Jim Ryan, Founding Partner, is a serial entrepreneur who has successfully acquired and exited from several companies. His own startup, OutPLEX, has grown to more than 2,000 employees in three countries. He is a recognized member of the South Florida startup ecosystem, and has helped launch several startup accelerator programs. He is a board member and co-founder of the Venture Mentoring Team, a not-for-profit organization which uniquely fosters startup growth through education and mentoring. Jim also serves as board member to several other not-for-profits and government agencies including the Broward Workforce Development Board. He spends his free time fishing, collecting classic and unique cars, and on travel adventures with his wife and daughters.

Declan Ryan is Managing Director at Glades Capital. He holds an MBA from the Simon Business School with concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship. While in Rochester he also served as President for Simon Entrepreneurs Association and became a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. He has worked in an advisory capacity, focused on strategy and branding, with a number of New York-based startups. Now based in Buffalo, New York, Declan spends his free time operating a boutique woodworking studio and searching for the perfect chicken wing.

Kevin Cox holds a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship from FAU. Prior to pursuing his Ph.D., Kevin earned his MS in Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida. He serves as the Director for the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship at FAU, as well as Senior Entrepreneurship instructor, lead instructor for the new venture accelerator at FAU’s Tech Runway, instructor for FAU’s entrepreneurship bootcamp, and manager/instructor for FAU’s Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program. Kevin has taught, mentored, and worked with hundreds of early stage startups. He has also published an entrepreneurship training workbook, The New Venture Launchpad 2.0, as well as numerous book chapters, research papers, and conference papers on entrepreneurship. Kevin spends his free time working out, staying active, and doing some more extreme sports he’s getting too old for.