Speakers

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  Chris McDemus

  Chris McDemus has spent 18 years helping start, build, grow and exit early stage, emerging growth and later stage companies as both a deal lawyer and entrepreneur. As a Managing Partner with Baer Crossey, LLC, a Philly-based boutique corporate transactional and technology law firm, he represents start-up, emerging growth and late stage companies, venture capital funds, private equity funds, corporate venture units, angel and other private investors. Chris is also a co-founder and Managing Partner with Cairn Venture Partners, LLC, an advisory firm looking to unlock value in underperforming B2B software companies.

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  Juliana Reyes

  I'm Technical.ly Philly's lead reporter.

  @juliana_f_reyes
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  Karina Sotnik

  Karina Sotnik is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, adviser and an educator. She spent over a decade in Silicon Valley in senior positions helping companies grow globally. She also launched three ventures of her own. In the last five years her concentration has been on growing WorldUpStart, a consulting practice focused on providing mentorship, consulting and advice to academic incubators, including UPstart at University of Pennsylvania, Accelerlife (Scandinavia) and ITMO QD (Russia). In addition, Karina recently conceived and launched AppITUP, an accelerator program for Mobile Apps at the University of Pennsylvania.

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  Dan McGill

  Dan McGill is a Partner at the Capstone Insurance Group. He has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry and currently leads a team focused on managing the unique risks facing technology based companies and startups. Dan is a trusted advisor to many of the area’s growing technology firms and entrepreneurs and has a passion for facilitating collaboration between those clients and his contacts in the private equity/venture capital community.

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  Will Crowder

  William Crowder is Managing Director at DreamIt Ventures where he works closely with DreamIt’s NYC and Philadelphia cycles, overseeing the DreamIt Access track. He is responsible for the operation of DreamIt Access; a partnership between DreamIt Ventures and Comcast to increase the number of minority-led startups. Outside of DreamIt, William leads the investing activities of the Comcast Ventures Opportunity Fund, a $20M seed stage venture fund; and is the Founder and Managing Director of Growth Strategy Advisors, a boutique strategic advisory and business development company that launched in 2008.

  @williamcrowder