In this series, we sit down with our portfolio and program founders to get to know them better. What are they building? What motivates them? What do they love about New York City? This week, we're chatting with Sproxxy CEO Melanie Samba, a founder in our 2023 Boost Founder Fellowship cohort. Meet Melanie and the rest of the Boost Founder Fellowshio cohort at Boost's Demo Day on June 6 — RSVP today.

1. Describe what you’re building in 10 words or fewer.

AI- enabled conference intelligence platform that quantifies conference activity

2. Let’s assume your company achieves your current, fullest ambitions for it — what about your industry and the world do you hope changes as a result?

The north star for Sproxxy is the ability to provide a solution that can highlight some of the most brilliant minds on the speaking circuit and give momentum to the adoption of their groundbreaking ideas.  What if a scientist is using the platform to find the right industry events to share how he’s found a cure to a disease.  What if that scientist now has access to the conference organizers that can get him in front of the KOLs within his industry that show up at industry events globally who can do something about it? What could that do for the patient on the other side of this? What could that do for the world?

3. What’s your bagel order?

Everything bagel

4. What do you love about New York City, and what makes it a good place to launch a business?

I love that there is always something new to discover in NYC. I would say New York is an excellent place to launch a business based on the sheer number of people that can assist you in your journey. The support in NYC is unmatched. People move here from all parts of the world to follow their dreams.

5. What’s your favorite ‘secret’ about New York?

I love jazz, so while dating my husband we used to jazz club hop.  During that time, we were always able to hear some of the most incredible musicians from around the world play their sets at these hideaway locations.

6. What do you think is the single biggest innovation we'll see within our lifetimes?

We’re now in the 4th industrial revolution where we’re using AI to uncover new insights from the massive amount of data that's being collected. Understanding how to responsibly use new technologies like AI and ML to accelerate innovation would be the single biggest innovation we have seen to date. However, the evolution is completely dependent on the quality of the data we are analyzing.

7. What’s your favorite movie or TV show that takes place in New York City?

Batman. However, I must say my latest binge show is Succession.

8. What motto do you live by?

I am actually an introverted person that often has to remind myself to step out of my comfort and be what I call “scary fearless.”  Also, one of the tips I just shared with my niece who graduated this year is to “Let them tell you no.” Sometimes in life, we reject our own ambitions or assume we will get a rejection without just asking for what we want first.

9. What piece of technology do you wish you’d invented?

If you would call a light bulb technology, I would say the ability to bring light to a dark space. There is not one person in this world that does not have a need for light.

10. What’s one app on your homescreen that you can’t live without?

Youtube. I have a 3 year old son so we are often swiping quickly to find cartoons for him to watch during meetings, flights and pretty much at all times.