Meet the Leadership Team
Innovation Accelerator is supported by a leadership team whose collective experience spans venture creation, capital strategy, public-private partnerships, technology commercialization, and regional economic development. These partnerships were convened by Melvin and Michelle Valentine to bring together operators, ecosystem builders, and institutional strategists capable of translating innovation into real economic impact across communities and regions.
Working at the intersection of government, universities, investors, and industry, the leadership team approaches venture development not simply as startup support, but as part of a broader strategy for building regional innovation ecosystems. Their work focuses on aligning public policy objectives, institutional resources, and private capital to create environments where entrepreneurship, technology development, and workforce participation can thrive together.
Melvin Valentine
Public-Private Innovation & Opportunity Zone Strategist
Melvin Valentine brings the institutional leadership required to turn innovation into real economic development. With deep experience navigating the intersection of government, private capital, universities, and community organizations, Melvin helps ensure that ventures emerging from Innovation Accelerator are positioned to operate successfully in complex environments.
He specializes in structuring public-private partnerships and designing investment frameworks that align the priorities of governments, developers, investors, and entrepreneurs. His work often centers around large-scale initiatives such as Opportunity Zones, innovation corridors, and place-based economic development strategies that attract long-term capital while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Melvin’s ability to translate public priorities into commercially viable initiatives enables Innovation Accelerator to operate not just as a startup platform but also as a catalyst for regional innovation ecosystems. By connecting founders with institutional partners and strategic development initiatives, he helps transform early-stage ideas into ventures capable of attracting serious investment and creating lasting economic impact.
Michelle Valentine
Ecosystem Builder & Community Innovation Architect
Michelle Valentine focuses on building the environments in which innovation and entrepreneurship can thrive in the long term. Her work centers on connecting founders, institutions, workforce programs, and community organizations into collaborative ecosystems that support venture creation and sustainable economic growth.
Michelle has extensive experience aligning universities, education systems, workforce initiatives, and community stakeholders around shared innovation goals. Through this work, she helps ensure that new ventures are supported by the talent pipelines, partnerships, and regional
infrastructure needed to grow successfully.
She also plays a key role in initiatives tied to Opportunity Zones and place-based development strategies, where entrepreneurship, real estate activation, and workforce participation must work together to create durable economic outcomes.
At Innovation Accelerator, Michelle helps transform isolated startup efforts into coordinated innovation ecosystems. By fostering collaboration between founders, institutions, and communities, she helps create the conditions where new ventures can emerge, grow, and contribute meaningfully to the regions they serve.
Audra Hajj
Venture Execution Architect
Audra Hajj is the architect behind the execution systems that power Innovation Accelerator. As the former CEO of Angels Investors Network, she worked closely with founders and investors to guide portfolio companies from early concept through market launch and growth. That experience gave her a practical understanding of what it takes to move ideas out of theory and into real markets. Today, she focuses on helping innovators transform promising ideas into structured, market-ready companies capable of gaining real traction.
Audra designs the operational frameworks that guide founders from concept through commercialization. Her work includes go-to-market strategy, founder onboarding systems, venture asset development, and structured execution pathways that help innovators move forward with clarity and momentum.
She also leads the development of AI-augmented workflows, automation systems, and scalable venture-building infrastructure that allow Innovation Accelerator to support multiple founders while maintaining consistency and quality.
By combining strategic insight with hands-on execution design, Audra helps founders turn ideas into companies capable of reaching market readiness and attracting capital.
Jamie Bunten
Execution Integrity & Compliance Strategy
Jamie Bunten helps ensure that Innovation Accelerator operates with the discipline, accountability, and operational integrity required to support ventures moving into complex markets and regulated environments.
Previously serving as Chief Compliance Officer for Angels Investors Network, Jamie worked closely with founders and investors to ensure that portfolio companies were built with strong governance, proper documentation, and operational practices capable of standing up to investor and regulatory scrutiny.
His background in criminal justice and paralegal studies provides a strong foundation for understanding compliance, risk mitigation, and procedural integrity, skills that are particularly important when ventures engage with institutional partners, government programs, or regulated industries.
At Innovation Accelerator, Jamie focuses on embedding compliance awareness, operational guardrails, and structured processes into the platform’s execution systems so founders can move quickly while maintaining responsible governance.
