Co-Founder & President at byob.ai | Creator Economy Innovator | Entrepreneur As the Co-Founder and President of byob.ai, I’m passionate about shaping the future of the creator economy. Leveraging my unique background as a content creator, I bring a firsthand understanding of creators' challenges to develop tools and communities that empower their growth. My career began with a social media production agency, where I produced high-performing content and traveled to 35+ countries, building a community of 75,000+ followers. Today, I’ve pivoted my focus to tech and influencer marketing, scaling campaigns for brands and creators alike while fostering partnerships that drive measurable results. Highlights of my journey include being named the Newton-Needham Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2018), becoming a MassChallenge finalist (2019), serving as a Babson etower resident (2020), advising at MIT LaunchX (2021), and graduating as an MIT Delta v Fellow and Babson College alumnus (2023). Let’s connect if you’re looking to scale brand campaigns, invest in creator-focused ventures, or talk creator economy. Positions: Co-Founder & President at byob (2023 - Present), MIT Delta V Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2023 - Present), Co-Founder at Creator Economy Ventures (2022 - Present), Co-Founder at Travia Productions (2019 - Present), VP of Marketing at eTower (2020 - 2021), Marketing & Creative Development at DetraPel (2018 - 2018), Marketing And Business Development Intern at DetraPel (2018 - 2018), U.S. National Council, Massachusetts Council Member, & Chapter President at Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) (2016 - 2018), CEO & Co-Founder at Vibes, Inc. (2017 - 2018), LaunchX: Student at Launch: High School Entrepreneurship Program (2017 - 2017), Founder and Event Coordinator at Sneaker Showcase™ (2015 - 2017) Skills: Operations Management, Sales Management, Website Building, Viral Video, Viral Marketing, Growth Hacking, Start-ups, Leadership, Business Development, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Social Media, Product Innovation, Product Design, Industrial Engineering, Event Planning, Strategic Planning, Nonprofits, Problem Solving, Fundraising, Public Speaking, Community Outreach, Mentoring, Management, Social Media Marketing, Video Production, Video Editing Recent Posts: CES 2025 was a goldmine. Quadcopters, robot lawnmowers, solar-powered hats, and more. And all the emerging brands behind them? They need customers. They need awareness. They need influencer marketing and live shopping. We were one of the 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 few influencer marketing services in the room. When there’s no competition, decisions get made faster. 100+ business cards later, we now have a waitlist of high-budget clients. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Don’t wait for customers to come to you—show up where they already are. Whether it’s a WhatsApp Community, a Slack channel, or an industry event. Be in the room before it’s too crowded. If your competitors are already there? Find a different room. #CES2025 #InfluencerMarketing In 2024 I went from sleeping on couches to living in a $10,000,000 Beverly Hills Mansion. Here’s everything I learned. • Being vulnerable with your true supporters creates abundance. • New experiences shape spirit while structure builds focus and mastery. • Taking a moment to breathe and reflect brings clarity to purposeful work. • Sell less and add value more. Build trust, and create a community that believes in what you’re building. • There are countless solutions in the market, be the team people love working with the most. • Rather than reaching for more, pause and give thanks for everything you already have. • Most importantly, I saw how deliberate actions turn even the wildest manifestations into reality. Here’s to chasing bigger dreams in 2025 🥂 Creator Trust is Dying. Community is Thriving. Gone are the days of one-off brand deals with organic ROI. The future? It’s long-term partnerships that build real trust. Trust comes from community—and to build community, you need real interaction. Introducing the byob Brand Deal House: Showcase your brand in a luxurious Beverly Hills mansion and work directly with top creators, creating content by their side. Why Partner with Us? 1. Better Experience Creators engage with your brand in a high-end, intimate setting, forming genuine connections. 