WORCESTER— A new chapter is underway for the region’s startup community hub. Venture Forum, the Central Massachusetts nonprofit known for helping entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses, has announced a slate of leadership transitions and new board members — moves designed to deepen its impact in Worcester’s fast-evolving innovation scene.
Greg Dalle-Molle, a veteran in experience design and university entrepreneurship programs, is now board chair, taking the reins from Ron Fraser, who helped steer the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m excited to build on the strong foundation set by Venture Forum’s previous leadership and continue expanding our support for the startup community in Worcester and Central Massachusetts,” said Dalle-Molle, who joined the board in 2024, in an annoucement. He officially took over the role in January 2025.
Dalle-Molle previously led operations at Northeastern University’s Center for Entrepreneurship Education and has developed innovation programs for institutions in Massachusetts and abroad. His background signals a continued focus on practical programming and strategic growth.
Meanwhile, Fraser, a commercial loan officer at Avidia Bank, stays on as a board member. Another familiar face, Zak Dutton — who formerly served as executive director — has launched Auxilium Worcester, a new incubator for regional startups, and also remains on the board.
New expertise, broader reach
To complement this leadership shift, Venture Forum has added three new members to its board, each bringing a unique perspective to the organization’s mission of nurturing entrepreneurs:
- Dr. Rosanna Garcia, Beswick Endowed chair of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the WPI Business School, is an entrepreneurship researcher and co-founder of Vijilent Inc., a data science company serving the legal sector.
- Dr. Ernesto Martinez-Villalpando, former head of Corporate Development and Innovation at MassChallenge, offers experience in technology commercialization and startup acceleration. He now serves as an adjunct professor and entrepreneur in residence at WPI.
- Punit Shah, Head of Growth at Allsmith Growth, is a marketing expert and serial entrepreneur who mentors startup founders across global and local programs including TiE, MIT Sandbox, and Venture Forum itself.
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