Yale’s entrepreneurial community continues to grow stronger, fueled by alumni who are investing their time, expertise, and capital to support the next generation of founders. The latest Accelerate Yale virtual panel brought together these alumni leaders to share how they’re helping build, back, and scale ventures across the Yale ecosystem.

“Accelerate Yale is about harnessing the incredible power of the Yale alumni community—bringing founders, funders, and mentors together to strengthen the entire innovation ecosystem. When alumni connect with what’s happening at Yale today, the impact multiplies.” — Jo Ifeld, PhD, Co-Founder, Accelerate Yale

Hosted by Accelerate Yale, an alumni-led network that connects and supports a global community engaged in entrepreneurship, tech, and innovation, the program offered an inside look at how Yalies are collaborating to build a connected ecosystem. The panel featured Sam Hendel ’03 (co-founder of Accelerate Yale, Yale Angels, Chord Music Partners, and Dataminr), Josh Geballe ’97, ’02 MBA (managing director of Yale Ventures), and Paul Singer ’16 (CEO and co-founder of FleetWorks and Yale Angels), with Jo Ilfeld ’96, executive leadership coach and co-chair of Accelerate Yale, moderating the discussion.
 

Building a Connected Ecosystem

Josh Geballe ’97, SOM ’02, Senior Associate Provost for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Yale and managing director of Yale Ventures, described how Yale is unifying innovation across campus. Under the Yale Ventures umbrella, the university now supports startups at every stage—through tech transfer, accelerator programs in biotech, climate, health tech, and engineering, and the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking (Tsai CITY), Yale’s student innovation hub.

Geballe noted Yale’s strength in life sciences, engineering, and quantum computing—with breakthroughs like Spravato for treatment-resistant depression and Quantum Circuits, Inc., a Yale spinout building scalable quantum computers. Each year, innovations like these take center stage at the Yale Innovation Summit, which last year drew 2,500 attendees from 17 countries.

• Save the date: Yale Innovation Summit — May 27–28, 2025

Alumni Power: Accelerate Yale & Yale Angels

Sam Hendel ’03, is co-founder of Accelerate Yale, Yale Angels, Chord Music Partners, and Dataminr, shared how alumni are fueling startups through mentorship and capital. Founded nearly a decade ago, Accelerate Yale connects alumni founders, investors, and mentors, while Yale Angels extends that mission with direct funding.

Through initiatives like the Y Startup Index Fund, alumni investors have backed more than 70 Yale-founded startups, including FleetWorks and Prepared, the latter recently achieving a major acquisition valued around $800 million. All carry proceeds are donated back to Yale to support future entrepreneurship—creating a virtuous cycle of innovation.

• Get involved: accelerateyale.org | yaleangels.org

Startup in Focus: FleetWorks

Paul Singer ’16 is CEO and co-founder of FleetWorks and Yale Angels, showcased how Yale founders are leveraging AI to transform industries. His logistics startup, which raised $17M from Y Combinator and First Round Capital, uses AI agents to match freight loads with available trucks—automating a process that’s barely changed since the 1980s.

His fundraising story underscored the value of Yale’s network: “The Y Startup Index was the easiest capital we raised,” he said. “It’s a no-brainer for any Yale founder.”

Lessons from the Founders

Panelists agreed that while startup life is rewarding, it’s not for the faint of heart. Their top insights:

On resilience: 

“Every startup has grim moments. Be sure you’re solving something you deeply care about.” – Josh Geballe

On fundraising: 

“Fundraising is sales—be kind, persistent, and ready to kiss a lot of frogs.”  – Sam Hendel

On leadership: 

“Being someone people love to work with is a huge advantage.”  – Paul Singer 

How to Plug In

Yale’s innovation ecosystem thrives on connection. Whether you’re an alum, investor, student, or founder:

• Join events — From Tsai CITY workshops to the Yale Innovation Summit.
• Mentor or advise — Yale Ventures actively recruits entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIRs) and mentors.
• Invest in Yale founders — Through Yale Angels Index Fund.
• Support innovation — Alumni gifts directly expand accelerator programs and commercialization funding.

🔗 Learn more and get involved: accelerateyale.org & ventures.yale.edu.