There are some people who change a community not through titles or fanfare, but through the way they listen, connect, and believe in others.
Bob Sopko was one of those rare people. To know him was to be seen, supported, and encouraged. His sudden passing in December 2024 left a deep ache across Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, but also a resounding chorus of stories that continue to connect us, just as Bob always did.
He collected people. That’s how Shanna Greathouse put it - a reflection echoed by nearly everyone who knew him. “He introduced me to every resource I could touch in the ecosystem,” she said. “But he was so careful to feed them to me one at a time. It’s like he knew I’d get overwhelmed otherwise. It was always the perfect timing.”
From I-Corps to Entrepreneurship Immersion Week, from Deshpande Symposium to programs like SeaChange, Bob helped others navigate opportunities with patience and precision, never seeking credit, only connection.
Those connections often came through the smallest gestures. Matt Poyle of Lorain County Community College remembered an Uber ride in Arizona after a presentation where Bob spent the entire trip mentoring their driver. “He truly cared about everyone he met,” Matt said. “He gave his time and wisdom so freely.” In Boston, the same spirit was on display. Walking through the city, Bob seemed to know everyone. “It felt like I was being welcomed into the ecosystem by him, and that meant a lot.”
Across dozens of stories, Bob appears in constant motion — on calls, at events, between meetings — always building bridges. Ashland University’s Tom Sudow recalled how “the phone would ring and upon answering, it would be Bob spinning together a network for an entrepreneur. By the time he took a breath, I was always sold. A week doesn’t go by when I don’t think of him. His heart was bigger than his height.”
Heather Kramer described Bob’s uncanny ability to make connections: “Bob Sopko’s presence is often described as a bridge—someone who could connect worlds that seemed far apart. For several mutual clients, that bridge was invaluable. Whenever a healthcare founder or a technology innovator struggled with direction, Bob stepped in with quiet confidence, listening first, then offering the kind of clarity only a seasoned advisor could provide. He didn’t just give advice; he opened networks, facilitated introductions, and encouraged bold ideas to take root.”
Chris Wentz, founder of Everykey, shared one of the clearest examples of Bob’s lasting influence. “As a result of an introduction that Bob made, Everykey's technology will be rolled out to 400 million computers early next year. My company wouldn't be in business today if it weren't for Bob, he is truly the most influential force behind our success. Whenever I'm faced with a challenge, I always ask myself ‘What would Bob do?’ and I will continue to shape my leadership style and decision making in Bob's image.”
Others described him as a quiet force who never stopped helping founders see possibility. Jessica Sublett of Bounce Innovation Hub summed it up perfectly: “Founder first—always. Every memory I have of Bob is about him working to help a founder.”
Zach Mikrut from Kent State University shared how Bob would remember every student he met, later sending emails to connect them with mentors or investors. Sally Schriner added, “Bob believed in companies and ideas when others had given up on them. He was always willing to offer another resource or another connection to help any entrepreneur. At every event (and he was at every event!!) he greeted you with a smile.”
For students, he was a tireless advocate and mentor. Mindy Baierl, who worked with Bob at Case Western Reserve University, recalled how “he was magical in his ability to find common ground with anyone he met.” She described his energy each January at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas where Bob helped students showcase their work alongside global tech leaders. “He convinced author Rebecca Fannin to feature two of our student innovators on stage,” Mindy said. “He did it without taking credit, just to give them a chance to shine.”
Musa Hakim, Jr. remembered Bob’s deep belief in the power of CES: “He helped me get to Las Vegas in 2022 for CES and made sure I got into all of the crypto and blockchain meet ups throughout the week. Three years later I am a regular in the DC landscape and national media for young entrepreneurs that speak to common sense regulation and comprehensive market dynamics. I have been surrounded by a community that has lifted me up and bought in when I was on shaky ground as a first-time founder. For the rest of my life, Bob Sopko will be one of the first people to do so.”
That belief is why so many remember Bob as the heartbeat of CES for Northeast Ohio. Year after year, he made sure that Cleveland’s students, startups, and ideas were seen. The CES booth wasn’t just a showcase; it was a launchpad, a family reunion, a testament to what community looks like when one person cares enough to open the door.
