Innovation Advisors
André Corrêa d'Almeida, PhD
André is Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, Assistant Director of the Master of Public Administration in Development Practice program (MPA-DP), where he founded and leads the Development Practice Lab. He is the President and Founder of ARCx–Applied Research for Change, where he created and coordinates a network of collaborators from 10 universities and 22 research centers to work on cities, innovation, and development. He is the editor of “Smarter New York City: How City Agencies Innovate”, and a Research Director at New Lab, where he leads several initiatives on data collaboratives and data sharing for the public good. André is a former Senior Adviser to the UN Development Program, he holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Denver (US), and an MSc from the University of Saint Joseph (China).
Mitchell Golner
Mitchell is the Founder and CEO of IoT Nation™. He formerly served as VP Product Management at wot.io, a data service exchange for connected device platforms. Mitchell initiated the DreamIt Israel program and was a Managing Partner at DreamIt NY, where he worked directly with 30 early-stage software companies. Mitchell also served as the Business Manager for Zoran’s Consumer DVD business, based in China with over $130M in annual sales. He has experience in managing a worldwide business, developing cross-cultural teams, fostering innovation and executing new product development from inception to development through sales to customers. Mitchell is a graduate of the GE/Lockheed Martin Edison Engineering Program (EEP), the recipient of a NASA Virginia Space Grant, and holds Masters and Bachelors Degrees in Electrical Engineering.
Andre Marquis
Andre is the Founder and Executive Director of the Innovation Acceleration Group at the University of California Berkeley. He and his team have built scalable, global infrastructure to deliver training to hundreds of startups, and thousands of entrepreneurs and corporate innovators. Through world-class programs, including the reality TV show America's Greatest Makers, the Bay Area NSF Innovation Corps, Innovate for Digital India, Intel's $1.3m Make It Wearable Challenge, the Berkeley LAUNCH Startup Accelerator, Global Social Venture Competition. His team has redefined how to teach the process of evidence-based entrepreneurship and corporate innovation. Two web companies Andre helped start IPOed, and a third was acquired by Amazon for close to $200 million. His most recent company, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, raised over $190m in venture capital.
Mike Morin
Mike is an entrepreneur, business strategist and early-stage investor who has worked with physical product and digital business startups. He serves as a partner at Wakestream Ventures, an early stage Midwest VC. Mike helped build, and leads, Start Garden, a 501c(3) that facilitates the startup ecosystem in Grand Rapids Michigan. Mike created and serves as Director of SeamlessIoT, a proof of concept lab where six global enterprises collaborate with emerging technology startups. Previously, Mike founded SeeSpotRun.com, Knoware Inc., and Code Blue Corporation. He has also served as Mentor Director for Momentum Accelerator, COO at Boxed Water and TheCommon, and Senior Business Advisor at Windquest Group. He volunteers his time working on economic development in Guatemala as President of Pray America. His BA and MBA are from Michigan State University’s School of Business.
James Palvaros
James is founder and president of BIM FX. He brings an entrepreneurial attitude and passion for digital technology to major building and infrastructure project delivery. With 15+ years of experience in the Digital AEC space, James has held Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Design Construction (VDC) management positions for some of the top general contractors and engineering firms in the US. and managed over $40 Bn in infrastructure projects.
Dareen Salame
Dareen has focused her career in the AEC industry on the application of virtual design and construction platforms, linking multiple aspects of project/construction management including cost, schedule and facility information using building information modeling (BIM) and other emerging technologies. Dareen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gryps, an early stage startup in NYC. Gryps is an AI powered data extraction and analysis tool for the construction industry owners and building operators. Dareen is also an industry advisor to Columbia University's Global Leaders in Construction Management Program.