STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The event’s keynote is Chris Wanstrath, a UC dropout who co-founded GitHub, which was acquired by Microsoft for $7.5B.
- UC ranked most likely to produce "unicorn" startups by Stanford researcher.
- Event features sessions on venture capital, branding, sports entrepreneurship and AI.
A former University of Cincinnati student who led a San Francisco tech company to a multibillion-dollar exit will keynote a one-day event scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20, at the 1819 Innovation Hub.
UC, the region’s largest university, will host the Founders+Funders 2024 Summit, a celebration of its successful alumni from across the globe. It’s the second year for the event, but the first in which doors have been open to the public. The 2023 version was invite-only.
UC, earlier this year, was tapped as the most likely university to produce “unicorn” venture-backed startups, according to Ilya Strebulaev, a distinguished researcher at Stanford University.
The data, according to Strebulaev, shows founders of a U.S. startup who studied or worked at UC are 3.3 times more likely than average to achieve unicorn status, rare designation reserved for startups valued at $1 billion or more – topping the likes of Vanderbilt and MIT.
This year’s Founders+Funders keynote is among that group. Chris Wanstrath, a former UC English major and tech entrepreneur, co-founded GitHub, an online platform that hosts code sharing and open-source projects. The San Francisco-born startup was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 for $7.5 billion. Wanstrath recently launched Null Games, a developer-friendly publisher of indie games, and has been listed as a Forbes 30 Under 30, Fortune 40 Under 40, and a CNBC Disruptor.
He will offer attendees a firsthand account of his journey in building the company and insights into the future of tech entrepreneurship.
Founders+Funders will also include a presentation on the State of Artificial Intelligence, led by Peter Mulford, chief innovation officer of BTS, a Swedish-headquartered professional services firm. And Fifth Third Bank’s Tim Spence, president and CEO, and Melissa Stevens, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, will take part in a fireside chat.
Also scheduled are six breakout sessions:
Midwest Founders: Unicorn Building Behind the Scenes
- Moderator Tim Metzner, founder and CEO, Fireroad
- Ry Walker, founder and CEO, Tembo
- Brian Duerring, chief operating officer, Pantomath
- Nicholas Reasoner, founder and CEO, TransLoop
- Katie Trauth Taylor, CEO, Narratize AI
The Future of Health Tech, highlighting innovations by Bearcat health care founders
- Moderator: Ryan Fox, CEO, Orange Grove Bio
- Dr. Marvin Slepian, Regent's Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona; co-founder, Teravus
- Dr. Jon Thompson, medical director of the UC Health Weight Loss Center; founder, Standard Bariatrics
- Dr. Lisa Larkin, president/CEO, Concierge Medicine of Cincinnati; founder, Ms. Medicine
Today’s Changing Venture Capital Environment
- Moderator: Tim Schigel, managing partner, Refinery Ventures
- Byron Hill, partner, Silicon Valley Social Ventures
- Elizabeth Edwards, founder and managing partner, H Venture Partners
- Chris Hjelm, general partner and head of venture investments, Connetic Ventures
Shark Tank: A Virtual Masterclass
- Led by Kevin Harrington, inventor of the infomercial and original Shark Tank judge
Strategies for Building a Trusted Brand
- Moderator: Marvin Abrinica, director of startups, 1819 Venture Lab; co-founder, Esoteric Brewing Co.; co-founder, Wunderfund
- Rico Grant, founder, Paloozanoire
- Kristen Tomlan, founder and chief brand officer, DO Cookie Dough Confections
- Meghann Craig, vice president of marketing, Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment
Entrepreneurship & Sports, insights from UC Athletics, Sims Investment Management and A&A Management Group on leveraging personal brands in sports
- John Cunningham, athletic director, University of Cincinnati Athletics
- Cory Sims, founder, Sims Investment Management; adviser, Winnie Capital
- Andre Eanes, president and chief business officer, A&A Management Group
Programming takes place from 1-4:45 p.m.
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