Ohio State graducates doing spelling Ohio in front of Ohio Stadium

Our Origin

The Ohio State University, as a land grant institution, has always looked to innovation to solve the problems faced by the communities we serve. From Freon use to pet food and medication access, alumni, students, faculty, and staff have created systems, products and companies that modernize and improve our world.

Today, The Ohio State University is further developing our research community, growing the innovation ecosystem, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship across all colleges.

The Ohio State Early Investor Network is a membership-funded network developed by The Ohio State University Alumni Association and the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge to support this work within the University as well as engage the more than 600,000 alumni around the world. OSEIN seeks to foster an entrepreneurial relationship between Ohio State related investors and entrepreneurs and provide access to investment opportunities and outside capital.

As Chairman of OSEIN's Strategic Advisory Council, I welcome you to participate with us in growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem around The Ohio State University.

When asked what other areas of our country can do to replicate the entrepreneurial success of Silicon Valley, particularly OSU, Columbus and central Ohio, I respond that we have many of the crucial elements of that success - a world-class research institution, renowned researchers and top-flight students at all levels. And, with the creation of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, we can now provide startup company talent and robust programming to maximize opportunities for social and economic impact. The missing element in developing our ecosystem has been the lack of early-stage capital.

The Ohio State Early Investor Network combines two powerhouses of innovation at The Ohio State University - our researchers and our alumni and students. Joining the talents of the Enterprise for Research Innovaiton and Knowledge and Technology Commercialization Office with those of our Alumni Association, one of the largest in the nation, to address this missing element. Adding in the vast experience of all our Advisory Board members OSEIN looks to engage its members by providing opportunities to participate in unique investments, sector-specific diligence and mentorship.

Drawing on the experiences in creating entrepreneurial ecosystems at Duke University, MIT and Stanford, OSEIN will make history by making The Ohio State University an entrepreneurial powerhouse. We welcome you to join us on our journey together!

Jim Terranova ‘75

Strategic Advisory Council Chair

Ohio State Early Investor Network

Strategic Advisory Council Members

*Indicates an Investment Committee member

  • Fisher College of Business '75

    Jim Terranova is the former Managing Director of the WS Investment Company, the in-house venture capital/private equity funds at the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P. C.

    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the premier legal advisor to technology and growth business enterprises worldwide, as well as the investment banks and venture capital firms that finance them. For fifty years, WSGR has established its reputation by having an unmatched knowledge of its clients' industries, as well as deep and long-standing contacts throughout the technology sector. The Firm's legal expertise serves clients at all stages of their growth, from venture-backed startup companies to multi-billion dollar global enterprises. WSGR's clients include some of the most recognized names in the technology, life sciences, venture capital, finance and retail sectors.

    As a member of the WS Investment Committee, Jim was responsible for selecting and monitoring investment opportunities from among WSGR's private client and venture capital/private equity funds. He was responsible for all fund accounting, tax reporting and all internal and external reporting. As a member of the WSGR Retirement Benefits Committee, Jim's duties included selecting and monitoring the investment types and managers for all the Firm's retirement plans.

    Terranova has extensive contacts in the venture community and is involved with several "angel" investor groups and entrepreneur associations. He is involved with the startup communities and mentors startups at The Ohio State University, UCLA, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Berkeley and Stanford University.

    Jim joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in 1996 after a career devoted entirely to financial services. He has managed client portfolios and traded fixed-income securities for a major Wall Street firm, marketed real estate investments on a wholesale basis and managed investments for a life and casualty insurer.

    Terranova currently teaches in the Continuing Studies Program at Stanford University. He previously taught as an adjunct professor of finance at Menlo College, a small private college in Atherton, California.

    Jim received his BSBA degree in Finance and Economics from The Ohio State University and has been active for several years with The Ohio State University Alumni Association. He is currently a member of the Fisher College of Business Alumni Board and also serves on the Board of the Ohio State Innovation Foundation, the entity that owns all intellectual property generated at the university.

  • College of Arts and Sciences ‘04

    Mr. Will Allen has an authentic style of leadership, honed from years of team sports and business; combined with an innate sense for people, motivation drivers and collaboration, which he leverages to identify distinct qualities of leadership and keen recognition for strategy execution. Mr. Allen is dedicated, humble and selfless in his work. He is known as a go-to problem solver, connecting the right resources to optimize solutions that will mitigate risk and ultimately help companies better serve their customers and stakeholder communities.

    Mr. Allen has over a decade of experience as a business leader, investor, non-profit founder and professional athlete managing high-performing teams and producing outsized returns on investments. Mr. Allen has led investments, advised companies and up-starts on market growth strategy, business analytics, facilitation of strategic partnerships, and leadership development. Mr. Allen’s direct leadership experience includes serving on a 10-county region CEO economic development organization, a $24B multi-state healthcare organization, where he serves on the audit and risk committee’s, and also Pennsylvania’s workforce investment board.

