Founders+
funders
Founders+Funders 2025 Summit
October 24, 2025
University of Cincinnati’s Founders+Funders 2025 Summit will bridge innovation + sports to gather the most successful entrepreneurs and investors for a dynamic day of discussions. Come imagine what’s next with us.
Jeff Berding
Keynote Speaker
Jeff Berding is President and Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, who, with Carl H. Lindner III, founded the club as a United Soccer League (USL) franchise in 2015. With three seasons of record-setting success on and off the field in the USL, Berding led the club’s expansion efforts that successfully resulted in the club’s ascension to Major League Soccer for the 2019 season, the opening of TQL Stadium in 2021 and the team’s Supporters’ Shield victory in 2023.
Program Details
12:00 - 12:45 - Arrival and registration
1:00 - Program kicks off
1:10 - Fireside chat with Jeff Berding
2:00 - Panel: The Future of Sports Design
2:45 - Networking break
3:00 - Panel: Sports & Entrepreneurship
3:50 - Panel: Disrupt or Die: Inside the Business of College Athletics
4:35 - Concluding remarks
4:45 - Networking reception
Panel Details
A dynamic panel of leading industry will come together to discuss The Future of Sports Design, exploring how innovation, culture, and technology are shaping the next era of athletic experiences. Featuring accomplished designers, brand strategists and creative directors, the panelists bring expertise spanning product design, stadium and facility development, fan engagement, and digital innovation.
- Stephanie Pilat, moderator (Dean of DAAP, University of Cincinnati DAAP)
- Bruce Miller, (Chairman and CEO, Populous)
- Geoff Baldwin, (Founder, WIN WIN Athletics)
- Amy Lukas, (Founder, Infinite Scale)
A distinguished group of innovators and business leaders will share their insights on Sports & Entrepreneurship, highlighting how the skills honed in competition translate into building successful ventures. The panel includes both founders who have pioneered sports-related startups and investors shaping the industry's future. With expertise spanning brand development, technology, community impact, and scaling businesses.
- Kate Harmon, moderator (Assistant Vice President and Director of UC Center for Entrepreneurship)
- Nate Thompson, moderator (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, HTX Sports Tech)
- Dustin Grutza, (Founder and CEO, Craftforce)
- Tom Gelehrter, (President and Founder, 4th Floor Creative)
This powerhouse lineup will tackle the pressing issues shaping college sports in Disrupt or Die: Inside the Business of College Athletics. These panelists bring firsthand experience navigating seismic changes—from NIL (name, image, and likeness) and athlete empowerment to conference realignments, media rights, and the escalating financial pressures on programs.
- John Cunningham, moderator (Athletic Director of UC Athletics)
- Josh Daniel, (Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer, UC Athletics)
- Maggie McKinley, (Deputy Director, UC Athletics)
- Ryan Holmes, (President, Cincy Sports Partners and Executive Senior Associate Director, UC Athletics)