2. Higher Quality Content On-site interactions ensure creators nail your brand’s messaging on the first try. 3. Faster and Cheaper Campaigns Collaborate with pre-approved creators and activate brand deals within 48 hours—with no logistical cost. Our Launch Event: 📍 Beverly Hills 📅 Saturday, Nov 23rd | 12–5 PM Are you a health and wellness brand ready to amplify your reach through creator partnerships that perform? Let’s discuss your placement at byob House launch event and beyond. Lets chat :) teo@byob.ai #BrandPartnerships #CreatorEconomy #byobHouse Your invitation to our creator villa… We’re thrilled to announce that we are official partners of CreatorFest LIVE Event in Orlando, happening from August 15th to 18th. As part of this partnership, we’re offering a limited number of all-inclusive tickets—completely on us. We’d love to invite any CPG or high-end brands to join us! But that’s not all… Brand Deal Production Villa: We’re piloting a unique concept—a luxurious, fully-equipped “brand deal production house” just 10 minutes from the venue. Throughout the weekend, selected creators will be invited to produce content for high-end brands. Streamlined Collaboration: Imagine this… Instead of shipping 100 products to 100 creators, provide us with one product, and we’ll coordinate with the creators you approve to film and post on-site. Interested in a free ticket? Or exploring collaborations with a few creators? Comment your email below👇 #CreatorFest #Partnerships #CreatorEconomy #Florida “So what do you do?” A question I had to master answering during NYC’s Tech Week. However, giving a short and sweet answer without sounding boring or salesy can be tough. Here's my simple three-part approach: 1. The Problem 2. Key Insight 3. Your Solution + Client Impact Here’s what I would say: ① Well, content creators like myself struggle to find brand deals… ② However, by sharing my inbound deals with friends, I found they reciprocated. ③ Now, I'm building an enriched brand deal marketplace, where creators earn passive commissions for sharing deals and access new opportunities. The key? Keep it conversational. This is not the time to pitch, sell, or flex job titles.  Job titles can be easily read on LinkedIn or business cards. This is a time to form and invest in relationships. We live in a highly competitive buyer's market with endless options. Every day, clients face the conundrum of choosing who to work with. Stand out by being authentically you. Turning 24 calls for recap and reflection. Here’s to an eventful year around the sun  🥂 • Graduated Babson College #1 in entrepreneurship worldwide  • Attended Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship delta v NYC, learned more in 4 months than in 4 years • Launched byob with 11 of the 200 creators on our waitlist pre-product  • Increased one creator's earnings by 150%  • Hosted a Creator Retreat in Spain, one creator said “This was the best week of my life.” • Pitched byob to investors in Silicon Valley • Participated in 3 wellness retreats in Boston, Guatemala, and Ecuador • Attended a 900-person wedding in India – unforgettable & and vibrant.  • Met ingenious minds from all around the world I also struggled to accomplish many goals, yet I am not married to the results. I’m one year older, but my mission remains stronger than ever, to empower the world's greatest storytellers through technology 🚀 Over 50% of creators on our waitlist paid for priority access. This one line ignited our Pre Seed investment round as we pitched byob at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship Investor showcases in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. We are seeking a few more strategic partners excited about technology and the creator economy — If you would like more details on our raise, let's connect! Together, we will reimagine how creators access brand partnerships and empower the world's greatest storytellers to turn their passions into professions. #MIT #Babson #Innovation In the heart of 35 countries, I found my passion for travel. But it was by the volcanic lakes of Guatemala, with my guide Rina Rabinovich, that I truly felt my calling. The energy, love, and presence felt during her guided retreat in February was life-changing. Upon returning home I sought to support those I was closest with on their own path of self-discovery — creators and founders. Together, with Jose Rodriguez Odon we began planning our first retreat in the Canary Islands of Spain! Private villas, chefs, tours, volcanos, excursions, mediations, realizations, deep conversations, the list goes on.    Logistics aside…. this was an extremely rewarding venture. Our guests said it best: "One of the best weeks of my life, and you were a huge reason why." "Seeing how much you all care to make a difference and open people's minds leaves me in awe." "This was ABSOLUTELY the right decision. Each and every person was so inspiring” Today, one month later, I am returning from Spain with a reenergized purpose. Lifelong friends, routines, and ambitions. Keep an eye out for our next creator x founder retreat ;) “Entrepreneurs are the ones who are going to solve the world’s problems.” — Bill Aulet, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship Excited to announce byob pitched at MIT Delta v Demo Day to 1,500+ attendees. Big thanks to the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and our Delta-v peers for the support this summer. Special shoutout to Stephanie MacConnell, our NYC Cohort director, for her relentless efforts, insights, and even the pitch refining sessions that weekend! Now, Venturing into Delta v's fundraising track, we’re looking to connect with Angel Investors and early-stage VCs in tech and media for our pre-seed round. Can you point us in the right direction? DM me. 