    In his current role, Mr. Allen is a founding partner at Magarac Venture Partners (MVP), an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in market-defining technology companies. As a founding partner, Mr. Allen brings strategic creativity and analytic rigor to help scale portfolio companies for high performance. In addition, he leads the design and integration of the firm’s DEI investing initiatives, establishing the firm’s financial commitment of $50M to diverse entrepreneurs and architecting the firms inclusive term sheet hiring policy.

    Previously, Mr. Allen co-founded Nascent Group Holdings immediately following his career in the National Football League where he has led real estate investments through multiple business cycles.

    During his collegiate and professional football career was when Allen developed his skills in leadership, decisive analytical assessment, focus, discipline and driving a team/culture-oriented environment. He was member of the 2002 National Championship Team at The Ohio State University. He earned All-American honors his senior year. He competed at the highest professional football level, playing 12 years in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

    Mr. Allen was named to the Pittsburgh Business Times “Power 100- Most Influential Business Leaders”. Mr. Allen earned his master’s degree in business management and analytics from the University of Dayton and a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from The Ohio State University. Mr. Allen resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and loves the game of golf and is a sought after keynote speaker.

  • Fisher College of Business ‘08, Moritz College of Law ‘15

    Ryan is an accomplished M&A attorney and investment banker with deep expertise in emerging markets and healthcare. Currently, Ryan serves as lead counsel and director for Huron Consulting’s investment banking practice group, a role which enables him to leverage his interdisciplinary background in law and finance. Having spent extensive time both working and studying in Europe and Latin America, Ryan routinely employs a global approach to help senior business leaders negotiate deals and solve some of their greatest challenges.

    Ryan resides in New York City and has served as President of the Ohio State NYC Alumni Club since 2018. Ryan also gives back to the Ohio State community by teaching a course on business negotiation at the Moritz College of Law and volunteering his time on the Fisher Alumni Board. Outside of the office, Ryan is passionate about mentoring, rugby, sailing, and hiking with his rescue pup, Campbell.

    Ryan holds a JD from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, an MSc in environmental science from the University of Edinburgh, and a BSBA in finance and international business from the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.

  • Fisher College of Business ‘79

    Membership Committee Chair

    Cindi is a serial entrepreneur and passionate about business. She loves startups and even supports new businesses through Angel Investing. Cindi owns Englefield Business Advisors, LLC, where she helps small business owners startup, grow, right-size, or prepare to sell their businesses. She founded and grew an Educational Publishing business over 20 years, until selling it in 2011.

    She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration where she majored in Marketing. Much of her business knowledge and expertise came from growing up and working part-time through college at Englefield Oil Company, founded by her father in 1961. And, by being a member of organizations like Women Presidents’ Organization and National Association of Women Business Owners, as well as having many business advisors and mentors.

    Cindi believes in Philanthropy and is involved with many non-profits like Women's Small Business Accelerator, Healthy LifeStars and many more. She is a former member of the X-Squared Angels Investment Group and is the co-founder and Chief Investor Relationship Officer of Accelerating Angels that launched in 2022. She enjoys golf, fishing, reading, hiking, and horseback riding. She lives in Dublin, Ohio to be close to her children and grandchildren. During the winter months she, Dave and her dog Zelda spend time in Scottsdale Arizona or in the Florida Keys.

  • College of Engineering ‘09

    Investment Committee Chair

    Jerrod is a member of the Audible team, an Amazon subsidiary, based in NYC, where he is building a corporate venture capital fund that focuses on investing in strategic, early-stage startups and supporting Audible portfolio companies. Prior to Audible, Jerrod spent four years at Amazon Web Services, where he worked on the Venture Capital BD team. Prior to Amazon, Jerrod worked in startup investing, management consulting, and education. He worked at two accelerators, including DreamIt Philadelphia and Techstars NYC as well as worked at two investment funds, including Bowery Capital and Wharton Impact Investing Partners. During this period, Jerrod also worked in management consulting at the Boston Consulting Group in NYC, where he focused on strategy and people and organization projects for financial institutions. He started his career as a science teacher with Teach for America, where he taught chemistry, physics, and physical science in Atlanta Public Schools. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University, a M.A. in Secondary Teaching from Georgia State University, and a MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Fisher College of Business '09, Moritz College of Law '09

    Governance Committee Chair

    Lindsay Karas Stencel has been in venture capital for nearly 16 years. She is a Partner at Thompson Hine LLP running the New Ventures group in Columbus, OH where she focuses on growing venture capital, and increasing capital access generally, for entrepreneurs throughout the Midwest, representing venture firms and startups from NYC to Palo Alto. She is also the chair of the firm’s Fund Formation practice group, where she oversees venture, private equity, hedge, real estate, and other fund formation as well as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair for the Columbus Office.

