The smartest and friendliest
people in New York City.

I work with some of the smartest people in EdTech, and I’m fortunate to call a lot of them my friends. When I was a kid growing up in Milwaukee I wanted to be an explorer; then I became an expat, a salesman, a data-junkie, and a venture capitalist. Today, it’s all about creating an incredible technology product that will change the way the world learns languages. I love staggering challenges and working with brilliant people to find creative solutions. My favorite word in another language is polola. ¿Cachai?

I am an applied linguist specializing in instructed second language acquisition. When I was five, I wanted to be a teacher; then I became a student, and I have spent the past thirty years in school. Today, It’s all about making language learning efficient, effective, and fun, using technology and the latest research on how adults learn languages. I love traveling and spending time with my friends and family. My favorite word in another language is cacahuete–peanut in Spanish–because it’s so fun to say.

I traveled the world chasing an Olympic Dream before starting my career. When I was growing up I wanted to be the GM of the NY Mets (still do), then I became an accountant that learned from great mentors. Today, It’s all about enjoying what I do so it never feels like work. I love simple ideas that solve problems and working with a team through challenges along the way. My favorite word in another language is kijárat.

I fly in my dreams. When I was looking down on the world I wanted to be an eagle, then I became an owl. Today, it’s all about doing what is supposedly impossible. I love the exhilaration of reinvention and spontaneity. My favorite word in another language is “aware” (Japanese).

I am André. My bachelor’s degree in Business Administration helped me figure out that I wanted to impact the world through Education, which is one of my passions. I love reading, sports, music, arts and traveling. I speak English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently. I have a very good level of Italian and I am learning German. Language learning is key to break barriers between difference culture and societies. I am thrilled to participate in the most innovative project for teaching English that is already impacting the life of millions of people generating more opportunities that contribute to create a more Educated, sustainable and equal society. My favorite world in another language is “wunderbar”.

I’m Antonio. When I was young, I wanted to play professional soccer with the N.Y. Cosmos, then the NASL folded and my parents sent me to Spain for the summer where I learned of the advantages of knowing a second language. Today, it’s all about building teams that are passionate about helping others grow personally and professionally. I love cycling and summers on The Cape. My favorite word in another language is “sobremesa”—it’s that time after a meal when the conversation lingers on and on as you drink another coffee or liqueur.

I can’t resist learning new things. When I was a hyperactive tween, I wanted to be an architect; then I became a social entrepreneur. Today, it’s all about unleashing human potential through education and technology. I love music and biking through NYC. My favorite word in another language is Sibongile (meaning “we thank you” in Zulu).

I’m Mari. When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor because I liked learning about how the human body works, but then I became a linguist and an educator because, very much like any organism, a language is a unique living system that’s fun to analyze. And there’s much less blood involved. Today, it’s all about applying what I’ve learned about language education to help real people achieve real goals. I love to travel and make things a la DIY, like furniture and jewelry. My favorite word in another language is abacaxi which means pineapple in Portuguese. I learned the word in context while ordering a pineapple caipirinha in Rio de Janeiro and was surprised by the uniqueness of the word! I expected it to resemble other cognates like piña or ananas, but I was mistaken, and now I’ll never forget it!

My name is Sandra, and as a kid I wanted to be a UN interpreter so I could, just like Mafalda, translate only nice things when international enemies spoke to each other at summits, thus ending all wars forever. I studied Filología inglesa, music and classical guitar, toured my country with a band, and eventually became an art exhibitions production assistant, a teacher, a translator, an editor and a publishing expert. Today it’s all about music, languages and education. My favorite word in another language is Zorionak: “Congratulations” in Basque.

I think grapefruit deserves more recognition. When I was a little girl I wanted to be an interior designer, then I became a linguist/teacher/language lover. Today, It’s all about loving what I learn and do. I love anything purple and awesome food (Cuban, Jamaican, Mexican, etc.). My favorite word in another language is “ilunga” because it is the most untranslatable word in the world.

