Values 


Be collaborative, data-driven, and empowering.

Vision 

A startup ecosystem that reflects the diversity of the San Diego community

Mission 

To build a diverse community of empowered founders across the San Diego innovation ecosystem.

 Our Board

Our Board Of Directors is made up of forward-looking founders, strategists, thought leaders, investors, and advocates for diversity on a mission to break barriers in the tech startup and innovation community. 

They know first-hand the experiences of underrepresented entrepreneurs in the San Diego tech start up community and are committed to accelerating diversity and inclusion in the current ecosystem. 

Julius Alejandro, Executive Director


Julius strives for innovative approaches to solving social issues. He has over ten years of experiences in grassroots organizing, nonprofit sector, and the startup ecosystem that has crossed intersections from economic development and health disparities that affect communities of color. 

Taryell Simmons, Secretary


Taryell is a Workforce Development Consultant, an equity, diversity & inclusion (D&I) Champion, and the host of the Rise Urban Nation.


After winning a startup pitch competition hosted by Google and Techstars, he became more involved in D&I efforts to help bring diversity to the Tech Startup space. He is a RISE San Diego Urban Leadership graduate and a 2020 Rockwood Leadership Institute fellow. 

Sonia Steinway


Sonia is a fintech entrepreneur, strategic advisor, angel investor, and attorney.


She is fascinated by the intersection among the for-profit, non-profit, and government sectors, and has focused her career on understanding and helping organizations (and the individuals they serve) to navigate those boundaries. 



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Our Advisers

Every member of our board of directors is a thought leader who has made significant contributions to our society. 

Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization. 

Ashok Kamal

Ashok Kamal is Executive Director of Tech Coast Angels – San Diego, which is one of the largest and most active angel investor groups in the country.


As an angel investor, Ashok has invested in a diverse portfolio of companies, including Outsite, Backstage Capital, Grove Collaborative, Mercato, Winnie, Zigazoo and Fabric8 Labs. Ashok’s latest venture, the School of Rap, creates new media to educate and empower kids, and he moonlights creating rap songs for tech events.

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Ashok’s career as a social entrepreneur includes co-founding companies in green business, online education and crowdfunding, and he has experienced bootstrapping to profitability, raising venture capital and completing an acquisition. Ashok also led a youth development nonprofit, helped design Newsweek’s Green Rankings for socially responsible investors and started a progressive hip-hop record label in New York City.


Neal Bloom

A SoCal native, Neal studied mechanical engineering at UC San Diego and worked with NASA on the Space Shuttle Main engines and the upcoming Artemis program. He moved back to San Diego to co-found an edtech startup Portfolium, which was eventually acquired by Instructure.

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Neal began angel investing after having built strong relationships with fellow founders in San Diego. As he launched his tech blog and podcast, he had the opportunity to participate in more deals. Having joined Tech Coast Angels, he joined forces with fellow member and past mentor Al to launch an angel syndicate. He’s powered up by activating entrepreneurs and operators sooner than they would have expected into investing.

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As with Interlock Capital’s community focus, Neal is passionate about building platforms that connect startup communities. Opening access to investing, especially in your own city, gives everyone skin in the game to feel that a rising tide lifts all boats.


Dr. Silvia Mah

Dr. Silvia Mah, PhD, MBA, is the founding partner of Ad Astra Ventures, which aims to “get to even” for high achieving women. Dr. Mah is the founder of Stella Labs, an accelerator for women owned businesses; founding member of Stella Angels, a female angel investment group; Investment Committee member of Next Wave Impact, a social impact venture fund; and an angel investor to over 30 startups who have diverse founders on the leadership team.


Dr. Mah’s own success includes producing a globally-recognized podcast, She Invests!, highlighting the investment journeys of female angel investors and venture capitalists; serving for 2 years as the Student Programs Diversity Director at the Office of Innovation and Commercialization’s The Basement, a technology accelerator for undergraduate startups at UCSD; & Fund Manager for the San Diego Angel Conference, a new angel fund to activate regional capital from aspiring and existing angel investors.

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Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Mah believes in integrating family and work to create a lifestyle that serves both with a strong cup of integrity.

