StartUP FIU Team
Emily G. Furton, MBA
AVP, Research, Innovation & Economic Development
Co-Founder, StartUP FIU
Read more about Emily
Email: CGresham@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-0474
With over 20 years of university experience in fundraising, strategy and innovation, Emily can support any facet of FIU innovation. She also serves as the Principal Investigator for the EDA-funded ClimateReady Tech Hubs Infrastructure Project. Reach out to Emily on the Tech Hub or any innovation or economic development initiatives.
Robert H. Hacker, MBA
Director and Co-Founder, StartUP FIU
Read more about Bob
Email: rhacker@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2494
With over 40 years of industry experience, Bob supports faculty and researchers at FIU to take their innovation from lab to market. Contact Bob if you want to learn more about FIU research and ways for corporates and SMEs to collaborate with FIU.
Irene D. Ferradaz, MPA
Director, Marketing and Communications
Read more about Irene
Email: iferrada@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-4180
With over 20 years of communications experience, Irene expertly highlights the remarkable achievements of our University innovators and showcases their inspiring stories. Contact Irene for general StartUP FIU inquiries, information about upcoming events and programs, speaking opportunities, and media questions.
Emily G. Furton, MBA
AVP, Research, Innovation & Economic Development
Co-Founder, StartUP FIU
Read more about Emily
Email: CGresham@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-0474
With over 20 years of university experience in fundraising, strategy and innovation, Emily can support any facet of FIU innovation. She also serves as the Principal Investigator for the EDA-funded ClimateReady Tech Hubs Infrastructure Project. Reach out to Emily on the Tech Hub or any innovation or economic development initiatives.
Robert H. Hacker, MBA
Director and Co-Founder, StartUP FIU
Read more about Bob
Email: rhacker@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2494
With over 40 years of industry experience, Bob supports faculty and researchers at FIU to take their innovation from lab to market. Contact Bob if you want to learn more about FIU research and ways for corporates and SMEs to collaborate with FIU.
Irene D. Ferradaz, MPA
Director, Marketing and Communications
Read more about Irene
Email: iferrada@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-4180
With over 20 years of communications experience, Irene expertly highlights the remarkable achievements of our University innovators and showcases their inspiring stories. Contact Irene for general StartUP FIU inquiries, information about upcoming events and programs, speaking opportunities, and media questions.
Kiesha Moodie, M.Ed
Director, Social Innovation
Read more about Kiesha
Email: KMoodie@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2494
With over 16 years of experience leading innovative, human-centered initiatives, Kiesha specializes in building capacity for 21st-century workforce resilience and helping faculty translate research into real-world impact. Contact her for innovative programs, training and development, and fostering dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems
Yogeswaran Umasankar, PhD
Emerging Technology Research Specialist
Read more about Yogeswaran
Email: YUmasank@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2494
With a strong foundation in multidisciplinary science and technology, Yoge drives innovation and commercial value to support faculty research commercialization. Contact Yoge for assistance with commercial grants (NSF I-Corps, SBIR/STTR, etc.) or if you are seeking industry partnerships and sponsorship.
Gustavo Grande, MBA
Director, Venture Ready Programs
Read more about Gustavo
Email: GGrande@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-7156
Former entrepreneur and educator, Gustavo Grande serves as a liaison between the entrepreneurial and academic world and most recently for researchers aspiring to commercialize their innovations.
Contact Gustavo for business model design, go-to-market strategy, customer discovery, and the design of learning experiences
Kiesha Moodie, M.Ed
Director, Social Innovation
Read more about Kiesha
Email: KMoodie@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2494
With over 16 years of experience leading innovative, human-centered initiatives, Kiesha specializes in building capacity for 21st-century workforce resilience and helping faculty translate research into real-world impact. Contact her for innovative programs, training and development, and fostering dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems
Yogeswaran Umasankar, PhD
Emerging Technology Research Specialist
Read more about Yogeswaran
Email: YUmasank@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2494
With a strong foundation in multidisciplinary science and technology, Yoge drives innovation and commercial value to support faculty research commercialization. Contact Yoge for assistance with commercial grants (NSF I-Corps, SBIR/STTR, etc.) or if you are seeking industry partnerships and sponsorship.
Gustavo Grande, MBA
Director, Venture Ready Programs
Read more about Gustavo
Email: GGrande@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-7156
Former entrepreneur and educator, Gustavo Grande serves as a liaison between the entrepreneurial and academic world and most recently for researchers aspiring to commercialize their innovations.
Contact Gustavo for business model design, go-to-market strategy, customer discovery, and the design of learning experiences
With more than 100 years of innovation and entrepreneurial expertise, the StartUP FIU team is dedicated to supporting faculty, researchers and graduate students as they bring their innovations from the academic setting into the commercial market.
We look forward to hearing from you TODAY!
