Meet the Cohort

Former credit research analyst looking to explore entrepreneurship. Hoping to demystify the process and catalyze my ideas.

 I am a physician looking to start a web-based scrollable,  platform to help improve mental health. I am in the prototype phase and would love to learn about development, fundraising and taking a small business from bootstrapped to sustainable growth.

I would like to expand my business understanding to launch my small business (Mental Health Group Practice) to the next level.

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I am Dr Atuhaire Patience, MBChB, MPH based in Uganda East Africa. Founder of Dactari Medics Limited a planned telemedicine facility. I hope to gain knowledge in the areas of risk forecasting and management; clarifying, implementing, and communicating my vision; navigating potential pitfalls; creating a product that meets customer needs; resource mobilization and management, to mention but a few.  The opportunity to learn from the best at HBS and from other persons on the program through networking is another most important expectation on my part. Picking from other people’s minds and sharing anything on my part that improves us all would be such an invaluable gain.  I look forward to learning to develop tools/models for design of my business idea including learning principles necessary to start the business and to turn an idea into a reality.    

I am a nerdy doctor who serves Detroit's neediest hospitals. I started work early as a distributor of tree fabric once called newspapers. As an elementary schooler in the 90s, I tried to impress my mother by learning to code. It didn't work, and, now, I sort of get why I am not my mother's favorite; to be fair to me, she had eight other options. I now claim that my round-about career path is more about building perspective than taking a clear-cut path toward preconception. I would say that's what my therapist would say, but talking about someone who doesn't exist is a one-way ticket back to therapy.  I don't want to pass on any more lucrative business ideas for lack of familiarity with business moves. I'm after the mental models and resources of serial entrepreneurs, but I guess actionable advice, case study, mentorship... it wouldn't be the worst.

I have over 20 years of experience in building digital products and deploying them in large enterprises. Completed my Masters in Management (ALM) from Harvard Extension School. Currently an aspiring founder trying to get my idea off the ground and see where it goes.

I'm a HKS '98 graduate who's worked in Florida state government policymaking for many years.  I'm excited about making the switch to the for-profit world as a social entrepreneur--however, I need to learn how to run a for-profit business, particularly the human resources, financial, and marketing aspects.

I have a great idea for a startup, but I know that I need to learn more about the entrepreneurial process in order to be successful. I am particularly interested in learning about:

Customer discovery and validation

Product development

Business modeling

Go-to-market strategy

I am also excited about the opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs and instructors, and to network with other entrepreneurs in the program. I believe that the HarvardAE Startup Bootcamp program will give me the foundation I need to successfully launch and grow my startup.

I have a great idea for a startup, but I know that I need to learn more about the entrepreneurial process in order to be successful. I am particularly interested in learning about:

• Customer discovery and validation

• Product development

• Business modeling

• Go-to-market strategy

I am also excited about the opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs and instructors, and to network with other entrepreneurs in the program. I believe that the HarvardAE Startup Bootcamp program will give me the foundation I need to successfully launch and grow my startup.

I'm a co-founder of an early stage startup. I'm very excited to stride on this journey and overcome any upcoming challenges, get guidance from this bootcamp, and get to know other peers who share the same passion as mine.

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Hello! I have been working at the intersection of the education, international development, and technology sectors as a consultant and impact strategist. I am dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap and I am a true believer in human and collective potential. Over the course of my career, I moved from direct service to effect system-level change, leading innovation and building powerful networks with an unwavering focus on equity and sustainability. I am ready and eager to not only give more focus to my more personal ambitions but to bring my ideas to life within the container of this program. My hope is to gain practical knowledge, a supportive network, and deeper confidence to move to the next stage in my startup journey.

Hello! I'm interested in the intersection between education, equity, and leadership. I've had a couple businesses in the past and am looking forward to a formal entrepreneurial education to develop my new idea. You can learn more about me at alexandracorwin.com.