    As a licensed attorney in multiple states, Lindsay began her venture career on the pure deal side working in big law in in New York. After she obtained her MBA from THE Ohio State University, she shifted to a true venture role in 2008 when she joined NCT Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm based out of Columbus, OH. There she worked her way up the ranks from associate and in-house counsel, to become one of the managing partners and chief legal counsel, making her one of the first female venture capital partners in the State of Ohio. There she has worked with the firm to structure 100s of transactions and proudly assisted the firm in being the top performing venture firm in the Midwest for its vintage years (2008 and 2013, respectively), according to PitchBook.

    Then, in 2016, Lindsay, who is born and raised in Buffalo, NY, became engaged with Launch New York, Inc., a Buffalo-based 501(c)(3) venture development organization that works to provide mentorship and funding to seed stage businesses, industry agnostic, in the 27 westernmost counties of the State of New York. During Lindsay’s tenure with Launch NY, the firm has become the most active seed fund in the State of New York (and one of the most active in the nation), with over 90 transactions in less than three years, which resulted in Lindsay being awarded the Early Stage Dealmaker of the Year by the Upstate Capital Association of New York for 2018, the Upstate Venture Connect Community Catalyst Award for 2019, and the 2019 Investor of the Year Award from Upstate Capital Association. Lindsay was nominated for the 2020 NVCA American Spirit Award and named to the Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 and ColumbusCEO Future50. She has also twice been named to the Best Lawyers list for Business Organizations and Structuring in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    Today, in addition to her above-mentioned roles, she is a co-founder of The W Fund, a women-led, women-focused investment group acutely focused on investing in women-founded and women-lead businesses across the country. She is also the founder of BOLDER INC., a non-profit organization providing wellness resources to founders and teams across the country.

    Lastly, Lindsay is an Adjunct Professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, teaching students about venture capital, deal structuring and client development. Lindsay also is an active speaker internationally in the U.S., Canada and Europe, advocating for diversity and inclusion of women and minorities in finance, as well as instructing licensed attorneys and business professionals across the country on the establishment of venture firms and deal structuring.

  • Fisher College of Business '80

    Timothy P. Keenan is an active entrepreneur who has been a principal in the building and selling of four businesses. Most recently, Timothy P. Keenan was president and chairman of the board of directors of High Performance Technologies, Inc. (HPTi). As president, Mr. Keenan had overall strategic and operational responsibility for HPTi’s initiatives in developing systems technologies. As one of the original founders of HPTi, he helped to develop and grow HPTi into a dynamic firm known for its combination of creative design and disciplined execution. High Performance Technologies, Inc. (HPTi) (now a subsidiary of Engility Corp) provides high performance computing, system engineering, and health care bioinformatics to Federal Government customers including the Department of Defense, Intelligence Agencies, Department of Veterans Affairs and Justice Department.

    Under Mr. Keenan’s leadership, HPTi built the eighth fastest supercomputer in the world, was named one of the top 25 federal contractors by the Washington Business Journal, received the 2008 National Capital Business Ethics Award, the 2009 American Business Ethics Award and was honored with the United States Senate Productivity Quality Award Plaque of Excellence for 2006, 2007, and 2008 and the 2009 Medallion of Excellence in Quality. Additionally, HPTi has flourished to generate record financial results and was named a Top-Ten Growth Firm for 2007, 2008, and 2009 by the Private Company Index.

    Mr. Keenan and HPTi display a strong commitment to industry and community outreach. This is because Mr. Keenan and HPTi believe that improving the quality of life for others improves our quality of life as well. Mr. Keenan has been an adjunct professor for GMU’s Executive MBA capstone and an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University and an Entrepreneur in Residence for the McDonough School of Business. As part of this commitment, Mr. Keenan serves on the Dean’s Council of The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, the George Mason College of Science Advisory Council, and the James Madison University Deans’ Council for the College of Business.

    Mr. Keenan graduated with a B.S. from The Ohio State University and earned his M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He has received Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, OSU’s Professional Achievement Award, GovCon’s Executive of the Year, the American Business Award for Best Executive, Winning Workplace’s Best Boss Award, and the Entrepreneurism Award from the Fisher College of Business at OSU. In 2008, Mr. Keenan was inducted into the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Hall of Fame.

  • Fisher College of Business ‘06

    Michael Lee is the former CEO of Octopus Energy U.S. as well as the former founder of Evolve Energy and Pacific New Energy. With nearly a decade in renewable energy, including working on some of the first battery storage projects and developing solar solutions for Fortune 500's internationally, Michael is an entrepreneur who believes technology can unlock cleaner and cheaper electricity all while delighting the customer. He is the co-founder of Evolve Energy, which was acquired by Octopus Energy in 2020. Michael has a background in finance. He graduated from Ohio State with a BA in Finance and holds an MBA from Harvard.

  • Fisher College of Business ‘97

    Eric Lenard is Vice President, Global Services Finance at Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest and most comprehensive health care company. He is responsible for global accounting execution and enterprise, and employee financial services for Johnson & Johnson’s businesses across all sectors and regions with an organization of 2,500 Global Services Finance employees across 5 delivery hubs and more than 70 local offices around the globe.