My name is Thiago Ghisi and I’m a passionate Brazilian Software Test Engineer who has been working with software development since 2003 and who, everyday, has more certainty that this is what I want for the rest of my life. When I was 11 I wanted to be like my Uncle Celso, a sucessful computer programmer, then I became better than him. I’m just kidding, he is still my inspiration in a lot of things. Today, It’s all about professionalism in software development and language learning. I love traveling to different countries and trying different kinds of spicy foods and craft beers. My favorite phrase in another language is “pero que sí, pero que no” in Portunhol, but I’m still trying to figure out the meaning.

I dream big dreams (or sometimes tiny intricate ones) and then work to make them happen. When I was 7 I wanted to be a comic book artist, then I became a blues harmonicist to save paper. Today, it’s all about digging into new projects. I love playing music in front of an audience, trying new foods from the farmers market and doing things that push me out of my comfort zone. My favorite word in another language is tristessa, because of the book by Jack Kerouac.

Since I can remember, I’ve been passionate about technology and innovation. I studied and later worked in IT. When I decided to move to Buenos Aires, it reinvigorated my enthusiasm – to unite people, languages and cultures. Since then I have developed my social side working with language exchange events and teaching. I have learned a lot from other people, making great progress learning languages, which brings a smile to my face. I think with the current innovation in technology and education, this is a great moment to be alive to experience the shift. My motivational phrase is “Ta panta rei” which means “everything flows” in Greek.

I am passionate about education. When I was twelve I wanted to be a journalist, then I became a business professional. Today, It’s all about working with the best people around and changing lives helping english become a reality. I love food and photography, especially the analog type. My favorite word in another language is “tenedor”, which means fork in spanish. I really like its sound.

I’m Julia. When I was young, I wanted to be a Disney singer, then I became an educator. Today, it’s all about learning languages in realistic ways. I love meeting people from all over the world and learning how to say at least one thing in every language. My favorite word in another language is burbuja (bubble in Spanish), for obvious reasons.

I am Danilo and I’m passionate about education, culture, people and their values… to understand what really moves them to go forward. When I was a child I tried really hard to please everyone around me so I wanted to be an artist, then I became a Consultant in an Outplacement company, later a Marketing and Events Coordinator in a photography company and then a Customer Relationship Consultant in an Educational company, so I found what really could reunite everything I like the most: helping people to achieve their goals and understand the wonderful amount of differences that exist in the world. Today, It’s all about people, passion and education, changing the priorities depending on the situation.  I love to love, to feel and to express. My favorite word in another language is actually an expression: “me encanta.” We can say the same thing in Portuguese (my native language) but in Spanish it expresses how you feel when you learn something new and that’s one of the main reasons for us to keep being happy every day.

I’m Laiz. When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor, then a journalist, but at the end I decided to become an architect. However, that didn’t last long because I started doing volunteer work with children and fell in love with the impact of education on people’s lives. Today, It’s all about opening the doors to the world, helping people from different cultures get connected and achieve their goals. I love cooking, traveling and my newest addiction is to read blogs from different parts of the world so I can discover interesting things that are being done. My favorite word in another language is “attraversiamo”, which means “let’s cross over” in English (Yes, it’s from the book Eat, Pray, Love, but it has a lot of meaning in my life).

I am Sandra. When I was young I wanted to be a teacher, then I became a bilingual executive secretary. Today, it’s all about studying to become what I always wanted to be a Portuguese and English teacher. I love meeting people from all over the world and being able to communicate with them. My favorite word in another language is ‘dekiru’ which means can or be able to do (something) in Japanese.

I thank you for reading this! When I was a teenager I wanted to be a comic book artist, then I became an English teacher and then a software developer. Today, It’s all about combining all of my experience to build products that help people learn. I love dumb jokes and learning new skills. My favorite word in another language is “suirikuryouyousha” 水陸両用車), which is Japanese for “aquatic vehicle”.