My name is Pramod Das and I live in the United States in the beautiful state of Michigan.  I work at a multi-national corporation as a Business Operations Executive with responsibilities spanning engineering, smart manufacturing, agile product development, sustainability initiatives, and logistics management.    During the few months that Michigan weather permits, I look forward to playing golf. Outside of my corporate work, I am considering starting a health-tech startup.    Amongst several topics, I would like to learn how to choose a business model that best fits my start-up idea(s) and learn from fellow founders.

I am passionate about the intersection between inclusive development and access to finance. I have been working for more than 18 years in international development organizations. Based on what I have learned in my practice, I feel I want to innovate in the area of climate action.   I am hoping to get the tools from the training to start my company, as I haven't taken any previous course in entrepreneurship.

My name is Jean-Bernard Denis, I considered applying to similar programs in the past years but I needed more time to be suitable for me because of my working schedule, therefore it was impossible to coalesce my entrepreneurial fantasy. Since I received a Master’s degree in public health (MPH), and I have been working at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City for the last 17 years, I wanted to transition to health informatics, and or to healthcare-related digital technologies. The goal is to gradually transition to self-employment while focusing on providing a higher and more effective level of healthcare. I want to learn how. 

I am looking forward to the wealth of knowledge that ‘The Startup Bootcamp  Portal’ will share with us and hopefully, this certificate program will lead me to achieve my entrepreneurial Sisyphean’s goals.

I am an individual with a diverse background and a strong commitment to sustainability. Holding a master’s degree with a specialization in Sustainability from Harvard. Currently serving as a Branch Manager at a North American bank, my passion for sustainable innovation extends beyond the corporate world. I am the founder of an Algae Startup, with headquarters based in Montreal, Canada, and an operational farm located in the environmentally rich landscapes of Morocco. 

I believe this experience will be invaluable in helping me achieve my goals. Here are some of the key outcomes I hope to achieve:

Skill Development: Acquire a comprehensive set of entrepreneurial skills and leave the Bootcamp with a solid foundation in these areas.

Networking: Building a strong network of like-minded individuals and mentors is essential to any entrepreneur's journey. I look forward to connecting with fellow participants, as well as seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts.

Confidence: I want to leave the Bootcamp with the confidence and determination to take my business idea to the next level. I hope to feel empowered and motivated to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

I am a Technical program manager for safety engineering. Used to work as Functional safety manager and safety expert in the automotive industry especially self driving cars. I want to learn from this program how to grow my startup fast and make it viral worldwide.

I am partner/co-founder of The Rogue Agency (www.trustrogue.com), which was founded earlier this year to support clients to optimize the impact of their brand/message/product and grow their revenue.  As a former film and television producer, educator, operations manager, and instructional designer, I have worked inside organizations during the start-up phase for the majority of my career. I have learned a lot from these experiences, but  I am now at the helm of a startup for the first time, providing strategic leadership and holding ultimate responsibility for how this goes. As a participant in the Startup Bootcamp program, I hope to gain wisdom, insight and scaffolding to ask the right questions so I can make good strategic decisions during this critical phase.  I'm also excited by the opportunity to learn with and learn from my fellow participants in the program.  

Sharoll Fernandez Siñani is an artist, entrepreneur, and learning companion. Her work —which includes socio-political analysis, human-centered design, community innovation, fluid and responsive leadership, and theory formulation—addresses the potential of a nurturing non-romantiziced understanding of communal living and self-knowledge to tackle societal categorization and create social justice.  Born in Bolivia, Sharoll identifies as an Indian Aymara woman, infusing her diverse heritage into her creative endeavors.  She co-founded Bolivian Express, a renowned sociocultural publication, and is an active member of the Jichha analysis group. As a founding member of Las Caras de Llama, she supports and partners with native women while leading the non-profit organization Zera Bolivia, which provides comprehensive resources for conscious education and addresses issues of racism and sexism. Sharoll, the first Indigenous Aymara woman from Bolivia to graduate from Harvard, holds a Masters in Education Policy and Analysis with a concentration on Identity, Power, and Justice, and  she brings a unique perspective to her efforts to create a just and more beautiful world.

