Meet the Team: Introducing Our New Analysts

Join us in welcoming the Spring 2025 Analyst class! These students have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, strong university involvement, and a passion for venture capital. Working alongside their teams, they will connect with founders, present investment theses, conduct industry research, and contribute to expanding Hillside Ventures' reach and portfolio. We’re excited for the opportunities ahead and are looking forward to a fantastic semester!

Nicholas Connolly

Nicholas is a junior pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor in Real Estate. At Hillside, he is part of the Sports and Wellness vertical in the Health and Wellness sub-vertical. Outside of Hillside, Nicholas is a member of the UConn Track and Field team, Investment Banking society, and Finance Society. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, lifting, and is an avid Patriots fan.

Devon Devanney

Devon is a junior pursuing a degree in Finance. At Hillside, he is part of the Financial Innovation vertical. Outside of Hillside, Devon is a member of the UConn Finance Society. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, following NCAA and NBA basketball, and focusing on personal health and fitness.

Riley Sheppard

Riley is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Accounting with a minor in Entrepreneurship. At Hillside, he is part of the Sports and Wellness vertical in the Health and Wellness sub-vertical. Outside of Hillside, Riley is a member of UConn Club Swimming and the UConn Accounting Society, and he also works as a lifeguard, operations staff member, and swim instructor at the rec center. In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting, competing in triathlons, and playing basketball.

Mya Bynoe

Mya is a freshman pursuing a degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship with an Economics of Sustainable Development and Management minor. At Hillside, she is part of the Sustainability vertical, focusing on Sustainable Materials and Infrastructure. Outside of Hillside, Mya is involved with NABA, the Opportunity Fund Project, and works as an EcoCaptain intern for the Office of Sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, volunteering, and reading.

Caroline Wittenauer

Caroline is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Business Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship; she is also minoring in Spanish and Finance. At Hillside, she is part of the Sports and Wellness vertical, focusing on SportsTech. Outside of Hillside, Caroline is a member of UConn Club Track and Field, Alpha Phi Sorority, and the Investment Banking Society. In her free time, she is an avid golfer.

Owen Macary

Owen is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Economics with a primary interest in Finance. At Hillside, he is part of the Human Development vertical, focusing on research in Human Behavior and Development. Outside of Hillside, Owen is involved in the Finance Society, Investment Banking Society, Real Estate Society, and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. In his free time, he enjoys fitness, movies, television, music, and following UConn basketball, hockey, and lacrosse.

Mark Lobo

Mark is a junior pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor in Real Estate. At Hillside, he is part of the Financial Innovation vertical, focusing on WealthTech and Personal Finance. Outside of Hillside, Mark is a member of the Finance Society, Real Estate Society, and Investment Banking Society, and serves as the Alumni Chair for Phi Delta Theta. In his free time, he enjoys gaming, working out, and investing.

Shyju Varughese

Shyju is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor in Analytics and a concentration in Corporate Finance. At Hillside, he is part of the Human Development vertical, focusing on Virtual Education. Outside of Hillside, Shyju is a member of Delta Sigma Pi. In his free time, he enjoys basketball and is a car enthusiast.

Kabir Ramnani

Kabir is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor in Economics. At Hillside, he is part of the Sustainability vertical, focusing on AgTech and FoodTech. Outside of Hillside, Kabir is involved in the Opportunity Fund, UConn Case Club, Finance Society, and Investment Banking Society. In his free time, he enjoys basketball, pickleball, and competing in triathlons.

Naida Alihodzic

Naida is a junior pursuing a degree in Finance. At Hillside, she is part of the Financial Innovation vertical, focusing on Health InsurTech. Outside of Hillside, Naida is involved in UConn BCDO and the ALD Honor Society. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, and playing basketball.

Alejandro Soto

Alejandro is a junior pursuing a degree in Economics. At Hillside, he is part of the Financial Innovation vertical, focusing on Capital Markets Tech and Credit & Lending. Outside of Hillside, Alejandro is involved in UConn Club Soccer and Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA). In his free time, he enjoys all things sports.

Tina Ngo

Tina is a junior pursuing a degree in Management & Entrepreneurship. At Hillside, she is part of the Sustainability vertical, focusing on Clean Energy. Outside of Hillside, Tina is the founder of Thrift Den, UConn’s on-campus thrift store, and is involved in Global Business & Sustainability Initiatives. She also serves as a Teaching Assistant for BADM 1801 and is the Secretary of the Global Business Ambassadors. Tina is also an intern at Constellation Energy and is very passionate about sustainability, specifically reducing Scope emissions. Additionally, in her free time, she enjoys drawing and painting.

Chen Hui Li

Chen is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Accounting. At Hillside, he is part of the Human Development vertical, focusing on Mental Health. Outside of Hillside, he is involved in the Chinese Undergraduate Student Association, Lambda Phi Epsilon, and the Asian American Cultural Center. In his free time, he enjoys singing, dancing, drawing, and has an interest in true crime.

Zeynep Acun

Zeynep is a junior pursuing degrees in Political Science and German Studies. At Hillside, she is part of the Sustainability vertical, focusing on Clean Energy and CleanTech. Outside of Hillside, Zeynep is an Outreach and Engagement Intern for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, a member of Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honors Society), and participates in Women's 5v5 Intramural Basketball. In her free time, she enjoys collecting records, sharing her Turkish language and culture with friends, learning German, and lifting weights.

Hudson Sirois

Hudson is a sophomore Finance major with a minor in Real Estate. At Hillside, he is part of the Human Development vertical, focusing on Virtual Learning. Outside of Hillside, Hudson is involved in the Real Estate Society and Phi Delta Theta. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing and photography.

Catherine Murphy

Catherine is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Actuarial Science. At Hillside, she is part of the Financial Innovation vertical, focusing on InsurTech and Risk Management. Outside of Hillside, Catherine is involved in the UConn Actuarial Society, serves on the Honors Council Executive Board, is part of the Irish Dance Team, and works at the Dairy Bar. In her free time, she loves cooking and baking Italian dishes and has recently become obsessed with day trips to NYC to see Broadway shows.

Pascal Mukendi

Pascal is a senior pursuing a degree in Economics. At Hillside, he is part of the Sports & Wellness vertical, focusing on Health & Wellness. Outside of Hillside, Pascal serves as a senior advisor for NABA, co-founded the Emerging Markets Investment Group, and is involved with Business Leaders of UConn. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, fitness, music, and playing chess.

Maria Cayward

Maria is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Analytics and Information Management with a minor in Accounting. At Hillside, she is part of the Financial Innovation vertical, focusing on WealthTech. Outside of Hillside, Maria is the President of the Analytics and Information Management club, a member of Case Club, and an active volunteer in the Husky Ambassador Program. She also serves as the Social Media Manager for the Special Olympics Committee. In her free time, she enjoys soccer, hiking, spin, and volunteering.

Jonathan Hylton

Jonathan is a junior pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. At Hillside, he is part of the Sustainability vertical, focusing on Sustainable Materials and Infrastructure. Outside of Hillside, Jonathan is involved in UConn FSAE and serves as Vice President of the African Investment Society. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and engaging in talks and debates about religion and philosophy.

Isabella DeLeo

Isabella is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Finance. At Hillside, she is part of the Sports & Wellness vertical, focusing on Sports Technology. Outside of Hillside, Isabella has previously been involved in the Opportunity Fund and is currently an executive board member of the Women's Finance Association, serving as Chief of External Relations. She is also a member of the Finance Society. In her free time, Isabella enjoys spin classes, working out (especially lifting), reading, baking, and cooking.