Team StartUpNV
Board Members and Management Team
Jeffrey Saling
Founder & Executive Director
Successful co-founder, member of founding executive team with successful exits including three (3) IPO’s and one (1) private sale. Co-founder of two (2) currently operating early stage B2B SaaS companies.
Stephen Hurst
Capital Fund Director | Board Member
Steve has 25+ years experience in bio-pharmaceuticals including: Chief Business Officer for The Immune Tolerance Institute @ UC Berkeley; The World Bank and BIO Ventures for Global Health; CEO of Sequential, Inc.
Ellen Purpus
Board Member - Representing UNR
Asst Vice President, Enterprise & Innovation: University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to UNR Ellen was responsible for the growth and success as: Director, Technology Transfer: The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia; Director, Technology Licensing: The Ohio State University; Director, Life Sciences: Indiana University Research & Technology Corporation
Myisha Williams
AngelNV Fund 1 | Co-Director (Las Vegas)
Creative problem-solver with more than a decade of applied leadership and project experience. Skilled at transforming technical content into streamlined messaging. Loyalist to the art of true customer service.
Deidre Jackson
AngelNV Fund 1 | Co-Director
Financial coach helping people manage finances including budgets, debt management, savings, and more. Program manager; demonstrates strong organizational, communication, prioritization, and customer service skills
Audrey Randazzo
Online Incubator Community Manager | Intern
Student at University of Nevada, Reno and community manager for StartUpNV’s Virtual Online Incubator Program (VOIP) which provides resources and mentorship to prepare Nevada startups for Acceleration and capital raising.
Maggie Saling
Director of Communications / Chief of Staff
Advisory Board Member, Investor, Technical Consultant, Trainer & Recruiter, Social Media & Communications Director, Director of Volunteers for The Barracuda Championship PGA Golf Tournament – and Pilot.
Bill Slikkerveer
Capital Committee Director
Experienced Angel Investor on Angel List, Jet Pilot (commercial and military), and Engineer. Highly analytical and direct advisor and mentor to multiple start-ups. Capital Committee Director / Chairman at StartUpNV.
Nick Nielson
Community Manager | Southern Nevada
Connector in Nevada’s startup ecosystem for founders, mentors, investors, business partners, and donors. Experienced University based Venture Capital and Startup Community & Project Manager. Business development & operations professional for venture fund creation and startup company investment analysis.
Andy Gagnon
Regional Director | Northern Nevada
Entrepreneurial Global Operations Leader | Develops High-Performance Teams | excelled in teams as diverse as a US Navy Fighter Squadron, as well as at Microsoft and Dell.
Simran Saroop
Deck Compliance and Review Lead | Intern
Student at University of UNLV, Deal Flow Coordinator at Rebel Venture Fund, and compliance team lead for pitch deck review for applicants to the StartUpNV Accelerator Program.
Liz Goodgold
Advisory Board Member | Brand Marketing Expert
Motivational Keynote Speaker | Branding Speaker & Coach | Trainer for Women to Speak with Confidence and Competence. Liz brings a strong, highly successful, branding and mentoring focus to the StartUpNV advisory board.
Nick Nielson
Advisory Board Member | TEDx Speaker | Forbes Writer | Miss Nevada US 2014
Entrepreneur, Forbes writer, TEDx Speaker, real estate investor and Miss Nevada United States 2014. Lisa started her career in a top Las Vegas law firm, specializing in business litigation. She then went on to create iconic Vegas companies of her own.
John Bear
Advisory Board Member | Las Vegas
Chief of Staff to Las Vegas City Council Member, Expert Business Consultant, Business Process Expert and connector of important people throughout Southern Nevada.
Madeline Feldman
Director Of Operations & Business Development
Connector in Nevada’s startup ecosystem for founders, mentors, investors, business partners, and donors. Entertainment professional experienced in production, from creation through closing. Dancer, choreographer, writer, director, and producer with superior problem solving and leadership skills.
Eric Madison
1971-2017 | Co-Founder, in Memoriam
Eric’s passion for the Nevada start-up community was a driving force in our founding. At just 46 years old, Eric was killed by a wrong way, impaired driver on I-580 in Reno on August 19, 2017. Don’t drink and drive!