Meet the HLV Team

Before founding Hudson Lab School, Cate Han helped startups raise over $100M in early stage capital and worked with entrepreneurs to build company value through mentoring, strategic planning, practical problem solving, and fundraising. Cate began her career as a Quantitative Analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein. She co-founded Launch Collective and Learning Pods and set up the finances for Managed by Q. Cate is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Barnard College, and she lives with her husband Stacey and two incredible children.

Stacey Seltzer is a partner at Co-Created, which has launched 110+ new ventures and created $10B+ in enterprise value for global multinational corporations since 2011. Co-Created runs programs for established companies such as LEGO, Newscorp, Verizon, Kaplan and Coca-cola identifying new innovation and business opportunities and creating new adjacent businesses through a proprietary lean incubation process. A startup junkie, Stacey has also worked with numerous startups from Managed by Q to Barkbox, CuteCircuit, Joost and others. Stacey received an MBA from Columbia Business School and a bachelor's degree from Brown University.

Sophia Patznick is the Student Experience Coordinator at Hudson Lab Ventures, where she supports students and families from first inquiry through the full program experience. She brings an entrepreneurial mindset and strong technical fluency to her role, with experience founding and growing her own business and developing AI-powered automation tools that help teams work more efficiently. As a recent student herself, Sophia connects easily with teenagers while also speaking confidently with parents about program outcomes, student growth, and the Hudson Lab Ventures approach to real-world innovation, applied entrepreneurship, and leadership development.

Philip is an entrepreneur and product developer at heart - over the past 20 years working at various levels of venture and product development - from strategy and business, to creative, marketing and development - and as a cofounder of Prehype he is creating structures that allow corporations to act in innovative ways to build new businesses. Philip also acts as advisor for several entrepreneurs in their endeavors to start their next venture.

Jerome leads Boston’s innovative civic-tech nonprofit that develops technology that brings transparency to the affordable housing market and promotes housing equity. Jerome brings a wealth of experience working across the non-profit, government, and private sectors. He has led numerous complex, high impact initiatives that drive economic growth and regional development in New York, Ohio, and Washington, DC. Jerome is acclaimed for his innovative approach to housing development, regional collaboration, and data-driven strategies. In his previous role as Executive Vice President and Executive Director at Empire State Development (ESD), Jerome oversaw New York State’s compliance and management of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) in state contracting. HIs leadership resulted in over $6 billion in contracts awarded in only two years to MWBEs, surpassing the Governor’s 30% utilization rate goal for the first-time in the program's 35-year history.

Owen is a startup strategist and innovation facilitator with over 15 years of experience working with founders, accelerators, and corporate venture teams. Originally from Australia and now based in Copenhagen, he helps teams navigate uncertainty, test ideas, and move from concept to execution. He has advised and mentored startups across industries, serving on multiple boards and focusing on practical, hands-on support. His work emphasizes critical thinking, fast iteration, and building with purpose. Beyond startups, Owen is a father of three and a strong advocate for progressive education. He has collaborated with institutions like the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, Hyper Island, and the Kolding School of Design, bringing his expertise in strategy and problem-solving to students and emerging entrepreneurs.

A seasoned researcher, marketer, and communications strategist, Ivy brings over two decades of experience leading impactful campaigns across New York City. As founder of the Viney Group, Ivy has led major research, rebranding, and marketing initiatives for nonprofits and public institutions, with a focus on civic and social issues like education, housing, public health, economic mobility, and racial equity. Her background includes work as a graphic artist and film producer, and she holds an M.A. in Arts and Cultural Administration from Teachers College at Columbia University and a B.A. from Oberlin College. Ivy is also a committed community volunteer, having served on the boards of the West Side Campaign Against Hunger and The Fund for Public Housing, and was honored with the 2011 Nia Award for Emerging Leaders from Columbia University.

Sukhwa Kweon is a leader of a business consulting company, Artinlabs, specializing in helping tech companies (bio, environmental, and IT) target new markets. She has over 15 years of experience as a marketing and application support manager in global companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific and ABSCIEX. Before that, she spent 10 years in lab management and project lead roles at an analytical research institute. She completed her PhD course in GeoEnvironmental Chemistry and holds a master's and bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Korea University.

