Dionne Gumbs, Julie Kucinski & Angela Gustafson are Lunar Experts in Residence
We are thrilled to welcome Dionne Gumbs, Julie Kucinski and Angela Gustafson as Lunar Startups 2020 Experts in Residence! Experts in Residence (EiR) is a new pilot program dedicated to increasing access to high achieving professionals who can remove barriers to success and support participating startups. The 2020 Experts in Residence will provide ongoing 1 on 1 coaching and thought partnership to cohort members in addition to workshop leadership and training in their respective fields. Get to know Dionne, Julie, and Angela:
Dionne Gumbs
Dionne Gumbs is Founder and CEO of GenEQTY, a digital financial services platform that aims to close the gender gap by providing women and women-led enterprises with access to lending and investment products.
Over the last two decades, Dionne worked closely with institutional and high net worth clients at various major financial institutions and has held roles in sales, product, and strategy.
Dionne earned her M.B.A. from Columbia University and her B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Division I varsity athlete. A lifelong volunteer, Dionne remains active in matters that impact women and girls, entrepreneurship, education, and innovation. A native New Yorker, she currently resides in the Minneapolis area with her husband and two kids.
What are you most looking forward to about becoming a Lunar Expert in Residence?
I look forward most to building community and creating social impact by collaborating with entrepreneurs of color and female entrepreneurs doing amazing things.
What's your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
The energy and guts it takes to build something from nothing is truly remarkable. I love being around people with big vision and ambition that put in the elbow grease to make things happen.
Any secret weapon skills?
I tend to be very analytical but most people don't know that I am an undercover artist. I used to spend time in the art studio with a focus on charcoal drawings and have a concentration in art from college. I love old school hip hop and can beat-box.
Connect with Dionne on LinkedIn.
Julie Kucinski
Julie Kucinski is the Founder and CEO of Pitchwell. Pitchwell works with innovation groups, leaders & founders to change how they find, shape & communicate the stories that not only get funding or key customers but direct decisions and accelerate growth.
The Pitchwell approach is hands-on, results-based and born of 20 years in the trenches with leading entrepreneurs and blue-chip corporate innovators. Our work will focus on the key elements of a great pitch: the big story, right positioning, insightful strategy, confident delivery, and a brief deck.
Pitchwell was born after work with agencies in the Twin Cities, New York and Los Angeles. Julie has helped companies get acquired, raise capital, sign major customers, partner with strategics and disrupt markets. Julie was awarded the Expert of the Year award by Lunar Startups in 2019 for her dedication and support of Cohort 1 and 2. She is a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, MN.
What are you most looking forward to about becoming a Lunar Expert in Residence?
Developing relationships with people and working with them over time to help on the little and large things that happen. There is no “done.”
What's your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
Constantly learning new things from the people you meet and serve, and stretching my own perspectives in the process. See above - there is no “done.”
Any secret weapon skills?
I’m excellent at diagnosing automotive problems, and can serve as the ultimate referral source to service providers of all sorts from professional services to household contractors. I’m also good at doing voiceovers and table readings and would love a retirement career narrating audiobooks!
Follow Julie on Twitter and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Angela Gustafson
Angela Gustafson is Founder and Owner of Gustola Granola, a Minneapolis-based premium granola company. With a background that includes being a UW-Madison graduate, Peace Corps volunteer, and children’s book writer, entry into the world of granola was a natural fit.
Gustola was born from a desire to provide her family with a nutritious and delicious snack option. Angela began experimenting with, tweaking, and elevating an original recipe; ultimately landing on a mix of high-quality ingredients that delivered just the right zip and joy. She started sharing little brown bags with family, friends, and neighbors. Garnering devotees quickly, Angela rallied her kids into a summer adventure selling granola at a local farmers market.
Today, Gustola Granola can be found on the shelves of 200+ retail locations, mostly in Minnesota.
What are you most looking forward to about becoming a Lunar Expert in Residence?
Supporting the cohort’s entrepreneurs in a collaborative setting by listening, sharing knowledge gained from experiences, strategizing on ways to grow, and celebrating successes.
What’s your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
On a daily basis, exercising VISION [seeing where I want to go], DRIVE [powering through the roadblocks along the way], HUMILITY [dealing with the failure that comes as part of trying], and RESILIENCE [getting up and doing it all again tomorrow].
Any secret weapon skills?
Compassion from serving in the Peace Corps, coaching from years of marriage to my best friend, and a sense of humor (not patience!) from the demands of raising four cooler-than-me kids.
Follow Angie on Twitter and connect with her on LinkedIn.