Mariam Gorjian is the Assistant Director of The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) within The Gatton College of Business& Economics at the University of Kentucky. She is dedicated to cultivating a robust startup ecosystem, and founder of the University of Kentucky's acclaimed Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0 &2.0 Accelerator programs, architected to transform promising ideas into viable businesses and develop future leaders. With a strong foundation in engineering (B.S. Electrical Engineering from the University of Kentucky and M.S. in Industrial Technology/Systems Engineering from Eastern Kentucky University), Mariam began her career serving as a defense contractor for the Army/Marine Corps. Her experience at the Bluegrass Army Depot and Coldstream Research Campus honed her analytical and strategic capabilities. This unique background seamlessly transitioned into her role as a Commercialization Specialist at UK's Tech Transfer office, where she specialized in assessing and advancing research-to-business technologies that significantly contributed SBIR/STTR grant applications, job creation, and economic prosperity in the Bluegrass region. Today, Mariam passionately leads efforts to coach, mentor, and develop a new wave of CEOs and business leaders, leveraging her extensive experience in accelerating ventures. Her insights are further sought after as a seasonal pitch coach for ABC's hit show, Shark Tank, where she helps entrepreneurs refine their pitches for national exposure and investment.