Harold is a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and author. As the owner of Chase Republic, a renowned brand communication agency, he merges culture and corporate worlds to craft innovative marketing strategies and experiential activations for prestigious brands like LVMH, MLB, NBA, and WNBA.  Harold is a college professor and author of "Beyond Words” which offers a unique blend of communication theories and real-world applications. Harold was awarded a proclamation by the Council of New York City for his dedication to entertainment and education. Through his work, Harold continues to bridge the gap between culture, corporations, and academia, leaving a lasting impact on the worlds of marketing, education, and beyond. 

Eric Nentrup is an education consultant and founder of Stoked for Learning. His diverse experience spans classroom teaching, school administration, edtech strategy, policy development, and organizational leadership. Eric focuses on integrating technology into education and producing documentary-style stories that showcase impactful educational innovation. At Alma, Eric provided deep insight into compliance frameworks and system design across diverse school contexts. He later joined Getting Smart, contributing extensively to the field’s thought leadership on innovation and AI in education. Known as a connector, storyteller, and advocate for meaningful education reform, Eric is committed to highlighting the people and practices transforming learning experiences across the globe.

Joe has spent over a decade in innovation and new product development in a myriad of industries ranging from video games, oil & gas, CPG and banking. Previously, he worked at IDEO as a Team Lead and Business Designer tackling problems such as systemic food waste in grocery stores, developing go-to-market strategies for the world's largest social media platform and future-proofing an auto collision repair firm navigating disruption.  He also designed an internal innovation consultancy within Silicon Valley Bank and developed pet wearables at Nestle Purina. Roughly 1 million years ago, he served in Afghanistan with the US Army's 101st Airborne Division.

Recipient of the 2019 STEMX Curriculum Design Award, Brian McDonald combines the worlds of engineering, design thinking, and entrepreneurship in the classroom. At the Design Lab at Scarsdale High School, Brian has collaboratively designed a cohesive, authentic, and experiential STEAM program integrating experiential learning and self-reflection. Brian has a BS in Technology Education from SUNY Oswego and an MS in Humanistic and Multicultural Education. 

With a career spanning startups, venture labs, nonprofits, and government, Monica is known for translating ambitious ideas into impactful initiatives. Previously, Monica served as VP of Growth & Operations at the Children’s Arts Guild. She co-founded the Summer Pods program and also held the role of Senior Associate at Luminary Labs. Monica’s work is grounded in a passion for education, systems thinking, and human-centered design. She has taught learners of all ages, developed curricula, and even dabbled in toy design. Her cross-sector experience and creative leadership continue to shape programs that empower young people to solve real-world challenges. She holds a BA from Wesleyan University, and an MFA from Parsons School of Design.

Taylor holds a Master’s in Applied Economics and Management and a Bachelor’s in Communication from Cornell University, where she focused on marketing, data analysis, and user experience. She has supported product development and go-to-market strategy at both MedAdvisor Solutions, a pharmacy technology company, and LG Electronics. Her work spans market research, persona development, and internal communications designed to align teams and drive measurable engagement. She is also the founder of Taylor Lee Creations, a custom baking business that reflects her creative and entrepreneurial spirit.

Sydney was one of the first student leads at Hudson Lab Ventures, where she guided small teams through early-stage innovation sprints focused on topics such as mental health and education. She focused on team building, problem-solving, and hands-on support throughout the program. As a soon-to-be EMT and aspiring entrepreneur, Sydney is interested in health financing and venture capital and will be studying Finance at Boston College. She hopes to combine business with social change, especially in healthcare access and impact investing areas.

An HLV Student Lead, Alicia is dedicated and driven with a strong commitment to continuous growth and excellence. While maintaining a 4.0, she thrives in fast-paced environments, leveraging exceptional listening skills to adapt, learn, and contribute effectively. Alicia is passionate about achieving success through hard work, perseverance, and a proactive approach to challenges.