More about the Speakers

Taher Hassonjee

JumpStart

2014 Fellow at Venture for America, Cleveland

Taher is currently working with JumpStart, a non-profit venture capital organization that seeks to revitalize the Northeast Ohio economy. Before arriving at JumpStart, Taher served as the Deputy Finance Director for a U.S. Congressional race, where he handled the organization’s fundraising and strategic outreach. Taher is also a graduate of New York University, where he studied politics and social entrepreneurship. At NYU, Taher also founded the NYU Students for Political Action Committee, which operates as an interest group that represented student views. He is also a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and is hoping to get involved in LeBron James’s gubernatorial campaign.

Joe Guy

Venture for America
Community Marketing Manager

Joe grew up in Dayton, OH, The birthplace of aviation and crossroads of America (please don’t get him started…). He attended the University of Dayton where he fell in love with the Flyers, great coffee, and building things. He started off as a barista at Flyer Enterprises, one of the largest student-run companies in America, and finished as CEO by the time he graduated. His experience there taught him how to make an awesome latte, and how thrilling/challenging it is to build something that lasts. After graduating, he made his way out to New York where he worked at BlackRock for a couple years before finding his way back to the entrepreneurial light at VFA. Now that he’s back on the home team, Joe spends his time building the pipeline for future Fellows by developing relationships at universities and key partners across the country. When he’s not busy helping build VFA, you can find him at the newest local coffee shop, watching his beloved Buckeyes, Flyers, Browns, and Reds, or playing on an intramural court/field around New York.