The Esteemed Board of Directors of ICW® Capital 501c3 Non-Profit
Operating Worldwide and HQ’D in Philadelphia Suburbs. Wynnwood, PA
Board of Directors and ICW® Capital 501c3 Mission Statement
At the ICW® Capital, our mission is to empower and inspire women (and any person who identifies as a woman or non-binary) and a few good men to excel in innovation and entrepreneurship. We are committed to creating an inclusive community that fosters creativity, provides mentorship, and offers resources and programs designed to support women at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. Through education, networking opportunities, and hands-on experiences, ICW® Capital aims to break down barriers, encourage bold thinking, and nurture the next generation of women, those who identify as women, non-binary and underserved populations as leaders and innovators. Our goal is to ensure that they have the tools, confidence, and support needed to turn their innovative ideas into successful enterprises.
CEO and Chairwoman of the Board:
Katie Kupstas
Katie Kupstas is the Chairwoman of the Board of ICW® Capital, where she helps founders become truly fundable by aligning ambition, protection, and investment readiness. She leads ICW® Capital’s mission to empower scalable companies through investor-ready education, strategic guidance, and the intentional building of connections between founders and aligned investors—while placing legal and intellectual property readiness at the center of capital formation.
Katie is deeply committed to expanding intellectual property access and ownership for underserved founders, ensuring entrepreneurs enter fundraising conversations protected, prepared, and positioned to build long-term enterprise value. Her work focuses on closing systemic gaps in legal and IP readiness so founders can raise capital with confidence and scale sustainably.
Board of Directors: Director and Advisor to Educational Programs:
Laura Rose
Laura Rose is a New Jersey native who has lived for significant portions of her life in Florida and New York City. She attended the University of Florida obtaining both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education, graduating in 2009.
Laura is a seasoned educator with over 15 years of experience. She began her career in the corporate world at BBDO, a global advertising agency in NYC. While she loved working in this exciting field, her heart pulled her to the classroom. Laura worked as a middle school math teacher for 13 years. She worked for 5 years in charter schools in Garfield, NJ and Harlem, NY, educating students from low socioeconomic and underserved communities. She then made the switch in 2016 to work in independent schools, at Trevor Day School in New York City and, currently, at The Peck School in Morristown, NJ.
Throughout her tenure in the classroom, she has held various roles including: Mathematics Department Chair, Grade Level Team Leader, Advisor, and Executive Producer, Co-Director, and Costume Director for multiple school musical productions. Additionally, she has served on multiple committees to support the strategic efforts of her school communities: teacher evaluation systems, hiring for administrators, Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Steering, DEIB Curriculum, and Movement. Laura was a pivotal member of the team that created her current school’s very first DEIB curriculum and helped to implement and teach these invaluable lessons to middle school students.
Laura has received training from various mathematical and leadership professional development courses at Philips Exeter Academy, The Heads Network, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), and Metamorphosis Teaching & Learning Communities.
As of Spring 2024, Laura was promoted into a new role, one of which was created for her as a result of her work and efforts, as the Dean of Students and Director of Auxiliary Programs at The Peck School.
Laura is a health and wellness enthusiast, loves to sing and dance, work out, spend time in nature, cook, read, and enjoy her beautiful family. She currently resides in Morris County, NJ with her husband and their two young sons.
Board of Directors: Secretary
Madeleine Stavrianos
Madeleine Stavrianos is an upcoming MBA student at Temple University. She has recently graduated from University of East London with an undergraduate degree in Politics and International Relations. Business and entrepreneurship have advanced with a focus on the future of work, evolving from her experiences at the student union over the past year.
Her contribution to The ICW® Capital has ignited a passion for intellectual property, which she plans to pursue throughout an MBA program. In the future, she envisions working in the IP field, either through consultancy, within a major corporation, or possibly leading her own company as CEO.
Board of Directors: Treasurer
Tod Kupstas
Tod Kupstas is a Board Member of ICW® Capital and a nationally recognized expert in intellectual property law, with deep specialization in SaaS and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. His work spans the full lifecycle of intellectual property—from patent strategy and execution to managing large, complex patent portfolios that support scale, licensing, and acquisition.
Tod is at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence within the patent process, advising companies on how AI can be strategically incorporated into patent development, analysis, and prosecution. He brings extensive experience in intellectual property due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, trademark strategy, and high-stakes IP litigation, including matters argued at the United States Supreme Court.
He earned his undergraduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with double majors in Physics and Anthropology, and received his Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School. Tod began his intellectual property career as a United States Patent Examiner, giving him rare insight into how patents are evaluated from the inside.
ICW® Capital is deeply grateful for Tod’s service on the Board and for the expertise he provides to founders, helping them protect enterprise value, reduce risk, and build durable, investor-ready companies.
Board of Directors: Startup Advisor
Marcia Williams
Founder and CEO of Embellish Beauty is a celebrity makeup artist and product founder that worked for years with QVC® and continues to work with large companies such as Comcast, NBC Universal and Johnson and Johnson. She has a line of cosmetics that have been featured in national and local news outlets including the NY Times, the cover of Main Line Today, Fox Philly News and more.
She brings a wealth of knowledge to the startup community in addition to being a wife and a mother of two. Marcia brings empathy, integrity, kindness, and knowledge to the ICW® Capital community and programs it supports.
Trailblazing Women Innovators
Our Team of Experts
Kylee Dwinal
Is an essential part of the ICW® team, leveraging her skills and experience as a Junior Graphic Designer at Millersville University. With a background as a design intern at the Lancaster Barnstormers baseball team, her passion for design and creativity shines through. Beyond her ICW® contributions, Kylee’s role as President of the Marauder Graphics screen-printing club and her work as Millersville’s Athletic Communications and D2 Ice Hockey Team’s Photographer demonstrate her dedication to both her craft and her community.
Lyka Maturan
Is a versatile professional with experience as a Virtual Assistant and Executive Assistant, backed by a successful managerial role in a telecommunications company. She upholds values of transparency, self-discipline, and trustworthiness in her work. As an active member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, she is dedicated to community development. Lyka’s goal is to continue delivering exceptional support as a Virtual Assistant, contributing to the success of the teams she serves.