Release It relies on hand-picked emcees and judges, qualified to determine the viability of a startup based on their demonstrated business and investment experience. The judging process will determine which of the finalists has the most innovative product or service. The following individuals have agreed to contribute their expertise toward the success of the Release It event.
Emcees
Jen Consalvo
TechCo Media
Las Vegas, NV
Jen Consalvo is Co-Founder and COO of the tech-focused media company, Tech Cocktail, as well as the Founder of Thankfulfor, an online gratitude journal community. She has worked in product development for over a decade, leading large and small teams in a range of product areas such as digital imaging, community & social platforms and personalization. The majority of her career was at AOL, planning and building products used by millions of people globally.
Andy Stoll
The Kauffman Foundation
Kansas City, MO
Andy Stoll is a serial entrepreneur and a senior program officer at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he is responsible for the implementation and management of the Foundation’s ecosystem development strategy. Before joining the Kauffman Foundation, Stoll co-founded Seed Here Studio, a social good company specializing in building innovation ecosystems in unexpected places.
Judges
Todd Nuckols
Enterbridge/Lighthouse
Richmond, VA
Todd Nuckols is the Managing Director of Lighthouse Labs, an active adviser to Canvas solutions, wild supporter of a co-working space in Richmond, VA and founder of StartRVA.
Melissa Larson Youngblood
Venn Ventures
Dallas, Texas
Co-founder of Venn Ventures, Investor in Tech Startups, lots of investments in Texas startups but also throughout the U.S. & Europe, industry agnostic, 3 Exits, Entrepreneur, Female Investor, Mother. Helped build Worldwide Express from the ground up, now worth $2B. Travel enthusiast, eternal realist.
Jennifer Skjellum
CO.LAB
Chattanooga, TN
Jennifer Skjellum, Director of Programs at the CO.LAB helps entrepreneurs getting started and those ready to scale. Her career includes building; companies, educational programs, investor networks, and nonprofit organizations.
Coaches
Release It coaches work closely with the finalists in the months leading up to the event to assist them in their onstage presentations.
Will Akins
WeWork Labs
Dallas, TX
Will Akins started the Dallas WeWork Labs location to support startups in DFW through impactful connections and resources. A Florida transplant, he moved to Dallas to get involved with startups and joined The DEC.
Clarisa Lindenmeyer
Proximity To Power
Dallas, TX
Revenue and Monetization Expert C-Suite Strategist, Brand Builder, Marketing & Communications Expert, PR Specialist, Event Producer.
Cijoy Oickal
Plymouth ai
Dallas, TX
Business-centric technologist driving applied research into organizations. Professor of Blockchain at the University of North Texas.
Raquel Vincent
Raquel Vincent Communications
Dallas, TX
Raquel Vincent is a content creator, coach, and marketing manager. With over 10 years of experience working with nonprofits, startups, and entrepreneurs, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the table.
Christiana Yebra
Currency
Dallas, TX
Christiana Yebra is the founder of Currency Strategies, a Texas-based company focused on increasing customer acquisition and engagement. She is also the Co-Founder for the Dallas Millennial Club, a service-based movement to bring a positive sentiment back to the word “millennial” through engaging events and volunteering. After college, Christiana helped to launch Texas’ first on demand urgent care app where she developed her love for technology, business development and marketing strategy. Her dedication to driving consumer engagement and improving user experience has led her to start businesses in event production, digital marketing, and most recently a STEM-related apparel line for young girls.
Olivia Zhao
Google
Mountain View, CA
Olivia is an engineer, entrepreneur, product manager and business leader who is passionate about building cutting edge technologies that positively impact millions of lives.