About

Julie le Blanc Duvergé is the Director of Marketing at VentureOut and the Managing Director for Europe. A seasoned startup executive having helped a number of foreign startups to launch and build their brand in the U.S. market, Julie joined the VentureOut team in April 2017 and is responsible for branding, communication, and partner and sponsor relationships. She has been based in France since January 2018.

Prior to VentureOut, Julie spent 10 years working in sales, marketing and business development roles for tech companies in 4 different countries across 3 continents. A French citizen, Julie earned her Master’s of Management from ESCP Europe where she studied Marketing.

Fay-Louise is the Program Director at VentureOut, overseeing strategy and operations for all accelerator programs. A veteran startup advisor, Fay joined VentureOut after eight years working with investors and startups on cross-border and global market strategy across Latin America, Asia & North America. In her role at Venture Out, Fay manages all programming, supporting the startups, mentors, and clients related to those programs, and is a key member of the executive team.

Prior to VentureOut, Fay worked for several years in Private Equity where she managed a portfolio of alternative assets with Acquisition Group Inc and she played a key role in leadership and operations while working as a strategy analyst at Global Impact. Fay has also traveled to over 52 countries and is passionate about working with international startups.

Fay-Louise studied Economics & Political Science at University of Sydney.

Sam is the Director of Business Development at VentureOut. As a seasoned business operator in and out of the startup ecosystem, Sam brings over 10 years of experience and legal background to the team. In his role at VentureOut, Sam is responsible for developing the pipeline of upcoming programs, sponsor and partner outreach, and overseeing the entire startup application, interview, and selection process. Prior to VentureOut, Sam has counseled founders and various companies on a wide range of issues including strategy, investor relations, incorporation, and intellectual property rights. He also ran Operations for several years at a regional automotive parts distributor with a wide range of responsibilities from sales, developing an eCommerce platform, and logistics. Sam received his BA from Colgate University and his JD from the GGU School of Law.

Anna Eva Kotyza is the Head of Content at VentureOut. She leads the strategic development, practical application, and ongoing tactical management of content in all of its many formats across the enterprise.

Prior to VentureOut, Anna spent 10 years working in the film industry.  As a filmmaker, entrepreneur, and VR innovator, Anna's background includes opening the world's first VR museum at the Gallatin Arts Festival, and winning "Best Presentation" in one of the largest and most innovative accelerator programs and startup competitions in the world: the NYU $300K Challenge.

Anna studied Business Development, Innovation, and Technology at NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

Brett Brody is the Director of Business Development at VentureOut and an advisor to a number of top startups in NYC. Brett was the first employee of VentureOut, joining the team in 2013, and enabled a lot of the growth and success they have seen in the past 3 years. As the Director of Business Development, Brett is responsible for developing the pipeline of upcoming programs, sponsor and partner outreach, and overseeing the entire startup application, interview and selection process.

Prior to VentureOut, Brett’s career covered consulting, finance, and sales working at PetCareRx, Kyriba and Sterling AMG. Brett earned a Bachelor's of Science in Management at Tulane University where he studied finance and music.

Hanna joined the VentureOut team in October 2019 having graduated in Melbourne, Australia, from Media and Communications with majors in Public Relations and Social Media.
She has always been especially interested in cross-cultural communications and came to work in New York with the hope of expanding her global communication awareness.
Hanna is aiming to one day move into crisis management public relations.

Lisa Stapleton joined the VentureOut team in January 2020 as a Marketing Analyst. She is currently in her second year at The King’s College pursuing a Business Management degree with a minor in Finance. Prior to VentureOut, Lisa worked in fashion, the hospitality industry, law, and started her own company. Growing up in Silicon Valley culture, Lisa is particularly interested in incubators and accelerators. She eventually wants to start her own company and go on to be a Venture Capitalist. When she’s not working she’s writing music and playing piano, guitar, or singing.

Lisa is originally from Austin, Texas but plans to stay in New York indefinitely as she’s in love with the hustle culture here.

Nathan joined VentureOut in February of 2020, after finding success in New York building a number of hospitality businesses. He brings a unique skillset to the team, with a background in economics and mathematics, and a varied career that focused on leading diverse teams in many different industries.

Originally from Perth, Australia, Nathan more or less accidentally ended up in New York City, cultivating a creative energy and a willingness to take risks. Outside of the office, he can be found in local coffee spots in Brooklyn with a Frisbee or skateboard in hand, pining for a beach in Sydney.

Nathan studied a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Sydney, Australia. He is looking to apply and accelerate his operational and management skills in the tech industry.

Dana Iverson is a Program & Research Intern at VentureOut. She is currently a third-year student at Princeton University. She studies the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs with minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Studies.She joined VONY to learn more about venture capital. She is eager to understand how smart ideas can drive social impact and innovation. She is inspired by stakeholders who are often left out of the equation—particularly women—and hopes to create solutions that address their market and beyond.