Our Leadership
Guiding Vision. Driving Innovation.
Leading with Purpose
At Innovation Venture, leadership is more than just guiding teams—it’s about championing a mission to empower innovation that benefits society. Our leaders are committed to making a difference by creating pathways for groundbreaking ideas to flourish.
At Innovation Venture, our leadership team is comprised of visionary thinkers, entrepreneurs and industry pioneers dedicated to turning bold ideas into impactful realities. With decades of combined experience in science, technology, and strategic development, our leaders are passionate about fostering innovation that shapes the future.
Our Leaders
At Innovation Venture, our leadership team is comprised of visionary thinkers, entrepreneurs and industry pioneers dedicated to turning bold ideas into impactful realities. With decades of combined experience in science, technology, and strategic development, our leaders are passionate about fostering innovation that shapes the future.
Our Philosophy
We believe in leadership that inspires creativity, empowers talent, and cultivates collaboration. Guided by a commitment to excellence and real-world impact, our team leads by example, driving strategic growth and pioneering breakthroughs.
Cherese Winstead
Dean and Founder of Innovation Venture
A visionary leader of translating research into real-world applications, Winstead founded Innovation Ventures with the goal of empowering innovators to transform industries. Her passion for expanding opportunities in translation of research and tech transfer was inspired by her service on President Biden’s Medal of Science Committee, where they witnessed the need for greater representation in science and innovation.
Hacene Boukari
Associate Dean of Research
A dynamic connector of ideas and opportunities, Boukari is dedicated to building impactful collaborations with industry leaders, academic institutions, and community organizations. His work ensures that Innovation Venture remains at the forefront of innovation ecosystems.
Mukti Rana
Director of Innovation, STTR/SBIR Subject Matter Expert (SME),
Full Professor
Passionate about empowering the next generation of innovators, Rana leads our initiatives to bridge the opportunity gap by supporting underrepresented communities. He oversees programs that inspire, mentor, and equip young talent to pursue entrepreneurship.
Jalaal Hayes
CEO and Founder, Evince, Inc.
Dr. Jalaal Hayes, a visionary CEO and pioneering clean energy entrepreneur, made history as America’s youngest Ph.D. graduate in Applied Chemistry at age 22 with his groundbreaking research on hydrogen storage systems. In 2020, he founded Evince (formerly Elyte Energy), a dynamic startup focused on advancing hydrogen storage technologies. He fosters sustainable innovation as a strategic thought leader on global platforms, including Oxford University’s Innovative Applied Energy Conference.
Our Sponsors
PRESENTING PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
Supporting/Partnering Organizations
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