Join local founders as they share startup lessons they’ve learned the hard way. From creating, validating and selling a product, to assembling a team and raising multiple rounds of capital, get personal advice on what it really takes to build a tech company in Ohio from people who’ve already been there.

Featured Speakers:
Sam Gerace, Chief Operating Officer, Convey
A five-time tech entrepreneur, Sam was the founding CEO of Veritix®, a sport and live-entertainment SaaS platform company; Be Free®, a digital marketing platform; PCXIS®, Inc. a public utility marketing software company and PCX Consulting, Inc., a systems development firm serving heavy industry. Currently, Sam is leading his fifth company, Convey, a connection platform that replaces business cards and static contacts with live, dynamic connections so you can build stronger, more valuable professional and personal relationships.

Brian Deagan, Co-Founder, CompanionLabs
Brian is a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits in marketing technology and analytics space. He’s worked closely with leading domestic and international brands and agencies to deliver digital marketing performance across retail, consumer products, financial services, hospitality, and automotive industries. Brian is a co-founder of two JumpStart portfolio companies, the most recent being CompanionLabs, and the first, being Knotice, which was acquired in 2014.

Gerald Hetrick, CEO, EmployStream
Gerald Hetrick is the CEO of the Cleveland based HR technology startup, EmployStream. Gerald is a well-known business and technology leader in Northeast Ohio having spent the 10 years prior to EmployStream at Vox Mobile where, after co-founding the business, served as CTO and COO for many years. A graduate of Cleveland Public Schools, Gerald is passionate about the local startup community and all things sports (even the Browns) in Cleveland.

Moderator:
Audrey Wallace, Co-founder, Komae
Audrey Wallace is the co-founder of Komae, an Akron tech startup that combines service sharing with child care, empowering parents to exchange unlimited free babysitting with trusted friends. Komae was born out of a need of her own life to find affordable, trustworthy, convenient, and guilt-free care for her family. After locking arms with co-founder, Amy Husted, Komae was established in April 2015 and is currently live in the app store.

Startup Stories is a JumpStart event series that examines what it takes to be a tech entrepreneur from an insiders perspective. Meet and mingle with some of the best and brightest NEO entrepreneurs, while exploring topics such as fundraising, teambuilding, investor relations, customer discovery and more.