Our Team

Zachary Shulman, Managing Partner

Zach joined CVF in 2004 and also teaches at the Johnson School at Cornell University. He currently serves as a Director of Primet Precision Materials, Advion BioSciences, e2e Materials, Instinctiv and CherryPharm.

Background:
Prior to joining CVF, Zach was General Counsel at a technology startup that raised considerable venture capital, but ultimately suffered when the tech bubble burst. Prior to that he practiced corporate law at Ropes & Gray in Boston and Harris Beach in Ithaca. Zach serves on a number of advisory boards affiliated with Cornell programs. He earned both his BS in Industrial and Labor Relations and his JD degrees at Cornell University.

Phil Proujansky, Managing Partner

Phil participated in the founding of Cayuga Venture Fund and is a founder of Integrated Acquisition & Development (IAD), a diversified commercial real estate organization and private equity investor. Phil currently serves as a Director of BinOptics and Kionix and is an observer to the board of Calient.

Background:
Phil has previously been a founding and principal investor in a number of start-up technology based businesses, including companies in the development of "non-wireline" cellular telephone markets and companies that are experts in artificial intelligence for industrial applications. Phil serves on the Cornell Tech Transfer Advisory Committee, Cornell Real Estate Advisory Board, the Paleontological Research Institution and several other not-for-profit organizations and institutions. Phil began his career as a financial analyst and consultant before founding IAD. He earned his BS in Engineering Physics at Cornell University.

Jennifer Tegan, Partner and VP Finance/Administration

Jennifer joined CVF in February 2002 and since that time has been involved in the oversight and evaluation of portfolio companies as well as being responsible for CVF’s financial management and administration. She was Director of Allworx (sold to Paetec) and is an observer on the boards of BinOptics and Calient.

Background:
Prior to joining CVF, Jennifer worked as a consultant with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. She was the Business Manager of EMF Corporation, a small optical coating manufacturing company in Ithaca and before that she was at the Paleontological Research Institution where she managed educational programs, community outreach and marketing, and conducted original research. Jennifer is past Chair of the Board of the Tompkins County SPCA and serves on the Economic Development Committee of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and the Advisory Board of the Tompkins County Public Library. She earned BA and MS degrees in Geology from Smith College and the University of Cincinnati, respectively, and an MBA from Cornell University.

Cliff Lardin, Senior Principal

Cliff is an experienced engineer and dedicated entrepreneur who joined CVF first as an intern while he was a graduate student at Cornell and then full time in 2007. Cliff serves as a Director of Mezmeriz and is a board observer for Instinctiv. Cliff also volunteers his time as President of New York State Early Music Association and its period instrument ensemble, NYS Baroque.

Background:
Cliff’s management experience includes serving as CEO of Cyan Data Systems; Founder and VP of Systems at MiniGram.com; founder of Bright Island; and Director of PC Programming at Flowers Industries (NYSE:FLO). In addition Cliff has worked as a Senior Software Developer for ChemSW; and as a Senior Engineer at Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates (NASDAQ:VSEA). After completing all of the requirements for the computer science major at Amherst College, Cliff ultimately earned a BA in English and an MBA from Cornell University.

Ann Cusmano, Office Manager

Ann joined Cayuga Venture Fund in March 2006. Prior to joining the firm, Ann was an Office Operations Assistant at Ithaca College, an Administrative Assistant at Franziska Racker Centers, and a Legal Assistant at the law firm Harris Beach. Ann is currently a member of the organizations of The Society for Human Resource Management of Tompkins County and Ithaca Forward.

Education:
Ann received her Associates Degree from Tompkins Cortland Community and is currently studying Business Administration at Elmira College.