    Eric has been with Johnson & Johnson since 2004 holding several financial leadership roles in the company’s Vision Care, General Surgery, and Orthopaedics businesses along with 3 years as the head of Corporate Treasury and the last 3 years as the CFO for one of J&J’s newest franchises focused on developing robotic and digital solutions for surgical intervention. His accomplishments during his J&J tenure include standing up the Enterprise’s first ophthalmic pharmaceutical business; creating a controlled foreign corporation and management logistics center generating hundreds of millions of dollars of tax savings for the General Surgery franchise; leading the Spine finance organization following J&J’s acquisition of Synthes, Inc, the 2nd largest acquisition in company history; serving as the inaugural finance leader for J&J’s Global Orthopaedics Franchise; engineering $9B of capital markets financing; championing the design and execution of Supplier Financing which enabled $600M of cash flow improvements; and leading the surgical robotics organization through multiple acquisitions, strategic restructurings, and Executive Committee-level assessments; and serving as chair of the African-Ancestry Leadership Council for J&J’s Global Finance, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, and Vision Care chapters.

    Prior to joining J&J, Eric worked at Procter & Gamble for 7 years.

    Eric is a 1997 graduate of The Ohio State University where he simultaneously earned his BSBA and MBA in Finance, and he is a Certified Management Accountant and Certified Finance Manager. Eric is a member of the Alumni Board of Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business, a former chapter president of the National Black MBA Association, a member of the Institute of Management Accountants Global Board of Directors, and a member of the Crossroads Theatre Company Board of Trustees. He has recently been honored by the National Diversity Council as one of the 2020 & 2021 Top 50 Financial Leaders in the U.S. along with receiving their 2022 Leadership Excellence Award in Healthcare. Eric has also been honored multiple times by Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business, receiving their prestigious Pace Setters Executive Award in 2016, the Professional Achievement Alumni Award in 2018, the 2021 Black History Month “Living Legend” Award, and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion’s 2022 Legacy Award.

    Eric is happily married, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently lives and works in the New York area.

  • College of Engineering '03

    Gayathri Radhakrishnan is currently part of the investment team at Micron Ventures, investing from $100M AI fund. She invests in startups that are leveraging AI/ML to solve critical problems in the areas of Manufacturing, Healthcare, Automotive and AgTech.

    Prior to that, she brings 20 years of multi-disciplinary experience across product management, product marketing, corporate strategy, M&A and venture investments in large Fortune 500 companies such as Dell and Corning and in startups. She has also worked as an early stage investor at Earlybird Venture Capital, a premier European venture capital fund based in Germany. She has a Masters in EE from The Ohio State University and MBA from INSEAD in France. She is also a Kauffman Fellow.

  • College of Arts and Sciences ‘07

    Brett's practice focuses on assisting entrepreneurs in the design and optimization of their corporate strategy and roadmap for growth. He also routinely advises venture capital (VC) funds on matters related to venture investment and manages deal work with knowledge and ease. He has experience working with startups, emerging companies, VC funds, and established organizations, regarding their corporate, fundraising, and governance legal needs. His professional work ethic, responsiveness, knowledge of the law, and advocacy on behalf of clients makes him invaluable to current and prospective clients.

    Brett helps lead a team of professionals who focus primarily on the venture space and deliver immense value across multiple interdisciplinary practice areas (Corporate, Intellectual Property, Tax, Securities, Data Privacy) under one roof.

    As a Cincinnati native, Brett has built connections with Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky organizations of all sizes ranging from single-member LLC start-ups to nine-figure annual profit companies with hundreds of employees. He is skilled in predicting blind spots and mitigating risk and is the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) for a variety of start-ups, developing, and established companies. Brett has an extreme passion for entrepreneurialism and has dedicated his professional life to investing in the venture ecosystems both in the Midwest and all across the country.

  • Dr. Ryan Rossos, MD, MS is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and a dual board-certified physician specializing in anesthesiology and chronic pain medicine. His experience spans academic medicine, healthcare operations, physician governance, and entrepreneurship, providing a unique perspective on the evaluation and commercialization of healthcare innovations. Ryan serves on the Department of Anesthesiology's Finance and Operations Committees and has been nominated to the OSU Physicians Group Executive Committee. He is also pursuing an Executive MBA to further strengthen his expertise in finance, strategy, and organizational leadership. On the OSEIN Investment Committee, Ryan leverages his clinical expertise and operational experience to evaluate medical devices, digital health, and other healthcare technologies with an emphasis on clinical impact, market potential, and commercialization strategy.

  • Matthew J. Schonauer is a Columbus-based intellectual property attorney, international growth advisor, and board member who serves as a Member at Brennan Manna Diamond LLC. With more than 15 years of experience focused exclusively on intellectual property and technology matters, Matt advises startups, investors, growth-stage companies, and established businesses on patents, trademarks, licensing, technology commercialization, fundraising diligence, and global IP strategy. His work spans a wide range of industries including artificial intelligence, software, robotics, medtech, healthtech, manufacturing, and consumer products, where he helps companies protect and scale innovative technologies.

