MEMBER DIRECTORY

Meet our members! MFN members get support, resources and more. 

 

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Directory

Judith
Underwood
Founder, ESO Staff, Other

I am the cofounder of Blue Institute Labs. We have been fueling and scaling BlueTech and ClimateTech startups since 2017 in Massachusetts and globally on a virtual platform. I cut my entrepreneurship teeth as the first female in Massachusetts to start a solar company, putting solar on brownfields or other low use properties. That experience solidified my interest in helping problem solvers address clean water, climate resiliency, and healthy secure oceans. We run the BLUE Incubator and the BLUE Excelerator programs and are creating a waterfront innovation hub on Boston Harbor in the Gateway City of Chelsea.

Siddharth
Pannir
I prefer not to say
Founder

Siddharth has broad experience in fields ranging from scientific research to healthcare data analytics to technology and strategy consulting. He is a co-founder of GenH, laying out much of the technical and market groundwork born out of his master’s thesis at Northeastern University. Siddharth has worked with Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies across the world to help them decide on how to introduce products into market and how to deal with the extant competitive landscape helping guide over $11 million in business transactions over 9 months. Siddharth leads the engineering and operations of GenH.

Marianna
Miller
She/Her
Other

I work for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center as a Project Administrator on the Tech-to-Market team! I work with innovative early-stage climatetech researchers, startups, and innovation ecosystem members to advance Massachusetts’ just and equitable transition to a sustainable future.

Jamie
Gong
She/Her
Founder

Hi! I am Jamie and I am building technology empowers seniors to age in place.

Donna
Childs
She/Her
Founder

Prisere develops technology to enable climate and disaster risk resilience. Prior to launching Prisere, founder Donna Childs was based in Zurich, Switzerland where she was a senior executive of the Swiss Reinsurance Group, the world’s largest reinsurer of property-casualty and life-health risks. Reinsurers are the ultimate providers of climate finance to both the public and private sectors.

Adam
Barber
He/Him
Founder

Solving generational problems with technology

Debbie
Hayes
She/Her
Other

A passionate advocate looking to empower women in STEM roles – looking to make connections and find co-op intern roles for all of my MGEN Northeastern students!

Niyi
Oyeniyi
I prefer not to say
Founder

I lead Dialysis-X, and we are developing a needle-free access device that makes dialysis treatment easier and safer for 2M+ kidney-failure patients. Developing this patent-pending technology is an expert team of engineers, scientists, and business experts with successful exits. We are performing bench testing, with animal trials planned for Q4 this year, and are seeking clinical champions/key-opinion leaders to sponsor partnerships with dialysis providers.

On a personal note, I arrived Boston from Lagos, Nigeria with a singular dream: to launch a successful medical device venture that saves lives and is respected by investors as a good business. Proud to say that I am well on my way!

Arjav
Shah
He/Him
Founder

Arjav Shah is a PhD candidate in chemical engineering and a deferred MBA candidate at MIT. He is commercializing a hydrogel microparticle technology that removes emerging contaminants and heavy metals from water at an industrial scale, greatly outperforming other adsorbents. The technology is being piloted by companies seeking effective, sustainable ways to process large influent and wastewater streams.

David
Cardoso
He/Him
Other

Dr. David Almeida Cardoso is a medical scientist by training, having undertaken a research doctorate at University of Sydney and Children’s Medical Research Institute investigating the development of novel drugs for epilepsy, spurred on by his own mother’s diagnosis. Following graduation, Dr. Cardoso shifted focus toward the business world, working as Project Manager at Westmead Research Hub while studying a Master of Business Administration at Macquarie University. He is currently a Co-Founder of Nuroflux, a medical device company developing a proprietary technology for the continuous monitoring of stroke patients, as well as Vice President, Business Development and Strategy (first business-dedicated recruit) for Pending AI, a venture-backed scale-up seeking to revolutionise drug development with artificial intelligence and quantum mechanics.

Benjamin
Parfitt
He/Him
Founder

Ben is co-founder of DiligentlyAI, an AI infrastructure startup. Developing and maintaining products that are powered by generative AI is an all consuming endeavor. Making these products predictable and reliable, and ensuring that all issues occurring in production are found and resolved is time-consuming and expensive. DiligentlyAI allows companies to rapidly build AI-powered applications that are more reliable and predictable by leveraging our novel approach to evaluating LLM output before and after products are in production. Reach out to learn more — we are looking for pilot customers!

Ben is a native of central New York where he grew up on a sheep farm. After spending a few years in DC post-college, he has found a home here in MA! He loves rock climbing and talking about startups (seriously)!

Nathaniel
Sullivan
He/Him
Founder

Hey! I’m Nate and I recently graduated a semester early from UMass Amherst majoring in Computer Science & Psychology and now currently work in the Data Analytics department at PeoplesBank. I was accepted into the CS Masters program but decided to defer my it to work on a personal project that has gained a lot of attention from my peers. Feel free to download my app that I’m working on “Omniscient” on the App Store!

Melissa
Paciulli
She/Her
Founder

A researcher, entrepreneur and investigator of wicked problems with experience launching ideas in industry and higher education with extensive experience in traditional education, e-learning, tech ed, learning science, skill based micro-credentials, higher education administration, leveraging partnership, student success, retention, persistence and completion. An active researcher and online learning practitioner with experience developing courses through technology and product development. Experience in building strong collaborations, partnerships with regional stakeholders; industry; community college, universities, school administration; students and teachers; and managing college faculty and researchers in a collective bargaining environment. My personal passion for education has driven me to pursue a PhD in Engineering, where I focus on ADHD teen drivers to inform and develop a specialized online driver training program targeted on their neurodivergent learner needs. I am passionate about increasing educational opportunities for historically marginalized and underserved populations.

Pei
Zhang
She/Her
Founder

I’m the president and founder of Bioechem. Bioechem is a company developing biological batteries, which utilizes special microorganisms to decarbonize and catalyze renewable electricity generation 24/7. For the applications on the small side, it is to power sensors or other low power devices and the applications on the big side, it could be backup renewable energy, microgrid etc. Our battery is safe, sustainable and light weighted. Seeking partnership with potential customers, shareholders, communities on product development, applications and fund raise.

Eric
Sargent
He/Him
ESO Staff

I am a social entrepreneur and sustainability professional based in Greater Boston. I am a currently Program Manager for Tech-to-Market programs at MassCEC and the founder of the Boston chapter of the Circular Economy Club. Working in the impact sector for the last decade, I have helped develop sustainable operational systems, double non-profit organizations, and start new businesses and initiatives. I received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Goucher College and hold two certificates in the Circular Economy from Cambridge University and the Circular Economy Institute.

Piyali
Chakraborty
She/Her
Founder

With Ashmi Health, my goal is to offer women suffering from chronic hormonal conditions an alternative path to healing, one that doesn’t rely on contraceptives or invasive surgical procedures. Drawing upon my expertise in food engineering and my dedication to making a difference, I am committed to providing holistic, natural solutions that empower women to reclaim control over their hormonal health and overall well-being.

Logan
Casey
He/Him
Founder

Spring EV is an all-electric car-share startup that aims to revolutionize way people use electric vehicles; a way to break free from private vehicle ownership while supporting a resilient grid through load-stabilizing technology. Logan Casey, founder of Spring EV, is currently employed as a Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Marblehead, MA.

Kunal
Sondhi
He/Him
Founder

Driven by a belief in the value of perseverance, I’ve been instrumental in founding and expanding multiple software and consulting firms. With my deep understanding of technology, user experience, and go-to-market strategies has helped turn visionary ideas into practical successes, showcasing a blend of creativity, strategic insight, and technical expertise.

Jeff
Stein
He/Him
Founder, Expert

Jeff is the founder of GearSay, Inc., a Boston-based sports-tech startup that leverages AI-driven results to revolutionize the sports e-commerce landscape. GearSay uses AI to help users discover the gear that is right for them.  He is also a member of the board of directors of MassTech, the unique quasi-public agency in Massachusetts that supports business formation and growth in the state’s technology sector, helping Massachusetts lead in the global digital economy. Jeff is a sub-3 marathoner, an All-American triathlete, a former member of Team USA (triathlon), an age group winner of several major races, an Ironman Kona competitor, and an avid skier, golfer, hiker, cyclist, and paddleboarder. He is also a proud husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather.

Dan
Salvadore
He/Him
Founder

Dan Salvadore (25M): Founder, Passionate about building better outcomes for pediatric patients with chronic illnesses.
-Second-year Physician Assistant student, class president, finished among the top of my class during first year and have an extensive background in medicine. As someone who has battled chronic illness throughout my life, I know there is a serious need and I wont stop till I achieve my mission. I come from a medical background and am not an app designer. However, through various patient experiences, I saw a need to solve the social and emotional toll that the complexity of chronic illnesses brings about. Through multiple research stages and mentorship relationships, I have taught myself enough to bring to fruition what I believe is my best creation yet. I need your help to continue my journey to bring this to market. Will you partner with me to revolutionize the pediatric hospital experience?

Tushar
Sinha
He/Him
Founder

Imagine being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes during your first year of undergrad, with no one to guide you through the journey ahead. I’ve been there, feeling the weight of managing my health alone, navigating the highs and lows of HbA1C levels for nine years.

But here’s what I’ve learned: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for diabetes management. It’s a personal journey, often filled with uncertainty and frustration. Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Diabetes shouldn’t be a taboo topic. It affects millions of Americans, yet many shy away from discussing it. It’s time to change that narrative.

That’s why I’ve dedicated myself to spreading awareness and offering support to those at risk of developing diabetes. Through remote health monitoring and AI-powered personalized care plans, we are revolutionizing how chronic conditions are managed holistically.

Join me in my mission to make health aspirations affordable and accessible to all. Together, we can empower individuals to take control of their health and prevent diabetes from becoming a reality.

Moreover, my nine-year stint in my family’s hospital business has equipped me with invaluable insights into the intricate healthcare ecosystem, spanning patients, providers, and payers.

We’re a team of young, fearless individuals, each touched by chronic illness within our families. With our minimal responsibilities and nerdy skills, we’re the perfect candidates to tackle this challenge head-on.

Together, armed with passion, experience, and a deep understanding of healthcare dynamics, we’re poised to make a meaningful impact and transform the landscape of chronic illness management.

We believe health is not a guess work, We flag any possibility of insulin resistance & chronic conditions at the earliest symptom.

Tejas
Gandhi
He/Him
Founder

Ocus Health is a digital health platform that synchronizes every step in a patient’s care journey

Pete
St. John
I prefer not to say
Founder

I have over 18 years of experience in the medical device and healthcare technology industry, with a passion for creating solutions that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiencies.

Mehdi
Mortazawy
I prefer not to say
Founder

Mehdi Mortazawy, with his M.Sc. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering with a focus on fluid dynamics modeling and simulations, is the CTO and co-founder of Coredio, where he leads software, product design and development. He plays a pivotal role in maturing the company’s intellectual property and shaping its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to align with the market and Coredio’s vision. His rich experience spans across software, simulation technology, fluid dynamics design and product development. Mehdi has contributed significantly in various capacities at several companies and startups including Dassault Systèmes, TESLA, Canoo, Faraday Future (FF), and Dassault Falcon Jet. At TESLA, he led key projects in fluid dynamics simulation, achieving a significant 10% reduction in aerodynamic drag, which in turn increased electric vehicle range by 5%. His work at Dassault Systèmes contributed to saving $millions in cost from wind tunnel testing, as well as generating hundreds of thousands $ from customer revenue by accelerating model preparation and democratizing fluid dynamics simulations, enabling customers to evaluate performance early in the design process. He effectively managed this while mentoring interns, demonstrating his leadership and technical expertise. His academic background in fluid dynamics and numerical simulations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) further solidifies his expertise in the field.

