Start or grow a business for good.

Who we are

We are on a mission to EDUCATE, ACCELERATE, and INVEST in entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to social problems.

SEED SPOT is an organization deeply rooted in the community. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting all social entrepreneurs creating a product, service, or technology that improves lives or makes the world a better place. We support entrepreneurs by surrounding them with the right access to resources, mentors, business fundamentals, community partners, capital sources, and anything they need to succeed.

SEED SPOT core values

ALL DREAMERS

Creating impact in the world is an opportunity open to everyone. We welcome dreamers of all ages, from all backgrounds, in every corner of the world.

Community

It takes a village to create change in the world. We believe in building and leveraging expertise and talent within communities to accelerate ideas.

SAFE SPACES

We believe in protecting founders and teams and creating safe spaces for real creativity, ideation, and growth to take place without the fear of being sharked, ridiculed, or judged.

MEASURABLE SOCIAL IMPACT

We value game-changing ideas that push the envelope and drive hard toward creating real impact in the lives of people and communities.

DREAMING BIG

We believe in dreaming big, pursuing ideas through an opportunistic lens, and putting energy into what is possible.

Meet the Team

Everyday we each ask ourselves, “How did I help an entrepreneur today?” We are a team of dreamers and doers fueled by coffee and passion to work with entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. We unequivocally believe that entrepreneurs will lead the charge of innovating and solving the toughest problems facing our cities, our states, and our world.

Astrid Arias

Senior Program Manager

 

Jeannine Erickson

Program Facilitator

Zach Leverenz

Chief Executive Officer

Linda Norquist

Marketing & Recruitment Manager

MIRANDA WILLIAMSON

Director of Recruitment

Maddy Chong

Development & Communications Associate

Tristan Gandolfi

Vice President of Programs

Lauren McDanell

VP of Strategy & Growth

Drew Shaw

Program Facilitator 

Sherika wynter

Program Facilitator

Cyra Copeland

Vice President of Finance & Operations

Seth Kenton

Program Facilitator

Regina Molina

Grant Writer

NAKARA WHITE

Program Facilitator

Board of Directors

Comprised of leaders in their field, the SEED SPOT board sets the vision for success for SEED SPOT. They are visionaries. Big thinkers. Dreamers. They are not afraid to challenge the status quo. They believe in a society where inspired and supported entrepreneurs are solving big problems.

Sentari Minor

Board Chair

Head of Strategy, evolvedMD

Erin O'Shea

Treasurer

Treasurer, thredUP

Savannah Onwochei

Secretary

Product Marketing Manager,
Facebook (Meta)

Janine Davison

Board Member

Senior Leader,
Intel Corporation

JOHN GAYLORD

Board Member

Partner,
Ernst & Young

Russell Goldstein

Board Member

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management

Brian Hill

Board Member

Executive Director,
Phoenix Fashion Week

Courtney Klein

Board Member

SEED SPOT Co-Founder

Joronda Montaño

Board Member
SEED SPOT Alumnus; Prevention and Wellness Consultant

rashad_moore_seed_spot

Rashad Moore

Board Member

Managing Partner,
G11 Technology Partners

Susan Penfield

Board Chair Emeritus

Executive Vice President,
Booz Allen Hamilton

Nahla Salem

Board Member

Head of Product,
Haven Energy