About

THE STARTUP PLATFORM FOR EVERYONE ELSE

StartStak is designed to empower entrepreneurship and promote economic development, by embracing Founders who dare to dream and do. StartStak is a non-dilutive platform supporting companies from idea to product market fit.

StartStak is built for founders focused on developing their business plan through early stage operations, utilizing a platform of services, like a startup operating system.

In the AI and post-lean startup era, we serve the 99% of Founders underserved by existing programs and services. We serve Founders who desire to get to market with precision. We are in the business of economic development, recognizing that entrepreneurs create jobs and the 70% failure rate of startups is unnecessarily high, so we built something new to solve this problem.

At StartStak, we believe in the power of diversity and inclusive support to drive impact. Our program is for the ambitious many, regardless of background, education, or geographical location. For individuals with non-traditional education or professionals embarking on second careers, to young innovators straight out of high school looking for K-13, this is the launchpad for the next generation of Founders.

StartStak is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are. We provide practical support, in-context learning, and group-based peer opportunities that champion innovative minds and growth. Whether it's defining your offering and business plan to acquiring your first buyers, StartStak equips you with the tools and knowledge to succeed. We are in the business of building lasting businesses, not pitch decks.

StartStak stands out by offering a structured methodology in a cognitive design to guide business planning, the strategy, and go-to-market. Our AI-Native platform supports entrepreneurs to launch successful ventures in a fraction of the time, though with depth of planning to de-risk the new company. We think pivoting is for ballet, not business.

Join StartStak, and build your company from idea to product market fit with a group of like minds, problem solvers, and innovators, with wisdom that is focused on your success. At StartStak, your potential is recognized, your diversity is valued, and your dreams are achievable. Step into the future of startups where everyone has a fair shot.

MODERN STARTUP IS INCOMPLETE   MODERN STARTUP IS INCOMPLETE   MODERN STARTUP IS INCOMPLETE   MODERN STARTUP IS INCOMPLETE   MODERN STARTUP IS INCOMPLETE   MODERN STARTUP IS INCOMPLETE  
WE CLOSE THE GAP   WE CLOSE THE GAP   WE CLOSE THE GAP   WE CLOSE THE GAP   WE CLOSE THE GAP   WE CLOSE THE GAP  

OUR TEAM

Elizabeth  McCalley

Elizabeth McCalley

CEO & Founder

Liz is a dreamer, THINKer and tinkerer in emerging technologies. Her creativity and unconventional background drive her passion to make the world more equitable. She believes the underdogs will win and that this market moment will culminate into a rebalancing of power, opening up a new world of possibilities to many versus few. She is an expert in business strategy and has decades of experience bringing new offerings and services to market. She synthesizes complexity with ease and is unburdened by the idea of limits, though understands the magic in strategy is born from constraints. She is an explorer, a proud mother, wife, caregiver, animal lover, and the fearless leader of StartStak.

Scott Henningsen

Scott Henningsen

VP of Marketing & Client Partner

Scott, a creative problem solver, ideator, writer, product lead and marketing expert has a broad range of technical and non-technical skills. A strong believer that the world is a better place with more human ideas in it, as the first founding team member, StartStak is his playground to build solutions and methods that are unlike anything the world has seen before. Scott’s superpower is his figure-it-out-ness. As a master of navigating the gray areas and gifted in team alignment, a constant is the coffee- it should be hot and always available.

Divya Apte

Divya Apte

VP of Product & Customer Experience

Divya is a competitive force in business, known for her bold approach to tackling complex challenges in driving product and customer success. As a lifelong learner with a knack for transforming intricate ideas into clear, actionable strategies, she brings a unique edge to StartStak. Divya channels her competitive spirit into racket sports and thrives on adrenaline through roller coasters and skydiving. Her daring personality and passion for delivering customer value has been present in her decades of experience bringing innovation to life.

Stuart Meczes

Stuart Meczes

Head of Content

Stuart Meczes leads content at StartStak with a clear conviction: great content is the vital thread connecting vision to audience, shaping both engagement and growth. With a sharp, creative mind and a strategic approach, Stuart crafts stories and messaging that reach beyond information, aiming always to inspire and resonate. For him, content is a living blend of narrative and visuals—where authenticity, clarity, and purpose come first. His expertise ensures every word, every story, and every visual echoes StartStak’s commitment to excellence. At heart, Stuart is a builder of meaning, believing that true impact starts with human-centered storytelling.

Augusta George

Augusta George

Product & Campaign Marketing Associate

Augusta George brings excellence to StartStak’s product and campaign marketing, leading project management and delivery with focus on the details. Known for her speed and patience with intricate tasks, she is a fearless learner who thrives on building meaningful experiences and lasting connections. Augusta’s approach is grounded in purpose—she believes in making a real difference, both in business and in people’s lives. At StartStak, she brings structure to ideas and consistently shows up with intention, always aiming to leave things better than she found them. Her work is defined by care, service, and impact.

Amna  Dar

Amna Dar

Creative and Design Associate

Amna is a whimsical creative whose quiet energy brings a unique softness to the world of design. With oversized glasses, pink cat-ear headphones, and eyes that hold a thousand ideas, she crafts visuals that are smart, engaging and poetic. At StartStak, she brings color to complexity—infusing every project with aesthetic clarity and bold imagination. Amna moves at her own thoughtful rhythm, believing that creativity doesn’t need chaos to thrive. Her precise work is an invitation to slow down, look closer, and feel the creative force as a point of focus in a busy world.

Susan Payne-Cook

Susan Payne-Cook

Strategic Advisor

Susan, the founding team’s advisor is a champion of complex innovations and has been a pioneer in her field of advanced technology in analytics and data for decades. Her passion for entrepreneurship and desire to foster a more dynamic ecosystem for founders is the beacon for the next phase of her career. Her background building dynamic teams and leading innovative technology businesses will help guide the team in early decisions and throughout their journey building the StartStak.

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