UrbanGeekz 50 2025: Media
December 17, 2025
UrbanGeekz 50 2025: AI & Machine Learning
December 17, 2025
Songe LaRon: Co-founder and CEO, SQUIRE
Songe LaRon is the co-founder and CEO of SQUIRE Technologies, a leading booking and payments platform built to modernize barbershops while preserving the culture at the heart of the industry. Founded in 2015 in New York City with co-founder Dave A. Salvant, SQUIRE was created to give barbers and shop owners the tools to operate more efficiently, strengthen client relationships, and scale sustainably without sacrificing identity or community. Under LaRon’s leadership, SQUIRE evolved into a full-service business management ecosystem, supporting appointment scheduling, payments, inventory management, and customer engagement. The platform has expanded into more than 40 major markets across three continents, serves more than 32,000 professionals, and has raised nearly $150 million in funding. SQUIRE’s success reflects LaRon’s ability to blend operational rigor with cultural fluency—building technology that works in real-world environments.
LaRon has been widely recognized as a transformative founder shaping the future of service-based businesses. In 2021, Forbes profiled him for leaving a promising legal career to build a company redefining barbershop entrepreneurship in the digital age. Beyond SQUIRE, he is an active mentor, speaker, and angel investor, committed to supporting founders building mission-driven companies. His work underscores a core belief: when technology is grounded in culture and purpose, it can unlock lasting economic opportunity.
Abel Mengistu: Cofounder, FlutterFlow
Abel Mengistu is a visionary technologist and entrepreneur redefining how software is built as the co-founder of FlutterFlow, a no-code/low-code platform empowering creators to design and launch applications without traditional engineering barriers. Founded in October 2020 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, FlutterFlow leverages Google’s Flutter framework to make app development faster, more accessible, and highly scalable.
Under Mengistu’s leadership, FlutterFlow has experienced rapid global adoption, driven by rising demand for tools that democratize software creation. The company’s growth has mirrored that demand, alongside an expanding international user base. FlutterFlow enables startups, enterprises, and individual builders alike to move from idea to product with unprecedented speed.
Before launching FlutterFlow, Mengistu co-founded Taste Inc., where he explored innovation at the intersection of user experience and technology. His entrepreneurial work reflects a consistent focus on simplifying complex systems and designing tools that feel intuitive and human-centered. That philosophy is deeply informed by his engineering background.
Prior to entrepreneurship, Mengistu spent five years at Google as a Senior Software Engineer, contributing to Google Maps and Google ATAP & Hardware. That experience sharpened the technical foundation that now underpins FlutterFlow’s architecture. Today, he continues to champion inclusive innovation—ensuring that building technology is no longer limited to those who can code.
Yaw Aning: Founder and CEO, Fearless
Yaw Aning is the founder and CEO of Malomo, a shipment-tracking platform transforming how ecommerce brands engage customers after checkout. By turning routine delivery updates into branded, story-driven touchpoints, Malomo helps companies strengthen trust, loyalty, and long-term customer relationships.
Over the past six years, Aning has grown Malomo from an early idea into an award-winning ecommerce platform serving more than 400 Shopify brands. Under his leadership, the company has achieved over 500% revenue growth and raised $8.2 million in venture funding, positioning Malomo as a standout player in ecommerce logistics and post-purchase marketing.
Aning’s approach blends technology with narrative, ensuring that shipping communications feel personal rather than transactional. By helping brands control a traditionally overlooked moment in the customer journey, Malomo has redefined what post-purchase experience can mean for retention and brand identity.
His leadership has earned recognition from major outlets across tech and business, and he has also been honored locally and nationally for entrepreneurship and innovation. Beyond Malomo, Aning is committed to mentorship and community impact, demonstrating how thoughtful product design and disciplined execution can build lasting companies.
Garry Cooper Jr.: CEO, Rheaply
Garry Cooper Jr. is a visionary entrepreneur and scientist using technology to advance sustainability and the circular economy as founder and CEO of Rheaply. The climate-tech company helps organizations reuse, share, and better manage physical assets—reducing waste while extending the life of valuable resources across industries.
Under Cooper’s leadership, Rheaply has become critical infrastructure for reuse. Through partnerships such as Planet FWD, the company has integrated AI-powered life-cycle assessments that allow organizations to measure carbon impact and make informed sustainability decisions. Rheaply’s Reuse Marketplace, supported by the Chicagoland Climate Investment Alliance, continues to expand regionally and nationally.
Cooper brings a rare blend of scientific rigor and entrepreneurial vision. He holds a PhD in neuroscience and has served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, grounding his leadership in research, data, and mentorship. As Chairman of Rheaply’s board, he actively builds bridges between academia, industry, and climate action.
Beyond operations, Cooper is known for advancing the concept of “Return on Future,” challenging companies to prioritize long-term resilience over short-term profit. His work has earned recognition from Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs, Crain’s 40 Under 40, and Essence’s Power40. He continues to be a leading voice shaping how sustainability, innovation, and equity intersect in the global economy.
