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Executive Advisors
The Tech Garden has a long history and vast network of mentors, advisors, and support resources. The Genius NY accelerator has been designed to take advantage of this accessible network by matching our industry talent to meet the needs of our accelerator teams on an as-needed basis. Listed below are some of our Executive Advisors who have committed to ensuring the success of the Genius NY teams and will be helping to tailor mentorships for each team (meaning, for example, if you need an expert in Department of Defense (DOD) sales, our Executive Advisors will help find that exact resource).
Marc Viggiano
Mr. Marc Viggiano retired as head of Saab’s Traffic Management business in 2014 and founded Niteopark to support the growth of existing and emerging technology companies by providing funding, consulting and product development services. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of CANSO, the Board of SRC Ventures and is a founding member of the NUAIR Alliance.
Viggiano has 39 years of experience in the design and development of advanced sensor and communication systems including ground, air and space based radar, Air Traffic Control equipment, medical instrumentation, automatic ID equipment and communication based train control systems, and holds multiple patents in these areas. He has a passion for working with entrepreneurial startups and is a limited partner in the Seed Capital Fund of CNY, the StartFast Accelerator and Armory Square Ventures.
Prior to his time at Saab, Viggiano worked at Sensis Corporation for 25 where he launched its Air Traffic Systems business and served as President for 10 years. Prior to Sensis, he worked for 9 years at Advanced Sensor Systems within General Electric’s Aerospace Group.
Viggiano has 39 years of experience in the design and development of advanced sensor and communication systems including ground, air and space based radar, Air Traffic Control equipment, medical instrumentation, automatic ID equipment and communication based train control systems, and holds multiple patents in these areas. He has a passion for working with entrepreneurial startups and is a limited partner in the Seed Capital Fund of CNY, the StartFast Accelerator and Armory Square Ventures.
Prior to his time at Saab, Viggiano worked at Sensis Corporation for 25 where he launched its Air Traffic Systems business and served as President for 10 years. Prior to Sensis, he worked for 9 years at Advanced Sensor Systems within General Electric’s Aerospace Group.
David Montanaro
David Montanaro is CEO and Founder of Strategic Advisory Associates in Syracuse, New York, founded in 2009, the company provides a range of services, including mentoring executives through strategic planning, business development, securing growth capital and M&A advisement.
David is an entrepreneurial CEO and angel investor with extensive board of director experience in both private and public companies.
Having served more than 30 years as a senior corporate executive in the telecommunication, mobile communications and data networking industry, he is a leading expert in these fields with extensive knowledge in the convergence of voice, data, video and wireless solutions in managed, hosted and cloud computing environments. David was formerly the CEO and Chairman of IQMAX, USA Datanet, NEC Eluminant Technologies and American Dynatel Corp. He was also SVP of Corporate Development of NEC America and held senior executive positions in several other technology companies, including U.S. divisions of NEC Corp, Japan and Siemens AG, Germany.
David Montanaro possesses a track record of leading growth and transition and his business acumen covers sales, operations, finance, legal, intellectual property and patent expertise.
David is an entrepreneurial CEO and angel investor with extensive board of director experience in both private and public companies.
Having served more than 30 years as a senior corporate executive in the telecommunication, mobile communications and data networking industry, he is a leading expert in these fields with extensive knowledge in the convergence of voice, data, video and wireless solutions in managed, hosted and cloud computing environments. David was formerly the CEO and Chairman of IQMAX, USA Datanet, NEC Eluminant Technologies and American Dynatel Corp. He was also SVP of Corporate Development of NEC America and held senior executive positions in several other technology companies, including U.S. divisions of NEC Corp, Japan and Siemens AG, Germany.
David Montanaro possesses a track record of leading growth and transition and his business acumen covers sales, operations, finance, legal, intellectual property and patent expertise.
Craig Marcinkowski
Mr. Craig Marcinkowski is a member of the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council and director of business development for Gryphon Sensors LLC, an SRC Company, Inc., a research and development company with more than 55 years of experience in defense, environment and intelligence. Gryphon Sensors is focused on developing commercial sensors systems for the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System.
Marcinkowski has nearly two decades of experience in the Defense and Aerospace industry, including software engineering, capture and program management, and domestic and international business development. As Director of Strategy and Business Development for Gryphon Sensors, he is responsible for developing market and new product strategies, forming domestic and international partnerships, and capturing business in the highly exciting and fast growing market of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Prior to the commercial spinoff of Gryphon Sensors from the Defense Side of SRC, Marcinkowski was a business development manager, leading International Business Development for SRC. He was responsible for the Company’s first international partnership agreements and the first direct commercial sale of SRC’s Radar Systems internationally.
Marcinkowski has nearly two decades of experience in the Defense and Aerospace industry, including software engineering, capture and program management, and domestic and international business development. As Director of Strategy and Business Development for Gryphon Sensors, he is responsible for developing market and new product strategies, forming domestic and international partnerships, and capturing business in the highly exciting and fast growing market of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Prior to the commercial spinoff of Gryphon Sensors from the Defense Side of SRC, Marcinkowski was a business development manager, leading International Business Development for SRC. He was responsible for the Company’s first international partnership agreements and the first direct commercial sale of SRC’s Radar Systems internationally.
