Hunter’s Fund supports former Blackstone Launchpad Duo
in Forbes 30 Under 30 Awards

Originally published By Cristina Hatem and edited for length

The 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 awards have spotlighted the duo of Matt Shumer and Jason Kuperberg, founders of OthersideAI, who got their start at Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad. The two entrepreneurs were selected in the highly competitive consumer technology category.

Their journey began during the pandemic when, as participants in the LaunchPad’s 2020 SummerStart Accelerator program, Shumer, who was a student in the Whitman School of Management, and Kuperberg, who was a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, conceptualized and brought to life OthersideAI. Shumer, CEO of the company, attributes their initial success to the invaluable support of the Blackstone LaunchPad network. Both are still volunteer entrepreneurs in residence at the LaunchPad and regularly mentor student startups. As students, they were both LaunchPad Global Innovation Fellows and Rubin Family Mentors and winners of various campus student startup competitions.

OthersideAI has attracted significant attention and financial support. It has received funding from various sources, including such firms as Madrona, WndrCo and Hustle Fund. Angel investors, including Siqi Chen, Andrew Farah and Kendrick Lamar, have also contributed to the company’s financial backing. The company operates on a subscription model said to have nearly two million users benefiting from its AI-powered services.

Forbes reports that OthersideAI was on track to generate $1 million in revenue in 2023, indicating a substantial financial milestone for the young startup.

Forbes, known for its prestigious 30 Under 30 awards, selects winners from thousands of online submissions, industry sources and recommendations from alumni. Shumer and Kuperberg earned their spot through an evaluation process considering factors such as funding, revenue, social impact, scale, innovation and growth potential.

“The Forbes 30 Under 30 award recognizes 30 outstanding leaders across twenty industries. This year’s list comprises a global community of young, innovative leaders reshaping the landscape of business and society,” notes Forbes. “With up to 20,000 annual nominations, being featured on this prestigious list is a testament to Shumer and Kuperberg’s remarkable contributions to the tech and AI sectors.”

Kuperberg possesses a blend of industrial design, biotechnology, consumer technology and entrepreneurship skills. A 2017 Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award winner, he worked with Matt Goodman to develop a product for the agricultural industry that would conserve water and enhance drip irrigation efficiency for crops. They established “Drop Top,” a sustainability startup.

Shumer also holds valuable experience in both entrepreneurship and technology from past projects. He is a Hunter’s Fund grant winner, and used those funds for a next-generation virtual reality headset venture. In conjunction with fellow grant winner Sam Hollander, the pair wanted to create something more advanced and powerful than what was currently on the market for VR technology. With accessibility for small businesses in mind, Shumer and Hollander spent months researching and developing a prototype called “Visos.” Combining Hunter’s Grant with the attention of other investors, the product officially launched.

Hunter’s Fund is one of the only funding organizations whose mission is to support promising young people with creative ideas that can change lives and who lack the financial resources to pursue them.

Hunter’s Fund is excited to see Shumer and Kuperberg combine their skills to create more groundbreaking ideas. Though they have moved on to new endeavors, they continue to encourage and guide young students who aspire to follow in their footsteps. We are proud of their many accomplishments.

For more information on this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 winners, visit Forbes.com.

Editor’s Note: Information about Hunter’s Fund, Hunter’s Grants, “Visos,” Sam Hollander, Matt Goodman, “Drop Top,” and the Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards compiled and added to the end of this article by Catherine Foote.