Venki Mandapati, founder of UpSquad, is changing the way organizations manage their communities and grow their programs. UpSquad is a comprehensive program management platform that gives organizations of all types a customized, coordinated solution to start, manage, and track their internal and external programs.

Venki’s entrepreneurial journey began as an international student at The University of Memphis. Seeing the potential for technology to solve real-world challenges, he embarked on a path of entrepreneurship, with Epicenter on his side from the start.

“Epicenter has been instrumental in shaping UpSquad from its idea stage,” Venki says. “The unique thing about Epicenter is it offers programs catering to entrepreneurs at various stages of development.”

Venki has participated in Epicenter’s annual pitch competition twice, each time gaining valuable feedback from potential investors that significantly shaped UpSquad’s direction. Participating in the Alchemist and Epicenter pre-accelerator program has also proved valuable in identifying key areas for growth. 

Expanding on that valuable relationship, UpSquad’s and Epicenter are embarking on a new strategic partnership to establish a Mentor Network platform that runs on UpSquad’s technology.

With significant progress over the last few years, UpSquad has worked with more than 20 customers across different sectors, developing custom web and mobile applications to effectively manage their programs. Venki’s vision isn’t just to see UpSquad succeed — he wants to see his customers succeed as well.

The Epicenter Mentor Network is a new partnership with Memphis-based startup UpSquad to expand the networks of emerging entrepreneurs who aspire to scale and expand their businesses. One of the platform’s core features enables founders to match with seasoned mentors and subject-matter experts with deep industry connections. This strategic partnership gives startups a uniquely tailored mentorship experience to help them thrive in Memphis and beyond.