I am a lawyer and HKS Midcareer MPA graduate who has been active in disability advocacy for more than three decades. Living with a severe disability myself (I have quadriplegia resulting from a congenital neuromuscular disability), my university experiences (Harvard included) have had a profoundly liberatory effect on my professional and personal development. I am planning on starting a consulting business to give college and university students with disabilities (and those planning on pursuing higher education) the highly personalized advice and services they need to prosper on campus. Using my extensive knowledge of disability rights law, the challenges of student life, university resources, and the public benefits system, I plan on serving my clients (and, when appropriate, their families) in anticipating barriers and giving them whatever tools they need to succeed. In my experience, students do not generally have access to actionable information that include not only what campus-based educational accommodations or dorm accessibility, but also the kind of holistic knowledge of the disability experience required to, for example, obtain publicly-funded personal care for a student moving to a new state. I hope that the Bootcamp leaves me with practical tools that can give this enterprise (whether for-profit or nonprofit) its best chance to succeed.

My name is Ivan Francis and I'm the CEO of ARGONETA, a bluetech startup that will develop and operate underwater “tiny houses” that allow divers to increase their dive time by a factor of up to 5X.

I have 20 years of scuba diving experience and hold AQUANAUT, underwater habitat maintenance, and mine diver certifications, in addition to my PADI Advanced Open Water rating. I’m a former consultant with Kearney and Deloitte who has held Strategy, Transformation, M&A and Engineering roles with several global organizations including IMAX, General Motors, Ford and Xerox. I’m certified Design Thinking practitioner, and a member of the SeaAhead bluetech startup platform and the Marine Technology Society.

I hope to be able to better understand factors to make my venture viable for our beachhead and adjacent markets. I’m also looking forward to meeting members of the HarvardAE community.

Hi, I'm Jodi-Ann, a new Founder of a budding B2B startup in NYC. I'm passionate about innovation and excited to join the entrepreneurial bootcamp!

Hello! I am taking this program because I am interested in starting a new business. I have a background in market research, consultancy, marketing, and business analytics. I have worked in a few different industries but most recently in energy. I am also a graduate of the Harvard Extension School masters program in sustainability and have an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. I live in the New York City metro area, but will be in Croatia for the first few weeks of the program.

I am based in Bay Area where I live with my wife and 2 boys.  I've lived and worked in Valley since 2007 after graduating from HBS.  I've been working in tech industry since 2001 after majoring in Computer Science/Engineering. I attempted my first startup in 2012 which I self-funded and bootstrapped. I have worked in Engineering and Product roles at Google, Microsoft, and Meta.  In my spare time, I enjoy swimming, biking, running, and playing with my kids. For this program, I am looking for a structured approach to validating a new product concept - from viability perspective (market + competitive analysis), and determine the best way to execute from team and funding side.   

Hi, I am Marvin, the founder and director of Emet-Labs, a FinTech organization specializing in advanced research in computational causality applied to quantitative risk management. I've invented and implemented DeepCausality.com, the first hyper-geometric computational causality library for the Rust programming language.   My next venture relates to real-time streaming analytics and to get this one right, I've joined the bootcamp.

I am a Harvard Law School graduate (class of 2017). I am looking to start a business (or join another founder's) that aligns with my values. I welcome others' input and feedback and hope to offer support to my peers. I live in Houston, Texas with my husband (Aren) and my dog (Mickey).

I am President of an aquaculture startup with its head office located in Montreal, Canada. Our algae farm and the operations of the startup are taking place in Morroco. We want to transform our raw material to bio-cosmetic products. I have an extensive background in marketing, branding and communications and I feel that this program will give me the tools to take our project even further.

I am currently a consultant for US university admissions and am digitally nomading around the world. I'm hoping to transition from ideation and refining an MVP so that I can start fundraising in the first half of 2024. I'm hoping to network with other entrepreneurs and am looking forward to learning from peers and guest speakers during office hours. 

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Hi, I’m Kent Joshi. Participating in the program presents an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a transformative learning experience. My aspiration is to acquire a comprehensive toolkit of entrepreneurial skills and knowledge that will enable me to effectively navigate the challenging landscape of launching a startup. I am eager to gain valuable insights from seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, leveraging their real-world experiences to refine my startup concept and strategy. Ultimately, my vision extends beyond personal growth; I aim to use this newfound expertise not only to shape my own future but also to positively impact the lives of those connected to my startup, whether they are employees, customers, or the wider community. Through this program, I aspire to become a catalyst for innovation and change, driving forward ideas that have the potential to make a meaningful difference in our world.