Tony Basile
Colonel Anthony Basile is Director of Operations for the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc. (NUAIR), a non-profit corporation leading a coalition of New York and Massachusetts aerospace industry and academic institutions, working together to establish a site for the testing and certification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and the training of their operators.
Colonel Basile spent 29 years with the 174th Fighter Wing, Syracuse, NY, serving as its commander from 2003 until 2008. While at the 174th, Colonel Basile accumulated 4,000 hours flying the unit’s A-10 and F-16 aircraft. He has logged 67 combat sorties, including 51 during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Among his numerous military awards are the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Medal with 4 devices. From 2008 to until his retirement in 2010, Colonel Basile was assigned as Chief of Staff, New York Air National Guard (NYANG), headquartered in Latham, NY. In this position, he was the senior air officer responsible for the successful mission accomplishment of the NYANG.
In addition to his work with NUAIR, he serves as President of Mach 2 Associates, LLC, consulting to a variety of clients on issues related to aviation, safety, crisis management, and media relations.
Colonel Basile spent 29 years with the 174th Fighter Wing, Syracuse, NY, serving as its commander from 2003 until 2008. While at the 174th, Colonel Basile accumulated 4,000 hours flying the unit’s A-10 and F-16 aircraft. He has logged 67 combat sorties, including 51 during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Among his numerous military awards are the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Medal with 4 devices. From 2008 to until his retirement in 2010, Colonel Basile was assigned as Chief of Staff, New York Air National Guard (NYANG), headquartered in Latham, NY. In this position, he was the senior air officer responsible for the successful mission accomplishment of the NYANG.
In addition to his work with NUAIR, he serves as President of Mach 2 Associates, LLC, consulting to a variety of clients on issues related to aviation, safety, crisis management, and media relations.
Somak Chattopadhyay
Somak Chattopadhyay has been operating, advising or investing in technology companies in New York since 1999. Most recently, he was a Partner at Tribeca Venture Partners, an early stage venture fund in NYC with over $160M under management. Somak was responsible for sourcing, leading, or managing numerous investments across TVP’s two funds before launching Armory Square Ventures in 2014.
Prior thereto, Somak sourced and evaluated investments across the Mid-Atlantic for Edison Ventures, an expansion stage fund with over $700M under management. At Edison, Somak launched the NYC office and also worked with M5 Networks, a VoIP software company that was acquired by ShoreTel in 2012.
Before entering the venture capital industry, he held senior marketing and business development roles at Medtower, a pharmaceutical IT software company, and DealTime, a comparison shopping company that was later acquired by eBay. He started his career by working at Broadview International (now Jefferies) and previously served as a director of the Software & Information Industry Association.
Investment Areas of Interest
Software-as-a-Service, E-commerce, Mobile, Content, Tech-enabled services
Education
MIT | BS, Mechanical Engineering
Columbia Business School | MBA
Prior thereto, Somak sourced and evaluated investments across the Mid-Atlantic for Edison Ventures, an expansion stage fund with over $700M under management. At Edison, Somak launched the NYC office and also worked with M5 Networks, a VoIP software company that was acquired by ShoreTel in 2012.
Before entering the venture capital industry, he held senior marketing and business development roles at Medtower, a pharmaceutical IT software company, and DealTime, a comparison shopping company that was later acquired by eBay. He started his career by working at Broadview International (now Jefferies) and previously served as a director of the Software & Information Industry Association.
Investment Areas of Interest
Software-as-a-Service, E-commerce, Mobile, Content, Tech-enabled services
Education
MIT | BS, Mechanical Engineering
Columbia Business School | MBA
Noa Simons
Executive Director, Upstate Capital Association of New York
Noa is the Executive Director of Upstate Capital Association of New York, a non-profit dedicated to increasing access to capital in Upstate New York. In her role, she manages a robust membership network and convenes events on technology, trends and best practices for dealmaking to a wide-ranging audience including investors, entrepreneurs, service providers and professional advisors. In 2018, she took over running the statewide intercollegiate business plan competition (NYBPC), which lays the foundation for entrepreneurship for students. She is also co-founder and manager of the Hudson Valley Startup Fund, a member-managed seed capital fund investing in companies with high growth potential. Prior, Noa was a partner at TD Growth Capital based in Shanghai, China. Her investment work included worldwide technology sourcing, market analysis and diligence on deals both inside and outside China. Before joining that firm, Noa was interim CEO at Norton Motorcycles in Portland, Oregon and built and launched the digital archive housed at the Mary Ferrell Foundation. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Economics and Latin American Studies from Brandeis University.
Noa is the Executive Director of Upstate Capital Association of New York, a non-profit dedicated to increasing access to capital in Upstate New York. In her role, she manages a robust membership network and convenes events on technology, trends and best practices for dealmaking to a wide-ranging audience including investors, entrepreneurs, service providers and professional advisors. In 2018, she took over running the statewide intercollegiate business plan competition (NYBPC), which lays the foundation for entrepreneurship for students. She is also co-founder and manager of the Hudson Valley Startup Fund, a member-managed seed capital fund investing in companies with high growth potential. Prior, Noa was a partner at TD Growth Capital based in Shanghai, China. Her investment work included worldwide technology sourcing, market analysis and diligence on deals both inside and outside China. Before joining that firm, Noa was interim CEO at Norton Motorcycles in Portland, Oregon and built and launched the digital archive housed at the Mary Ferrell Foundation. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Economics and Latin American Studies from Brandeis University.