I think this world would be so much better if everyone had access to high quality education. I’m a proud Mexican/Jew on a mission to better educate the world. When I was a dreamer, I dreamed of building the best public schooling system for Mexico, then I became a capitalistic MBA student and now I’m back in dreaming mode. Today, It’s all about learning, working, learning, improving, learning, helping others and learning again. I love to sit down in the center left, fifth row of a nice theater and listen to a piano concerto (Beethoven is my favorite). My favorite word in another language is “Si” which can not only be used as an affirmation “yes” but also, depending on the energy used, as a motivational word.

I am passionate about challenges and about helping people get better results or reach their next step. I’m driven by results. When I was younger, I wanted to be a flight attendant so that I could take people around the world, then I became curious about every country and its culture. Today, it’s all about bringing solutions to my clients so that they can have all of the opportunities that come with being able to communicate in another language. At the end of the day, my biggest challenge is the same as it’s always been! I love taking advantage of all of life’s experiences and challenging myself to be better today than I was yesterday. My favorite phrase in another language is “carpe diem!”

I’m Caroline. I began my career as a journalist and an editor before becoming a communications and PR professional. Today, it’s all about storytelling, taking risks and committing to what you’re passionate about. I love cooking, art and exploring new cities. My favorite word in another language is sisu, a Finnish idea that means resilience, integrity and determination in the face of adversity.

I am a Brazilian that is passionate about people and wants to make a positive impact on the world. When I was a kid I wanted to be a teacher, then I became an engineer. Today, it’s all about working with awesome people to disrupt the way we learn a new language, that will empower people and improve relations. I love traveling and eating. My favorite word in another language is hakuna matata, it just sounds so fun and makes me remember my childhood. 

I am Mari and when I was a little girl I wanted to be an archeologist, then I became an English teacher, a administrative analyst and have worked in several international institutions. Today, it’s all about helping people achieve their goals no matter who they are and where they come from. I love books, comic books and movies. My favorite word in another language is lagom (Sweadish) and it means something like, “not too much, and not too little, but just right”. 

I am Marcia. When I was a kid growing up in Brazil, I wanted to be an airline pilot and live abroad. Then I became a banker and was able to live and study on three continents. I speak Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, and without the ability to speak another language, I would never have been able to have all of those amazing life changing experiences. Today it’s all about loving what I do and making this amazing technology accessible to people around the world so they can also achieve their own goals. Besides spending time with my family and friends, I love triathlons, gadgets and I am still an aviation geek! My favorite word in another language is “fofo,” which is “sweetie” in Portuguese and what I call my two young sons.

I am Josh. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a scientist and cure cancer, then I started playing PC games. Today it’s all about solving problems with elegant solutions. I love learning and meeting new people. My favorite word in another language is biblioteca, which means library in Spanish.

I’m Adam. When I was a kid, I dreamed of being bilingual. I wanted to be an actor, but then I changed paths and became an English instructor. Today, it’s all about embracing the wonders of technology without sacrificing the beautiful, traditional human interactions that happen organically. I love running, being outdoors and watching good movies. My favorite word in another language is “somnambule,” which means “sleepwalker” in French!

I enjoy solving tough challenges and helping others to expand their potential. When I was six I wanted to be an astronaut, then I became a science-fiction fiend and visited 100 different worlds in the confines of my own imagination. Today, it’s all about tackling interesting problems and designing creative solutions. I love good food and great company! My favorite phrase in another language is Mit Schlag, because everything is better with whipped cream.

I am Michael. When I was growing up (at 10, 20 and 30) I wanted to be a teacher and a researcher and a coder, then I became an adult and realized I could be all three. Today, it’s all about language—spoken, written and coded. I love a good adventure and open-ended travel. My favorite word in another language is pericoloso, which is Italian for dangerous, because how cool is that?

I am Marcondes, When I was a teenager I wanted to be a philosopher or an economist, then I became a software engineer. Today, it’s all about solving problems. I love working in teams, designing solutions and hunting down hard-to-find bugs. My favorite word in another language is the English word “disruptive.”

I grew up in Salvador, Brazil. When I was a child, I wanted to be a scientist and astronaut, then I became a software engineer. Today, it’s all about information technology and trying to keep up with this fast-changing world. I love meeting new people and learning about nature. My favorite word in another language is xiexie, which means “thank you” in Mandarin.

