Mentor Bio

Ryan Derfler

6th-8th Communications & Entrepreneurs Mentor

Ryan is a serial entrepreneur having launched two tech start-ups, a publishing franchise, a cafe, and a farm. As an entrepreneurship mentor, he promotes building traction using lean start-up principles that encourage students to fail fast as they work to find a product-market fit. He also strives to prepare students to develop habits they need to succeed in the business world including being a polished presenter and communicator able to receive and act upon critical feedback. 

Ryan received a Bachelor's degree in business administration from Lebanon Valley College. He received certificates in Implementing Innovative Ideas from the University of Maryland and Gamification from the University of Pennsylvania. Having benefitted from an outstanding internship at The Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, he has personally mentored or worked with over 50 interns from Drexel, Temple, Princeton, and UPenn. He has also played a leadership role in launching faith-based initiatives that have scaled nationally and internationally, including the Code for the Kingdom hackathon series and Q Commons (now THINQ). 

Ryan and his wife, Whitney, with their four children and seven pets reside on a 12-acre farm Chadds Ford where they harvest and sell a foraged garlic called ramps to top restaurants on the East Coast. 

Contact: rderfler@innovateacademy.com