Lamis
Jarvinen
She/Her
ESO Staff

Dr. Lamis Jarvinen brings her highly credentialed experience in innovation and research to serve as the founding Executive Director of the RIDE Center. Dr. Jarvinen received her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Immunology from Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine. As a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Dr. Jarvinen developed immunological strategies for prolonging whole organ transplantation tolerance using viral gene therapy and adult mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

Stanley
Rameau
He/Him
Founder

Stanley Rameau is the Founder and CEO of Renavest, a financial education community for wealth building experts and individuals to connect, share and build wealth together. He is poised to make an even greater impact now that the Renavest app is available on both Apple Store & Google Play.

When Rameau isn’t guiding individuals from all walks of life along their journey to wealth building, he can be found building and growing his Boston-based creative brand, Paul Rameau.

Rameau’s journey is defined by a mosaic of diverse work experiences that have molded him into the inspiring figure he is today. His early career involved roles in design and marketing within the fashion industry, where he fine-tuned his creative talents. Later, he ventured into entrepreneurship, growing multiple successful startups. Rameau’s career path showcases his versatility and a relentless drive to make a meaningful impact.

In 2019, Rameau launched Paul Rameau in honor of his father’s passing to myeloma. The fashion brand is making waves in the Greater Boston Area, as covered in this article from The Boston Globe. Rameau’s unique creativity is deeply rooted in his commitment to unlocking his own untapped potential, a commitment that reverberates throughout his remarkable career. His wellspring of creativity flows from a profound commitment to unlocking his untapped potential. In all his endeavors, he strives to encourage others to embrace risks and embark on their personal journey of doing the same.

Laura
Blockel
She/Her
ESO Staff

Title: Director of Corporate and Foundation Grants, Institutional Advancement, Westfield State University.
Mission: facilitating relationships with businesses, corporations, and foundations to support research, innovation, design, and entrepreneurial initiatives at Westfield State University.

Doug
Godfrin
He/Him
Founder

Doug received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and completed a post-doc at MIT before founding VeraMorph. He has 10+ years of experience in chemical synthesis and analysis, formulation and drug product design, and business development. He has published 16 papers and 5 patents on advanced materials and pharmaceutical formulations.

Hadley
Haselmann
She/Her
Founder

Hadley is an innovator. She studied social entrepreneurship at Skidmore College where she became a finalist for NY upstate student startup competition, launched two ventures, and is currently CEO of pet health care company analyzing dog salvia for early stage disease detection at home. She started a mentorship program for students to launch their own ventures in Troy, NY called ‘Spark Academy’ at the Troy Innovation Garage. She obtained MS in Innovation and Management at Tufts Engineering School. Currently she coaches aspiring founders and works on join partnerships with universities and large semiconductor companies to support the Chips Act in creating more microchips in the US.

Howard
Wu
He/Him
Founder

Howard (Hao) Wu, PhD has almost 20 years’ experience in gene editing technology and new drug discovery. He is specialized in overseeing R&D programs, new lab and research team set up in the biotech start-ups.

Dr. Wu is the co-founder and CEO/CSO of Full Circles Therapeutics, where he is dedicated to developing curative gene editing based gene/cell therapy. He is responsible for generating revenue through collaboration with MNC and biotech partners. Before founding Full Circles Therapeutics, Dr. Wu was leading multiple discovery biology programs and disease prioritization in the genetic disease space at Fulcrum Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:FULC), a Cambridge small molecule drug discovery biotech company. He had been with the company through the full development phases starting from the start-up, expansion, until post-IPO development, during which he led a cross-functional team for portfolio disease selection and prioritization of multiple disease programs including neuromuscular disease, cardiac disease, hematological and metabolic diseases, including two major partnership collaborations with MyoKardia and Acceleron.

Before joining Fulcrum, Dr. Wu was a senior research fellow at Whitehead institute, MIT. His research focused on neurological disorders utilizing a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genomic and epigenomic editing technology and stem cell technology. He did his PhD in Biochemistry and Structural Biology at Hongkong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Fudan University before he did his postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Wu has more than 30 journal publications, patents, and research and industry grants. For his work, he has received fellowship award from human frontier science program (HSFP) and NARSAD young investigator award. He was also awarded the Alfred Blalock Young Investigator Award from JHMI and President’s award from Whitehead Institute, MIT.

Davinder
Gill
He/Him
Founder

My entrepreneurial interests reside in the application of advanced biomedical technologies to address global health needs. Currently, I am the Founder and CEO of StiRx Inc, a Boston-based biotechnology company focused on developing best-in-class vaccines and therapeutics for treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Prior to founding StiRx, I was founder of Nucalix Bio, a startup that developed vaccines for COVID-19. During the pandemic, I also provide strategic consulting to Pharma, Biotech and private equity firms on technology, portfolio and investment opportunities. Previously, I was CEO at Hilleman Laboratories which is a first-of-its-kind equal joint-venture partnership between Merck & Co and Wellcome Trust. Prior to Hilleman Labs, I was Vice President and Head, Global Biotherapeutics at Pfizer. Before Pfizer, I was Head of Biologic Discovery at Wyeth in various roles starting as Director of Research to Vice President. I started my career at Millennium Pharmaceuticals where I was head of the Antibody Technologies group advancing Biologic discovery in Inflammation and Oncology. I hold a PhD in Chemical Engineering and served as Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Shonte
Davidson
She/Her
Founder

Mother. Wife. Entrepreneur. Electrical Contractor.

Amelia
Thomas
She/Her
Founder

I am a professional scientist turned entrepreneur. River Otter is targeting PFAS destruction through conversion into renewable fuels.

Biplab
Malo
He/Him
Founder

Originally from a small village in Bangladesh, Biplab Malo pursued higher education in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in Biology, Chemistry, and physics from Southeast Missouri State University and a dentistry professional degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, he owns a thriving dental practice in Peabody, MA, and is the Founder and CEO of STAPGEN LLC. As the Founder and CEO of STAPGEN LLC he is passionate about addressing the global health challenge of type 2 diabetes, he leads a team focused on developing and commercializing a groundbreaking biomedical innovation. With a robust background in the biomedical field, multiple patents, and trademarks, Biplab Malo brings the expertise needed to guide a team of talented professionals united by a common mission to combat a widespread health issue.

Swarna
Shiv
She/Her
Founder

Hi there! My name is Swarna, founder/CEO of Unsmudgeable. I’ve worn glasses for 15 years, since I was 7, and constantly battled smudging despite trying every lens cleaner out there. Motivated by my own experience and desire for consistently clear vision, I founded Unsmudgeable. If phones and tablets can come manufactured with anti-fingerprint coating on the screens, I believe that eyewear should too. No major eyewear brand offers an anti-smudge coating, instead focusing on UV, anti-reflective, scratch resistance, and blue light filtration. This is especially important for the military personnel, surgeons, construction workers, and even general prescription eyewear users I’ve spoken to. This confirmed the need for a new solution to a common problem I experience firsthand. My domain expertise comes from being an eyewear user for over a decade combined with deep consumer insights, which helped create the foundation for Unsmudgeable.

Soumya
Roy
He/Him
Founder

I am the co-founder and CEO of UpLevel Foods LLC, a company focused on Food as Medicine. This is a pre-revenue company and is in prototype stage of launching condiments to off-set the harmful effects of “Standard American Diet”. I also have a consulting company (B-Gyan, LLC) that help start-ups and small to mid-size companies launch new products and develop enabling technologies. I have more than 30 years of experience in the Food Industry, including delivering breakthrough innovations for General Mills, Ocean Spray and GNC. I have a master’s in food science (Clemson University), a PhD in Food Engineering (Penn State), and an MBA in Entrepreneurship (Babson).

Cindy
Belardo
She/Her
Founder

Cindy Belardo is the CEO and co-founder of Sunny, a FemTech startup creating the first menstrual cup that inserts like a tampon. A period expert of 3 years, she is a passionate social entrepreneur for eco-friendly periods, normalizing menstruation, and ending period poverty. She led a team to India on the topic of her TEDx talk on “Menstrual Cups for Women’s Empowerment.” She holds a BS in Environmental Studies, Pre-Medicine from the University of Oklahoma.

Jack
Duffy-Protentis
He/Him
Founder

Jack Duffy-Protentis is a WPI 2020 Grad and Founder/CEO of eSki Watercraft who is legally blind.

Ross
Bloom
He/Him
Founder

I founded Revvit to address gaps in EV charging access at thousands of parking locations in Massachusetts and beyond, with a low-cost solution that makes sense for property owners and drivers. I am from Massachusetts and have lived all around the state. With MFN I am excited to meet others working in climate hardware or similar arenas and to help support each other so we aren’t all facing the same challenges alone.

Alex
Fedosov
He/Him
Founder

FoundAItion specializes in a spectrum of Gen AI consulting services, ranging from chatbot development and prompt engineering to AI education and security assessments. In parallel, the company is undergoing a transformation from a service-based to a product-oriented business, with the development of a GenAI search engine rooted in its research in Natural Neural Networks (NNN).

I’m a co-founder / Technology Research Lead with deep expertise in the design and development of a variety of web, security, AI and multi-tiered Big Data applications. Pioneered AETD, Advanced Endpoint Threat Detection technology, transforming the security landscape. Known for possessing extensive knowledge in all phases of SDLC, software design, development, administration and testing. Conducts advanced research in artificial intelligence, utilizing Nvidia CUDA and SIMD architecture to push the boundaries of machine learning and natural language processing. Focuses on the innovative development of Natural Neural Networks to set the stage for future technological breakthroughs. Skilled in deploying pragmatic solutions by integrating OpenAI’s cutting-edge technologies and RAG frameworks to address complex challenges and advance AI applications.

Hitomi
Abiko
She/Her
Founder

Hi, I’m a cofounder of Twork, the AI-powered social tool directory. Instead of just asking each other “what tool do you use?” at networking events, Twork allows you to follow industry leaders and check out their workflow, as well as showcase your own. Otherwise, I run a creative agency/startup incubator called Skydea out of Tokyo. Nice to meet you!

Alexander
Margulis
He/Him
ESO Staff

Dr. Margulis has more than 25 years of science and business development experience in the Life Science industry and is currently a Chief Operating Officer at Mansfield Bio-Incubator, building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Southeastern Massachusetts. Trained as a cellular and molecular biologist, his accomplishments include 12 authored scientific papers and numerous abstracts. In business development, Dr. Margulis increased sales by 200% within two years in the US and Canada, placed the Capital Equipment instruments into world-class academic and biotech/pharma accounts in the Boston area, and created a life science entrepreneurial ecosystem at Mansfield Bio-Incubator from scratch. He was critical in securing $4M money ($2M from Massachusetts Life Science Center and $2M from a private foundation) for Mansfield Bio-Incubator’s 15,000 square feet expansion, which was completed in Q1, 2022. Recently, he successfully led efforts in receiving a $1.2M award from EDA towards making Mansfield Bio-Incubator as a hub for for Southeastern MA life science ecosystem.

