Alain Leroy

Alain Leroy is a seasoned strategist, builder, educator, and venture philanthropist with over 30 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of technology, capital, and social impact. An active angel investor and limited partner in a social impact venture fund, Alain brings both strategic insight and catalytic capital to underrepresented founders and mission-driven ventures. He exited his first tech startup before graduating from RIT and launched his first social enterprise after earning his MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. Alain later led corporate innovation initiatives at IBM and Deloitte Consulting, specializing in emerging technologies, digital transformation, and go-to-market strategy. Today, he serves as Principal & CEO of Fourth Strategies, a growth and advisory agency that supports mission-driven ventures through strategic planning, digital infrastructure, and ecosystem-building. As an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and subject matter expert for multiple incubators and startup accelerators across Upstate New York, Alain mentors early-stage founders and champions inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. He is also the creator of the Venture Philanthropy Blueprint™ (VPB)—a platform designed to fund and scale impact entrepreneurs and social enterprises globally. Shaped by his West Indian upbringing in New York, his journey as a cancer survivor, and his role as a father, Alain brings a values-driven lens to leadership. He is a frequent speaker on inclusive innovation, ethical technology, and building accessible pathways for future founders.