Hi I'm in the early stages of thinking about a startup and looking forward to learning from everyone here.

I am the Founder of MentaY, an AI-based self improvement platform. We are currently a team of 3 and an advisory baord with extensive medical and AI experience. I hope to expand my network and reach through the program. I am always someone open to chat about anything so feel free to connect with me!

I am an urban planner and an architectural designer who lives in Boston and originally from Sudan and UAE. I am excited to join the bootcamp and actualize a startup idea that I have.

I'm an entrepreneur, inventor, podcast host, and technology and data scientist. While I've learned a lot on my individual journey, I hope to fill in the gaps I have in knowledge especially around the funding aspects of a startup.

I am a finance professional with a passion for innovation and sustainability.  My entrepreneurial spirit, open mind, and curiosity led me to the BootCamp. I don't have a particular goal besides creating meaningful relationships and maybe developing an impactful business idea.

Hi There, everyone. I am Edwin Lam, a passionate healthcare innovator with prestigious affiliations such as FRSM, FRSPH, MRPharmS, MPS, and the Member of HEA as well. I am deeply concerned about Health Inequalities and have dedicated my life to driving innovation in healthcare. I am thrilled to join the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs "Startup Bootcamp". My expectations from this program are to enhance gain valuable insights and knowledge from the program that will enable me to successfully launch and grow my own business venture in my next step. I am eager to learn from experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders who can provide practical advice and guidance on various aspects of entrepreneurship, such as business strategy, marketing, and finance. Additionally, I look forward to networking with fellow participants and building connections within the Harvard alumni Entrepreneurs community, as this can potentially lead to new collaborations and opportunities in the coming future.   

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Maria Lorena Lehman

My name is Maria Lorena Lehman, founder of MLL Atelier LLC. Through participation in the HarvardAE Startup Bootcamp, I seek to gain insight that will take my business to the next level: including comprehensive market analysis, product refinement, deeper understanding of business financial systems and trajectories, as well as short/long-term goal positioning and planning.

I am Racha Lwali, a first-generation U.S. immigrant and proud DACA recipient. My journey is an intricate blend of academics, industry, and a deep passion for entrepreneurship. Beyond my educational background in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, I further honed my managerial and strategic skills by completing my Master’s in Management at Harvard in 2022.

In my 10 years as an engineer, I worked in various sectors, delivered large scale projects, earned numerous patents, and lead multiple design and innovation engineering teams for a Fortune 100 company. Yet, the spirit of entrepreneurship constantly beckoned. 

In late 2023, I took the plunge, departing from my corporate role to be an entrepreneur. I founded RLC Design Studio, a services consultancy offering top-tier engineering services. 

In hope to leverage this program to formulate a solid approach for shaping my company.  Beyond that, I love art, running and yoga.

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My name is Cesar and I am a mechanical engineer who is passionate about entrepreneurship. I currently work as a Microgrid System Modeler and Analyst, but want to learn more on how to start a company and how to develop ideas. Looking forward to working with everyone!

I'm student for life with 28 years of experience across multiple industries, including healthcare IT, apparel manufacturing, and management consulting, and look to hone in on my skills through this program.

Hi,  I am an economist and I hope to learn  the basics of startup business planning.

Aspiring Entrepreneur, here to learn the ropes.

This is after graduation, and we are accepting this program. The intention is marriage versus business for this application. We are not denying this business as a startup. There is no proper cause for a liquidation under this asset in law. Thank you, for your acceptance.

I am a computational chemist working in early-stage drug discovery at a non-profit biotech. An aspiring entrepreneur, looking to one day start a biotech company myself.