Barbra
BatShalom
She/Her
Founder, Investor

Since leaving architecture in 1998 after 12 years, I have been a compulsive innovator and problem solver, drawn to challenges that no one else wants to tackle! I’ve started a series of businesses since ‘98, the most recent is BuildingEase, the first scale-engine to accelerate market transformation across the building product supply chain. I’ve been an angel investor and have been mentoring at Clean Tech Open Northeast for many years. I teach Entrepreneurial Leadership in Real Estate and Leadership for Sustainability and do a lot of in-house training for corporations and serve on BoD of CLF and mM. I crave a network of peers to share with, learn from and just be able to connect and share!

Ardian
Preci
He/Him
ESO Staff

Dynamic and visionary leader with extensive experience in business development, startup incubation, and strategic leadership. Proven track record in managing operations, fostering entrepreneurial growth, and building strong stakeholder relationships. Committed to driving innovation and nurturing early-stage ventures in academic settings.

Ramdas
Pai
He/Him
Founder

I have an educational background in pharmacy and organic chemistry. For my PhD degree I made outstanding fluorescent compounds. A slight modification in the structure of these compounds produced compounds with similar properties. A small amount of one compound has been made and it looks visually impressive.
These compounds were patentable, and I obtained a US patent covering these compounds. I also started a virtual company (Scintillon Research LLC). Since then, I have been looking for pre-seed funding for proof-of-concept studies. The market for these compounds already exists. I just made a better mouse trap.

Scintillon Research LLC will be selling fluorescent probes (molecules) to scientists (especially biologists) and engineers.
Fluorescent molecules are used for measuring or visualizing trace amounts of substances. Scintillon Research LLC will offer improved, patented (US patent 9,372,194 B2, 2016), fluorescent probes to research workers.
These molecules have 2 advantages over the main widely used competing molecule fluorescein. They are more stable to ultraviolet radiation and have a much larger Stokes shift of around 100nm which allows measurement of very low levels of samples.
Fluorescein is not stable to ultraviolet radiation and has a small Stokes shift (10nm). Fluorescein is not covered by a patent. When fluorescein is used as a microscopic stain, it fades rapidly when the slide is viewed under ultraviolet light. My compounds fluoresce for longer time.

I would like to make 2 compounds and study their utility in 4 projects. Since my company does not have a lab. I would like to outsource this work to US contract research companies.

1. Assay for alkaline phosphatase and
2. microscopic stain for cells producing alkaline phosphatase.

3. Assay for hydrogen sulfide and
4. microscopic stain for cells producing hydrogen sulfide.

No fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide exists on the market.

Significance of these assays

Determination of alkaline phosphatase activity using synthetic substrates has become important in biological research and clinical diagnosis of bone diseases such as increased osteoblastic activity and malignant bone tumors, but also for certain types of bile and liver diseases.

Hydrogen sulfide is an emerging neuromodulator that exerts a wide range of pathological and physiological functions in the human body, from endocrine system and cellular longevity to hepatic protection and kidney function. Hence there is a need for a tool for the detection and quantifying hydrogen sulfide in biological fluids and intact cells.

I am willing to work on any other project suggested by the funding agency.

Jaison
Patel
He/Him
Founder

I am building Tubender, where we are making automatic metal tube bending machines smaller, more affordable, and easier to use. Machines on the current market weigh over a ton, cost over $100,000, and are often longer than 20 feet long. My personal goal is to make all types of manufacturing accessible for all. I’d love for MFN to help connect me with people of similar interests as well as potential mentors and teammates!

Steve
Birnhak
He/Him
Founder

Steve Birnhak – COO & Co-Founder – Stockbridge, MA – Steve is a serial entrepreneur. He loves turning innovative ideas into products that deliver great user experiences. He was the Founder and CEO of Inwindow Outdoor, a pioneering New York-based digital media company creating unforgettable interactive advertising in public spaces seen by millions. The company was acquired in December, 2021. Prior to Inwindow, he co-founded Swapdrive, a VC-backed, cloud-based file storage and sharing platform acquired by Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) for $123M. He received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, and an MBA in marketing and management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, from the Stern School of Business at New York University where he was a Dean’s Scholar.

Joseph
Yu
Founder

Pananosis Laboratories is developing a blood-based early detection test for pancreatic and related cancers. We are using novel machine learning methods for analysis, working at the intersection of biology and computer science. I am a highs school student who started this as a research project and spun it out, and in my free time I like hanging out with friends or making music.

Abraham
Abraham Walters
He/Him
Founder

AI measurements is a sensor platform to help manufacturing companies with their digital transformation efforts. We help with Automation, Quality Control and Efficiency. I am a passionate engineer with a successful track record in being the change I want to see in the world. I would like MFN to help me scale that change.

Nele
Van Dessel
She/Her
Founder

I am a scientist turned CEO, running a UMass Amherst spinoff in Hadley and the UMass Amherst incubator. We are engineering bacteria to treat solid tumors. We are currently raising a $2M dollar seed round to advance our first pipeline candidate to the clinic. I would like to join MFN to learn from other founders and to expand my network.

Heather
Campbell
She/Her
Founder

Heather Campbell – CEO & Co-Founder – Stockbridge, MA – Heather’s purpose in life is to make people feel and be seen, heard and celebrated. Prior to founding Ready Set Recover, she held senior leadership roles as VP Synergy and Brand integration at ESPN, VP of Alchemy at Audacy (an audio content company), and Chair of the School and Education Committee in D2 of NYC where she founded a new school. She’s a motivational public speaker and engaging consultant who uses storytelling to open people up to possibilities and outline actions they then feel empowered to take. She competed for and won a full merit scholarship for her MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business and has her BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

David
Luigs
He/Him
Founder

David Luigs is a student at the College of the Holy Cross studying Economics and Computer Science. Born in Atlanta Georgia he moved to Massachusetts to attend college where he met his business partner and Co-founder TJ Haigh. Creating Trivflic in their dorm room in November 2022 they have been refining it and tweaking it since. Creating an app that is a gamified social media app, the first of its kind. Trivflic plans on launching on IOS and Android in February 2024.

TJ
Haigh
He/Him
Founder

I’m currently a student at Holy Cross in Worcester Mass, I graduated from Cushing Academy in 2022. Trivflic, my startup, focuses on reimagining trivia and creating the first gamified social network. Trivflic is intended to launch on iOS and Android in February 2024!

Brittney
Cappiello
She/Her
Founder

Brittney has devoted her 22+ year professional career as a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist to helping women to prevent and treat problems such as urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, urgency, frequency, vaginal prolapse, and pelvic pain. Brittney grew up in Adams, MA and returned to the area in 2003 with her husband, Tim, after working in Washington DC for 2 years following her graduation with her BS/MS from Russell Sage College. Brittney has 2 children, a son, Ian, who is 18, and a daughter, Maryn, who is 16. When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her family and hiking with her dog, Bruin.

Frank
Dolan
He/Him
Founder

Frank founded ARSENAL, a life science focused media and insights firm, after 20 years in biotech starting the commercial divisions of several companies ultimately acquired by big pharma.

Joanna
Shu
She/Her
Founder

Joanna has an MBA in finance from BU and experience developing personal care products and launching them in retail. Her most recent company was Refresh Skin Therapy, where she successfully launched 17 products into several channels, including Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and RiteAid.

Amy
Boutwell
She/Her
Founder

I design and lead healthcare delivery transformation efforts at the regional, state and national levels. Building on 15 years of experience I am working to create a tech-enabled service delivery offering to scale a solution to help hospital and accountable care teams better care for people who are experiencing a cycle of visits in and out of the hospitals/EDs. The solution would be based on tech-enabled workflow, deployed by a small core team in the hospital who are supported virtually by a virtual centralized remote team and who work in collaboration with the existing teams in the hospitals and PCP practices to lighten their load and help them achieve better clinical and financial outcomes. I’m eager to meet, work with, learn from and experience the benefits of being in a community of people trying to bring new ideas into the world!

Rich
Corbett
I prefer not to say
Founder, Investor

Founder TheStartup.com, Director Seed Golf, Chief Investment Officer Palm Street Capital  experienced founder, mentor, investor.

Chris
Oates
He/Him
Founder

Legislata is an informational marketplace and productivity suite for the public policy industry. I worked on the 2020 ranked choice voting campaign (Question 2) and was shocked at how there was no easy way to know what was happening in policy or tool to help people work efficiently in it. Keen to connect with those interested in making the political process a bit less broken.

Andrew
Fitch
He/Him
ESO Staff

Andrew’s community engagement experience extends across industries, cities, and countries. From running a Boston screen acting school to evangelizing San Francisco, Singapore, and London-based Tech startups. Andrew is passionate about connecting with and supporting entrepreneurs in his home state of Massachusetts and home city of North Adams. In his personal time, Andrew enjoys serving on local boards such as North Adams Pride and commissions such as the North Adams Zoning Board, running a farmers market booth, officiating weddings for friends and family, and producing city-wide celebration opportunities.

Tony
Zhang
He/Him
Founder

Avid golf hacker. Corp lender having provided over $3 billion in financing. Serial community builder/founder. Creating On-Demand Advisory Board for founders empowered by proprietary mobile technologies and an issued utility patent.

Amber
McFee
She/Her
Founder

I’m a problem-solver and management professional with 15+ years of experience helping startups optimize operations and drive growth. I specialize in the adult beverage space where one challenge has consistently persisted, a lack of unified software to connect suppliers, distributors, and experiential/staffing agencies. To bridge this gap, I created GigEngyn—a comprehensive platform designed to make life easier. I’m passionate about using technology to create solutions that make life simpler and GigEngyn is a great example of this. I’m excited to continue developing innovative solutions that improve how things are done.

Ashwin
Lokapally
Founder

Hello, I’m Ashwin, CEO & Co-founder of GiwoTech, Inc. We are a TechBio technology platform company, revolutionizing viral therapeutic and vaccine discovery through digital twin of viruses. We aim to solve health equity and accessibility.

Omkar
Chavan
He/Him
Founder

A vocal debt enthusiast from Northeastern University. Founder, CEO of SplitIn, will surely retire as a Photographer.

SplitIn a C2C, AI-fintech housing marketplace that facilitates the process of roommate match & housing search to sub/leasing private living spaces for international students and professionals in Massachusetts.

International student solving a problem personally faced aiming to provide a better solution.

Eben
Pingree
He/Him
Founder

Kinsome is a digital platform that strengthens relationships between grandkids and grandparents by deliberately counteracting the forces that have made those intergenerational relationships increasingly hard to develop.

Kinsome makes it fun for kids to share more of their lives through a social journaling experience that removes parents as the communication bottleneck and replaces them with a friendly AI bot, Kinzey, who is specifically designed to facilitate intergenerational conversation.

In an increasingly lonely world where the bedrock of familial support has been eroding for decades, we see an opportunity to leverage AI to bridge the gap between these two generations that have both the time and the need for deeper connection.

John
Stanhope
He/Him
Founder

As the co-founder and technology partner at Dovetail, my primary focus is to make digital transformation accessible to entrepreneurs. We started Dovetail because we understand the gaps that exist when starting or expanding a company. We help businesses experiencing transformational change to bridge the gaps in operations and technology, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on what’s important: the business. Whether you’re a startup or an expanding business, finding a capable partner during times when you’re already spread thin can seem like an impossible task. Dovetail exists to ease the stress and act as a trusted partner to your business, regardless of your technical needs.

