Build Something Real: 2x YC Founder

​Startup University: Kickoff

​Startup University is a semester-long speaker series connecting college students with founders, operators, and builders shaping the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky startup ecosystem.

​This session dives into what it really takes to build products from zero, and doing it twice. Joe Pestro is a 2x Y Combinator founder (YC S10 & YC W15) who grew up in Cincinnati, built companies in San Francisco, and is now back home. His apps have been featured by Apple as "Best New App" and "Editors Choice," and he's shipped products across iOS, web, and beyond for over 15 years.

​Hosted at SparkHaus, the series blends honest conversation, actionable insights, and intentional networking to help students build meaningful relationships before they graduate.

​What to Expect

• ​45 minutes of conversation and insights on startups and the ecosystem

• ​45 minutes of Q&A and informal networking with speakers and peers

​Event Details

​📅 Friday, Mar 20
⏰ 9:00 - 10:30 AM
📍 SparkHaus - Lagoon Media Room
👥 Open to college students from all universities and all majors

​Sessions will be recorded and archived, and select sessions will be live-streamed for regional universities unable to attend in person.
Once registered, a virtual attendance link will also be sent via email.

​Whether you’re startup-curious or already building, this series is your on-ramp into the startup ecosystem.