By helping ventures build strong operational foundations from the start, Jamie ensures that innovation inside the accelerator is not only fast-moving but also durable, accountable, and trusted by the partners and capital sources that help ventures scale.
Kurt Walker
Capital & Venture Ecosystem Connector
Kurt Walker helps ensure that Innovation Accelerator remains deeply connected to the broader founder and investor ecosystem. His work focuses on building the relationships, visibility, and narrative infrastructure that attract founders, collaborators, and capital partners to the platform.
Through interviews, media initiatives, events, and educational programming, Kurt helps create a steady flow of entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating in the accelerator ecosystem.
He also works closely with founders to strengthen their fundraising readiness by helping them communicate their opportunities clearly and engage investors with confidence and realism.
By combining storytelling, community building, and capital relationships, Kurt helps Innovation Accelerator generate the momentum and visibility required for ventures to attract attention and investment.
Melissa Chalfant
Venture Operations & Financial Strategy Leader
Melissa Chalfant ensures that ventures emerging from Innovation Accelerator are built with the financial discipline and operational rigor required to succeed in the real world.
Her work focuses on establishing clear financial models, operational benchmarks, and performance metrics that allow founders and investors to understand how ventures are progressing and where they need to adapt.
Melissa also prepares ventures for structured capital pathways, including grants, contracts, and private investment, by aligning financial documentation, operational readiness, and performance frameworks with institutional expectations.
With experience in complex operating environments including defense-adjacent and regulated sectors, Melissa brings a practical perspective to venture development that prioritizes sustainability, accountability, and long-term growth.
Matt Griffith
Platform & Venture Infrastructure Builder
Matt Griffith designs and builds the technology infrastructure that allows Innovation Accelerator to function as a modern venture creation platform.
With decades of experience building software systems and digital platforms, Matt focuses on creating tools and environments that help founders move quickly from idea to product while maintaining clarity and focus.
He leads the development of platform architecture that supports founder collaboration, venture workflows, resource matching, and execution tracking across the accelerator ecosystem.
Matt’s approach prioritizes capital-efficient product development, helping founders launch usable solutions quickly, gather feedback, and evolve intelligently.
His work ensures Innovation Accelerator operates not simply as an advisory program but as a true platform for venture creation.
“Audra is the heart and soul of entrepreneurs. We chose her to represent this sector as our keynote speaker at the World Summit in Seoul, Korea because of the impact and tangible difference she has made in business worldwide. She is the voice that people follow, and will be a key factor in stabilizing our future economy with her business systems and process.” Tom McDevitt – Chairman, Washington Times
Audra's Journey to Success
Operational Expertise
Audra has launched and restructured over 3,100 businesses since 2006, creating over 34,000 jobs and leading international teams of 300+ employees.
Tech
Trailblazer
With a background in tech, Audra has been instrumental in the commercialization of the internet, pioneering DSL services and creating innovative software solutions.
Marketing
Maven
As a digital marketing trailblazer, Audra has navigated Google algorithm updates and emerged as a leading figure in SEO and online marketing.
Empowering
Entrepreneurship
Audra’s passion for entrepreneurship led her to merge Phoenix Business Cycle with Angel Investors Network, raising over $380 million and taking 71 companies public.
AI Visionary
Recognizing the transformative power of AI, Audra founded Velocity Conversions, the first AI augmentation company. Alsp opened the AI Augmentation academy. She empowers executives and marketing professionals worldwide to harness AI for business growth and success.
Audra's Impact
Global Speaker
Audra has been invited to speak at prestigious events worldwide, including the 2020 World Summit in Seoul, Korea, where she shared her insights on entrepreneurship and AI with economists, congressmen, and business leaders from around the world.
Mentor and Coach
Audra is committed to mentoring executives and entrepreneurs, guiding them on their journey to success and growth using AI, combined with proven business methodologies.
Author and Leader
Audra is the author of proven business-building tools and certification programs offered at the AI Augmentation Academy. She leads by example, owning seven successful companies and inspiring others to reach their full potential.
Audra’s dedication to innovation, entrepreneurship, and AI augmentation has cemented her reputation as a leader in the tech world. Her unwavering commitment to empowering others and driving positive change continues to shape the future of business worldwide.