Founder Roundtable: Future-Built & Founder-Led

Mo Islam is the Co-Founder of Arkaea Media Group, a B2B media firm covering critical technologies linked to national security. Arkaea's portfolio include Payload (space), Ignition (energy) and Tectonic (defense tech).

Prior to founding Arkaea, Mo was an investor at Republic Capital, where he focused on aerospace, defense, and energy investments. He previously held senior roles at J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank’s institutional wealth platform, where he raised strategic capital for high-growth technology sectors.

Michelle Metter is the co-founder and owner of Fast Forward Events, a leading creator of fan-based B2B and B2C communities in the wine, beer, spirits, and culinary industries. She spearheads the creation of engaging and immersive live events, tradeshows, and conferences, including award-winning productions such as SommCon Conference & Beverage Expo, SommGo, The Tasting & Tap Room Expo, The Craft Beverage Expo, Women In Craft, Concours Wine & Spirits Competitions, and the San Diego Food + Wine Festival. Under her leadership, Fast Forward Events has become known for connecting passionate enthusiasts and industry professionals through unforgettable experiences and innovative community-building events.

Jacob Cohen Donnelly is the Founder and CEO of A Media Operator (AMO), a fast-growing media company born from his widely respected twice-weekly newsletter about building sustainable, modern media businesses. Known for his sharp analysis and operator-level insights, Jacob has become a trusted voice for executives, creators, and entrepreneurs navigating the evolving media landscape. Under his leadership, AMO has expanded from a single newsletter into a full-fledged media brand, offering events, intelligence products, and deep industry reporting. Jacob’s work centers on one mission: helping people understand how to build, scale, and operate profitable media companies. Before launching AMO, Jacob held senior leadership roles across the industry, including Publisher at Morning Brew and Managing Director of Digital Revenue at CoinDesk, where he drove both growth and monetization strategies. His career also includes roles such as General Manager, B2B and Director of Marketing, giving him a 360-degree perspective on media operations, revenue, and audience development. With a career spent entirely in media and a reputation for clear, practical thinking, Jacob is recognized as one of today’s leading voices on the future of digital media.

Mike Rothman is President at The Dispatch, based in New York. Prior to joining the company in a full-time capacity in 2024, he served as a company advisor since inception in 2019. Prior to that, he started and ran Fatherly and helped grow Thrillist from zero to 200 employees. He currently serves as an investor in and advisor to more than a dozen digital-first consumer brands. When Mike is not building The Dispatch, he is probably biking, running, and cruising the neighborhood with his family.