UVC
Leadership Network

Meet the UNY50

50 of Upstate New York's most experienced founders, operators, and investors — volunteering 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 curated 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're paying it forward.

What UNY50 Members Offer

Mentorship

Direct access to experienced operators who've navigated the challenges you're facing — from first hire to Series A to exit planning.

Capital

Most UNY50 members are active angel investors. When the fit is right, mentorship turns into checks — from people who truly understand your business.

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

Join the UVC Founder Network to get matched with UNY50 mentors aligned with your stage, industry, and needs.

Join the Network