About Liz Hamburg

Founder

Liz is a high energy, entrepreneurial executive who is passionate about making an impact in the world. She has over 20 years of experience starting up and growing innovative organizations both in the U.S. and international markets.

As President of Upstart Ventures, Liz has been involved in the start-up and growth of over 15 new businesses, including ApplyWise, an education technology company.

Liz is currently Founder & President of her latest venture, Candoo Tech, providing tech support and training to older adults. Liz was the President and CEO of the Taproot Foundation, a U.S. based nonprofit connecting nonprofits and social change organizations with skilled volunteers through pro bono service. Liz was instrumental in launching Taproot’s online platform Taproot+, scaling Taproot’s reach from 250 to over 2,000 pro bono projects annually with over 35,000 volunteers. Liz also led the expansion of Taproot’s global pro bono network to over 30 countries.

Liz was a member of the founding management team and board member of Vimpel Communications, one of the leading cellular operators in Europe.

Liz was the founding New York board chair of the Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, one of the largest domestic micro-enterprise training organizations working with low income women to help them start and grow businesses. She is a member of the Brown University President’s Advisory Council on Entreprenership, a founding member of the entrepreneur board of Venture for America and was on the New York Advisory Board of Astia.

Liz received an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, a BA from Brown University and a certificate from the Executive Education program in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford Business School.  

Liz is a member of the New York chapter for Tendrel, a network of social entrepreneurs. Liz received the 2011 Stevie Award for Women In Business for Mentor/Coach of the Year and was recognized by Forbes Next 1,000.

Liz hosted “Launchpad”, a weekly radio segment on WOR Radio in New York featuring entrepreneurs and small businesses. Winner of SBA NY Small Business Journalist of the Year award.

Liz has traveled extensively to over 35 countries and speaks Italian and Japanese with conversational knowledge of Spanish and Russian.