Previously a Wall Street executive and then serial entrepreneur, Barbara Roberts is now an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Columbia Business School and Hofstra University. She is also New York Chair at Tiger 21, the peer learning group for very high net worth people and entrepreneurs who have sold businesses for $10 million or more and a former member of the Suffolk County Planning Commission. She is a well-known speaker and writer on all stages of entrepreneurship, and the economic and leadership progress of women. Roberts develops and leads programs and workshops for entrepreneurs at all stages for institutions and government agencies, including Columbia Business School and University, Hofstra University, the Women’s Presidents Organization, WBENC, the New York City Economic Development Corp., Brookhaven Labs, Suffolk County, NY and the New York Science, Industry and Business Library. She is a member of New York Angels and serves on the boards of a number of privately held companies. She is certified as a master coach by the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara and trained in facilitation and mediation. Ms. Roberts has an Economics and Philosophy degree from Goucher College.

Winston Rodriguez is an investment professional at Northwell Ventures, a strategic growth equity investment firm backed by Northwell Health. With nearly a decade of professional experience within private equity, venture capital and entrepreneurship, Winston is passionate about working closely with entrepreneurs and assisting them in business building, discussing current macro trends, executing on opportunistic investment opportunities and working with organizational managers to drive long-term value.

Winston holds a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in finance from Florida Atlantic University, and an MBA with a concentration in investment banking and private equity from Cornell University.

In his spare time, Winston enjoys cycling, equestrian activities, travel and outdoor recreation.

Dee is an Associate with the NYU Innovation Venture Fund. Dee drives engagement in life science and healthcare entrepreneurship and technology commercialization across the university; evaluate investment for the fund; and oversee portfolio company management and growth. Dee also serves a Startup Coach for the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute.

Prior to joining the Innovation Venture Fund, Dee was at the Ludwig Cancer Research where she oversee oncology therapeutic IP strategy to support the development of the Institute’s pipeline. Dee investigated host immunity in an HHMI laboratory at Einstein for her postdoctoral work. Dee received her PhD at Columbia University.

Expertise: Healthcare and LifeSciences, Lean Startup Methodology, Venture Capital Investing, Intellectual Property