Watch: Video Interviews with Hunter's Fund Grant Recipients

Host Jacob O’Connor interviews 2021 Hunter’s Fund Grant Winner Jessica Toscano, founder of Intrigue Magazine.

Host Jacob O’Connor interviews 2021 Hunter’s Fund Grant Winner Jessica Toscano, founder of Intrigue Magazine.

In February 2021, Hunter’s Fund launched a monthly podcast and web series to share the stories of young entrepreneurs and grant winners supported by the fund. 

Each episode of the Young Entrepreneur Series (YES!) features interviews with past Hunter’s Fund Grant winners and Entrepreneurship Award recipients, providing a forum to discuss the ins and outs of launching a start-up venture, applying for grants and fundraising, overcoming challenges, and using networking to get ahead.

Hosted by Jacob O’Connor, a former Hunter’s Fund Grant Winner and host of the Venture Mentality Podcast, YES! hands the mic to young creatives — from musicians and fashion designers to tech entrepreneurs and inventors — to share their stories while offering advice to a new generation of creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and business owners. 

Check out the full series on Youtube and Apple Podcasts and meet our first 5 young entrepreneurs:


Cassie Leachman and Matthew Farrelly, founders of the music production, artist management, and record label Capricious Productions.   


Anwar Karim, a 17-year-old hip-hop artist and founder of music production and merchandise company Elevate & Motivate 


Sophie Fazio, a Brooklyn, New York-based filmmaker, director, producer, and actor 

Brianna Howard,  Syracuse University alumni, and co-founder of PAANI, a global health company that aims to provide access to clean water to women in India.

Jessica Toscano, a freelance journalist, and the founder of Intrigue Mag, a weekly blog turned online magazine.


Hunter’s Fund

Hunter’s Fund honors the life of Hunter Watson, a young man of extremely diverse talents who was killed at 20-years-old when he was fatally injured as a passenger in a distracted driving collision.

Through distracted driving education and awarding grants to help young people’s involvement in performing arts, music, computer science, and entrepreneurship, Hunter’s Fund empowers young people in their careers and keeps Hunter’s spirit alive.

Are you a young entrepreneur interested in applying for a grant from the Hunter Watson Memorial Fund? Click here to learn more.

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