I am Ana. When I was younger, I wanted to be a flight attendant and travel around the world, and then I became a Business Administration and Marketing graduate. Today, it’s all about technology, learning, reaching my goals and helping others. I love traveling, spending time with my family and reading books. My favorite word in another language is “gentilezza,” meaning kindness in Italian.

I’m Bruno. When I was a kid, I opened everything that could be opened with a screwdriver to understand how things work, then I became an engineer. Today, it’s all about solving interesting problems in the best possible way. I love to swim and chocolate. My favorite word in another language is “aloha.”

I am passionate about making a positive difference in this world. When I was young I wanted to be a photojournalist because I wanted to travel the world and take lots of pictures, then I became a business manager and have surrounded myself with entrepreneurs. Today, it’s all about helping amazing startups succeed. I love to eat, cook and travel. My favorite word in another language is “pse”—Albanian for why—because we should always be curious and ask why.

I’m Tyler. When I was younger I wanted to be an architect or marine biologist, then I became a tutor at Voxy. Today, it’s all about helping people become global citizens. I love immersing myself in new cultures and creating art in all of its forms. My favorite word is “chic” in French because it cannot be translated!

I am Chirag Agarwal. When I was a kid, I loved playing computer games and wanted to be a game designer, then I became a marketing pro. Today, it’s all about building personalized experiences around everything. I love going on long drives, exploring nature and trying local vegan cuisines. My favorite word in another language is a Sanskrit word “mudita,” which means finding joy in the happiness and success of others.

I’ve always been insanely curious about language. When I was in college, I wanted to be a writer or a poet, then I became a teacher! Today, it’s all about taking things to the next level. I love pizza and pizza. My favorite word in another language is “tartle,” which is a wonderful Scots word that is for the panic you feel when you are introducing someone whose name you can’t quite remember.

I studied Latin American languages, history and economics because I was going to be a journalist. When I was a little older I wanted to be a bilingual teacher, then I became an international sales rep with an avid interest in language, linguistics and learning. Today, it’s all about bringing my interests and talents to bear in ways that bring value to my customers. I love making a difference and doing that in a context where it matters. My favorite word in another language is “Handschuh,” “glove” in German. Even if you don’t speak the language, it’s so descriptive that an English speaker immediately knows what it is.

I am Vinícius, born in São Paulo, Brazil. When I was in high school I wanted to be a translator, then I became a programmer. Today, it’s all about the people I meet and the ideas that we build together. I love music, games and science fiction. My favorite word in another language is “ganbatte,” which means “do your best” in Japanese.

I’m a curious guy. When I was teenager I wanted to be a great technologist, then I became a software engineer. Today, it’s all about personalization using technology to bring people what they want. I love fighting for a dream and social justice. My favorite word in another language is ‘Unjani?’, which means “How are you?” in Zulu.

I am a problem solver. When I was an even bigger dreamer than I am today, I wanted to be a space explorer and the first Martian, then I became an economist and an investor. Today, it’s all about working with awesome people and helping build amazing products. I love globetrotting and spending time with people that matter. My favorite word in another language is Jīvitaṁ which means “life” in Telugu.

I’m a guy who likes experimenting with new things. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, then I became an adult who uses technology to deliver new experiences to people on Earth. Today, it’s all about listening to the people’s needs and writing code to help them. I love hiking with my friends and cooking. My favorite word in another language is “fair,” which means to be reasonable and treat everyone equally.

I am Tiphaine, a French (longtime) New Yorker, forever wondering how the die-hard outdoorsy person that I am fell in love with this concrete metropolis. When I was a teen, I wanted to be a war correspondent, photojournalist, documentary filmmaker and, most importantly, travel and live across the world. Later on, I did work in documentary filmmaking and satiated my passion for discovering other cultures and learning new languages by studying, living and working in many different countries. I am a firm believer in education and public service, and I also worked and taught in university settings. Today, it’s all about merging my undying love for language acquisition, education and UX/product design. I am super passionate about the field of design in all its forms and love spending time tinkering, researching and finding inspiration to further that part of my life. Yet I also love being outdoors, traveling, getting away from the screens, training for triathlons, trying to get better at surfing and horseback riding, perusing museums and bookstores, reading a lot, pondering social issues, history and world affairs. And I can’t live without music. My favorite word in another language is sprachgefühl, which can either mean the character of a language or an intuitive sense of what is linguistically appropriate.