Kaitlyn
Suarez
She/Her
Founder

Kaitlyn Suarez, co-founder and CEO of Terra Watts, is developing technology to wirelessly transmit power. Suarez believes that the future of power transmission is in wireless technology, which will reduce the demand for minerals used in batteries and wires. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in geosciences as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds a B.S. in geology from Union College in New York State.

Claire
Beskin
I prefer not to say
Founder

Claire Beskin is a cofounder of Empallo, an MIT spinoff building AI solutions to support cardiovascular care. Claire earned an MBA from MIT with a concentration in healthcare and a BA from Dartmouth College. Claire has prior work experience in product management at an MIT startup called Alpaca, management consulting at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and sales & trading at Goldman Sachs.

Emre
Bektik
He/Him
Founder

We are an early stage digital healthcare startup focused on at-home management of Type-2 diabetes. We have a co-founder team of doctors and scientists in diabetes field and a few other software engineers onboard. Currently, we are developing our software platform and negotiating with an AI research lab to help us build our AI platform to personalize the diabetes management program for patients with different needs. We need support from MFN to help us find other team members, establish important networks, and search for appropriate non-dilutive funding sources.

Shalabh
Gupta
He/Him
Founder

LiberTax provides startup employees with automated tax planning for their equity compensation by integrating financial data via APIs and past tax returns. We are starting with this niche customer base of early adopters to bring affordable expert tax planning to all employees in the US. Founded by Shalabh Gupta, an HBS MBA and Big4 alumnus with a passion for personal taxation.

Onder
Ondemir
He/Him
Founder

Co-founder of Ubiros | Revolutionizing Food & Bev. Industry | First-Ever Electrical Soft Gripper

Hailing from the tech-savvy heart of Massachusetts, I’m passionate about innovation, and it’s led me to co-found Ubiros, where we’ve cooked up a groundbreaking solution for the food and beverage industry and warehouses.

In the world of food and bev., the demand for efficient automation has never been higher. That’s where Ubiros steps in. We’ve crafted the very first electrical soft gripper to tackle the unique challenges of this industry. Whether it’s handling delicate pastries or juicy fish, our gripper delicately solves the age-old “how to handle it” conundrum.

I’m a proud co-founder who’s had the privilege of collaborating with a long-time friend, an esteemed professor in WPI Robotics Engineering. With my background, including a PhD in Industrial Engineering and prior experience as VP of Analytics in a Fortune 100 company, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the tech landscape.

Our Mission: At Ubiros, we’re on a mission to redefine industry standards. We’re looking to streamline processes, cut costs, and ensure that businesses in the food and beverage sector (especially small ones) can thrive in this digital age.

Massachusetts Founders Network: As a member of the Massachusetts Founders Network, I’m eager to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and innovators. Together, we can elevate our startups and explore exciting collaborations. Let’s cook up some cutting-edge ideas and stir innovation in the tech scene!

Leo
Dassa
He/Him
Founder

Looking to connect with other likeminded healthcare startup founders.

Roger
Dias
He/Him
Founder

Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School | Co-Founder of Xtory.ai

Daniel
Dacey
He/Him
Founder

Hiring and supporting a data science team for omics initiatives isn’t easy for biotechs, and working with traditional bioinformatic CROs can be a headache (one expert, email communication, hourly billing). I started Dovetail Biopartners to alleviate these pain points by tackling every omics data problem with a custom solution, as a team, and with streamlined collaboration through our Slack and in-house Client Portal. We only work on flat rate models, never hourly, so our data scientists and cloud engineers can stay focused on crafting the best solutions to each client’s specific problem. We are more than just a service provider, but a strategic partner for tailored omics data analytics and management solutions.
I am very much looking forward to learning from fellow founders on how to be a good leader and mentor, the pros and cons of outside funding vs bootstrapping, and maybe teaching others a bit about the world of data science.

Tom
Sharpe
He/Him
ESO Staff

As the Chief Relationship Builder at Mungy, I identify promising partnerships and nurture them to create lasting results. I rarely turn down an in person meeting especially if it involves good coffee and deep conversation.

When I’m not building our business, you can find me either reading a book (mostly biographies or life philosophy) or outdoors, hiking, biking, camping, and running a taxi service for our kids.

Aakash
Shah
He/Him
Founder

Aakash Shah, co-founder and CEO of High Time Foods, graduated from Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. The 0-1 and 1-10 phase of a startup is what Aakash enjoys working in. At High Time Foods, he is currently busy convincing restaurants and colleges to use their plant-based chicken product.

Zachary
Dutton
He/Him
Investor, ESO Staff

Currently the Executive Director of the Venture Forum in Worcester, MA. Venture Forum is an entrepreneurial community dedicated to helping early stage entrepreneurs grow and scale their ventures. I bring to it experience as an entrepreneur with expertise in strategic planning, operations, corporate development and fundraising. I successfully exited my last venture through strategic acquisition. I have led and managed multiple licensing agreements and partnerships in the US and internationally.

Clifford
Nau
Founder

Clifford (MIT Sloan) co-founder and COO of Kura Technologies, has built the first tech-incubator in the Caribbean region. He has raised and allocated up to $2M in funding in the region across multiple tech startups, acted as senior advisor to government officials of the LAC regions on financial inclusion, remittances, and digital economy. Clifford has strong expertise in digital financial inclusion, fintech, entrepreneurial strategy, building business ecosystem, business transformation, impact evaluation.

Stephanie
Joseph
She/Her
Founder

Fintech Founder and recent Harvard Business School MBA graduate with prior experience working in Fintech & Payments at Ernst & Young, American Express, and venture-backed start-ups in global markets (UK and Kenya) with a focus on driving product innovation, technology transformation, and strategic growth initiatives. Passionate about leveraging technology for impact and for economic development. I look forward to engaging with like-minded founders in the Massachusetts area.

Kara
Peterson
She/Her
Founder

Kara is a co-founder of descrybe.ai, the singular new way to search for, and understand, caselaw. descrybe.ai’s unique process leverages generative AI to make complex legal information more accessible to professionals and laypeople alike. The company is laser-focused on easy access to caselaw research, by lowering cost (it’s free!), increasing ease of use, and employing natural language search and summarization capacity. descrybe.ai was built in Greater Boston by Richard DiBona and Kara Peterson, a husband and wife team who share an interest in technology, the law, and the democratization of information.

Leslie
Nash
She/Her
ESO Staff

Program Director for the Technology-to-Market programming at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. MassCEC’s mission is to accelerate the clean energy and climate solution innovation that is critical to meeting the Commonwealth’s climate goals. I manage grant programs that support climate-focused tech innovators along their commercialization journey.

David
Rose
He/Him
Founder

David’s product designs have been featured at the New York Museum of Modern Art, covered in The New York Times, WIRED, and The Economist, and parodied on The Colbert Report. His home was featured in a New York Times video “The Internet of Things” about inventions that incorporate magic into everyday objects: a Google Earth coffee table that responds to gesture, Skype cabinetry in the living room, and a doorbell reminiscent of Mrs. Weasley’s clock that rings when a family member is on their way home. He even got John Stewart to belly laugh when he was a guest on The Daily Show!

Konstantyn
Shyshkin
He/Him
Founder

Consultant turned tech CEO

Uros
Kuzmanovic
He/Him
Founder

A lack of biosensors has drove me to mine nature for the purpose of creating continuously monitoring, non-invasive, diagnostic, affordable, and eventually therapeutic technology. I am a biotech entrepreneur bringing this idea to market.

Ryan
McNaughton
He/Him
Founder

I am the CEO and Co-founder of PriMetaz, an advanced materials company focused on developing translational metamaterial-based technologies that address common diagnostic imaging problems, namely improving the performance of magnetic resonance imaging. Prior to joining PriMetaz, I completed my doctoral studies at Boston University’s College of Engineering.

My thesis work is deeply rooted in developing computational tools for addressing clinically relevant health problems. I have extensively studied MRI physics and constructed python-based image processing algorithms to extract quantitative biological markers of the brain tissue’s condition.

Chris
Bauer
He/Him
ESO Staff

Chris supports startups as the Community Director at MassChallenge.

A nonprofit, MassChallenge connects startups, experts, corporations, and communities to grow and transform businesses and economies. Our unique equity-free model allows us to accelerate high-impact startups with bold, disruptive ideas from non-traditional backgrounds. We offer a variety of programs, accelerators, and partnerships throughout the year to those who share our vision of transformative innovation.

Sulagna (Dia)
Ghosh
Founder

Sulagna (Dia) Ghosh is a Women Techmakers Ambassador and the founder of Joint Family – an intergenerational platform empowering youth and elders through science, technology and arts. With a background in computational biology and over 10 years of work experience in academia and biotech, she is dedicated to building an innovative, inclusive and data driven venture to enhance well being across generations.

Brian
Handspicker
He/Him
Founder

CareWatch is a set of Socialcare/Healthcare monitoring apps that enable individuals and their caretakers to participate as members of their own extended care team, while enabling caretakers and care providers to remotely monitor the health and well-being of the individual.

Joe
Capone
He/Him
Founder

Digital punch card and order ahead mobile app platform for coffee shops, integrated with Square Loyalty

Seth
Hauben
Founder

Excited

Aidan
Regan
He/Him
Founder

I am working to create communal living spaces where inhabitants live in advanced, ecological housing, have direct access to quality nutrition and renewable energy, and work together in sharing tasks and lowering their daily expenses.

Anthony
Galgano
He/Him
Founder

I am a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with bachelor’s degrees in both Robotics Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. I am a lifelong native of central MA growing up in Sutton, MA and attending high school and college in Worcester. Since the age of 5, I was involved in robotics clubs and competitions outside of school.

During my senior year of college in 2021, I started a company called True Robotics with the mission of providing hands-on, project based STEM experience for students in the classroom. After completing 4 months of market research as part of the I-Corps program at WPI/MIT my team and I launched our classroom robotics programs. Since launch in the beginning of 2023, we have served thousands of students and hundreds of educators extending our primary school robotics education program to schools across the United States.

Jyotsna
Mehta
She/Her
Founder

Jyotsna Mehta is the Founder & CEO of Kevahealth, a virtual care company in respiratory care based in Boston. A dynamic and accomplished professional bringing over twenty five years of combined experience in academia, regulatory affairs and pharmaceutical industry working in both global and US roles spanning multiple therapeutic areas with a strong foundation in pharmaceutical sciences, digital health, real world evidence, epidemiology, health outcomes, and pharmacoeconomics. Keva Health’s suite of digital solutions is integrating innovative remote monitoring functionality with evidence-based self-monitoring programs for patients with chronic respiratory diseases to improve outcomes and reduce cost.

Richard
Meiklejohn
I prefer not to say
ESO Staff

Innovation Leader at UMass M2D2 helping medical device, biotech & digital health startups move from idea to market through a world-class accelerator program, IMPACT.

M2D2 is also an incubator for leading innovators with a number of emerging technologies being developed utilizing advanced shared lab equipment and a rich ecosystem of resources offered through the Core Research Facilities.

Richard is passionate about supporting founders to develop IMPACTful businesses that can transform how we deliver care to millions of patients. If you want to learn more about some of the startups being supported then be sure to check out The Medtech Impact Podcast!

Siobhan
Dullea
She/Her
ESO Staff

Siobhan Dullea is an Executive Director of Innovate@BU, Boston University’s student facing innovation center. She has worked at the C-level for the last 15+ years in multiple organizations – as Chief Client Officer, Chief Growth Officer, COO and CEO. Siobhan has directly managed customer success, finance, growth, HR, operations, product, and technology teams.