Tyler is a passionate educator and entrepreneur who holds a Bachelor’s in Chemistry & Biochemistry from Miami University, a Master’s in Mind, Brain, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (M.Ed), and a dual Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management Social Policy (M.B.A) and Conflict Resolution (M.A) from the Heller School of Social Policy at Brandeis University. Tyler began his career in Teach for America, which sent him to Bridgeport, Connecticut to teach 7th & 8th Grade Science. He was later invited to serve as a visiting professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, teaching “Educational Neuroscience for Classroom Teachers.” Over the last decade, he has served as a Co-founder at Ischemia Care, the Director of School Operations at Achievement First’s Aspire Elementary in Brooklyn, New York, and as Managing Director of Programs at Teach for America-Connecticut. He is currently the CEO and Co-founder of 34GiGs, and the Director of Education at Ivy Method Tutors. When he isn't at work you will find him at the beach living into his Pisces nature with childhood sweetheart, Jenna, or cuddling with his two Siamese cats, Aslan and Bellatrix.

I am self-employed as a learning consultant for designing and developing online courses and training programs. I'm also interested in building a new software program in AgeTech, so signed up for this program to understand the process in more detail.

Hi, my name is Kento Nakamura. I'm based from Tokyo, Japan working in the biotech drug industry. Similar to many others, I hope to learn what it takes to start a company. 

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I'm looking to start my first venture in the digital education space. I'm interested in learning more about each step of the start-up process - idea formation, business plan creation, initial product execution, team/expertise building, operational challenges and legal/financial structuring. I've worked across finance and strategic consulting most of my career and also attended law school. I'm very excited to be doing this and a little nervous as well, since I never really imagined myself an entrepreneur.

I'm a first-time founder, long-time corporate "intrepreneur," ex-Google, ex-P&G looking to become an app entrepreneur in the electric vehicle space. I hope this course can shore up my understanding of the "should dos," "must dos," "nice to dos" when founding a company. Although I've watched a lot of YC content, and followed a good deal of their guidance, I still have questions!

I am physician with a passion for medical care and a love of service. I hope to expand  my  business acumen and enhance my business skillsets during this course.

Hello, I'm Janet Rajan, the founder of Growth Collective, dedicated to offering learning, executive coaching, and leadership development to individuals, corporates and academia. My vision is to revolutionize leadership skills through dynamic, gamified learning ecosystems, ushering in a new era of impactful, adaptable and strategic leaders. My startup stands at a crucial juncture, and I view this bootcamp as a strategic growth accelerator. The program's modules align seamlessly with my current goals. Through it, I aim to refine my strategy, crafting a robust roadmap to scale my business. I envision building a thriving, impactful enterprise, using cutting-edge technology to address real-world leadership challenges. This program is an exciting opportunity to take my startup to the next level  and I look forward to meeting other founders, learning from their journeys, and forming a valuable network to propel us all forward. 

Hi, my name is Karun. I currently live in New York City, working as a data scientist at a management consulting firm. Through this program, I’m hoping to understand what goes into creating a startup. My current goal is to, one day, start my own startup. It is an environment and community that I have enjoyed operating in, and want to dedicate my time fully towards. My hope is that this program will be a great starting block to starting my own startup. This includes much of the early leg work that is needed when going into a startup centered around creating a business plan, understanding the market, and reaching out to investors. I am looking forward to meeting others in this program who are also similarly interested in the startup world!

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I am looking to build out a pitch deck and perhaps connect with others to learn the right way and right steps to build a solid start -up to scale quickly in the ecommerce and Web3 space.

I run a startup, Percensys CORE Learning, that offers a digital health platform to support the delivery of mental health services. My hope is that this bootcamp will provide insight and direction as our small team works to scale the business. 

I am a recovering BigLaw partner and current CEO of an online start up (not started by me). I hope to use this program to get me started in my own venture as an entrepreneur and founder of my own company.  

Hello, my name is Khadija Saleh, I am a French graduate from HKS ('22). After several years working for L'Oréal on various roles and consulting with nonprofits in the environmental and cultural space, I decided to launch my own business in the personal care industry. I have been working on my concept for a little while but as a first-time founder, I hope this program will bring me the structure and right tools to have before approaching potential partners and investors. This phase of the entrepreneurial journey can also be lonely so I look forward to sharing it with other founders!

