Staff Highlight - Leo Ochoa
If you’ve kept up with the happenings at VertueLab but have always wondered about the faces behind the screens, we’re back with yet another installment of our staff highlight series to introduce the VertueLab team that makes everything we do possible.
This time, we’re spotlighting our Accelerator & Funding Assistance Manager, Leo Ochoa. From representing VertueLab at climate events around town to connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need, Leo is often the first point of contact for the community that we support.
Keep reading to learn more about Leo!
VL: What does your day-to-day at VertueLab look like?
Leo: Every day is different but I start them all the same. The first thing I do is respond to email messages and make introductions early in the day before jumping into team meetings or projects I’m working on.
Leo Ochoa,
Accelerator & Funding Assistance Manager
On some days, I could be meeting with an entrepreneur to review their pitch deck or proposal, give feedback on a grant application, review a prototype or discuss the startup team’s next milestone and the resources we can provide to help them get there. On other days, I meet with our internal VertueLab team or partner organization teams to run existing programs or co-design new ones. Towards the end of the week up I’m often checking in with our entrepreneurs, and updating reports or presentations.
What’s your favorite part of what you do at work? Why are you passionate about this?
My favorite part of what I do is meeting with entrepreneurs and getting excited about what they’re building. I’m constantly being impressed by the variety and creativity of the businesses and technology they are building. It’s even more exciting when we get to be out in the community meeting founders in person, hearing their pitch or seeing a demo. What keeps me passionate is seeing breakthroughs in the entrepreneurs we serve; either in their work or their mindset. When things click and gain momentum. I think I get a natural high from seeing others grow because of something I or our VertueLab team sparked along the way.
Why do you think supporting underrepresented climate tech entrepreneurs and what we do is important?
It’s important because underrepresented founders and climate tech entrepreneurs are at a huge disadvantage from the very beginning. There are cultural differences that can make someone feel isolated or unwelcomed. Working in tech hardware and developing solutions for the environment at large scale require upfront investment which can feel like a huge risk for an entrepreneur to take on alone. Changes at the political level and the media give less attention to climate issues that cause support to disappear. The combination of all of these factors is overwhelming. Our services aim to address this; to reach all communities and make connections, close capital gaps, and help navigate the political landscape to unlock more support.
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do outside of VertueLab!
I love great industrial design and collecting iconic products; also like watching inspiring sci-fi stories. I think I’m always dreaming of a better world but hold on to the best memories of the past. I’m an entrepreneur too, and I’m slowly building my business and designs for it which have awarded me a second utility patent. Always hoping I could make time to exercise more, but I stay active by hiking the outdoors and trail running as much as I can even through the winter.
Are you a climate tech entrepreneur looking to get connected with VertueLab and the support we provide? Fill out this form here and we will be in touch as soon as we can!
