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    GNF Limited Partners

    GNF is a collective giving organization: a diverse group of founders, business executives, and creators that share a passion for entrepreneurship and community.

    Our LPs pool their own resources, knowledge, and networks. We meet quarterly to select new micro-grant award winners.

    Interested in becoming a Limited Partner?

    Join the Waitlist
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    Founding Team

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    Jason BartzCo-Founder
    Jason serves as Head of Growth at Vero Technologies and Co-Founder of Refraction. Previously, Jason was a founding member of ACV Capital.
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    Susan O'RourkeCo-Founder
    Susan is the VP of Sales at EV automotive startup Plug and formerly an early employee of ACV Auctions. Susan leads the GNF Denver Chapter.

    Limited Partners

    Western New York Chapter

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    Ali BukowskiWNY Chapter Director | Y2
    Alison serves as Chief Marketing Officer of the Erie County Agricultural Society. A 40 under 40 recipient that is on a mission to empower more young professionals to make an impact.
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    Andy RoseLimited Partner | WNY
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    Andy is a Brand / Creative strategist and New York Film Academy alum who’s led activation for global brands like Alibaba, BMW, and Xerox. His professional journey has been punctuated with acclaimed pro-bono campaigns, and he's excited to channel that same passion back into the Buffalo startup community.
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    Bobbie ArmstrongLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    Bobbie leads the sustainability efforts of NOCO Energy Corp., serving as their Director of Sustainability and Innovation. Additionally, she serves as the Managing Director of Stratium. Bobbie has a long history in policy making with a focus on clean energy and greentech.
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    Brian ClearyLimited Partner | WNY
    Brian is a partner at Interlace Digital-- with a focus on innovative digital solutions, his goal is to educate, empower, and support brands in elevating their business to new heights.
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    Celine KrzanLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    Celine is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Program Director of the M&T Bank Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneur Program at the UB's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. She is passionate about working with entrepreneurs and helping them reach their full potential.
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    Cindy SiderisLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    Cindy serves as Senior Platform Manager for 43North, where she connects the dots between the portfolio companies and the community, using data to tell the story. Cindy is passionate about the intersection of VC and entertainment creators.
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    Danielle BlountLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    Danielle is a Partner at BOLD Ventures and Project Manager at Launch NY. Additionally, she leads the Buffalo Chapter of the Awesome Foundation, a grassroots organization that awards cash grants to weird and wacky projects that make Buffalo more awesome.
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    David BrennerLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    David is a well-known figure in the Western New York startup scene, currently volunteering his time with BootSector and as an organizer for Buffalo Startup Weekend.
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    Flossie HallLimited Partner | WNY
    Flossie, a Veteran Navy spouse, is a serial entrepreneur with exits in sectors like e-commerce and ed-tech. As CEO of Stella, she connects women founders with vital resources. She's founded global programs, impacting thousands. With partnerships like Amazon and USAA, she's been featured in Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur.
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    Jon PancermanLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    Jon is a Senior Director of Business Operations for Buffalo unicorn ACV Auctions. Previously, Jon was a co-organizer of TedxBuffalo.
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    Jordan WalbesserLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    Jordan is the Director of Legal & Business Affairs at Mattel, Inc. and serves as Executive Director of BootSector, which has a mission to empower, educate, and support the next generation of local entrepreneurs and startup leaders.
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    Najja BouldenLimited Partner | WNY
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    Najja is the Founder of Phoenix Innovation Group in Buffalo, NY, dedicated to fostering growth through innovation training, leadership & entrepreneurial development, and community engagement.
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    Shannon McCabeLimited Partner | WNY
    Shannon has a background in VC, currently serving as a Market Research Analyst with Moog's new venture team. Previously, Shannon has worked at 43North and mentored the next wave of entrepreneurs through GenZ VC.
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    Sonya TarakeLimited Partner | WNY | Y2
    Sonya is the COO of Team Real Talk, and Program Manager at The Exchange at Beverly Gray. Additionally, Sonya serves as a Lead Course Facilitator for Kauffman FastTrac and an EiR for the University at Buffalo's Inclusive Launch Foundry.

    Limited Partners

    Denver Chapter

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    Allie ReitzLimited Partner | Denver
    Allie is an experienced product pro, UX designer, and entreprenerd with a huge passion for the power of design thinking and no-code tools to fuel impact-driven startups. Allie is the founder and CEO of Meep, a Denver-based studio that jumps in alongside impact startups to move them from idea to traction through founder coaching, design thinking workshops, UX strategy, and no-code MVP development.
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    Jared McHenryLimited Partner | Denver
    Jared is currently leading the launch of SkySquad at Denver International Airport, a traveler assistance and security expediting service for the everyday traveler or those needing extra help with baggage or navigating the airport. Previously with ACV, Jared spent over five years in various roles through the rapid expansion from Series B to IPO and beyond and discovered a passion for scaling sales teams and companies.
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    Jeff Dougherty Limited Partner | Denver
    Currently employed as Director, Supply Planning at QuidelOrtho, helping integrate the two supply chains after a merger. Previously spent 5 years on the Executive team at SomaDetect leading all internal operations. Passionate about building teams and helping people reach their goals.
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    Nicole HunterLimited Partner | Denver
    Nicole is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance in the School of Management at the University at Buffalo. She is a Qualified Administrator of the IDI and ICS assessments, and uses them to spread intercultural awareness and understanding in classrooms and organizations.
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    Scott RomanoLimited Partner | Denver
    Scott serves as the Interim CEO at Energize Colorado. Prior to Energize, Scott led a digital consulting firm, helping public-interest projects adopt new technologies. Scott has been recognized as one of Colorado’s Top Innovators under the age of 25 in both 2019 and 2021.

    Student Ambassadors

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    Daniel ChanStudent Ambassador | WNY
    Daniel is a Finance major at the University at Buffalo and active member of the UB and greater Buffalo startup community. Additionally, Daniel is the Co-Founder of Exergi, a startup that is building a better solar power system.
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    Saskriti BansalStudent Ambassador | WNY
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    Sans is a budding entrepreneur building Journally (an AI wellness coach for college students). She's a masters student passionate about building businesses, sales, AI and econometrics. After UB, she sees herself in venture capital or going into a product career in tech!

    GNF Alumni

    Hugh StephensWNY Chapter | 2023
    Joe CrawfordWNY Chapter | 2023
    Kamal PatelWNY Chapter | 2023
    Zack GlickWNY Chapter | 2023

    Join us as a Limited Partner

    Now accepting applications for our Western New York and Denver Chapters.

    Join the Waitlist
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