I’m Melissa. Ever since I was a young girl, I always had a passion for understanding and teaching people. I took a few courses in Applied Behavior Analysis and became obsessed with figuring out human behavior. I took that passion and applied it to the edtech space to help individuals achieve their goals. Today, It’s all about using technology to make a difference in people’s lives. I love cooking, reading and spending time with my family. My favorite word in another language is “laila tov” which means “goodnight” in Hebrew, because I think it’s such a beautiful word when pronounced.

I am the People Operations Manager at Voxy! When I was young I wanted to be an interior designer. I became a recruiter, then I became passionate about HR. Today, It’s all about working with intelligent people and learning from them.  I love traveling and exploring new foods, wines and cultures. My favorite word in another language is sobremesa.

I work with some of the smartest people in EdTech, and I’m fortunate to call a lot of them my friends. When I was a kid growing up in Milwaukee I wanted to be an explorer; then I became an expat, a salesman, a data-junkie, and a venture capitalist. Today, it’s all about creating an incredible technology product that will change the way the world learns languages. I love staggering challenges and working with brilliant people to find creative solutions. My favorite word in another language is polola. ¿Cachai?

Timothy L. Murray is an accomplished executive with decades of experience leading successful public and private companies. Most recently, Mr. Murray was President and Chief Operating Officer of K-12 (NYSE: LRN). Previously he held CEO positions at Pulsepoint, Inc., Datran Media, Dialogic Inc., Cross Match Technologies, and Riversoft Plc. Mr. Murray began his career at AT&T, where he held a number positions, including President of Business Network Services, a $22B business unit. Mr. Murray is currently Chairman of the Board of Middlebury Interactive Languages, the Executive Chairman at Voxy, the CEO of Redline Speed Worx and a Director of Clarke Group. He is also an Operating Advisor to Red Oak Growth Partners. Mr. Murray received a BS and MS in Management and Industrial Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Bob Greene is a co-founder of Contour Venture Partners and has been a venture capitalist since the late 1980s. He has invested in all stages of venture capital across several industry sectors. Contour invests in seed and early stage technology companies in the northeast United States with a focus on the financial services, enterprise SaaS and digital media sectors. Bob is the President of the New York Venture Capital Association and has been on the NYVCA Board since 1994. Bob has been a guest lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Wharton School of Business for many years. Bob received a BS from the Wharton School of Business and a MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Mr. Richard D. Segal, is the Managing Director and Managing Partner at Rethink Education. Rick is the Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Executive officer at Seavest Inc. Mr. Segal founded the firm in 1982. In his role with Seavest, he has served on a number of public and private Boards of Directors including education-related portfolio companies. He has over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate and venture capital markets. He is deeply committed to creating better communities through his philanthropic engagements, which are primarily focused on health, education, providing opportunities for low income children and the arts. Mr. Segal received a B.A., cum laude and with honors, in English from Wesleyan University.

For the past decade, Jeff has held a series of senior roles leveraging an analytical focus first to drive business unit level results in credit and lending. He ultimately ran marketing strategy for Capital One’s consumer and small business card divisions, managing a high 9-figure marketing budget and driving over $5 billion in revenue. Jeff has been responsible for the development of cutting edge online targeting and segmentation methodologies in online lead generation channels as well as new data-driven techniques for inbound site optimization.

Jonathon Reinhardt is an Associate Professor of English Applied Linguistics at the University of Arizona, and teaches in the MATESL and SLAT PhD programs. He has taught English as a second or foreign Language in Japan, Austria and the United States. His main research is on technology-enhanced language learning, especially on the use and design of digital games and social media for classroom-based and independent language teaching and learning.