    Matt is particularly recognized for his practical, business-oriented approach to intellectual property, helping founders and leadership teams navigate everything from early-stage company formation and portfolio development to litigation risk, international expansion, and strategic transactions. In addition to his legal practice, he serves on the Strategic Advisory Council and Investment Committee for the Ohio State Early Investor Network, supporting startups and innovation connected to The Ohio State University. He also serves on the advisory board for the Midwest Pediatric Device Consortium, helping evaluate and support emerging pediatric medical technology companies.

    Matt earned his J.D. from the The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he focused on intellectual property law and served in leadership roles with the I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society. He also holds degrees in mechanical engineering and mathematics, giving him a strong technical foundation that complements his legal and strategic advisory work. A frequent speaker and presenter, Matt regularly shares insights on intellectual property, artificial intelligence, commercialization, and emerging technology trends throughout Ohio and beyond.

  • Fisher College of Business '76

    Retired, Global Aviation Director, ExxonMobil - For more than 45 years, Jesse Tyson has been a thought leader, business strategist and implementer. Through technological innovation, keen business strategy and aggressive business tactics, his career grew from an early interest in marketing and sales with initial successes in sales strategy and operations; to his regional expertise in energy policy, to leading road transportation, safety and efficiency operations at the world’s largest oil and gas corporation, ExxonMobil. Tyson’s acumen for not only business operations, but strategy, also put him in the position of leading the Global Aviation business for ExxonMobil based in Brussels, Belgium, where he worked across multiple industry groups developing strategic customer segmentation solutions, operations and shareholder return requirements. He directed a $10 billion business with clients in over 50 countries and 500 locations that delivered significant double digit returns for ExxonMobil and over $30 million per year in operating efficiencies. Mr. Tyson is an international business trailblazer, a global marketing and operations expert and a recognized name in the multinational oil and gas industry.

    Post retirement from ExxonMobil, Jesse became President & CEO of the National Black MBA Association, an organization of over 20,000 members and over 500 corporate and university partners. In this role, his primary function was to create employment opportunities for its members as well as lead in the development of future leaders. He retired from this position in 2019 and now spends his time overseeing his entrepreneurial interests in hospitality and food service as a multi-brand franchisee. Jesse is currently the CEO of T&S Food Services, LLC.

    Jesse grew up as a sharecropper and, throughout his career, he has generously focused on giving back to create educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. To this end, he has established endowments at Lane College, Spelman College and The Ohio State University in honor of those who open doors for him.

  • Akib Nawaz is currently a Sr. Financial Analyst at Autodesk - the world's Design and Make platform, a leader in creative and engineering software. He drives financial planning and analytics across the company's Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) business, delivering insights for strategic industry motions. A leader in ensuring that the finances have a clear relationship to market drivers. 

     

    Combining his experience in software business development across APAC and AMER, corporate advisory, plus an undergrad and MBA (The Ohio State University), he brings deep knowledge to OSEIN about financial model integrity, sales planning, and business success. 

     

    Akib has been with OSEIN since its earliest years during his time at the university volunteering his expertise to the investment committee and becoming a lead investment board member. Akib excels at challenging revenue models and asking the right questions. He strives to have his own fund in the not-so-distant future.

  • The Ohio State Early Investor Network (OSEIN) aims to foster an entrepreneurial relationship between Ohio State related investors and entrepreneurs. Investors will hear regular pitches from companies founded or managed by Buckeyes or licensing technology from The Ohio State University. Companies can seek investments from accredited investors through network pitches, providing transparency and simplicity to entrepreneurs wanting to reach Buckeye investors. OSEIN is an affiliated entity of the Ohio State Innovation Foundation and is a membership-funded network developed by The Ohio State University Alumni Association and the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.

  • Angel or early-stage investors are private individual investors focused on financing early or growth stage business ventures in exchange for equity. Unlike a venture capital firm that uses an investment fund, these investors use their own net worth. They may also be more patient with entrepreneurs and open to providing smaller dollar amounts for a longer time frame, but they do want to see an exit strategy at some point, typically through a public offering or an acquisition.

    Investors must meet the SEC accredited investor requirements:

    Financial Criteria

    • Net worth over $1 million, excluding primary residence (individually or with spouse or partner), OR

    • Income over $200,000 (individually) or $300,000 (with spouse or partner) in each of the prior two years, and reasonably expects the same for the current year,

    - OR -

    Professional Criteria

    • Investment professionals in good standing holding the general securities representative license (Series 7), the investment adviser representative license (Series 65), or the private securities offerings representative license (Series 82),

    • Directors, executive officers, or general partners (GP) of the company selling the securities (or of a GP of that company), OR

    • Any “family client” of a “family office” that qualifies as an accredited investor.

  • Investor membership in the network is open to Ohio State Alumni, Students, Parents, Spouses/Partners, Grateful Patients, Fans, Friends, and Supporters of the mission of the program who meet the Accredited Investor requirements set forth by the SEC. Network investors are encouraged to invest in at least one company a year, but there are no activity or minimum investment requirements to remain an active member.

