2009 - 2010 Organizing CommitteeSteven Pal
 Steve is a second year MBA candidate at the Duke Fuqua School of Business. Prior to Fuqua, Steve worked at several start-ups in Silicon Valley, including Babycenter.com and Merced Systems, an enterprise software company. Steve helped Merced grow from 15 people to over 150 via his contributions in sales, marketing, and business consulting. Steve also spent several years in consulting at Sapient delivering technology solutions for financial services firms. Steve spent his summer with Flywheel Ventures, a seed and early-stage venture capital fund in New Mexico. Steve received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. Contact Steve at steven.pal@fuqua.duke.edu. Twitter: @steven_pal.
Shalav Gupta
 Shalav is a second year MBA student at the Duke Fuqua School of Business. He was a finalist in the 2008 Duke Start-Up Challenge with his team GrowthTree. Prior to Fuqua, Shalav worked at Capgemini in the UK, helping clients implement strategic performance management frameworks like the Balanced Scorecard. Prior to Capgemini Shalav worked as a Project Manager at British Telecom in the UK. Shalav received a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, India. Contact Shalav at shalav.gupta@fuqua.duke.edu.
Vatsala Kabra
 Vatsala is an undergraduate senior at the Duke Trinity School of Arts & Sciences. Vatsala is a prior participant in the challenge, having competed as a finalist in the undergraduate and social venture tracks with her company Rosie's Kitchen. During the summer, she worked as an investment banking analyst at Barclays. Vatsala will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in Spring 2010. Contact Vatsala at v.kabra@duke.edu.
2008 - 2009 Organizing Committee
Sean Knowles
 Sean is a second year MBA candidate at the Duke Fuqua School of Business. Prior to Fuqua, Sean worked on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. serving as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Sean also served on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (a subcommittee of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee). Sean's experience allocating $50 billion for the U.S. Defense Department has prepared him for his difficult role allocating $50k as part of the Duke Start-Up Challenge. Sean received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University. Contact Sean at sean.knowles@fuqua.duke.edu .
Jessica Mailey
 Jessica is a second year MBA candidate at the Duke Fuqua School of Business. Prior to Fuqua, Jessica conducted research at Cornerstone Research in Washington D.C., a provider of high-quality expert testimony and economic and financial analysis to attorneys in all phases of commercial litigation and regulatory proceedings. Jessica is a big fan of any start-up ideas combining robots and beer (but not necessarily beer-drinking robots). Jessica received her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Public Policy from Duke University (a Double-Dukie! ... or Triple-Dukie depending on how you count). Contact Jessica at jessica.mailey@fuqua.duke.edu .
Anand Sundaram
 Anand is an undergraduate senior at the Duke Pratt School of Engineering. Anand is not only a President of the competition, but he's also a client. Anand competed in the 2007 Duke Start-Up Challenge winning the High-Tech track in the Elevator Pitch Competition. He is looking forward to inflicting the same hazing he endured in last year's competition on this year's participants. Anand is passionate about entrepreneurship, particularly start-ups in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Anand will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Economics in Spring 2009. Contact Anand at a116@duke.edu . Advisory Board
Barry Myers, MD, PhD, MBA
 Advisory Board Member
Dr. Myers is the Senior Associate Dean for Industrial Partnerships and Research Commercialization; a Professor of Biomedical Engineering, with appointments in Surgery, Business, and Anatomy; and the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization (CERC). Dr. Myers has long been a key member of the university, including getting his MD, PhD, and MBA from Duke. He has been advising the Duke Start-Up Challenge since its inception in 1999. Howie Rhee
 Howie is the Managing Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. In his role, he develops and maintains the relationship between the center and the entrepreneurial community both locally and globally. Howie received his MBA from Fuqua. He has been advising the Duke Start-Up Challenge since joining the CEI in 2007. Alumni Advisors Sean Knowles Prior to Fuqua, Sean worked on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. serving as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Sean also served on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (a subcommittee of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee). Sean's experience allocating $50 billion for the U.S. Defense Department has prepared him for his difficult role allocating $50k as part of the Duke Start-Up Challenge. Sean received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University. Shalav Gupta Shalav was a finalist in the 2008 Duke Start-Up Challenge with his team GrowthTree. Prior to Fuqua, Shalav worked at Capgemini in the UK, helping clients implement strategic performance management frameworks like the Balanced Scorecard. Prior to Capgemini Shalav worked as a Project Manager at British Telecom in the UK. Shalav received a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, India. Steven Pal Prior to Fuqua, Steve worked at several start-ups in Silicon Valley, including Babycenter.com and Merced Systems, an enterprise software company. Steve helped Merced grow from 15 people to over 150 via his contributions in sales, marketing, and business consulting. Steve also spent several years in consulting at Sapient delivering technology solutions for financial services firms. Steve spent his summer with Flywheel Ventures, a seed and early-stage venture capital fund in New Mexico. Steve received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. Twitter: @steven_pal. Mike Pisetsky Past President 2006-2008 Mike is an associate in the Emerging Companies and Securities Regulation practice group and a member of the Cooley Business department. He joined the Firm in 2008 and is resident in the Palo Alto office. Mr. Pisetsky practices general securities and corporate law, with an emphasis on emerging growth companies, venture capital funds, private and public equity financings, mergers and acquisitions and SEC reporting. Mr. Pisetsky received a J.D., magna cum laude, from Duke University School of Law and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Prior to his graduate study, Mr. Pisetsky was a management consultant at Mercer Management Consulting, now Oliver Wyman, in San Francisco. Mr. Pisetsky received an A.B. cum laude in Applied Math & Economics from Harvard College. |
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