Chris Keller, most recently of MAGNET, reflected on those trips with gratitude. “Bob established Case Western as a meaningful presence at CES. My final memory of him was three weeks before he passed. He stopped at Panera, introduced people who happened to be nearby, and suggested ways they might collaborate. Classic Bob! He is truly missed by me, by the many others who have been connected through him, and even by the many more that will miss the opportunity to know Bob the way many of us did. Truly one of a kind, and I am thankful for his spirit and his family, who let him share so freely with so many.”
And his reach went far beyond the classroom or the conference hall. Rick Stockburger remembered meeting Bob for the first time at CES: “This tall, crazy guy walked up and said, ‘You’re Rick Stockburger! Can I introduce you to a few of our companies?’ He was so excited to bring me into his world. I was such a better entrepreneur and advocate because he opened up doors for me.”
MAGNET’S Grant Marquit looked back on nearly three decades of collaboration: “He was always responsive when many weren’t — especially if it meant helping an entrepreneur. He was fun, human, and giving. We all miss him very much.”
Many spoke of his joy in watching others succeed. Walter Krych described Bob as “one of the most loyal and humble men I’ve ever known. He made himself less and made you more without any agenda other than to lift you up and help you achieve your goals and dreams.”
Marie Ebner, who met Bob through LaunchNET, remembered how “he believed in me and my mission to support moms and gave me such great advice. When I’d see him at an event, he’d tell me who to say hi to next. He was the great connector, and I really miss seeing him.”
That sense of connection extended to his faith, his colleagues, and his family. Bob often spoke of his wife and daughters with unmistakable pride. Walter Krych recalled how “he loved his family and cherished every moment he got with them; he was so very proud of his kids and honored his wife.” Even as he mentored founders and students, he modeled what devotion looked like: to family, to community, to purpose.
For Daniel Hampu of Burton D. Morgan Foundation, that devotion was contagious. “We were on a panel together once,” he remembered. “I was planning to make a bold move — ripping off my sport coat and dress shirt at a higher ed conference to reveal a Cavs shirt underneath. Bob was all in. He encouraged me to do it. He had my back.”
That was Bob: lifting others up, cheering boldness, making space for both courage and kindness.
Shane Winnyk may have said it best: “Too often, when you have someone so prominent and ubiquitous as Bob, they become part of the scenery. They blend in, like the curtains. You just assume they’ll be there forever, and you take them for granted. We must never let that happen.”
And he did make everyone feel valued. Daniel Dudley remembered arriving in Cleveland with no network. “Almost from the moment that I arrived in Cleveland in 2012, as a recent graduate with no job, no family, and no network, Bob was there to say hi and ask how he could help. When I launched the "Holiday Startup Party" back in 2015, Bob was the first call I made and the first ticket "sold."
Dudley continued, “I still find myself subconsciously scanning the crowd for the "tall guy with glasses" every time I arrive at an event, and while wearing the Sopko Advocate pin won't change that, hopefully it will help someone else nervously waiting for serendipity find that first conversation. Just like Bob did for me all those years ago.”
One year since Bob’s passing, those who wear the Sopko Advocate badge carry that same spirit forward -- the belief that a strong ecosystem isn’t built on competition, but on care. It’s built on showing up, sharing time, and helping others find their next connection.
We can’t walk into an event without feeling the absence of that warm and welcoming figure. Yet in another sense, he’s still here – - in every introduction made, every student inspired, every company that found its footing because Bob thought to send an email, make a call, or ask one simple question: How can I help?
Bob Sopko’s story is a reminder that the strength of our entrepreneurial community lies in people who believe in others. His presence lives on through the Sopko Advocates who now carry his legacy, and through the hundreds of entrepreneurs, students, and friends who still find themselves asking, “What would Bob do?”
*We deeply appreciate the more than 100 people who shared memories and reflections of Bob Sopko. What appears here represents only a small selection of those stories, some lightly edited for space and clarity.
Today, 142 individuals (and counting) proudly wear the Sopko Advocate badge. Many knew Bob personally; others simply believe in what the Sopko pledge stands for and strive to embody that same spirit of welcome and connection. Whether you knew Bob or not, we invite you to take the Sopko Pledge and continue showing up for entrepreneurs the way Bob always did--by leading with generosity, curiosity, and care.