IN THE NEWS
Our team members' projects have been featured in the following media outlets; click the logos to read more.
PLATFORMS
Idea Ignition
The mobile application that's revolutionizing the way innovators get involved and collaborate
CodeHound
Find your Dream Developer/Business Partner here:
An integral element of Liftoff Ventures, CodeHound's patent-pending engine connects like-minded entrepreneurs and developers to facilitate in the formation of student-led ventures and assists in the growth of start-ups at participating college and university campuses around the globe.
THEPRI.SM
The new-age online publication for young entrepreneurs
PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES
We have campus representatives at the following academic institutions
Claremont McKenna College
Babson College
Stanford University
University of Colorado, Boulder
Northeastern University
Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Pomona College
University of Southern California
Harvey Mudd College
Pitzer College
Scripps College
SELECTED PARTNERSHIPS
Liftoff's strategic partnerships allow us to deliver tailored solutions that work best for our clients and team.
The Kairos Society
From access to high-profile mentorship to high-impact resource partners, Kairos provides a venue for our top entrepreneurs to collaborate and peer-review ventures with like-minded ideators.
Outlier Solutions Group
OSG provides analytical support to businesses that don’t have an
internal team of analysts ready to create documents, financial models, pitch books and reports.
OSG builds any press kit, pitch book, deck, model, research or analysis
that can contribute to a transaction.Liftoff has secured preferential pricing for OSG services to provide to our clients and portfolio companies.
Momentum.VC
Where Leading Mobile Startups go for Growth
San Fransisco, California
Liftoff has teamed up with Momentum.VC to provide hands-on assistance to mobile apps in our pipeline and as yet another source of strategic and targeted funding; they've raised $18+ Million in funding to date.
FEATURED PORTFOLIO COMPANIES
Liftoff is proud to have the following products and services in our family
Raffle For Good
Revolutionary online fundraising & cause marketing platform
Miami, Florida
Raffle For Good is an online fundraising platform for charities, schools, and other non-profit organizations. Raffle For Good is the only fundraising site to offer both raffles and auctions. Alongside auctions, we’ve turned the traditional raffle into an interactive game that makes online fundraising beneficial for all parties involved.
NexDrive
Driving change one tank at a time
St. Louis, Missouri
We conceive, design and produce a wide array of solutions for NGVs, Bi-Fuel vehicles, and the conversion of traditional gas-guzzling, bank-breaking, air-polluting vehicles into versions prepared for the coming winds of change.
Recall
Your life at your fingertips
Chicago, Illinois
Recall allows you to take control of how you share your life with those around you. Choose exactly who can see your posts and customize how long certain people can see them for. Create a timeline that contains information about your life and then decide if that information is private, for certain friends, or for everybody.
Unreal Everything
Beyond Music
Chesterfield, Missouri/Islamadora, Florida
Unreal Everything is an innovative social-hybrid music label/tech start-up that brightens lives and innovates the way we think of music with each new label release.
SHARE
Sustainable Healthcare Alliance for Recycled Equipment
Cameroon, Africa
SHARE aims to bridge the disconnect between the excess of recycled equipment in the United States and the need for equipment in Cameroonian hospitals.
Refined Hardware
Limited edition & luxury timepieces direct from Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Each and every piece ordered from refined hardware comes individually numbered, hand finished, with a personal manual and in a hand-laid carbon fiber case direct from Los Angeles. We continue to live by our founding ideals with a line of industrial and functional conceptions. our unique blend of materials, design and complexity in engineering are refining the watch industry one american piece of metal at a time.
LIFTOFF.VENTURES
Contact Mission Control
Phone
Call us Toll Free
(844) 464-6526
Email
Rich Zajac
Chairman & CEO
Rich@
liftoff.ventures Scott Sonneborn
President
Scott@
liftoff.ventures 
Offices
Los Angeles
530 N. Mills Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711
St. Louis
190 Carondelet Plaza, Suite 1200
Clayton, MO 63105
Chicago
787 Kimball Road
Highland Park, IL 60035Boston
Virtual Office
Boston, MA
THE LIFTOFF LAUNCH TEAM
Rich Zajac
CEO & Chairman of the Board
I spent the first eighteen years of my life in St. Louis before moving to California to attend Claremont McKenna College in Los Angeles. I founded Liftoff Ventures to solve the mounting challenge of connecting ideators with executors to help solve the world's challenges through technology.
