Meet our team

StartUP Columbus is an entrepreneurial support organization and startup incubator. Located in the heart of Uptown Columbus at 1190 Front Avenue, StartUP Columbus is bringing accessibility to human, financial, and professional resources to entrepreneurs.

Our team is small but mighty. Since the inception of StartUP Columbus, we have helped 100+ startups launch in the Chattahoochee Valley. We focus on cultivating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem to support entrepreneurs and successful startups. Our vision is for business ownership to be a possibility for all residents in the region

Staff

Ben MacMinn

Ben MacMinn is the Executive Director of StartUP Columbus. He has a demonstrated history of achieving business results. Skilled in Leadership Development, Coaching, Innovation, Team Building, and Management. Ben is a strategic leader with 11 years of experience in development of business and people. He received his master’s degree from the School of Business at Liberty University with a focus on Executive Leadership.
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.
Riz Newman

Riz Newman is the newest addition to the StartUP Columbus team. Riz brings an energetic, passionate perspective to our team as the Outreach Director. Her role is to develop, organize, and implement engaging programs for the StartUP Columbus community.
Connect with Riz on LinkedIn.
Kat Canella

Kat is one of our beloved CO.STARTERS+ Program Facilitators. Kat is a licensed Realtor in Georgia and Alabama.
Connect with Kat on LinkedIn.
Rachel Schmidt

Rachel is also one of our beloved CO.STARTERS+ Program Facilitators. Rachel is the Executive Director of Target Language, a translation + interpretation business.
Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn.
Clara Vargas

Clara is our newest facilitator, and she will lead our new SURE Program partnered with 37Oaks. Clara has a background in music and business, which lead her to create The Oboe Source: a venture dedicated to oboe reeds.