Rima started her career working as an Analyst in Goldman Sachs for about three years. After that, she was a senior financial analyst in Marc Jacobs, but she only worked there 4 months.

She then became a Manager at Ralph Lauren where she worked 1 year with 6 months before moving on to work with XRC Labs as the Director of Corporate Partnerships for 10 months. After excelling in her new role she was promoted to her current role as a Principal.

Paul founded Graphite Financial, as an internal service for (nearly 50%) of Venture Capital’s ("ffVC") portfolio of early-stage technology companies since 2008. In 2016, while continuing to serve ffVC's portfolio, Paul oversaw Graphite Financial's transition to operating as an independent company to serve the broader startup community.

He is an expert in helping startups and other young ventures with strategy, financial modeling, fully outsourced or augmented bookkeeping & accounting, tax, compliance and interim CFO work.

Brian is the CEO and founder of VentureOut, which he launched in 2012 while working at Gotham Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund. He started VentureOut as a vehicle to help bridge the gap between the innovators around the world and the opportunities available to them in the New York and San Francisco technology ecosystems.

Brian is also a proud advocate of the New York City's vibrant technology community, a role he plays as a speaker, a mentor, on the Board of Directors of the NYC Innovation Collective, Founding Member of NYC Tech International, a member of the FWD.us Innovation Council and as the Founder of the Chaminade Alumni Entrepreneurs Association.

Prior to VentureOut, Brian’s career has spanned venture, at Gotham Ventures, consulting, supporting early-stage tech startups in NYC, business development, at OTR Global, and sales, as the youngest institutional salesperson globally at Standard & Poor's. Brian received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Richmond.

Edwin is the Director of Growth at Ladder.io, a growth technology and services agency that uses proprietary technology and data-driven strategy to increase your ROI.

Edwin grows businesses with impactful analysis + tech-infused creativity, as an ROI-Driven Growth Strategy Architect and Director, Transforming Performance Marketing Into Systemized Solutions/Processes.

Matt Listro brings extensive experience in business development and sales. Prior to founding Harbinger, he helped build the business development and strategy team at Crowdtap, a venture-backed brand content platform that’s consistently recognized by Inc., Fortune, and others as one of the fastest growing firms in America. Matt brought on and managed partnerships with 50+ top brands including GE, J&J, P&G, Sony Pictures, and Kraft.
Prior to Crowdtap, he managed business development initiatives for MAXIMUS, a publicly-traded program management and consulting firm, helping MAXIMUS expand into Europe. Matt also teaches at General Assembly. He graduated from Brown University and Columbia Business School with Dean’s Honors.

Lexie Kier is a Principal Strategist and Founder of AOK Group, a growth consultancy for startups. She advises bold brands and startups on fundraising, customer insights, branding and marketing and often takes on interim leadership roles to help with periods of intense change, entry into new markets, and expansion.

Previously, Lexie founded Cuurio, an index of startups and innovation platform helping bold brands find clarity, context, and connection. ​Cuurio helped a growing number of innovative brands and agencies (including Warner Brother, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, and J. Walter Thompson) to create vibrant native mobile partnerships that activated consumers in new channels.

From Ashoka, She joined FSG, an advisory firm founded by Michael Porter, to support companies in creating “Shared Value.” She advised public companies, in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to media and entertainment, on how to deploy investments capable of boosting profits, while increasing access to vital products among underserved populations. Shared Value could be considered a cousin to Collaborative Fund’s original concept: companies that sit at the intersection of for-profit and for-good are positioned to become the most successful businesses.

Sumya is recognized as an efficient business development strategist, innovator, manager and team player who drives strategic partnerships and transactions to accelerate growth.

A visionary brand builder and inventive business strategist, Sumya has worked with corporations, non-profits and individuals building programs, products and partnerships that are sustainable and impactful. Through market and trend analysis, competitive dynamics, value proposition strategies, corporate storytelling and tailored launch initiatives, she leads businesses to realize goals.