Siobhan has lived, travelled, and worked in many countries with networks in and knowledge of Innovation ecosystems in China, England, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and across the United States. She also has experience in a wide range of industries, business models, and technologies.

Siobhan was named a “Visionary on the Rise” by Boston Magazine in May 2019 and won the FCW Fed100 in 2021. She is part of the founding team of a public-private partnership called The Mass FinTech Hub, fostering fintech growth in Massachusetts and is on the Board of the Women in Sports Tech, a nonprofit organization that empowers transformative growth opportunities for women and employers at the intersection of sports, technology, and innovation. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum of Massachusetts.

Robby
Bitting
He/Him
ESO Staff

Accelerating startups at MassChallenge

Nate
Nurmi
I prefer not to say
ESO Staff

After starting an unsuccessful business in college, Nate quickly realized he needed to learn how to sell. After graduating he was hired as the first sales rep hired at Black Duck Software ahead of the company’s turnaround – culminating in a $565M acquisition. In 2019 he enrolled in Babson’s MBA program. With a rich network of early-stage startups Nate leveraged his experience to help founders optimize their growth strategies. This ultimately led to his founding of Bluebird Analytics – a revenue consulting firm that offers an array of services that help executives at high-growth companies optimize their demand and revenue generation engines. Nate also lead sales and business development at FPS – a high-growth BPO and CX Tech Services firm helping companies design, deploy and execute high-performing customer engagement programs.

Landon
Marchant
They/Them
Other

While I am currently responsible for the Williams College entrepreneurship program, my skillset includes federal and grassroots LGBTQ advocacy, peer-reviewed research and publication, and skilled trades. I am also a painter.

Makayla-Courtney
McGeeney
She/Her
Other

Makayla-Courtney McGeeney is a Freelance Marketing Consultant, Journalist, and Photographer who has contributed to print and digital publications throughout New England since 2015.

Chelsea
Gaia
She/Her
Founder, Other

Chelsea Gaia (she/her) is the founder of Green Bird & Co., a PR & Business Strategy Firm specializing in branding, brand recovery, and small business growth. For over 20 years Chelsea utilized and honed her passion for understanding the keen and specific desires of generational markets by utilizing marketing analytics, AI, and a keen intuition from an unmatched background in PR, business, and politics.
Gaia operates each venture with a deep value for community, an inherent spirit of entrepreneurship, and her keen marketing savvy. Prior to arriving in MA, Gaia spent 18 years revitalizing the small business district on Main Street in her hometown of Vancouver, WA.

Susanna
Sharpe
She/Her
Founder

Co-Founder and Creative Director at Mungy, a creative design studio. I solve business challenges through design, blending best practices with customer expectations. Beyond work, I’m a creative explorer—painting murals, gardening, cooking, and adventuring with my kids.

Shain
Khoja
She/Her
Founder

Shain Khoja is a global change maker and a serial entrepreneur. Graduated as a Physical Therapist, spent 10 years owner operating clinics across four continents. In 2003 she combined health & technology to deliver telemedicine, Mpaisa, eLearning in Afghanistan (Roshan). Shain put a team together Thriving.ai, to tackle the fragmented & siloed care system using data & design to promote healthy aging.

Malcolm
Smith
He/Him
Founder

Malcolm Smith has been a leader in energy software for over thirty years and currently brings cheaper and cleaner energy to small-medium businesses as CEO of Sustaine, Inc.

Amir
Khaleghi
He/Him
Founder

Amir Khaleghi is co-founder and CEO of Curbhub, a boston-based transportation tech company. He has over 16 years of experience in various supply chain and logistics roles and before Curbhub led operations and strategic finance teams at Wayfair.

Connor
MacFarlane
He/Him
Founder

MacFarlane Medical is working to simplify insulin delivery for people whose lives are being unnecessarily burdened by the difficulties of diabetes management. Our product bridges the gap between the two current treatment methods (multiple daily injections and pumping) by combining the best aspects of each and removing their drawbacks. Founder Connor MacFarlane has been a type one diabetic for over 5 years and has a B.S. in chemical engineering from UMass Amherst.

Emily
Melzer
She/Her
Founder

Emily Melzer, Ph.D. became excited about microbiology when she was introduced to sourdough starter as a kid. Since then, she’s been interested in applying knowledge of microbial behavior to solving real-world problems (bread-related and otherwise). Melzer is the CEO and Co-founder of Latde Diagnostics, a startup company spun out of UMass Amherst. Latde is developing a diagnostic test that rapidly guides physicians towards effective, responsible antibiotic treatment. With too many medical solutions out of reach for most of the world’s population, Latde is determined to create a test that can be used anywhere in the world, including disadvantaged communities. Making rapid diagnostics accessible to everyone could save and improve lives, mitigate the antibiotic resistance crisis and break down health inequity barriers.

Denisa
Kim
Founder

Despite having a strong STEM Background- I could not get to the bottom of my own women’s health issues that encompassed chronic conditions with my partner. It was frustrating, pathetic, and substantially decreased quality of life.

Initially, I thought my health problems were proprietary to me- until I stumbled upon tens of thousands of other women in FaceBook support groups with common vaginal health concerns that were stuck in a viscous cycle of prevalence, recurrence, and costly medical bills.

Thus, I founded Anteros Bio aka the first partner sexual health kit. We’re on a mission to connect reproductive microbiomes and so much more that has been under-researched and certainly underfunded in the FemTech space; Because women’s health care isn’t a “niche”, it’s just healthcare.

Charley
Stevenson
He/Him
Founder

Charley Stevenson, LFA, LEED AP, is Integrated Eco Strategy (IES) Consulting Principal and CEO of Red2Green Materials Management Software. Charley Stevenson’s interest in sustainable design began in the early 1990s when he graduated from Williams College with a concentration in Environmental Studies. He received his MS in Natural Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2002. Since then, he has worked on sustainable projects in a variety of capacities and, as a volunteer, has been active in a range of land conservation and renewable energy projects.

Govind
Srimathveeravalli
He/Him
Founder

I am a medical device evangelist who strongly believes that a short intervention and a localized treatment would provide the same outcomes as systemic medicine without the broad side effects.

Daniel
Zube
He/Him
Founder

I am a mechanical engineer with over 14 years of experience across a variety of industries including: printing press equipment, clean-burning biomass cookstoves for use in the developing world, ultra-high-efficiency air conditioners, industrial rubber hoses and belts, and high-precision electro-mechanical devices for semiconductor manufacturing.

Elizabeth
Nielsen
She/Her
ESO Staff

Elizabeth is an ordained Presbyterian minister who enjoys her service as a member of the Lever Board. She is passionate about people finding their gifts and exercising them for the good of human communities. She is most excited about the round tables because of the way entrepreneurs find encouragement and community with their peers.

Chris
Kreis
He/Him
Founder

Founder and CEO of ASP.MD Inc, provider of web based software and services for outpatient physicians.

Reem
Yared
Founder

I founded HelpAroundTown in 2010 as a social impact solution to the problem of youth unemployment. As a community marketplace for help, it connects people who need a helping hand around the house or yard with neighbors available to help. As the economy improved, it evolved into a key resource for Seniors seeking occasional help to Age in Place, in their homes.
By facilitating community-based multi-generational connections, we also reduce isolation and loneliness for Seniors, which led HelpAroundTown to win the Optimal Aging Award from MIT AgeLab, GE HealthCare and the Governor’s Council to Address Aging in MA.
Before HelpAroundTown, I worked with 9 other start-ups as a product strategy consultant.

Anujan
Ramesh
Founder

I am Anujan Ramesh, CEO and Co-founder of Quaesar Biosciences , where we are developing a non invasive screening test to detect ovarian cancer. I am originally from a beautiful costal city in India called Chennai. I moved to the US to pursue my Phd in Biomedical Engineering , following which , I am currently pursuing my post doctoral studies in Harvard.

Talal
Ali Ahmad
He/Him
Founder

I am a dynamic entrepreneur and seasoned technology executive with a strong track record of driving successful businesses that disrupt industries. With a focus on creating and implementing scalable technology infrastructures, I have consistently delivered outstanding results from concept to commercialization.

Andrew
Curran
He/Him
Founder

Bio coming soon!

Orion
Wilmerding
He/Him
Founder

Founder of BurnCam Medical. From a background in biomedical devices and software security, I jumped feet first into entrepreneurship going full time on my passion project in mid 2022.

Emily
Molstad
She/Her
Founder

Driven by her passion for sustainability and love of material science, Emily quickly found her home within the metal recycling industry. She built the foundation of her technical expertise at WPI’s Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling (CR3) but her career in the scrap world was kicked into gear in 2019. That year she traveled across the United States, visiting countless facilities to learn the ins and outs, but most importantly the needs, of the scrap metal recycling industry. This led Emily, along with her Co-Founder Caleb, to found VALIS, a software startup dedicated to delivering the solutions that are needed to ensure the optimal processing of scrap and creation of a circular economy. The VALIS team is committed to bringing Industry 4.0 capabilities that support the stability and profitability of metal recyclers and maximizes the recovery of material from the past to meet the demands of the future. Emily centers on leading with compassion and enjoys creating a supportive, collaborative environment that drives success for VALIS teammates, customers, and partners.

Cheryl
Shao
She/Her
Founder

The founder and CEO, Dr. Cheryl Shao graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in May of 2019. She has had orthodontic research experience at the NYU College of Dentistry and the Consortium for Translational Orthodontic Research (CTOR). Cheryl came up with the idea for Sympal during dental school due to her own personal orthodontic journey. After graduating from dental school, Cheryl saw a need for her product amongst her patients. Her passion combined with her purpose of improving the standard of care in orthodontics led her to found Sympal to bring her vision to life.

Kaitlyn
Pierce
She/Her
Founder, Other

I’m an entrepreneur from the Berkshires looking to modernize the medical coding industry through AI. Inspired by my mother’s experiences as a coder, I aim to develop solutions that automate redundant processes and reduce errors. With a technical background and passion for healthcare innovation, I want to leverage cutting-edge technology to improve this $16B market. I’d love the MFN community’s help connecting me to healthcare and tech experts who can provide insights on bringing my vision to life. Let’s work together to enhance medical coding through meaningful innovation!

Joseph
Rosenbaum
He/Him
Founder

I am the dedicated CEO of Synaptic Labs, a company focused on making AI technologies accessible, equitable, and ethically responsible. With expertise in prompt engineering and AI education, I guide businesses to integrate AI responsibly, always prioritizing safety and alignment. I am captivated by the psychology of motivation, neuroscience, education, and AI ethics, aiming to spread empathy and joy through my work. My ultimate goal is to generate enough revenue through Synaptic Labs to fund further AI safety research. I believe in using AI as a powerful tool for positive change, continuously learning and working to improve the lives of those around me, always striving to leave the world a better place than I found it.

Rob
Whitten
He/Him
Founder

I’m a food and robot nerd with a successful track record of bringing new products to life. My goal is combine those passions into a solution that makes drive thru an enjoyable and hyper convenient experience.

Jesse
Silverberg
He/Him
Founder

Jesse has more than fifteen years of experience in physics research and technology development. With a background in science, writing, and public speaking, Jesse now leads Multiscale Systems toward sustainable commercial success.

