Patrick is the CEO and co-founder of BrandYourself.com, the first DIY platform that makes it simple for anyone to take control of their own search results. BrandYourself offers online reputation products or services no matter what your level of need.

Patrick is recognized as a leading expert in online reputation management and Search Engine Optimization. In 2011, his company was named New York’s # 1 Emerging Technology Business, making his team the youngest company ever to win the $200K prize. He was recognized by the White House as one of the Empact 100 Top CEO’s under 30, named Young Entrepreneur of the year by the SBA, and most recently, named to Inc Magazines “Top 35 under 35” list. Additionally, Patrick strives to impart his knowledge on other thinkers and creators as a General Assembly Instructor. In this role, Patrick provides GA attendees with education on opportunities in the Online Reputation and tech sphere.

Martin Babinec Works leading multiple initiatives to build a startup ecosystem across the Upstate New York region. He is an active angel investor and LP/advisor in several venture funds. He founded TriNet Group, Inc., serving as CEO 1988-2008 and Chairman till 2010; remain active as a significant shareholder and TriNet Director.

Laura Chau is an investor at Canaan Partners, where she focuses on investments in early-stage enterprise and consumer tech companies.Prior to joining Canaan, Laura worked at Deloitte Consulting as part of the Strategy and Operations practice in San Francisco. There, she focused on advising clients on growth strategy and post-merger integrations. She served a broad range of clients across the tech, telecom, healthcare, financial services and energy sectors.

Brian Cohen serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of New York Angels and was initial investor in Pinterest. Previously, Brian developed Good Cause Communications and was the Founder of Technology Solutions, Inc (TSI). Before launching TSI, he was a founding Publisher of Computer Systems News and InformationWeek magazine at CMP Publications. While in graduate school, he was involved with pioneering computer trade publications including Personal Computing Magazine and Minicomputer News from Benwill Publishing. He is a frequent speaker on topics related strategic communication, entrepreneurism and early startup investing. Brian received a Masters Degree in Science Communications from Boston University’s School of Public Communications in 1978 and received two Honor B.S. degrees from Syracuse University in Biology and Speech Communications.

Trace Cohen is a serial entrepreneur in NYC and now the Managing Director of NYVP making angel investments in the best startups/founders.

He was the President and Co-Founder of Launch.it, a new self-publishing platform for PR professionals, agencies and brands to launch and socialize everything new.

Prior to that Trace was an SVP at iFluencePR where he “created understanding for a complex world.” He specializes in strategic PR for tech companies looking to develop their communications, branding and outreach strategies to connect with their communities and costumers with transparency.

Ben Dyer Currently serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a Serial Entrepreneur in software, digital media, banking, mobile, venture capital, technology. Best known as founding president of Peachtree Software. Member of Georgia Technology Hall of Fame.

Nicole got her entrepreneurial start in the 4th grade, orchestrating cousins into theatrical plays and charging neighbors admission. From there, she founded three startups, the first of which had a healthy exit and the last two which failed miserably. Since then, she’s spent over a decade working with and funding early-stage web software companies. Most recently, she’s been with Techstars since it’s early days as a humble program in Boulder, Colorado, and has helped expand the brand and operations. In addition to running the Colorado office, she’s also been part of the launch in Texas, and headed operations in NYC. She was named one of the “Coolest People in New York Tech” by Business Insider in 2013 and Marie Claire named her one of the “NewGuard”.

Kristina joined Google in 2006 to launch the Google Audio platform, the early days of programmatic radio. Google Audio was a natural fit because she started her career in radio spending over eight years in national and local advertising sales for Clear Channel. Since then, she has been at the forefront of online live streaming brokering the deal between YouTube, VEVO and American Express to create the award-winning Unstaged music series. Launched in 2010 with over 15 installments, Unstaged brings together breakthrough artists playing at landmark venues directed by influential filmmakers using digital and social media to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  A graduate of Syracuse University, Kristina has a B.A. in both Political Science and Broadcast Journalism.

Way too many years of experience as a computer scientist, programmer, executive, columnist, entrepreneur. Has held a broad range of roles including engineering, marketing, and chief executive. ACM Fellow for pioneering work in computer architecture simulation. The original developer of Simics, the most widely used computer simulation platform in academia and industry. Founded Virtutech and sold to Intel. Started Google Cloud Platform and built Google App Engine into a business. Bootstrapped several engineering teams at a nascent Snapchat. Currently SVP of Oracle Public Cloud development. In his spare time, his interests include genetic genealogy and research on intelligence quotient.

Jim is co-founder of Square, one of the hottest startups, revolutionizing the way people make payments. Jim was named as one of Inc Magazine’s “15 Entrepreneurs to Watch” in 2015. Since then, he has started LaunchCode, making it possible for anyone to learn programming and land a full-time job in under six months, and is involved in the St. Louis, MO, startup scene. On May 10, 2012, during Big Omaha, Jim described a realization that he was “a mediocre IBM programmer” and how the death of his mother in 1988 compelled him to follow his passions. Soon after he started Square with Jack Dorsey (co-founder of Twitter).

Anis Uzzaman is the General Partner and founding member of Fenox Venture Capital. He oversees multi-million dollar funds that invest in Internet, mobile, social, cloud, and next-gen technologies. Anis has invested in over 50 startups in the United States, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Anis is an honored guest speaker in international conferences, workshops and seminars, has published more than 30 technical papers, and is the author of the “Startup Bible – The Silicon Valley Way of Developing Success.” Anis received his Master’s Degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Oklahoma State University and both his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering and his Ph.D in Computer Engineering from Tokyo Metropolitan University in Tokyo, Japan.

Brendon Kim has been investing in early stage start-up companies for over 18 years. He was Managing Director and head of the Strategic Investments Group, at Samsung Electronics Open Innovation Center. His team drives investments in compelling early stage startups, empowering entrepreneurs to create break-out products with Samsung. Prior to joining Samsung, Brendon was a co-founding general partner of Altos Ventures where he was a lead investor and board member in numerous early-stage software and services companies. Before co-founding Altos Ventures, he was a strategy and management consultant in media, consumer and technology industries. Brendon received his MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and his BA from Princeton University.