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This fall, the TIA Incubator will host an inspiring lineup of founders, executives, and industry disrupters during its keynote sessions. Designed to expose student entrepreneurs to diverse perspectives across high-growth sectors, from deep-tech AI and consumer packaged goods to creative media and non-alcoholic beverage innovation, these interactive sessions offer real-world insights into building and scaling transformative ventures.

Sept. 26: Sára Nožková

The series kicks off with Sára Nožková, a deep-tech innovator operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, transportation, and nature conservation. Bringing more than a decade of expertise from Stockholm’s Integrated Transport Research Lab at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Nožková specializes in autonomous systems and smart mobility. Her research led her to identify a critical global challenge: mitigating costly and dangerous human-wildlife conflicts near critical transportation infrastructure.

To solve this issue, Nožková co-founded Flox, a groundbreaking climate-tech startup developing AI-driven autonomous solutions that direct wildlife safely away from railways, airports, and agricultural zones. Under her leadership as CEO, Flox earned international accolades, including Sweden’s prestigious SKAPA innovation prize, and was named among the top drone startups worldwide.

Nožková moved to Syracuse to participate in the Genius NY accelerator, winning the $1M grand prize on stage this past spring. Genius NY is the world’s largest business accelerator competition for uncrewed systems, IoT and robotics startups. With that funding from Empire State Development, and the support of CenterState CEO and the GENIUS NY team, Syracuse has now become Flox Intelligence’s global headquarters and the launchpad for its North American expansion.

Nožková will highlight to our student founders how to translate university lab research into commercially viable, global-impact solutions.

Oct. 17: Fred Hart and Uyi Omorogbe ’19

Design strategist and branding entrepreneur Fred Hart brings deep expertise in consumer behavior and market disruption within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector. As a partner and creative leader at Interact Brands, Hart helped scale the agency from a three-person team into a 30-person powerhouse that transformed nearly 140 CPG brands. His strategic visual identity work helped catapult challenger brands including Dr. Squatch, Feastables, and Momofuku into household staples.

Through his independent consultancy, Hart Brands, he collaborates directly with founders and executives on brand positioning, packaging innovation, and go-to-market execution. Recognized widely as a CPG thought leader across industry podcasts and trade media, Hart demonstrates to budding entrepreneurs how strategic visual identity serves as a direct driver of venture capital growth and brand equity. His session will highlight the crucial role design plays in scaling early-stage companies into category leaders.

Joining the October session alongside Hart is Uyi Omorogbe ’19, co-founder and CEO of Ophsides, a brand redefining American soccer culture through streetwear and community. Named to the ��ǰ������’ 30 Under 30 list, Omorogbe is a signed talent to Nike and a multi-hyphenate creative who seamlessly bridges entertainment, comedy, and enterprise. His innovative approach to building culture around consumer products has earned him a global audience of more than 4.7 million social media followers.

As a creative director and consultant, Omorogbe has advised top brands including Nike, Adidas, Burberry, Meta, and Amazon on driving authentic engagement.

During his four years at �Ա���Ƶ, Omorogbe founded NASO, a clothing brand that earned him a place on the 2022 ��ǰ������’ 30 Under 30 for art and style, as well as notable collaborations with companies like Banana Republic. The social enterprise had a mission to build schools in Africa. Omorogbe leveraged the mentorship and resources provided by E&I’s Thought Into Action program to create a product that shared his family’s culture while giving back to under-resourced communities. Today, NASO is a commerce tech company. 

“TIA is a hidden gem that has taught me a lot of things — how to network and how to pitch both your idea and yourself,” said Omorogbe. “We have these amazing alumni mentors who come back and give you the knowledge that they’ve accumulated throughout their entire careers.” His return to �Ա���Ƶ will provide students with a firsthand look at how a student’s journey can begin in TIA and evolve into a multifaceted entrepreneurial career.

Nov. 14: Emily Onkey

November features Emily Onkey, a veteran marketing executive turned beverage entrepreneur who built her career decoding consumer insights and scaling performance-driven brands. After earning her MBA from NYU Stern and honing her skills at luxury icons Estée Lauder and CB2, Onkey served as a senior marketing leader during the rapid expansion of direct-to-consumer pioneer Bonobos. This deep background in growth architecture and customer acquisition laid the foundation for her transition into category-defining entrepreneurship.

In 2020, Onkey co-founded Aplós, a functional, non-alcoholic spirit designed to offer a sophisticated relaxation ritual through natural botanicals and adaptogens. As chief marketing officer, she spearheaded the brand’s market entry, establishing Aplós as a premium leader across DTC channels and high-end hospitality venues. She will share with student founders the mechanics of consumer acquisition, navigating modern retail dynamics, and pioneering new CPG categories.

Dec. 5: Kevin Heffernan ’91, P’27,’30

Concluding the fall lineup is filmmaker, actor, and writer Kevin Heffernan ’91, P’27,’30, a founding member of the acclaimed Broken Lizard comedy troupe. Best known for co-writing and starring in cult classics like Super Troopers and Beerfest, Heffernan has expanded his creative footprint as a director with The Slammin’ Salmon, Hulu’s Quasi, and the release of Super Troopers 3. Beyond film, he created and starred in Tacoma FD, which ranked among cable’s top comedies and achieved widespread streaming success on Netflix.

Heffernan’s career illustrates how creative vision, intellectual property ownership, and adaptive distribution strategies form the foundation of modern media ventures. This past April, he served as a panelist and judge at the TIA Entrepreneur Showcase, sharing his insights with attendees. As both a proud alumnus and current �Ա���Ƶ parent, his session will offer students an insider’s perspective on navigating the business mechanics of entertainment entrepreneurship. His practical insights will demonstrate how founders in creative fields can monetize artistic vision while retaining long-term brand equity.

“Entrepreneurship is ultimately about having the courage to turn an idea into something real, and there’s no better way to learn that than from people who have done it themselves,” said Jen Martin, Weiner Family entrepreneur in residence. “We’re excited to bring this group of leaders to �Ա���Ƶ to share not only what they’ve built, but the lessons, challenges, and decisions that shaped their journeys. For our students, those conversations can open up new ways of thinking about what’s possible and give them the perspective and confidence to take the next step with their own ideas. That kind of learning is at the heart of what we want entrepreneurship at �Ա���Ƶ to be.”