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Step into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship at our upcoming conference! Join us for a dynamic event where successful business leaders will share their stories of growth and success. Get inspired as you hear firsthand accounts of overcoming challenges and achieving greatness.

Featured Speakers

Jim Gibbs

CEO and Co-Founder of Meter Feeder
Jim Gibbs is the CEO and Co-Founder of Meter Feeder, a company on a mission to  revolutionize the way fleets operate by facilitating seamless payment for parking, parking  tickets, and tolls. A native of Long Island, New York, Jim's interest in technology was  ignited at an early age when he watched the movie TRON and decided he wanted to  make video games. His parents nurtured this budding passion by enrolling him in a  programming camp. Jim later attended Carnegie Mellon University but left early to  venture into the entrepreneurial world, armed with business basics taught to him by his  father, who ran his own house painting business. 

Before founding Meter Feeder, Jim had already built a diverse portfolio of software  projects, including medical and real estate software. Notably, he worked with American  Eagle Outfitters to translate their website into 13 different languages, enabling shipping  to 53 countries, and contributed to a platform that handled over 30% of all mobile retail  sales in the U.S. 

In addition to his role at Meter Feeder, Jim serves on the boards of Ascender, which  helps entrepreneurs build their companies; Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting, a public  media organization; and Eden's Farm, a non-profit focused on aiding survivors of human  trafficking. He also sits on the Jack Heinz Advisory Board, which engages corporate and  community leaders in Pittsburgh Symphony activities. 

Jim's accomplishments have earned him considerable recognition. He has been  featured in Rebecca Fannin's book "Silicon Heartland," as well as in Forbes, Black  Enterprise, and TechCrunch. He is an alum of YCombinator and a recipient of Google's  Black Founders Fund, among other accolades. 

Guided by his philosophy of focusing on the goal while enjoying the journey, Jim brings  a balanced approach to both his professional and personal life. Outside of his corporate  responsibilities, he enjoys a range of hobbies including old-school b-boy dancing,  playing the trumpet, and practicing Muay Thai. Family is at the core of his life, and he  cherishes spending time with his five sons and finding moments to hug his wife. 

Jim Gibbs is more than just a CEO; he is a community leader, a tech visionary, and a  family man, committed to making a meaningful impact in both his professional and  personal communities.

Jorge Soto

Software Entrepreneur
Jorge Soto a serial entrepreneur within the software industry. He’s currently Co-founder at AssetMule, a sales asset creation and management software startup. Before AssetMule he’s started multiple startups, worked at Twitter via the acquisition of MoPub, and has worked with hundreds of founders around the world.

Marc Alexander

Entrepreneur
Marc Alexander is a dynamic and visionary leader with an impressive track record as a successful serial entrepreneur. With over a decade of experience driving multi-million-dollar businesses to new heights, Marc has cultivated a reputation for strategic thinking, innovation, and transformative leadership. His approach to business is both bold and inclusive yet always with a focus on empowering others to pursue their dreams.

In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Marc serves as a dedicated advocate for social impact. He is an active Board Member for multiple organizations, including FreeStar Financial, Envision Liberia, Kiwanis, Amour Women Foundation, and Lite Tuition Foundation. Through these roles, he contributes to diverse initiatives, from financial empowerment and global education to community leadership and the advancement of women. His deep commitment to these causes reflects his belief in creating lasting, positive change.

A former School Board Trustee and GenNext Nominee for Fortune 100 companies, Marc's influence extends far beyond the business world. He is also an accomplished author, motivational speaker, and social entrepreneur who leverages technology to drive global innovation. Marc’s personal mission is to help others achieve success and happiness, a value that resonates in every aspect of his work. His relentless passion for using technology as a force for good fuels his vision to create transformative solutions that shape the future.

Marc’s leadership is marked by his ability to connect with people, inspire action, and push boundaries. His enthusiasm and determination are contagious, making him not only a successful entrepreneur but a true agent of change in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors.

Jeff Erickson

Strategic Partnerships at Forecastr
Jeff leads the Partnerships Team at Forecastr, a leading software company that helps make financial modeling easy for founders raising capital.  He is the founder of The Startup Stack and Founders N' Funders.  Jeff is an active angel investor and currently serves on the advisory boards of several startup companies.  Previously, Jeff was the founder and CEO of a successful consumer goods company that was ranked #138 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies.  He is passionate about startups and enjoys working with founders and mentoring entrepreneurs.

Mariah Howard

Managing Director at Made Marketing
Mariah Howard is a visionary leader and renowned as the Muva of Marketing, with over a decade of experience transforming industries through innovative marketing strategies, technology solutions, and venture capital initiatives. As the Project Director for the Liberia Library and Cultural Center, Mariah is leading a global project that promotes education, preserves cultural heritage, and strengthens communities. She is an advocate for economic equity, serving on the Council on Underserved Communities for the Small Business Administration and the Leadership Advisory Council for the National Small Business Association. Passionate about closing the wealth gap, Mariah empowers businesses by providing access to public and private funding. Featured in Forbes, Wonder Women Tech, and FOX, Mariah’s expertise spans federal procurement, blockchain technology, and global marketing, making her a force for change.

Tayo Adesanya

Founder & CEO of Lola Vision Systems
Tayo Adesanya is the Founder & CEO of Lola Vision Systems, a fabless AI semiconductor chip company building computer vision and generative AI solutions for edge devices.

As a decorated national and global athlete, Tayo found his passion for athletics early.But despite being an NCAA Track & Field All-American and former Nigerian National HighJump Champion, Tayo Adesanya chose a different path, driven by an even deeper passion for technology.

Sterling Smith

Founder of RightMatch AI
Sterling Smith is the founder of RightMatch AI, a cutting-edge, multi-sensory AI-powered interview platform aimed at saving time and reducing bias in the hiring process. Previously an investor at Atento Capital, Sterling now focuses on building the future of work, leveraging AI and technology to streamline hiring, and writing on topics such as future work trends, angel investing, and street photography.

Ibrahim Mohmed

Founder of CourtSide Media
Ibrahim Mohmed is the founder of CourtSide Media, a digital media agency for influencers between 1 million to 75 million followers across all platforms. Some of his clients include Kevin Garnett and Lauren Fitzmaurice. Ibrahim works with his clients to organically boost their views. Ibrahim recently co-founded Taja AI, a platform that optimizes a creator’s videos in order to save time and maximize discoverability. 

An experienced digital marketer, founder of CourtSide Media, a digital media agency for influencers between 1 million to 75 million followers across all platforms. Ibrahim works with his clients to organically boost their views. Currently he is working on Taja AI, a tool for YouTubers to package and optimize their content in 8 minutes or less. 

He also founded Nile Nights, an organization that curates events and donates the funds to those impacted by the Sudan war.

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