    All investors must attest to their Accredited Investor Status on their application to the network and recertify their status annually after acceptance. Staff will accept this attestation as certification of the required income, net worth or experience as set forth in 17 C.F.R. § 230.501(a) (2022) by the SEC.

  • The Investment Committee reviews and selects companies to pitch their business and investment opportunity to network investors. For investors interested in a company, OSEIN facilitates due diligence and investment negotiations. Investments are made via a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to the company, consolidating all interested investors into one entity.

  • As an OSEIN Investor you:

    • Get access to a curated pipeline of investment opportunities,

    • Share due diligence and expertise,

    • Collaborate, network, and invest with other like-minded investors who have a wide range of industry and investment experience and share an Ohio State bond,

    • Have the ability to make an impact and increase your Ohio State legacy by helping fellow Buckeyes grow their companies with capital and support,

    • Have the opportunity to engage with Ohio State’s expanding entrepreneurial activities, ecosystem, and research and

    • Receive membership in the Angel Capital Association with access to angel investing education and professional development.

  • The Ohio State Early Investor Network (OSEIN) offers several membership options to meet a range of investor experience and engagement levels:

    • Investor Membership: $1,000 annually
      Investor Members receive full access to deal flow, pitch sessions, diligence materials, and investment opportunities. Membership dues are invoiced annually based on your join date (e.g., if you join on August 5, 2025, your next dues will be invoiced on August 1, 2026).

    • Founder Membership: $15,000 one-time
      A limited-time opportunity available during the network’s early growth phase, Founder Members receive lifetime access to OSEIN without annual renewal fees.

    • Observational Membership: Free
      Observational Members can attend pitch sessions and select programming to learn more about early-stage investing. This option is ideal for those who are new to angel investing or not yet ready to invest but want to engage with the community and learn.

    All members contribute to OSEIN’s mission of supporting startups with strong Ohio State ties through mentorship, capital, and connection.

    Membership is not open to those representing accredited investors other than themselves or investing on behalf of an investment fund. Network investors are encouraged to invest in at least one company a year, but there are no activity or minimum investment requirements to remain an active member.

  • No, OSEIN does not collect ongoing management fees or transaction-based investment fees. All operations will be funded by membership dues and donor support.

    There may be separate fees associated with SPV formation and management.

  • Ohio State alumni who do not qualify as accredited investors or are seeking more experience before joining the investor network may join the Emerging Investors program. Emerging Investors will assist with business development and will play a significant role in deal due diligence providing in depth experience. Additionally, they will be paired with an investor in the network as a mentor. Continuing education opportunities will be provided to Emerging Investors on topics like venture financing, deal sourcing and business development, or portfolio management. There are no membership fees to join the Emerging Investor program.

  • To be eligible to approach the Ohio State Early Investor Network for investment the company must:

    • Have an Ohio State alumni, current student, faculty and staff, or former student who was enrolled but did not complete their degree as a company founder, technology inventor of Ohio State owned property or c-level/director within the company, OR

    • License technology from the Ohio State University.

    OSEIN is open to startup ventures at all stages of growth and funding seeking capital. OSEIN is open to companies in all sectors other than alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, firearms, gambling, or pornography. There are no minimum raise requirements to approach the network, though proposed deal terms for interested investors must be submitted prior to pitching. Companies that have already received an investment through the OSEIN may approach the network to seek follow-on investments.

    Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee that companies will be selected to pitch to the network. Companies will be evaluated by program staff for qualification and selected to pitch by a committee of network investors. Selected companies will be required to complete a due diligence process led by Investment Committee members, network investors and emerging investors should any network investors make a commitment to invest. Any companies unable to complete the qualification or due diligence process will not be considered by the network but may approach the network again in the future. The Advisory Board and program staff reserve the right to limit the number of times a company may approach the network to ensure equitable access.

    Understanding that all companies interacting with OSEIN will not be ready to pitch to the full network, we are working with the other Keenan Center programs to extend educational opportunities to alumni entrepreneurs.

  • Each investor will make their own decisions as to whether they invest in a company that pitches. There are no minimum investment requirements, though we do encourage investors to invest in at least one company a year.

    If a member is interested in investing in a deal, we do have a $5,000 minimum per investor and a $50,000 total minimum from the network as a whole to go forward with an investment.

    In addition to any monetary investment a member may make, members are expected to be active in the network and to be available for advice, guidance, and opinions to support investment decisions and to help companies in which they invest grow.

  • No. OSEIN members are not committing capital to a fund and are not required to invest in any deals. Individual members are free to either invest or not invest in any opportunity as they so choose.

  • OSEIN members are expected to be active in the network. This includes introducing investment opportunities for the group, collaborating and contributing to diligence processes and investment decisions, participating in the investment process on a regular basis, providing support and guidance for companies in which they invest based on experience and expertise and encouraging others to join the network and share the Buckeye spirit!