A focused listener, Sumya pinpoints a company’s key problems and hurdles, identifies areas of collaboration, drives innovation and unlocks shared value. She uses a unique lens to create practical, measurable solutions to incubate new ideas while building and maintaining broad based relationships with senior management, internal business units and industrial professional networks. She works to develop initiatives and programs that result in a compelling portfolio of growth opportunities.

Sam Newbold has been supporting VentureOut companies to secure US visas since 2013. He is experienced in a wide range of employment based, family based, and investment based immigration issues, working closely with the global startup and tech communities, representing cutting edge companies and talented individuals who comprise New York’s rapidly growing Silicon Alley.

Mr. Newbold also works closely with foreign investors seeking nonimmigrant or immigrant status through EB5 or E-2 investments, and he is also experienced in helping foreign business owners receive L visa status through establishing New Offices in the United States.

Business and financial leader with the ability develop and deliver strategic development and execution of company-wide financial policies and procedures. Distinguished, hands-on experience in driving corporate development activities, assisting startups, reorganizing financially distressed companies, and the managing the acquisition and integration process. Astute leader who adds value through proactive decision-making, business process re-engineering, and proven global leadership abilities coupled with mentoring and coaching skills.

Currently on the investment team of 14W, working with entrepreneurs to grow businesses in the consumer internet sector.

Previously TMT at Morgan Stanley. Initiated coverage of US Internet Media companies (Google, Facebook, Twitter) under No. 1 Institutional Investor US Media team (Lead Analyst Ben Swinburne), serving as primary equity research associate responsible for the digital advertising vertical.

Venture capital investor @Bleucap - curious crossborder mind, passionate about retail, data, artificial intelligence and impact

Joseph is a Partner at Bleu Capital. After a few years in the French startup scene, he spent five years in China managing finance for Evian at the Asia Pacific level and then sales for the Chinese market.

I have been a senior executive in a number of different wholesale and direct to consumer businesses throughout my career. I have been a part of a catalog start-up, I have worked for two large, multi-brand direct marketing companies on the marketing side of the business and I have worked as the CMO and General Manager of a multi-channel retailer with 150 stores. I have also served as the Chief Digital Marketing Officer at Warnaco (now part of PVH) where I ran the web businesses for Speedo, Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Jeans.

Most recently, I spent 7 years as the President of E-Commerce for Steve Madden where I had full P&L responsibility for the Steve Madden US site as well as other company managed sites. I was responsible for all traffic being driven to the sites, site conversion and optimization and the day-to-day and strategic operations of the business. We recently launched, SM Pass, an enterprise level, cross channel rewards program that after only 3 months has won an industry award for Best Customer Engagement.

I am a collaborative leader who works hard to teach and to learn. I am comfortable in matrix-managed organizations or in a more direct reporting relationship.

I mentor a number of start-up and early stage companies in the retail and digital industry.

Specialties: E-Commerce Marketing, ROI Analysis on Marketing Programs, Database Marketing, Research, Brand Building, E-Commerce Design, Print and Paper Buying, Circulation, Promotion, Credit Marketing, Paid Search, SEO, Affiliate Marketing, Comparison Shopping, Social Media, Business Development, Mobile Applications, Project Management, Vendor Selection, Financial Management, Loyalty Programs, Cross-channel marketing, Strategic Direction, Life time value, Near term value, Marketplace management, Analytics, Reengineering, Digital Diagnosis, Low Hanging fruit, Details.

Stephen herniated two discs in his back while rowing in college. So when he and Kabeer teamed up at Wharton to start Burrow, Stephen made sure that their couches would be ergonomically perfect for multi-hour Netflix binges. From his hair to his shoes, Kabeer pays close attention to style, and insisted that Burrow sofas be equally as fashionable. Kabeer is often ashamed to be seen with his co-founder in public.

Fashion executive with global supply chain, operations, corporate finance background and experience creating innovative consumer brands and services.

Based in New York City, USA, I am currently focused on building CARAA as the leading luxury accessories brand within the Athleisure market.

I am also spending time with Terracotta Partners, a boutique design, development and production firm based across New York City, Shanghai and Guangzhou, China specialized primarily in managing production for fashion apparel and accessory brands both in the US and overseas. We chartered our company in NYC with the mission of helping emerging and growing fashion labels to gain production scalability.

