Global New Venture Bootcamp

Cristiam O. is a Business Design and Strategic Planning Consultant with extensive experience in innovative and sustainable business models. He holds a Master’s in Philosophy and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Brazil. As Director at CR8 Consulting, he helps organizations develop growth strategies and impactful innovations. He teaches Strategy, Innovation, and Project Management at the postgraduate level at SENAI. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in Business Design, combining design thinking with strategic planning. He has consulted for SEBRAE, supporting entrepreneurs in organizational planning and HR development. A passionate educator and speaker, he creates immersive learning experiences that simplify complex concepts. He is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian.

Fernando is Director of the Runway Startup Postdoc and Spinout Programs, nationally recognized academic commercialization initiatives managing startups backed by Cornell Tech and the Jacobs Technion Cornell Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (SUNY Albany), master’s degrees in Nanoscale Engineering and Economics, and a bachelor’s in Operations Research Industrial Engineering. With over 20 years of experience, he has researched nanomaterials for semiconductors, energy storage, and technology entrepreneurship. A leader in nanoengineered lithium-ion battery electrodes, he has served as Board Director of NY-BEST and mentors hyper-technical founders nationwide through NSF’s i-Corps program.