Scott Sonneborn
President
Born and raised a Chicago native, I’ve always had a passion for entrepreneurship. I envision Liftoff being the bridge between the world of coding and developers and the world of innovation and ideation. I am currently a freshman at Claremont McKenna College in Los Angeles majoring in Economics.
Kevin Lynch
Director of Recruitment and
Strategic Partnerships
I was born in Connecticut, grew up in Arizona, and went to high school in Boston. I’m now at Claremont McKenna College and plan to major in Economics. To me, Liftoff is an invaluable platform for connecting young entrepreneurs to the real world. By supplying them with the resources they need, we help the innovators of our generation turn their ideas into reality.
Michael Hansen
Director of Coding and Development
Michael attends CU Boulder with a strong passion for business, technology and entrepreneurship. Firsthand experience with technology start-ups, and as a leader in multiple educational and experiential roles. Ambitious, highly motivated, and driven to innovate and achieve success; Won the 2013 Apple Design Award as lead developer of Finish
Tania Salomon
Brand Manager &
Latin America Initiative
I was born and raised in Mexico. I am studying Economics and Psychology at Claremont McKenna College. Some of my hobbies and interests include: the restaurant industry, stock trading, cooking, tennis, and surfing. I am proud to be part of a company that helps young innovators succeed through supportive, trustworthy, and mutually beneficial relationships.
Tom Dean
Israeli Initiative Team Leader
Tomer is an avid and passionate entrepreneur. Raised in San Jose, California and moved to Israel as a teenager. Currently majoring in computer science at IDC Herzliya, Israel. Liftoff Ventures is the evolution of the startup world - working to close the gap between vision and reality.
Larissa Weinstein
Senior Strategist and Co-Founder
I grew up in the warmth of Coral Gables, Florida and made the move to Boston in 2012 to attend Northeastern University. I consider myself a lifelong entrepreneur and I truly see Liftoff Ventures as a game-changing catalyst for connections and progress in student entrepreneurship.
Eugenio Gonzalez
Senior Strategist- Liftoff Link
Born in Mexico, I have always admired what entrepreneurship can create—especially now that I am studying entrepreneurship at Babson College. I believe Liftoff Ventures is the next step in solving problems and helping other entrepreneurs grow.
Michael Kliska
Senior Strategist- Liftoff Link
Born in Chicago and spent time in Southern California, St. Louis, Washington D.C. and now Boston while I attend Babson College, the #1 school in the world for entrepreneurship. Liftoff Ventures exists to give aspiring entrepreneurs the support and confidence they need to fully commit themselves to launching their venture.
Adam Halper
Northern California Office
I was born in New York, and raised in Los Angeles. I am currently attending Stanford University, majoring in Management Science & Engineering. I joined Liftoff Ventures because it connects students who have great ideas but lack experience to business veterans who know how to execute.
Rayne Crossen
Boulder Office -
President
Born and raised in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. I now reside in Los Angeles, California and attend Loyola Marymount University. Entrepreneurship has been engraved in my veins ever since the day I was born. I aspire to spread the passion for innovation and creation all around the world throughout my life time. I joined Liftoff Ventures with the hope to provide priceless opportunities to young entrepreneurs everywhere.
Khadijah Fortenberry
Executive Assistant + Social Media Manager
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri - I have spent the last four years living Oxford, Mississippi, where I recently graduated from the University of Mississippi with a BBA in Marketing. Inspired by diversity and innovation, I believe in being the change you want to see in the world. Helping to bridge the gap between young entrepreneurs and established professionals allows just that.
