Westchester Innovation Network Participant Connects Students with Employers

Less than two months after opening his platform to the public, Westchester Innovation Network (WIN) participant Michael Berlingo is seeing his vision for a student-centric workforce materialize rapidly.

His company, Starteryou, began as a pilot program last year with White Plains High School arranged by WIN. The employment platform has now expanded into a growing network involving major local institutions like Pace University and Purchase College—and possibly future work with White Plains High School.

So far, the platform has registered over 1,000 students and 65 companies.

One of Berlingo’s primary motivations is that traditional job platforms don’t fit young people’s needs. He points out that sites like LinkedIn target professionals with established histories, creating an intimidation barrier for 16-year-olds or college freshmen.

“We want to simplify the process and help students understand what the job-hunting process looks like,” said Berlingo, whose first WIN match was with seasoned executive coach Sunni Lampasso.

Key barriers Starteryou aims to remove include experience requirements and complex interfaces that can be difficult to navigate for novices.

While Berlingo is still finalizing formal contracts, the platform is actively working with a growing list of schools, including Purchase College and Pace University. To support these partnerships, Starteryou hosts educational events.

Ralph Dickinson, director of SUNY Purchase’s Career Development Center, is enthusiastic about working with Starteryou, which he called a great concept.

“It’s exactly in line with what we do. We want to help students get their first job post-graduation,” said Dickinson. “Michael’s platform is designed specifically for that, and for students while they’re in school to get the part-time jobs they need, and internships…. It’s a perfect fit.”

Barry Miller, assistant director of new employer development and market trending at Pace University, initially saw one of Berlingo’s job posts and he noticed that several of his colleagues were connected to Berlingo. Miller reached out to Berlingo and now receives Starteryou’s weekly job postings.

“There is a good potential there,” Miller said of the platform. “I saw one of his posts, and it had 800 likes. That’s pretty good. He’s getting out to people and to companies. He’s a smart entrepreneur, and I really want to work with him. I like what he’s been doing.”

The Business Council of Westchester launched WIN to foster emerging ideas, drive research and discovery, and cultivate job growth in Westchester County.

Berlingo credits much of his strategic growth to WIN and the Business Council of Westchester (BCW). As a first-time business owner and recent college graduate, Berlingo relied on the mentorship provided by the network, specifically citing the guidance of BCW member Sunni Lampasso, CEO of Shaping Success.

“The Business Council of Westchester launched WIN specifically to prove that our county is the ideal landing pad for big ideas,” said BCW president and CEO Marsha Gordon. “Facilitating connections between dynamic startups like Starteryou and our local colleges validates our commitment to making Westchester a premier hub for experimentation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial growth.”

Looking toward 2026, Berlingo wants Starteryou to become the central hub for student employment. In the interim, he has an immediate message for local employers: Hire students.

He argues that small businesses often overlook a hungry, talented, and cost-effective workforce right in their backyard. From UI/UX design and social media management to basic research, students are eager to gain experience.

“We practice what we preach,” said Berlingo, noting that his own team is mostly students and recent graduates. “There are a lot of hungry kids out there.”