* Postdoc at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering as an NIH Fellow
* PhD/MS in Physics, Cornell University as an NSF GRFP Fellow
* BS in Physics; BS in Mathematics; BS in Philosophy, Northeastern University with Matthews and IGERT Fellowships

He’s presented research at 40+ locations on 3 continents, including TEDx, and has contributed to more than 35 additional conferences. Jesse’s more than 25 peer-reviewed publications can be found in Science, Nature Materials, PNAS, and more.

Brandale
Randolph
He/Him
Founder

Founder, Small Business Leader of the Year 2020, Manufacture of the Year 2018

John
Wall
He/Him
Founder

Producer and Co-host of Marketing Over Coffee and Partner at Trust Insights.

A marketing and sales professional with management experience with teams from 1 (with contractors) up to 120. I love using technology to improve sales and marketing productivity.

Specialties: Marketing, Sales, Copywriting, Salesforce Automation, Email, Author, SEO, SEM, CRM, Video, Podcasting, Affiliate and Search Marketing

Elizabeth
Nelson
She/Her

Elizabeth is an engineer by training with a passion for project management and early stage concept development. She has worked in the medical field, focusing on research and development, since 2003.

Through her work, she has learned the importance of integrating design for six sigma techniques and DFM into even the earliest stages of innovation. Given her passion for early-stage concept development, she integrates DFSS tools into her projects and keeps up on the latest ways to innovate.

Elizabeth received her B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University.

Angela
Son
She/Her
Founder

Angela is building The Green Launchpad (TGL), a climate edtech startup addressing the green skills gap in the US. TGL is a talent portal, network, and career accelerator where people can discover new green jobs, learn practical green skills in the way that best suits their circumstances, and get matched to green opportunities where they can start building their long impactful careers.

Angela is a recent grad from the HBS program and a former startup operator and management consultant. She enjoys spending her time taking walks in the woods and near bodies of water, true to her Korean-Canadian roots.

Megan
Marszalek
She/Her
Other

I am the Program Director for Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at MassTech, where I lead efforts to grow strong startup ecosystems throughout Massachusetts through strategic investments in communities and emerging tech sectors.

Natalia
Giacomozzi
She/Her
Other

Communications Associate for Lever & strong communicator about the Boston Bruins. I am thrilled to be a part of the MA startup landscape, especially with a Gen Z outlook. Have word search, will travel.

James
Birge
He/Him
ESO Staff

Birge is the 12th president of MCLA and has worked in higher education administration for 39 years.

Angela
Dixon
She/Her
ESO Staff

Angela is an HR/DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) professional with over 30 years of experience in the field. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer at Berkshire Bank. While Berkshire is headquartered in Pittsfield and Boston, MA, Angela is based in the Capital Region of Upstate New York, where Berkshire also has a significant presence. In addition to ensuring that DEI is embedded into all aspects of Berkshire’s lines of business, she is responsible for providing oversight to a Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship initiative (known as Reevx), powered by Berkshire Bank. Angela’s own stint as an entrepreneur was as CEO/Founder of Dixon Consulting II, in 2019, a management consultancy focused leadership development, strategic planning and DEI. In June 2023, Angela joined to Lever Board of Directors.

Sara
LaLumia
She/Her
ESO Staff

I’m an economics professor at Williams College, and I study how the U.S. individual income tax affects decisions about working and other behavior. I’m a board member at Lever.

JD
Chesloff
He/Him
ESO Staff

I am the President & CEO of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, a public policy organization of CEOs and Senior Executives from large employers working state public policy in pursuit of the mission of making Massachusetts a better place to live and do business. I am also a member of the Board of Lever.

Effective Date: [2/22/24]

IMPORTANT: THESE TERMS OF USE CONTAIN A MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISION IN SECTION 15 THAT REQUIRES THE USE OF ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES. THIS MEANS THAT YOU AGREE TO GIVE UP RIGHTS TO SUE US IN COURT OR IN CLASS ACTIONS OF ANY KIND. WARRANTY DISCLAIMERS AND LIABILITY LIMITATIONS ARE EXPLAINED IN SECTIONS 8 AND 9.

 

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the Lever, Inc. d/b/a Massachusetts Founders Network’s (“MFN,” “we” or “us”) website, including all pages within this website and any Content, Services, or other functionality provided in connection with our website, available at www.massfoundersnetwork.org (collectively referred to as the “Website”).

These Terms become effective on the date when you accept them by clicking “Accept,” “I agree,” or a similar button on the Website, or you otherwise begin to use the Website. These Terms will be applicable to you for the duration that you access or use the Website.

Please read the terms carefully in full before accessing the website. by accessing the website or by clicking to accept or agree to these terms, you accept and agree to be legally bound by these terms. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use the website.

The Website is suitable for a general audience and is intended for use only by users who are 18 years of age or older.

1. Definitions

The following definitions apply to these terms:

a) “Content” means text, graphics, images, videos, blogs, photographs, software, technology, and other materials made available to you through the Website or otherwise in connection with the Services, and expressly excludes information you provide where you own the intellectual property rights to such information.

b) “Services” means all paid or unpaid services made available to you through the Website.

2. Acceptable Use

By accessing the Website, you hereby represent and warrant the following:

a) You will use the Website only for purposes that are permitted by these Terms and by applicable law in the jurisdiction where you are accessing the Website.

b) You will not use the Website in any way that causes, or may cause, damage to or impairment of the availability or accessibility of the Website, or in any way which is unlawful, illegal, fraudulent, or harmful, or in connection with any unlawful, illegal, fraudulent, or harmful purpose or activity.

c) You acknowledge and agree that your access to certain portions of our Website contain confidential information that belongs to MFN, MFN’s users, or other third-parties. You will not sell, transfer, assign, license, sublicense, or modify any Content, including such confidential information, or copy, reproduce, display, publicly perform, make a derivative version of, distribute, or otherwise use the Content in any way for purposes not permitted by these Terms.

d) You will not use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated means to access or “mirror” the Website or any Content on any other server.

e) You are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any country subject to sanctions by the United States, you have not been placed on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Denied Persons List, and you are not identified as a “Specially Designated National” by the United States government.

f) You will not access the Website if you have previously been prohibited from doing so or if any laws prohibit you from doing so

g) You have full power and authority to agree to these Terms.

3. License to Use Website

You may view, download, and print pages from the Website for your own personal use only, subject to the restrictions set out below and elsewhere in these terms and conditions. You must not:

a) Republish Content from the Website (including republication on another website); reposting content to individual social media channels is allowed.

b) Sell, rent or sub-license any Content from the Website;

c) Reproduce, duplicate, copy or otherwise exploit Content for commercial purposes without our express written consent; or

d) Edit or otherwise modify any Content.

4. User Content and Usage Data

You grant us a worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, translate, and distribute your User Content (such as profile details or an event)in any existing or future media. You also grant us the right to sub-license these rights, and to bring an action for infringement of these rights. You warrant and represent that your User Content will comply with these Terms. You must not submit any User Content to the Website that is or has ever been the subject of any threatened or actual legal proceedings or other similar complaint.

You understand that your User Content and other information collected, generated, stored, or transmitted by you in connection with your use of Services (“Usage Data”) may be transferred unencrypted over various networks, and that we or others may make changes to that transmission to conform and adapt to technical requirements of connecting networks or devices. You agree that we can take all legally permitted actions related to all User Content and Usage Data that you provide, transmit, upload, or otherwise submit to us.

5. Account
If you create an account on the Website (an “Account”), you will keep secure and confidential your Account password or any identification credentials that you use to access the Account or otherwise use the Website. You will immediately notify us if you become aware of or suspect unauthorized access, disclosure, loss, theft, or unauthorized use of your Account. You may not create an Account on behalf of another individual and may not impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation with another person or entity in connection with the Account creation or your use of the Website. We are not responsible or liable for any liability, damages, loss, or expenses arising in any way from the use of your account. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete while creating an account, or we have reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete, we have the right to suspend or terminate your Account. We may disable any username, password, company and/or brand pages, or other identifier at any time, in our sole discretion for any or no reason, including if, in our opinion, you have violated any provision of these Terms.
6. User Feedback

You agree that we may freely use any suggestions, ideas, or other feedback concerning the Website or the Content that you submit to us (collectively, “User Feedback”). You acknowledge, represent, and agree that your User Feedback is provided voluntarily and is not confidential or proprietary to you. You grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, transferable, perpetual, and irrevocable license to use, distribute, transmit, reproduce, modify, publish, translate, publicly perform, and display and create derivative works of User Feedback, except as otherwise prohibited by applicable laws or these Terms. You waive any right to compensation of any type for your User Feedback. You represent and warrant that you have all the rights necessary to grant the rights in this Section and that use of User Feedback by us does not violate any law.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

We or our third party licensors shall continue to own and retain all right, title, and interest, including all related patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, and other intellectual property rights, in all Content. Except as expressly provided in these Terms, no license to use, copy, distribute, republish, transmit or otherwise exploit any Content is given to you and all such intellectual property rights in and to the Content are expressly reserved to us or one of our affiliates, as applicable. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as granting, by implication, waiver, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any Content or any of our intellectual property rights (including any trademarks, tradenames, or service-marks) without our prior written permission. The name, the logo, and the product names associated with MFN are our trademarks, and no right or license is granted to you to use them.

8. Restricted Access and Termination

We reserve the right to, at our sole discretion, at any time without prior notice to you: (i) change, restrict access to, suspend, or discontinue the Website, any portion of the Website; (ii) add, remove, or modify any Services or functionality that is available through the Website; or (iii) terminate your access to all or a portion of the Website. We may, at any time, disable your username and password if you breach these Terms.

9. No Warranties

The Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The information in our Content is made available solely for general information purposes, and does not constitute any type of advice, whether financial, legal, investment, accounting, tax, or otherwise. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. We disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such materials by you or any other visitor, or by anyone who may be informed of any of the Content. Although we have no duty to you to update the Content, the Content may be updated frequently, including based on interactions with other users, but the Content is not necessarily complete or up to date.

10. Limitations of Liability

You expressly acknowledge and agree that your use of our website, its content, and the services are at your own risk. Our website, its content, and the services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, with all faults and without any warranties of any kind, either express implied or statutory, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties and/or conditions of merchantability, of satisfactory quality, of fitness for a particular purpose, of accuracy, of security, of quiet enjoyment, and non-infringement of third party rights. We do not warrant against interference with your enjoyment of our website, that the functions contained in, or services performed or provided by, our website will meet your requirements, that the operation of our website will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects in ramp will be corrected. No oral or written information or advice given by us or our authorized representatives shall create a warranty.

In no event will MFN and MFN’s respective licensors, service providers, employees, agents, contractors, officers and directors (together with MFN, “MFN parties”) be liable for damages of any kind, under any legal theory, arising out of or in connection with your use, or inability to use, or impaired use of, our website, any website linked to it, any content on our website or such other website or any services or items obtained through our website or such other website, including for any indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, under any legal theory for any claims including, but not limited to, personal injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of revenue, loss of profits, loss of business or anticipated savings, loss of use, loss of goodwill, loss of data, and whether caused by tort (including negligence), breach of contract, strict liability, or otherwise, even if foreseeable. The foregoing does not affect any liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law. To the fullest extent provided by applicable law, the maximum aggregate liability under this agreement for all damages, losses, and causes of action, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, for mfn parties, for any event, act or omission will not exceed $1.

11. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify, hold harmless, and at MFN’s option, defend mfn parties from and against any claims, actions or demands, liabilities and settlements including without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, made by any person arising out of (i) your violation of these terms, state or federal laws or regulations, or any other person’s rights, including but not limited to infringement of any copyright or violation of any proprietary or privacy right, (ii) your use or inability to use the website, (iii) any errors, inaccuracies or delays in the content, materials, or information provided to you via the website, or (iv) claims related to unauthorized disclosure of your or a third-party’s data that arises from your use of the website.

12. Links to and from Third Party Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party applications, websites, or other content (“Third Party Content”) that are not owned or controlled by us. We provide these links to you as a convenience and inclusion of any link herein shall in no way be construed as an endorsement by us. We have no control over and disclaim any responsibility for Third Party Content, and we accept no responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise, for you or for any third-party, from your use of Third Party Content. We further disclaim any responsibility for any form of transmission received from Third Party Content. Please review carefully the third-party’s policies and practices and make sure you understand them before you engage in any transaction. Complaints, claims, concerns, or questions regarding third-party products should be directed to the third-party. If you decide to access third-party applications, websites, or other content through our Website, you do so at your sole risk.

If you would like to link to our Website, you may only do so subject to the following conditions:

a) You do not in any way imply that we are endorsing any services or products without our prior written permission;

b) You do not misrepresent your relationship with us or present any false information about us;

c) You do not link from a website or webapp that is not owned by you; and

d) Your website or webapp does not contain content that is offensive, controversial, infringes any intellectual property rights or other rights of any other person or does not comply in any way with the law of the United States.

If you choose to link our Website, you shall fully indemnify us for any loss or damage suffered as a result of your actions. We reserve the right, at any time, for any reason, to deny permission to anyone to link a website or webapp from or to our Website.

13. Electronic Communications

You agree and consent to receive electronically all communications, agreements, documents, receipts, notices, and disclosures (collectively, “Communications”). You further consent and agree that your use of a keypad, mouse, or other device to select an item, button, icon or similar act while using our Website, or in accessing or making any transactions regarding any agreement, acknowledgment, consent, terms, disclosures or conditions, constitutes your signature, acceptance, and agreement as if actually signed by you in writing. Further, you agree that no certification authority or other third-party verification is necessary to establish the validity of your electronic signature, and that the lack of such certification or third-party verification will not affect the enforceability of your signature or any resulting contract between you and us.

14. Modification of these Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms or any other policies relating to the Services at any time, without prior notice to you. Such modifications will be effective immediately upon notice to you, which notice may be given by any means, including, but not limited to, posting of an updated version of the Terms on the Website or electronic mail. Your access and continued use of the Website constitutes your agreement to accept the Terms as modified. The “Effective Date” legend at the top of the Terms indicates the date on which these Terms were last updated.

15. Jurisdictional Issues and Applicable Law

Unless otherwise specified, the Website is directed at residents of the United States, its territories, possessions, and protectorates. The Website is controlled and operated by us from our offices in the United States. We make no representations that the Website is appropriate or available for use in other locations or that access to the Website is not illegal and prohibited in such other locations. If you access the Website from outside the United States, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for establishing the legality, usability and correctness of any information or materials under any or all jurisdictions and the compliance of that information or material with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable.

Our Website is subject to the United States export control laws and regulations and may be subject to export or import regulations in other countries. You agree to strictly comply with all such laws and regulations and acknowledge that you have the responsibility to obtain authorization to export, re-export, or import of any data on our Website, as may be required. You may not use or export the information or materials in violation of United States export laws and regulations. The information provided in or accessible through the Website is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject us to any registration or other requirement within such jurisdiction or country.

 

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the Lever, Inc. d/b/a Massachusetts Founders Network’s (“MFN,” “we” or “us”) website, including all pages within this website and any Content, Services, or other functionality provided in connection with our website, available at www.massfoundersnetwork.org (collectively referred to as the “Website”).

These Terms become effective on the date when you accept them by clicking “Accept,” “I agree,” or a similar button on the Website, or you otherwise begin to use the Website. These Terms will be applicable to you for the duration that you access or use the Website.

Please read the terms carefully in full before accessing the website. by accessing the website or by clicking to accept or agree to these terms, you accept and agree to be legally bound by these terms. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use the website.

The Website is suitable for a general audience and is intended for use only by users who are 18 years of age or older.

 
1. Definitions

The following definitions apply to these terms:

a) “Content” means text, graphics, images, videos, blogs, photographs, software, technology, and other materials made available to you through the Website or otherwise in connection with the Services, and expressly excludes information you provide where you own the intellectual property rights to such information.

b) “Services” means all paid or unpaid services made available to you through the Website.

 
2. Acceptable Use

By accessing the Website, you hereby represent and warrant the following:

a) You will use the Website only for purposes that are permitted by these Terms and by applicable law in the jurisdiction where you are accessing the Website.

b) You will not use the Website in any way that causes, or may cause, damage to or impairment of the availability or accessibility of the Website, or in any way which is unlawful, illegal, fraudulent, or harmful, or in connection with any unlawful, illegal, fraudulent, or harmful purpose or activity.

c) You acknowledge and agree that your access to certain portions of our Website contain confidential information that belongs to MFN, MFN’s users, or other third-parties. You will not sell, transfer, assign, license, sublicense, or modify any Content, including such confidential information, or copy, reproduce, display, publicly perform, make a derivative version of, distribute, or otherwise use the Content in any way for purposes not permitted by these Terms.

d) You will not use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated means to access or “mirror” the Website or any Content on any other server.

e) You are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any country subject to sanctions by the United States, you have not been placed on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Denied Persons List, and you are not identified as a “Specially Designated National” by the United States government.

f) You will not access the Website if you have previously been prohibited from doing so or if any laws prohibit you from doing so

g) You have full power and authority to agree to these Terms.

 
3. License to Use Website

You may view, download, and print pages from the Website for your own personal use only, subject to the restrictions set out below and elsewhere in these terms and conditions. You must not:

a) Republish Content from the Website (including republication on another website); reposting content to individual social media channels is allowed.

b) Sell, rent or sub-license any Content from the Website;

c) Reproduce, duplicate, copy or otherwise exploit Content for commercial purposes without our express written consent; or

d) Edit or otherwise modify any Content.

 
4. User Content and Usage Data

You grant us a worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, translate, and distribute your User Content (such as profile details or an event)in any existing or future media. You also grant us the right to sub-license these rights, and to bring an action for infringement of these rights. You warrant and represent that your User Content will comply with these Terms. You must not submit any User Content to the Website that is or has ever been the subject of any threatened or actual legal proceedings or other similar complaint.

You understand that your User Content and other information collected, generated, stored, or transmitted by you in connection with your use of Services (“Usage Data”) may be transferred unencrypted over various networks, and that we or others may make changes to that transmission to conform and adapt to technical requirements of connecting networks or devices. You agree that we can take all legally permitted actions related to all User Content and Usage Data that you provide, transmit, upload, or otherwise submit to us.

 
5. Account
If you create an account on the Website (an “Account”), you will keep secure and confidential your Account password or any identification credentials that you use to access the Account or otherwise use the Website. You will immediately notify us if you become aware of or suspect unauthorized access, disclosure, loss, theft, or unauthorized use of your Account. You may not create an Account on behalf of another individual and may not impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation with another person or entity in connection with the Account creation or your use of the Website. We are not responsible or liable for any liability, damages, loss, or expenses arising in any way from the use of your account. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete while creating an account, or we have reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete, we have the right to suspend or terminate your Account. We may disable any username, password, company and/or brand pages, or other identifier at any time, in our sole discretion for any or no reason, including if, in our opinion, you have violated any provision of these Terms.
 
6. User Feedback

You agree that we may freely use any suggestions, ideas, or other feedback concerning the Website or the Content that you submit to us (collectively, “User Feedback”). You acknowledge, represent, and agree that your User Feedback is provided voluntarily and is not confidential or proprietary to you. You grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, transferable, perpetual, and irrevocable license to use, distribute, transmit, reproduce, modify, publish, translate, publicly perform, and display and create derivative works of User Feedback, except as otherwise prohibited by applicable laws or these Terms. You waive any right to compensation of any type for your User Feedback. You represent and warrant that you have all the rights necessary to grant the rights in this Section and that use of User Feedback by us does not violate any law.

 
7. Intellectual Property Rights

We or our third party licensors shall continue to own and retain all right, title, and interest, including all related patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, and other intellectual property rights, in all Content. Except as expressly provided in these Terms, no license to use, copy, distribute, republish, transmit or otherwise exploit any Content is given to you and all such intellectual property rights in and to the Content are expressly reserved to us or one of our affiliates, as applicable. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as granting, by implication, waiver, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any Content or any of our intellectual property rights (including any trademarks, tradenames, or service-marks) without our prior written permission. The name, the logo, and the product names associated with MFN are our trademarks, and no right or license is granted to you to use them.

 
8. Restricted Access and Termination

We reserve the right to, at our sole discretion, at any time without prior notice to you: (i) change, restrict access to, suspend, or discontinue the Website, any portion of the Website; (ii) add, remove, or modify any Services or functionality that is available through the Website; or (iii) terminate your access to all or a portion of the Website. We may, at any time, disable your username and password if you breach these Terms.

 
9. No Warranties

The Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The information in our Content is made available solely for general information purposes, and does not constitute any type of advice, whether financial, legal, investment, accounting, tax, or otherwise. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. We disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such materials by you or any other visitor, or by anyone who may be informed of any of the Content. Although we have no duty to you to update the Content, the Content may be updated frequently, including based on interactions with other users, but the Content is not necessarily complete or up to date.

 
10. Limitations of Liability

You expressly acknowledge and agree that your use of our website, its content, and the services are at your own risk. Our website, its content, and the services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, with all faults and without any warranties of any kind, either express implied or statutory, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties and/or conditions of merchantability, of satisfactory quality, of fitness for a particular purpose, of accuracy, of security, of quiet enjoyment, and non-infringement of third party rights. We do not warrant against interference with your enjoyment of our website, that the functions contained in, or services performed or provided by, our website will meet your requirements, that the operation of our website will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects in ramp will be corrected. No oral or written information or advice given by us or our authorized representatives shall create a warranty.

In no event will MFN and MFN’s respective licensors, service providers, employees, agents, contractors, officers and directors (together with MFN, “MFN parties”) be liable for damages of any kind, under any legal theory, arising out of or in connection with your use, or inability to use, or impaired use of, our website, any website linked to it, any content on our website or such other website or any services or items obtained through our website or such other website, including for any indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, under any legal theory for any claims including, but not limited to, personal injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of revenue, loss of profits, loss of business or anticipated savings, loss of use, loss of goodwill, loss of data, and whether caused by tort (including negligence), breach of contract, strict liability, or otherwise, even if foreseeable. The foregoing does not affect any liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law. To the fullest extent provided by applicable law, the maximum aggregate liability under this agreement for all damages, losses, and causes of action, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, for mfn parties, for any event, act or omission will not exceed $1.

 
11. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify, hold harmless, and at MFN’s option, defend mfn parties from and against any claims, actions or demands, liabilities and settlements including without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, made by any person arising out of (i) your violation of these terms, state or federal laws or regulations, or any other person’s rights, including but not limited to infringement of any copyright or violation of any proprietary or privacy right, (ii) your use or inability to use the website, (iii) any errors, inaccuracies or delays in the content, materials, or information provided to you via the website, or (iv) claims related to unauthorized disclosure of your or a third-party’s data that arises from your use of the website.