  • Company Sourcing

    • Actively seeking out investment opportunities that fit with member preferences.

    • Developing early access to investment opportunities with companies where the OSEIN leadership has previously developed a trusted relationship.

    Company Communication and Information Sharing

    • Communicating throughout the process with applying companies.

    • Gathering and packaging detailed information for each company for efficient consumption by members.

    Company Screening

    • The Ohio State Early Investor Network Investment Committee meets with and reviews companies before they pitch to the network.

    Due Diligence

    • Conveying diligence requirements.

    • Providing administrative assistance to investor deal teams

    Member Recruitment

    • Marketing to and communicating with prospective members.

    • Managing the application process.

    Event Management

    • Planning, scheduling, and coordination of pitch events and networking events for OSEIN members.

  • The Ohio State Early Investor Network is not a venture fund, investment bank, broker-dealer, investment clearinghouse, investment portal, investment advisor, tax, accounting or financial advisor, and the Ohio State Early Investor Network is not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or any state securities commission. Rather, the Ohio State Early Investor Network is a forum in which members may discuss various aspects of investment and business, as well as be introduced to companies for possible investment. The Ohio State Early Investor Network does not provide advice, recommendations, or any other indication of appropriateness or inappropriateness of a particular investment brought to the attention of the Ohio State Early Investor Network. The Ohio State Early Investor Network does not endorse any investment opportunity, makes no independent investigation to verify information provided by companies submitting to the Ohio State Early Investor Network for presentation or otherwise, and makes no representation or warranty regarding the same.

  • We present primarily early-stage startups across all sectors, including technology, healthcare, consumer products, and more. These companies may vary based on market trends, investor preferences, and the potential for scalability and growth. We aim to identify innovative, high-potential ventures with strong management teams and exciting ideas.

    OSEIN intends to provide monthly pitch session with 2 or more companies presenting at each session.

  • Our network employs a selective screening process. Our Investment Committee evaluates startups based on factors such as market potential, scalability, team competence, competitive advantage, business model viability, and the alignment of the investment opportunity with the preferences of our investor network. We conduct qualification screenings, provide resource materials, and engage in discussions with entrepreneurs before they pitch to network investors.

  • The average investment size within OSEIN can vary depending on the specific opportunity and the preferences of individual investors. While some investors may make smaller investments in the range of tens of thousands of dollars, others may invest more in a single opportunity. The investment size is typically influenced by factors such as the stage of the startup, funding requirements, and the potential for growth. We do not have a minimum investment requirement for the network, but companies may set minimums themselves for investment.

  • If you are investing in a company that has pitched to the Ohio State Early Investor Network, you will invest as a group through a Special Purpose Vehicle to increase the effect of the investment and simplify management of the investment.

    In most deals the investment terms are set by the lead (or largest) investor. This usually is a venture capital fund or other type of institutional capital investment. Sometimes a group of investors forms a syndicate which negotiates the term sheet with the company.

  • While the network will host in person events and pitch session, most pitch sessions and meetings will be held virtually or with a virtual option. Members can also view a recorded version of the pitch if their schedule doesn’t allow for participation at the time of the meeting.

  • Risks of angel or early-stage Investing:

    • High failure rate: Many startups fail, and angel investors may lose their entire investment.

    • Illiquidity: Investments in startups are typically not easily convertible to cash.

    • Market and industry risks: The startup may face market challenges or be in a volatile industry.

    How to balance these risks:

    • Diversify Your Portfolio: By spreading your investments across different startups and sectors, you reduce the impact of any single investment failure on your overall portfolio.

    • Conduct Thorough Due Diligence: Evaluate the company's business model, market potential, competitive landscape, financials, and the background and expertise of the founding team.

    • Active Involvement and Support: Actively engage with the startups you invest in, offering support, mentorship, and guidance when possible.

    • Stay Informed and Educated: Continuously stay updated on market trends, emerging technologies, and industry developments.

    • Understand Your Risk Tolerance: You should only allocate a portion of your overall investment portfolio that you are comfortable with potentially losing.

  • The Ohio State Early Investor Network uses a deal flow platform, Venture360, to coordinate and distribute all network and deal information. Your investment portfolio will be tracked on the platform allowing you real time access to all deal information. Companies typically provide their investors with quarterly updates. In addition to these company updates, periodically and on an ad-hoc basis, OSEIN may pass along pertinent information that becomes available to it.

    In addition to being shareholders in member invested companies, OSEIN’s members can provide support and guidance to such companies based on experience and expertise. This could include advice on business strategy and tactics, introductions to potential customers or partners, assistance with recruiting, and facilitation of future financing rounds or exits. When appropriate, members may be asked to serve on the board of directors of member invested companies. Members will not be required to serve on boards.

  • No. We do not allow solicitation of our investors, even by other network members. Ohio State Early Investor Network meetings and communications are focused on investment pursuits and members will not solicit other members, The Ohio State University or any of its affiliates or any company that has applied for funding to the Ohio State Early Investor Network for business.