🚀 To watch our pitch click here: https://lnkd.in/eZZByZau Today, I'm grateful to reflect on a pivotal milestone: the first board meeting for byob.ai. Stepping into the boardroom and sharing our vision with these industry titans in media and tech was nothing short of surreal. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our advisory board members Chris B., Sharon Mussalli, Charles Whittingham, David Beck @AlexNorton, @WilliamWilson, Joyce J. Shen. Your wisdom and diverse perspectives are not just invaluable but essential to shaping byob.ai's path forward. The journey ahead is long, but it's moments like these that highlight the potential that lies in front of us. Special shoutout to Bill Aulet and Stephanie MacConnell! Here's to turning dreams into reality. Onward! #FirstBoardMeeting I'm proud to announce that I have graduated from Babson College! 🎓 As many of you may know, my journey at Babson has been anything but traditional. From spending entire semesters virtually from Los Angeles for video production to joining eTower, an on-campus community of 21 entrepreneurs, I am genuinely grateful for the friends I made.  During my final year at Babson, rather than cruising down the beautiful and secure highway, I ventured fearlessly into the startup jungle. Together with my Co-Founder Jose Rodriguez Odon, we chose to pursue our startup byob.ai full-time. Why? Because I've always been an entrepreneur at heart. I've always believed in carving my own path, being creative, and building solutions that solve real problems. I'm incredibly excited to continue my entrepreneurial journey as one of 6 teams out of the 140+ applicants accepted into MIT's Delta v accelerator in NYC. This summer, MIT Delta v has already provided us with amazing office space in FIDI and fostered an incredible board of 7 industry experts. At byob, we're building an all-in-one solution for content creators (influencers, if you will) to sift through inbound requests, streamline their workflow, and track performance & payments. Our mission is to simplify brand deal management so creators can focus more on their craft. Side Note: If you know any social media creators (or talent managers) in the finance, gaming, or beauty niche, we would love to give them early access in return for user feedback. I'm beyond excited about this new chapter! If you have any questions or would like to join our advisory board, please don't hesitate to reach out :) #FullTimeFounder Where is the love? 🖤 Sign made by Jon Hammer and I. #blacklivesmatter #Boston #Massachusetts As I look back on 2019 one word comes to mind. Experience. This year I was lucky enough to travel to 9 countries. From the streets of Bangkok to the New Zealand mountain range, each country offered its own unique experiences. I learned more about myself during my gap year than throughout highschool. I found my passion for videography and quickly turned it into a profitable business. Jon Hammer and I launched our film company Travia Productions and created promotional videos for brands across the globe. I have continued to grow my company this Fall during my first semester at Babson College. I’ve never been surrounded by so many driven, talented, entrepreneurial students in my life. I’m so thankful for the professors and students on campus for pushing me and my company to grow. Enjoy some of my favorite clips from my gap year below. Here's to an amazing 2020 full of new experiences! #happynewyear #gapyear #montage #babsoncollege Up until I week ago I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I took a gap year so I could focus time on my passions for travel and videography. Not once did I expect to turn these passions into a profitable business. At least not this fast... Jon Hammer and I officially launched our film company Travia Productions just two months ago. Since March 1st we’ve been able to create 8 promotional videos and sign our first long term clients INGEAR Fashions inc and caseable. I finally found a fulfilling job where I never feel like I’m working. We love our work and know it’s helping businesses attract new customers and grow. If you would like a promotional video made for your product (like the one below) we are searching for 1-2 more partners to bring on board this month. Product shots will take place in Bali and Southeast Asia. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and share this with your network. Thank you! I bought a drone and took a gap year with the intent of seeing the world and filming the journey. After hours of learning new software and editing, I created the montage below. The video highlights the beautiful cities/landscapes Jon Hammer and I encountered on our journey through Israel and Europe. To see more videos, visit our youtube channel Pineapple Drip where we release weekly videos of our current travels through SF, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and SE Asia. Pineapple Drip is a collaborative effort between Jon and I who film and Manny Kharasch our editor. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/dyBWX6F #travel #youtube #gapyear #montage Last week I returned from an incredible 3-month journey backpacking through Israel & Europe. Heres what I learned: By traveling without a program, without a plan, & without a large budget, I discovered that life is best lived minimally & as spontaneous as possible. Living out of a backpack made life SO simple. I found that a closet full of clothes & material goods weren’t necessary to have a great time. Being spontaneous allowed me to get the most out of every waking moment. It forced me outside my comfort zone & into a life full of new found freedom & confidence. With this confidence, I opened up, & got to meet so many amazing locals & fellow backpackers from all walks of life. I learned that we are far more alike than we are different & there are far more good people than bad. As much as modern day media generalizes certain ethnic groups I know never to judge someone until you know their story. Having the opportunity to listen to these personal stories while sharing my own story taught me more about connecting with others than any university or program could have. I feel grateful for this experience, the friends I made, & the lessons I learned. Live your truth & own it... You won't regret it :) Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak as an alumni at Harvard's Summer Business Academy and MIT's LaunchX. Coming back and seeing what these young entrepreneurs are building is so inspiring. Don't stop! Kicking off Summer right with the 2018 MassChallenge Cohort! #Detrapel #MCfinalist Last month I achieved one of my life long goals in running my first marathon. I dedicated 7 months and ran 150+ miles in preparation. I want to thank Dreamfar, my mentors and everyone who supported me along this journey. Please checkout the non-profit here: https://lnkd.in/grzycu7 Excited to announce that I have started a business development and marketing internship at DetraPel. Check out if Founder David Zamarin closes a deal on ABC Shark Tank tonight! "I believe financial literacy should be taught in every high school." Thank you Junior Achievement USA for supplementing my high school learning and allowing me to share my experiences as student in their programs . The entrepreneurship academy and stock market challenge are some of my favorite memories #grateful Honored to have received the 2017 Newton-Needham Young Entrepreneur of the Year award! I was able to meet amazing people like Setti Warren Ruthanne Fuller Maura Healey and Matt Noyes. I appreciative and grateful for everyone who has helped me get to where I am today. Last week I ended my time at MIT Launch. Going in I had no idea what to expect... now after 4 weeks I can honestly say it was a life changing experience. Each day I was surrounded by inspirational teenage kids from around the world. As a local, everyone offered a unique perspective. As we grew closer I began to understand their backgrounds, cultures and unbelievable skill sets. Skills in code, design, networking, etc, all of which they utilized to become real entrepreneurs. MIT Launch also gave me the opportunity to grow my personal network faster than ever before. I met with many Boston based guest speakers, mentors, and advisors after class who always made time to talk one-on-one. Their stories and feedback were not only tactical and informative but motivating at their core. In the midst of it all, I was able to form a great team of co-founders and start a new venture called VodaFlow. VodaFlow is a smart universal shower-head attachment that saves people time energy and money in a fun way. The team and I plan on releasing more details by the end of this month after filing for a provisional patent. Thank you to all the people that supported me through the process and made MIT Launch great! A big hello from Capital Hill! This was the third day of competition in the @Junior Achievement National Student Leadership Summit! It's official, Vibes, inc. is the Junior Achievement Company of the year! Thank you to our mentors for your guidance and support. See you at Nationals! #FEELthemusic Stuart Paap , James J Foote , Nicole Peterkin Jennifer Smith Proud of the entire team at Vibes Inc. for winning 2nd place at the annual Babson Boston Cup today! Thank you to all our mentors and supporters! Nicole Peterkin , Luke Howarth Congradulations Melissa Gersin!! It was an honor hosting you at Newtons Norths annual Entrepreneurship Day! I wish you and your team all the best, and encourage all startups to apply to Masschallenge! Great time today at Sponsr.Us ! I got to connect with Harvard mentors and like minded high-school entrepreneurs! Thank you to all that helped coordinate the event!! Today at Unpitch with Ilya U., Chip Hazard and numerous other founders and investors made me realize just how lucky I am to grow up in Boston's entrepreneurial ecosystem! Thank you Unpitch for hosting an amazing event! Just got accepted for newenglandvc's Unpitch event! Can't wait to put school on pause and meet with some amazing investors! https://lnkd.in/dZFNfk5 Amazing innovations happening at Under Armour