I am looking forward to this bootcamp to help me in the creation of a new consulting firm in Paris, working on the industrial and security sector in the EU. Father of three and an MPA ID ( HKS) ! 

Assad M. Shaik is a distinguished innovator and a recognized evangelist in the cutting-edge fields of Digital Transformations, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Crypto. Boasting an extensive background in Banking and Financial Services, Mr. Shaik founded Cognerium, where he now serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Cognerium enables Banks, Credit Unions, and Wealth Management firms to rapidly expand their business and enhance customer engagement through digital and AI-driven solutions. In his past roles, Mr. Shaik held leadership positions at PNC Financial Services, Cuna Mutual Financial Group, IBM Global Business Services, and Accenture. He is also a proud alumnus of Harvard Business School.

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I’m developing a business plan for a members social club featuring afternoon tea and New England inspired cafe fare. The cafe model is inspired by the “Parlor” restaurant in Fortnam and Mason in the UK.

Hi everyone,  I am a comedian, producer and founder of Humor for Humanity. H4H is a social enterprise that raises spirits, funds and awareness for nonprofits, social causes and needy individuals through my work as a comic, emcee and auctioneer. I hope to create a team and working template that allows us to expand from "one off" live events, to a web based TV Show type series, that engages larger audiences while creating bigger impact for our partners. Think "The Tonight Show" with a social purpose.

I am a seasoned financial services executive with experience spanning equities, fixed income, and alternative investments. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of collaborating with some of the largest institutional enterprises in the industry.

While I have enjoyed my journey in traditional finance, I am driven by a strong desire to transition into fintech. I would like to leverage my expertise to provide new tools and platforms for companies and investors.

Hello everyone! I am genuinely excited to learn alongside all of you over the next eight weeks. My name is Joshua and I recently relocated from Cambridge, MA to Austin, TX after graduating from HES in May. Ever since I was a child, I had a dream of one day leading my own entrepreneurial journey. Then life happened and I found myself taking the path most traveled and worked for a Fortune 100 company for nearly a decade. Recent events led me to revisit and honor my childhood dream of becoming an entrepreneur. From this program I look forward to gaining a strong startup knowledge foundation to grow my first entrepreneurial venture. More importantly, I hope to form genuine connections with you all, as well as our staff members, guest speakers, and mentors so that we can build an enduring support system through our entrepreneurial journeys.

I spent a year in consulting after getting my MBA. Now, I'd like to explore my passions in the health and wellness space and begin building my own business: using the principles of yoga and meditation (movement of the body and stillness of the mind) to tactically target mild mental health issues like burnout, stress, anxiety, etc.   I'd like to use this course to have a more concrete plan to go forward with confidence, whether that's 1) opening a studio in NYC or 2) having a more asset-light / digital approach targeting corporate employee wellness programs (given the saturated boutique fitness studio market in NYC combined with the high rent)  Other areas I'd like to think through are: scaling if going with the brick-and-mortar route and how to approach partners / mentors who can add credibility from the clinical psychology / mental health perspective and how to incorporate psychology into the offering.

I'm Myra Wang, and I'm deeply passionate about fostering personal growth and empowering individuals. Over the past 15 years, I've dedicated my spare time to this pursuit, serving as a tutor, leading workshops, and achieving certification as a psychological consultant and an executive coach.    For the last decade, my primary professional focus has been on Machine Learning and AI within tech companies. However, I've discovered a remarkable intersection between AI and personal development. My profound understanding of AI has enabled me to help people elevate their mindsets and embark on their self-improvement journeys.    Now, I stand at a pivotal moment in my career. I'm here at this bootcamp with a clear objective: to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to launch my own venture in the Personal Growth space. I'm excited to immerse myself in this transformative experience, gain insights, and connect with fellow innovators.

I am an Alumnus of Harvard Business School.  I hold five certifications from Harvard Law School in Negotiation, Mediation, Master Negotiation, Leadership, and International Finance.    I am interested to explore the business development, marketing, and fundraising strategies offered in the program.

I'm a physician and am developing medical applications for immersive technology. Looking to make startups successful.

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