 
12. Links to and from Third Party Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party applications, websites, or other content (“Third Party Content”) that are not owned or controlled by us. We provide these links to you as a convenience and inclusion of any link herein shall in no way be construed as an endorsement by us. We have no control over and disclaim any responsibility for Third Party Content, and we accept no responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise, for you or for any third-party, from your use of Third Party Content. We further disclaim any responsibility for any form of transmission received from Third Party Content. Please review carefully the third-party’s policies and practices and make sure you understand them before you engage in any transaction. Complaints, claims, concerns, or questions regarding third-party products should be directed to the third-party. If you decide to access third-party applications, websites, or other content through our Website, you do so at your sole risk.

If you would like to link to our Website, you may only do so subject to the following conditions:

a) You do not in any way imply that we are endorsing any services or products without our prior written permission;

b) You do not misrepresent your relationship with us or present any false information about us;

c) You do not link from a website or webapp that is not owned by you; and

d) Your website or webapp does not contain content that is offensive, controversial, infringes any intellectual property rights or other rights of any other person or does not comply in any way with the law of the United States.

If you choose to link our Website, you shall fully indemnify us for any loss or damage suffered as a result of your actions. We reserve the right, at any time, for any reason, to deny permission to anyone to link a website or webapp from or to our Website.

 
13. Electronic Communications

You agree and consent to receive electronically all communications, agreements, documents, receipts, notices, and disclosures (collectively, “Communications”). You further consent and agree that your use of a keypad, mouse, or other device to select an item, button, icon or similar act while using our Website, or in accessing or making any transactions regarding any agreement, acknowledgment, consent, terms, disclosures or conditions, constitutes your signature, acceptance, and agreement as if actually signed by you in writing. Further, you agree that no certification authority or other third-party verification is necessary to establish the validity of your electronic signature, and that the lack of such certification or third-party verification will not affect the enforceability of your signature or any resulting contract between you and us.

 
14. Modification of these Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms or any other policies relating to the Services at any time, without prior notice to you. Such modifications will be effective immediately upon notice to you, which notice may be given by any means, including, but not limited to, posting of an updated version of the Terms on the Website or electronic mail. Your access and continued use of the Website constitutes your agreement to accept the Terms as modified. The “Effective Date” legend at the top of the Terms indicates the date on which these Terms were last updated.

 
15. Jurisdictional Issues and Applicable Law

Unless otherwise specified, the Website is directed at residents of the United States, its territories, possessions, and protectorates. The Website is controlled and operated by us from our offices in the United States. We make no representations that the Website is appropriate or available for use in other locations or that access to the Website is not illegal and prohibited in such other locations. If you access the Website from outside the United States, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for establishing the legality, usability and correctness of any information or materials under any or all jurisdictions and the compliance of that information or material with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable.

Our Website is subject to the United States export control laws and regulations and may be subject to export or import regulations in other countries. You agree to strictly comply with all such laws and regulations and acknowledge that you have the responsibility to obtain authorization to export, re-export, or import of any data on our Website, as may be required. You may not use or export the information or materials in violation of United States export laws and regulations. The information provided in or accessible through the Website is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject us to any registration or other requirement within such jurisdiction or country.

 
16. Governing Law; Mandatory Arbitration

Any disputes arising in connection with these Terms shall be governed by and construed and enforced solely and exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

[You agree to provide a written notice of any disputes to the other party at its notice address (or an address provided in writing to the other party) and try to resolve any such disputes in good faith thereafter. If the dispute is not resolved, within 30 days of a party providing notice to the other party, both parties agree that the dispute will be resolved through individual, non-representative, binding arbitration held in English, instead of a proceeding in courts of general jurisdiction. Any such disputes will be decided by a single arbitrator and will be administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The AAA’s Arbitration Rules will apply as modified by these Terms. The arbitrator will conduct hearings, if any, by teleconference or videoconference, rather than by personal appearances, unless the arbitrator determines upon request by you or by us that an in-person hearing is appropriate. Any in-person appearances will be held in Boston, Massachusetts. The arbitrator will have authority to award temporary, interim, or permanent injunctive relief or relief providing for specific performance, but only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by the individual claim before the arbitrator. The award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed and enforced in any court with appropriate jurisdiction. Each party will be responsible for its respective costs, including costs related to its respective attorneys, experts, and witnesses.

You expressly waive your right to go to court, to a trial by jury, and to participate in a class action, class arbitration, or other representative proceeding with respect to any claim subject to arbitration.

You agree that any cause of action brought by or on behalf of you arising out of or related to the website or services must commence within one (1) year after the cause of action accrues. otherwise, such cause of action is permanently barred.

17. General

17.1 Assignment. MFN may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms to any party without prior notice to users. Users may not assign or transfer, in whole or in part, their rights or obligations under these Terms to any third party without the prior written consent of MFN. These Terms will be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the successors, representatives, and permitted assigns of the parties.

17.2 Waiver. Any failure by MFN to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not be construed as a waiver of that provision or any other provision of these Terms.

17.3 Severability. These Terms, other terms or legal notices published by us on the Website, and any other applicable agreements, shall constitute the entire agreement between us concerning use of the Website. If any provision of these Terms is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these Terms, which shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term, and our failure to assert any right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

17.4 Survival. The rights, obligations, and commitments in these Terms that, by their nature, would logically continue beyond the termination of your use of or access to the Website or the Services survive termination of these Terms.

17.5 Interpretation. The following rules of interpretation apply to these Terms and are by this reference incorporated: (a) the word “or” is not exclusive and the words “including” or “include” are not limiting; (b) headings are only for reference and are not to be considered in interpreting these Terms; and (c) a reference to a law includes any amendment or modification to such law and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or any law enacted in substitution or replacement therefor.

17.6 Relationship. We provide the Website to you as an independent contractor and service provider. These Terms or the provision of the Website, including our Services, does not create any relationship of partnership, joint venture, fiduciary, or employer and employee or otherwise.

17.7 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly stated, no provisions of these Terms create any third-party beneficiary.

17.8 Entire Agreement. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between MFN and users relating to the use of the Website and Content and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, in relation to the subject matter of these terms and conditions.

18. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms and conditions or the website, please let us know by contacting MFN here.
Last Updated: [2/22/24]

We at the Massachusetts Founders Network are committed to protecting the privacy of our members and other users of our website and services. This Privacy Policy explains our practices related to the gathering and disclosure of information from this website, our programs, and services. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully as it will help you make informed decisions about sharing your personal information with us.

 
Information Collection

We collect information when you visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, fill out a form, participate in forums, or otherwise contact us. This information allows us to identify and contact you, as well as to carry out certain business purposes described below. The information we collect falls into the following categories:

 

Information You Provide

The types of information we collect directly from you may include:

  • Direct identifiers, such as your name, email address, phone number, and other contact information.
  • Demographic information, such as your birthdate and gender.
  • Professional information, professional history, and LinkedIn profile.
  • Information about your startup, such as number of employees, funding, and other progress metrics.
  • Photos and videos that may be taken at our events.
Automatic Data Collection

When you use our website, we automatically collect information about you and your device. This may include your IP address, device identifier, geolocation information, web browser type and version, language, and information about your usage of our website or services such as the searches you run or the pages you view.

 

Information Third Parties

We may collect information about you from third parties and publicly available sources, such as your LinkedIn and other social media profiles, references you provide, and other members of our network.

Information Use

We may use the information that we collect for a variety of purposes, including to:

  • Conduct and improve our business and programs, products, and services;
  • Review and process membership applications, registrations, transactions, and profile updates;
  • Respond to inquiries and member service requests;
  • Send information, promotional materials, and other communications;
  • Research how our members use our website and personalize your experience;
  • Suggest and build our resource list and library;
  • Report on our membership demographics to our sponsors and other partners;
  • Comply with our legal obligations.
Information Sharing

We may share your information with third parties in the following circumstances:

  • With service providers and vendors that help us operate our business and deliver our services.
  • With business partners, sponsors, and other third parties with which we partner to provide our programs and services.
  • When we are legally required, or believe it is in our best interest to do so, in response to a governmental request, a judicial proceeding, court order, legal process, or other situation where we are trying to protect our rights or the rights of others.
  • In connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, transfer of business assets, financing, or other business reorganization.

In certain circumstances, we may ask for your consent prior to sharing your information with others.

Some information you provide to us, such as in your member profile, may be displayed publicly or to other members of our network. Please take care in what you post publicly, as we do not have control over how others may use your information.

Use of Cookies and Similar Data Collection Technologies

We use cookies and similar data collection technologies on our website. These technologies help us improve our website, monitor website traffic, and improve your experience by recognizing and remembering your preferences and settings. We use both first and third party cookies on our website that support essential website functionality and analytics. For example, we use Google Analytics to help us analyze how our website is used. The information generated by the Google Analytics cookie will be transmitted to and stored by Google. You can read about Google’s privacy practices here.

Security

We use reasonable security to protect the information that we maintain. Although we will do our best to protect your information, transmission of information to and from us is at your own risk. We recommend that you take steps to keep your information secure. If you have an account with us, you are responsible for choosing a secure password when creating your account and keeping this password confidential.

Your Choices

You can exercise the following choices with respect to your personal information:

  • You can update the information we maintain about you by updating your profile through our website or sending us an email using the contact information below.
  • You can opt out of marketing and promotional emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the e-mails you receive.
  • If you’d like to delete your account, please contact us using the contact information below.
International Users

Our website and services are intended for individuals and businesses located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that information we collect through our website and services will be transferred to and processed in the United States.

Other Websites and Content

Our website contains links to other websites and content that we do not own or control. If you navigate to another business’s website or content, we recommend that you review the privacy practices of that organization prior to sharing your information with them.

We have established accounts on social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), and others. These accounts are hosted by such third parties and are governed by the privacy, terms and conditions, and other relevant policies of those third parties.

Updates to Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we will attempt to notify you and/or obtain your consent, as required by law. We will notify you of any other changes by posting the updated privacy policy on our website. It is your responsibility to review the privacy policy periodically to stay informed about any changes.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or would like to contact us about it, please email us at: mfnfeedback@leverinc.org.

JOIN MFN!

This content is accessible to MFN members only. Join MFN and get access to this page, plus new resources we’re adding all the time.

Find out how to join MFN here!

Founders are everywhere, but resources aren’t.

That’s a shame, because the next big idea could come from anywhere.

 

The Massachusetts Founder Network aims to bridge the gap, giving startup founders equitable access to resources that will help their companies grow.

 

We support MA founders no matter where they come from, their company’s stage, or their business sector. We want to democratize access to the resources that will help them accelerate—and excel. All founders are welcome to find resources and community at MFN while creating connections, expanding their networks, and learning from one another.

About MFN

The Massachusetts Founders Network is a central hub for all things startups, fostering innovation and collaboration across the state. MFN offers valuable networking, resources, mentorship, and community for startup founders in Massachusetts. 

 

MFN is produced by Lever, a startup accelerator based in North Adams. Our work is supported by funding from and collaboration with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, based in Westborough.

 

We’ve been advising and connecting with entrepreneurs for years, and we’re using that knowledge and network to launch something new, with the help of an advisory board of successful founders and major players in the startup ecosystem. 

We plan to launch the Massachusetts Founders Network in summer 2023. Sign up for our newsletter to get alerts about our launch, new features, and MFN events!