  • Yes! If the company meets the qualification requirements for the network, you are welcome to share the Company Intake form with them. All companies must go through the full review and approval process and will not be shown preferential treatment based on member involvement. Members must also disclose to the Ohio State Early Investor Network the particulars (e.g., relevant entity and dollar amount) of such member’s investments, if any, in entities brought to such member’s attention by the Ohio State Early Investor Network for purposes of Ohio State Early Investor Network tracking and impact assessment.

  • Companies fill out an initial 40 question due diligence questionnaire. This is reviewed by the Investment Committee and available to investors prior to the company pitch. After the pitch, if there is sufficient interest, an investor deal lead will form a due diligence verification team to review and verify the information provided in the due diligence questionnaire. Investors may have additional questions for the company that will be answered at this time.

  • No. OSEIN respects the privacy of members and will not publish a membership list. Our Advisory Board members are public and provide a representation of network investors. As companies enter the formal diligence process with OSEIN, interested members may be introduced to the company. Background information can then be shared directly by members with companies.

  • Yes! Please feel free to review a copy of the Ohio State Early Investor Network Membership Agreement and the Non-Accredited Participation Agreement here.

  • Yes! Please email OSEIN@osu.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge

The Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge positions Ohio State to expand curiosity-driven research and creative expression, further develop our research community including faculty, staff and students, and grow the innovation ecosystem to address societal challenges and improve communities locally and globally.

To learn more, visit erik.osu.edu

About the Ohio State University Alumni Association

The Ohio State University Alumni Association keeps you connected to the alma mater you love and your fellow Buckeyes. Your alumni family — more than 600,000-strong — is always growing stronger. Ours is a vibrant, inclusive community dedicated to making the world better.

Throughout time and change, Buckeyes lead with purpose and compassion. We gather strength from our diverse alumni working together to solve problems and paying forward to support others. This is essential to who we are.

Your alumni association provides ways for you to stay in touch with the university and each other through engaging programs, in person and virtual. Lifelong learning opportunities and career guidance will help you thrive long after commencement.

You’ll find Buckeyes and alumni clubs and societies to join in places around the globe.

We look forward to welcoming you back to campus. No matter where you live, Ohio State will always be a place you can call home.

To learn more, visit osu.edu/alumni

Ohio State Early Investor Network Lifetime Members

These are the investors who raised their hands and supported the Ohio State Early Investor Network as we first launched. Without their support, this program would not be as successful.

Cindi Englefield

Cindi is a serial entrepreneur that is passionate about working with like-minded people ready to support and invest in women owned businesses. She is passionate about creating wealth for female founders and ROI for investors.

Cindi co-founded Accelerating Angels to give women founders the hard-to-access capital they need to scale their businesses.  This angel fund invests in early-stage, high-growth, and exceptionally run women-owned businesses with technology products or services that solve a problem that will last 20+ years. They drive historically higher returns for our investors AND value impact, innovation, and the change that we want to see in the world. Female founders historically produce 35% higher returns to investors than male founders.

As an experienced angel investor herself, Cindi's role is to help guide investment decisions and lead the due diligence team.

Timothy P. Keenan

Timothy P. Keenan, a 1980 graduate of The Ohio State University, is a distinguished entrepreneur and CEO of Keenan & Associates. In 2012, alongside his wife Kathleen, he established the Keenan Family Foundation, which, in 2018, made a significant commitment to Ohio State’s Max M. Fisher College of Business. This commitment reflects their vision of transforming Ohio State into a national leader in developing young entrepreneurs, incubating startups, and driving economic growth in Ohio and the Midwest.

Tim's entrepreneurial journey began at Ohio State, where he co-founded High Performance Technologies Inc. in 1991, showcasing his commitment to innovation and success. Beyond financial support, Tim actively contributes to Ohio State's entrepreneurial ecosystem, serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council, advising the Office of Research, and maintaining a life membership in the university’s alumni association. His enduring dedication and impact on entrepreneurship exemplify a lifelong commitment to fostering growth and innovation.

The Team

Mandy Mallott, Director

Mandy Mallott is the director of the Ohio State Early Investor Network. There she facilitates connections between startup companies and prospective investors among The Ohio State University’s community and works to further The Ohio State University’s entrepreneurial mission of making the right connections, forming mutually beneficial relationships that positively impact society by advancing innovation, accessing talent and driving economic success.

Prior to this she served as a business development specialist for the City of Columbus Department of Development focused on job creation activities, specifically working to grow the Columbus economy through site development and business expansion. In addition to her work with businesses and developers, Mandy led the City’s site selection and opportunity zone efforts.

Prior to working for the City of Columbus, Mandy worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce in international trade enforcement and in federal economic development for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and as a legal analyst for the U.S. Trade Representative in trade agreement negotiations.

Mandy attended the Ohio State University graduating with a J.D. and Masters in Public Policy and Management and Case Western Reserve University graduating with a B.A. in English and Political Science.