Heidi Knoblauch is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and a nationally recognized expert in creative capital strategy. She brings deep experience across sectors—including time as a small business owner, growth and venture banking relationship manager, and capital allocator for New York State’s venture arm, where she helped deploy direct investments into high-growth companies and oversee fund-of-funds initiatives.

Heidi has worked at the intersection of private investment and public innovation, developing scalable funding strategies that blend equity, debt, and hybrid models. As an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and ecosystem advisor, she supports founders in becoming capital fluent—while helping communities activate risk capital in ways that align with local strengths.

Her work focuses on demystifying capital, modernizing support for small and fast-growth companies, and enabling capital ecosystems to function more efficiently—from CDFIs to strategic acquirers to alternative lenders.