 


Kimberly Davis- King

Kim was a General Partner with IDG Ventures. She played an active role in managing and investing a $120 million captive fund over nine years.

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She led multiple investments in software and technology infrastructure. Successful IPO investments included F5 Networks (FFIV) and VA Linux (LINUX). Prior to joining IDG Ventures, she was an Associate at BankAmerica Ventures. She has also served as a product manager in the Multimedia Publishing Group at Microsoft and spent four years as a consultant at Andersen Consulting. Today she teaches entrepreneurship at both SDSU and UCSD, sits on various nonprofit boards and holds multiple leadership positions including the National Charity League.

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Kim holds a B.S in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.


 LeadHER Operations Team


The LeadHER Operations Team is designed to uplift the leadership and expertise of diverse women and femme emerging professionals. LeadHER effectively champions the programming, marketing, research, and development of Village Up San Diego.

Diana Hartwig-Arce

Chief of Staff

Diana Hartwig-Arce is our Chief of Staff. She does a little bit of everything at Village Up, including grant writing, fundraising, research, and close collaboration with our interns and Executive Director. At Village Up, she loves working towards a more inclusive environment with people from diverse backgrounds. In her free time she enjoys reading and running. She received her bachelors in Economics and Political Science from USD, and is currently preparing to attend law school. 


Mary Carbiener

Marketing Associate

Hi! I’m Mary Carbiener, Village Up’s Marketing Associate Intern. I’m graduating this May from SDSU with a B.S. in Management Information Systems. With my technical background, I bring a data-driven approach to marketing, using analytics to enhance engagement and expand our reach. My goal is to amplify Village Up’s mission of supporting diverse founders in the San Diego community. I’m excited to contribute, learn, and grow alongside this inspiring network. Happy to be here and eager to support our shared vision of fostering inclusive innovation!

Kelsey Coney

Lead Facilitator

Kelsey is a skilled facilitator and communicator, passionate about helping individuals and organizations navigate complex conversations with clarity and empathy. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Conflict Resolution and Management, she specializes in facilitating discussions that foster understanding and narrative shift. With a strong background in program development and project management, Kelsey is committed to creating environments where diverse perspectives are heard and valued. She combines professionalism with warmth, striving to empower others through thoughtful and transparent communication.

Angela Subido

Development Associate

Angela Subido (she/they) is a first-gen, queer Filipina-American creative, hope builder, and storyteller for social good. They serve as the Development Associate for Village Up San Diego. They currently attend the University of Portland, pursuing an MBA in Nonprofit Management. Angela envisions a world where programs rooted in diverse community success and social justice are fully sustained. She is passionate about resource development and actively collaborates with QTBIPOC organizations to make her dream a reality. You can purchase her debut poetry collection, "When the Words Find You" on Amazon.

Nya Kim

Operations Intern

Nya Kim is a proud first-generation Asian American and soon-to-be graduate. Currently serving as an Operations Intern with Village Up for the Spring term, she is leading projects focused on event planning, particularly in celebration of Women’s History Month. Nya is completing her senior year at San Diego State University, where she is earning a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Asian Studies, Communications, and Public Health, alongside a minor in Leadership Development. As apart of her minor she has developed important leadership skills, gained valuable experience inside and outside the classroom, as well as collaborated with leaders from Microsoft on team projects. Deeply passionate about family, community service, and supporting Village Up, Nya is dedicated to making a meaningful impact. With a strong interest in pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector, she views her role with Village Up as a valuable starting point to further her goals.

Amanda Rodriquez

Event Associate

Amanda Rodriquez is a Point Loma Nazarene University senior majoring in International Development with a minor in Marketing. She is conducting honors research titled Understanding Entrepreneurial Barriers and Support Systems for Survivors of Human Trafficking, directly informing the development of her nonprofit, Free Brands. Launching in the Fall of 2025, Free Brands will empower survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence with the tools and resources needed to thrive as entrepreneurs. Amanda combines her lived experience, academic insights, and passion for equity-centered solutions to create lasting impact and support survivors on their journey to independence and economic stability.

 Our Partners

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