Marta González-Lloret is an Associate Professor at the Spanish Division of the Department of Languages and Literatures of Europe and the Americas at the University of Hawaii, Manoa and cooperative faculty at the department of Second Language Studies. Her main areas of interest are technology and TBLT, technology and L2 pragmatics, Conversation Analysis for L2 technology-mediated interaction; teacher training; and materials development.

Megan Masters has a B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education from Providence College and an M.A. in Spanish/Second Language Acquisition from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has extensive experience teaching ESL as an adjunct professor, and she is currently a Project Manager for the Center for Advanced Study of Language at the University of Maryland, where she is primarily responsible for the oversight, management, participation in and administration of projects within the SLA/testing research fields. She is a PhD candidate in Second Language Acquisition at the University of Maryland, and her research interests include: foreign language program evaluation, Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), particularly in the distance learning format, the role of individual differences in Second Language Acquisition, and Task-Based Language Assessment (TBLA).

Manuel is currently GM of Game Studio at Zynga. Prior to this role Bronstein was Sr. director of Product for FarmVille. Before joining Zynga, Manuel was Director of Social Interactive Entertainment at Xbox LIVE, leading strategy, portfolio and business management for the Video & Music business, Applications, and New Interactive Entertainment Experiences for Xbox, including Netflix, LastFM, Facebook, Twitter and ESPN.

I am Aron. When I was a child, I wanted to be a Pitcher for the Boston Red Sox; then I became an investment banker. Today, it’s all about building the world’s largest and most effective language learning company, with an audience much larger than Fenway Park. I love traveling and meeting people from new cultures. My favorite word in another language is otorrinolaringólogo.

Mark is currently the President of the K12 Technology Division of Pearson following Pearson’s acquisition of Schoolnet where he was the President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to Schoolnet, Mark was the Chief Operating Officer of The Princeton Review. During his 24 year career at The Princeton Review, Mark either held or oversaw key leadership positions in nearly every sector of the Company. He now lives in Bedford, NY, where he is a twice-elected member of the Board of Education for the Bedford Central School District.

Jeremy founded his first company, a marketplace for virtual currency, at 15 and his second, a social network around the college admissions process, at 21 while a student at Princeton University. Having raised funding contingent on him taking time off to run it, he left Princeton to pursue the venture and, two years later, negotiated its acquisition by Zinch. In 2008, Jeremy co-founded 2tor with John Katzman, founder of the Princeton Review, to explore the final frontier of online higher education. Jeremy serves on the board of the Young Entrepreneur Council, is an active angel investor and advisor to a select group of technology ventures on both coasts. Jeremy is an avid foodie, and may be the best possible person to ask for a restaurant recommendation.

Erick joined Facebook in May 2010 as the company’s Head of Mobile Products. Previously, he had worked at Google for nearly 4 years, where he helped launch and grow Android, Google’s open source mobile operating system as the group’s Lead Product Manager. He then joined the Android team, where he proceeded to launch Android 1.0, as well as subsequent platform releases. Most recently, he led the overall development and launch of Google’s Nexus One phone.

Gregg is a team-builder, and relentlessly passionate about connecting good people to meaningful work. He started his career at Sapient during the dot-com boom, designing some of the world’s first websites. Gregg went on to work at STA Group as a business architect, and later founded Bunkhouse Media, an email newsletter targeting young professionals. Gregg is a Voxy co-founder, and has spent the last six years building the company. His roles at Voxy have included Head of Product, VP of Operations and VP of People Operations.

