
General Manager, Independent Grocery & Mid-Market Retail Partnerships · Instacart
Jeff Olson
Jeff Olson
Co-Founder & VP of Connectivity · re:Charge-e
Mark Oney
Mark Oney
Chief Product Officer · Blackbird.ai
Michael Pavia
Michael Pavia
President and CEO · Sydor Technologies
Michael Quigley
Michael Quigley
Co-founder @ Impel | Investor @ StartFast Ventures · StartFast Ventures
Kevin Raper
Kevin Raper
Founder & General Partner · The Venture Catalyst
Michael Ryzewic
Michael Ryzewic
Cofounder · Rosie
David Schultz
David Schultz
Founder & CEO · Media Logic
Michael Sebast
Michael Sebast
Chief Technology Officer · Fleetworthy
Alby Shale
Alby Shale
Founder, Life is Meeting | Investor · Life is Meeting
Zach Shulman
Zach Shulman
Director of Entrepreneurship at Cornell; Managing Partner at Cayuga Venture Fund · Cornell University
Prabhdeep Singh
Prabhdeep Singh
Chief Operating Officer · Steno
Savneet Singh
Savneet Singh
President & CEO · PAR Technology Corp. (NYSE:PAR)
Lynn Smith
Lynn Smith
Special Counsel | Angel Investor · Barclay Damon
Charles Stormon
Charles Stormon
CEO @ Acumen Detection | Investor @ StartFast Ventures · Acumen Detection
Abraham Sultan
Abraham Sultan
Co-Founder & Partner · Nuvalence
Jason Tepper
Jason Tepper
Co-founder and Managing Director · xLEAD
Ersin Uzun
Ersin Uzun
Executive Director of Global Cybersecurity Institute · Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Jeff Valentine
Jeff Valentine
President & COO · Innovative Solutions
Marc Viggiano
Marc Viggiano
CEO and Founder · Niteopark
Gwen Whiting
Gwen Whiting
Founder & President · The Laundress
What Is UNY50

A network of 50 leaders who've built, scaled, and exited companies across Upstate NY. They're not just advisors. Most are active early-stage investors putting real capital behind founders in the region.

How They Help

UNY50 members volunteer their time for 1:1 mentorship, warm introductions, pitch feedback, and strategic guidance. They've been where you are, and they show up because someone did it for them.

What UNY50 Members Offer

Mentorship

Experienced operators who've hired, raised, and exited. They work with you on whatever's next: first hire, Series A, exit planning.

Introductions

The right intro at the right time changes everything. UNY50 members open doors to customers, partners, co-investors, and talent across the region and beyond.

Special Topics

Building leadership teams. Managing boards. Planning exits. Selecting service providers. Strategic partnerships. The hard stuff that doesn't have a playbook.

Get Connected

Get invitations to UVC events, UNY50 gatherings, founder stories, and opportunities across Upstate New York.