Ben Nahir, Ph.D.
Venture Principal
Elevate Capital
Dr. Ben Nahir is the Venture Principal at Elevate Capital, a Portland-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups, with a strong focus on women, BIPOC, and underrepresented founders. Ben brings a unique blend of deep scientific expertise and venture investment experience to the GROW advisory network, holding a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and a wealth of experience in startup valuation, pitch development, and market analysis.
Cara Turano
Executive Director
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN)
Cara Turano is the Executive Director of OEN, a cornerstone nonprofit dedicated to helping Oregon entrepreneurs start, scale, and fund their businesses. Cara is a veteran startup community builder and tech sector advocate, having previously held senior roles at the Technology Association of Oregon. She serves as a critical connector, helping PSU inventors integrate into Oregon's broader startup ecosystem.
Danielle Alexander
Innovation Strategist
Business Oregon
Danielle Alexander is the Innovation Strategist for Business Oregon, the state's economic development agency. Danielle manages state programs designed to catalyze high-growth technology startups, including matching grants for federal SBIR/STTR programs. Her strategic guidance helps PSU researchers identify non-dilutive funding pathways and leverage state-backed resources to de-risk laboratory technologies.
Doug Porter
CEO
DesignPort
Doug Porter is the CEO of DesignPort, a premier product design and engineering consultancy in the Pacific Northwest. Doug brings decades of hardware engineering and product development expertise to the GROW cohort, helping PSU faculty and student innovators transform bench-scale prototypes into rugged, manufacturable, and market-ready physical products.
Heather Ellis
Executive Director
Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI)
Heather Ellis leads OBI, managed by Oregon Bioscience Association, the state's leading incubator for bioscience and digital health startups. Heather supports early-stage life science companies by providing specialized laboratory space, targeted mentoring, and access to capital networks. Her expertise is crucial for PSU researchers translating innovations in chemistry, bioengineering, and health sciences.
John Brewer
CEO and President
Amorphyx
John Brewer is the CEO and President of Amorphyx, a pioneering Oregon-based nanotechnology and semiconductor startup specializing in ultra-thin film electronics. As an experienced founder who has successfully transitioned deep-tech academic research into commercial microelectronics markets, John offers invaluable, real-world advice to PSU inventors navigating complex hardware scaling and corporate partnerships.
Josh Carter
Founder
Founder First Fund & Upstart Collective
Josh Carter is an active angel investor, startup advisor, and community organizer who founded the Upstart Collective and the Founder First Fund. Josh is deeply integrated into Portland's early-stage startup scene, focusing on inclusive capitalization models and hands-on operational support for pre-seed and seed-stage founders.
Michael Lubitz
Founder
Global Technology Transfer Group (GTT Group)
Michael Lubitz is the founder of GTT Group, a globally recognized leader in patent brokerage, intellectual property valuation, and IP transaction advisory services. Headquartered in Portland, Michael's extensive expertise in patent defense, market positioning, and corporate technology licensing helps the GROW program optimize PSU's emerging intellectual property portfolio.
Nick Triska
Head of Business Development
Greater Portland Inc. (GPI)
Nick Triska leads business development efforts at Greater Portland Inc., the regional public-private economic development partnership for the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Nick works to attract traded-sector businesses to the region and drive local job growth, helping PSU align its research translation efforts with the strategic hiring and innovation needs of regional employers.
Skip Newberry
Executive Director
Technology Association of Oregon (TAO)
Skip Newberry is the Executive Director of TAO, one of the largest regional technology trade associations in the United States. Skip is a prominent leader in Oregon's tech policy and economic development landscape. He helps PSU bridge academic research with regional industry giants and emerging software, cybersecurity, and computational intelligence firms.
Skip Rung
Executive Director
Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI)
Skip Rung is the founding Executive Director of ONAMI, Oregon's first signature research institute. Under Skip's leadership, ONAMI has spent over two decades helping Oregon universities turn deep-tech discoveries into successful commercial entities through gap funding and commercialization grants. He brings unmatched experience in deep-tech, materials science, and semiconductor market commercialization to the GROW advisory cohort.
Soley Ozer
Executive Director
Silicon Forest Partnership
Soley Ozer is the Executive Director of the Silicon Forest Partnership, an industry-academia bridge designed to foster growth and innovation in Oregon's high-tech and semiconductor corridors. Soley's deep connections with regional hardware, silicon, and sensor manufacturers help PSU researchers identify strategic co-development partners and pilot opportunities.