Joshua joined Lumosity in 2007 where he is currently a member of the management team. He has helped pioneer research into human cognitive performance, develop web and mobile products, build the leading science-based learning brand, and reach hundreds of millions of users. In addition, Joshua co-founded and sold Revolver, LLC, a health and fitness company that produced a suite of 7 iPhone apps and was acquired by MapMyFitness, Inc. Joshua started his career co-founding an eCommerce wine company, RiotWine, LLC, which is now operated by Bottlenotes, Inc. Joshua graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

Chip is the CEO and Co-founder of 2U, a company that partners with universities to build, administer, and market online degree programs. 2U supplies universities with the tools, expertise, capital, and global recruiting needed to compete in a space currently dominated by mediocre programs. Previously Chip was CEO of Hooked on Phonics where he expanded access to the program by bringing it from infomercial sales to distribution across major US retailers

Dan Porter is the creator of Draw Something, the fastest growing mobile app in the history of mobile. After selling his social games company OMGPOP, he became the GM of Zynga New York. Previously he was the SVP of corporate development managing investments for Richard Branson and the Virgin Group. Dan started out working with bands at RCA Records, was a public school teacher and President of the Teach For America program and President of Ticket web, which he sold to IAC.

Gary Vaynerchuk has captured attention with his pioneering, multi-faceted approach to personal branding and business. After primarily utilizing traditional advertising techniques to build his family’s local retail wine business into a national industry leader, Gary rapidly leveraged social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to promote Wine Library TV, his video blog about wine. Gary’s success has led to a seven-figure book deal, several national TV appearances, and a flurry of speaking engagements around the world. Gary’s dual identity as both business guru and wine guy has made him the “Social Media Sommelier.”

Richard has directed the development, launch and management of businesses in online video and music, marketing, social, traffic information and logistics, consumer services and distance learning. A current Director of Zumbox, a leader in Digital Postal Mail services, he has also been an Advisor to Shelter Capital and Starvest Partners. His work extends from media giants (NBC/U, Greater Media, Univision and Viacom/CBS) to an extensive early stage venture experience (Veoh, Ruckus, Traffic.com, Unext, Cardean Learning Group, K12, Aha Media, Culture 11, ThinkPassenger, MyTime, Infomus, WeDidIt). Richard is a graduate of Boston College, Carroll Scholl Of Management, where he earned BS in Finance. He attended on a full athletic scholarship, earning varsity letters in football.

Contour Venture Partners is a New York City based early stage venture capital firm. Contour invests in companies that provide innovative technology-enhanced products and services into the financial services, digital media and Internet sectors. Contour partners with passionate entrepreneurs and management teams to build great businesses that seek to ultimately transform their industries.

Pearson is the world’s leading learning company. Our education business combines 150 years of experience in publishing with the latest learning technology and online support. Pearson’s courses and resources are available in print, online and through multi-lingual packages, helping people learn whatever, wherever and however they choose. With more than two billion people around the world learning English, Pearson is at the forefront of the industry. More than 1.5 million teachers and 35 million students in 150 countries use our English language learning resources and tools each year.

Weld North, is an investment company concentrating on education, health and wellness, consumer services and marketing businesses. In partnership with KKR, a leading global alternative asset manager, Weld North seeks to make venture capital and control investments in businesses with high potential for long-term growth in cash flow. As a partner with strong and highly motivated management teams, the firm looks to accelerate growth through a focus on enhancing the customer experience, operational excellence, marketing expertise, and strategic and disciplined management.

The Partnership Fund for New York City is the investment arm of the Partnership for New York City, the city’s premier business organization. The Partnership Fund invests in businesses with principal operations in New York City. The Partnership Fund focuses on new job creation, revitalization of distressed areas, minority-owned enterprises, and innovative ideas or products that position New York at the cutting edge of growth sector industries.

Seavest Capital Partners is a private investment firm that invests in early and growth stage companies primarily in the education, life sciences and consumer technology sectors. The firm’s portfolio has included early stage investments in companies such as Wireless Generation (acquired by News Corp. for $400M), Schoolnet (acquired by Pearson for $230M) and Tout.

ff Venture Capital partners with startups that can be the low cost, disruptive player in their respective industry. The firm’s early-stage investments include Quigo Technologies, which was purchased by AOL in December 2007 for a reported $340million, Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD on NASDAQ), which had a successful IPO in March 2011, Klout and 500px.

Rethink Education is an early-stage education technology venture capital fund investing in companies that have demonstrated success in implementing business models that leverage technology to re-imagine how traditional education is delivered. Rethink’s investments include EverFi, Engrade, Hapara, and Pathbrite