Previously, I had the pleasure of working at General Electric Company (GE) for almost a decade, where I had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best world class leaders in multiple businesses across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Sapna Shah is an angel investor, retail expert and three-time entrepreneur. Through Red Giraffe Advisors, Sapna makes angel and early-stage seed investments in retail, fashion and consumer start-ups and offers advisory services to early-stage companies. Sapna is also the founder of Retail X Series, a retail startup boot camp program for pre-seed stage founders who are revolutionizing the future of retail. Sapna has also served on the Board of Directors of New York Angels, one of the most active angel groups in the world.

Based in the New York office, Sarra’s responsibilities include evaluating investment opportunities, sourcing new deals, and supporting existing portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Greycroft, Sarra worked at The Raine Group in New York advising companies and evaluating investment opportunities in the telecom, media and technology sectors. Sarra also worked at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), where she focused on private equity and venture capital fund commitments and co-investments. Sarra started her career in investment banking at Nomura in London, advising consumer and retail companies.

Sarra holds an MSc in Strategic Management from HEC Paris and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Holly is a Managing Director at XRC Labs where she brings over 20 years of investment experience across consumer product sectors at various stages of growth. Prior to joining XRC, Holly led the consumer practice at Golden Seeds, a venture capital firm and angel network that has invested in over 100 women-lead businesses.  In the Equity Research department at both Citigroup and Lehman Brothers, Holly led the firms' consumer products equity research before transitioning to the technology and media sectors. She has been consistently recognized by Institutional Investors’ All American Research Team, ranking No, 1 in each of her coverage areas including: Cosmetics, Household Products, Internet portals and E-Commerce.

Holly has also held positions at Jennison Associates, a New York based Money Management Firm, and as a Consultant with McKinsey & Company. Prior to graduating from Harvard Business School, she worked in Brand Management at Proctor & Gamble and in Mergers & Acquisitions at First Boston. Holly is also a consultant and project coordinator for Harvard Business School’s Community Partners, which provides pro-bono advisory services to nonprofit organizations.

Josh Rochlin was an early pioneer in the New York Internet venture community, founding MyCalendar.com and serving as its CEO before selling it to Sports Huddle in 2001 (now owned by CBS).

Josh then led business development and strategy at GoAmerica (GOAM), the first wireless internet service provider (now Purple Communications). Prior to IBM's acquisition of Xtify, josh served as its founding CEO.

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Josh practiced law at international law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf, LLP. Josh serves on the board of directors of AVTV Networks and has previously served on the boards of Al Ahram Beverages and Hydron Technologies.

Natalie is a Senior Associate at Maveron, a consumer-only venture capital firm that focuses exclusively on partnering with world-class entrepreneurs who long to build the best consumer brands.

Prior to Maveron, Natalie worked at  Susa Ventures, a premier seed-stage fund in San Francisco. During her year at Susa, Natalie worked with the team to source and help diligence several investments, largely in the consumer space. Before Susa, Natalie was a research associate at Silicon Valley Bank, where her passion for studying markets, building relationships, and identifying outliers began.

Chris Errico is Co-Chair of the firm's US Startup Program and member of the Venture Technology and Emerging Growth Companies practice at Dentons. Chris is actively engaged in a diverse corporate practice, working with a wide range of fast-growing technology, software, digital media and life science companies at every stage of their development.

Chris regularly counsels emerging growth companies on transactional matters, including venture capital, seed/angel financings; public and private offerings; asset and stock acquisitions; debt financings and mergers and acquisitions. Chris also advises his clients on a daily basis regarding complex securities matters, corporate governance matters, joint ventures, strategic transactions, and general legal issues.

Luke Cherrington is the Global Manager of the the exploration and innovation team at ZX Ventures.

Prior to working at ZX Ventures, he successfully built multiple businesses before joining with the world's largest brewer, AB Inbev, to develop their internal accelerator. His team built, partnered with, and invested in internal and external companies aligned with their strategic goals.