About
Who we are
Innovation Fuel is more than just a podcast—it’s a movement. Co-founded and hosted by educators and innovators Dave Keighron and Gelareh Farhadain, Innovation Fuel was born out of a shared passion for bringing real-world, purpose-driven learning into the classroom while helping small and medium-sized businesses tell their stories, solve real challenges, and grow with the support of academic communities.
Meet Our Founders and Innovators
Discover the passionate educators and visionaries driving Innovation Fuel’s mission forward.
Dave Keighron
Co-Founder & Host
A marketing professor, podcast host, and small business mentor, Dave is driven by the belief that education must evolve to reflect the realities of modern work. Known as the “Igniter of Ideas,” Dave has built a career out of helping students and entrepreneurs turn inspiration into action. His passion lies in bridging education with execution—creating learning experiences that are applied, inclusive, and community-powered.
Gelareh Farhadain
Co-Founder & Host
An award-winning learning designer and advocate for equity in education, Gelareh brings deep empathy and purpose to every project. With a background in community engagement, she ensures that Innovation Fuel remains human-centered, inclusive, and deeply collaborative. Her storytelling skills and educational insight help transform complex business challenges into powerful learning moments.
Our Vision
To ignite a movement where real-world business stories fuel transformative classroom experiences, community collaboration, and applied learning that shapes the next generation of innovators, changemakers, and entrepreneurs.
Our Mission
We connect small and medium-sized businesses with faculty and students to co-create experiential learning opportunities. Through storytelling, live events, and published business cases, we bridge the gap between academia and the real world—fueling innovation, building community, and preparing students to thrive.
what we believe
- Learning should be applied, not abstract
- Every business story is a learning opportunity
- Students learn best by doing
- Faculty need access to real, relevant content
- Small businesses deserve support and visibility
- Community connection is the key to impact
We’re facing a critical shift in how education must work. Classrooms need to reflect the fast-moving, complex world students are entering. Businesses need support to innovate and grow. And communities need collaboration to thrive
Innovation Fuel and IF Ignite bring all these forces together—with storytelling, live events, and actionable insights that empower everyone to grow
“The collaborative spirit and practical insights at Innovation Fuel made learning engaging and deeply relevant.”
Gelareh Farhadain
Co-Founder & Innovator
“Their dedication to bridging education with real-world application is both inspiring and transformative.”
Community Member
Applied Learning Advocate
“Being part of Innovation Fuel has enriched my understanding and connected me with like-minded changemakers.”
Event Participant
Lifelong Learner
Discover Innovation with Us
Become part of a vibrant community dedicated to bridging education and innovation through applied learning and inspiring stories.
Let’s ignite change. Together.
Voices of Our Community
Explore inspiring stories from our members, reflecting their journeys and the impact of Innovation Fuel.
“Innovation Fuel empowered us to connect education with real-world challenges, transforming how we learn and grow together.”
Dave Keighron
Co-Founder & Educator
“The collaborative spirit and practical insights at Innovation Fuel made learning engaging and deeply relevant.”
Gelareh Farhadain
Co-Founder & Innovator
“Their dedication to bridging education with real-world application is both inspiring and transformative.”
Community Member
Applied Learning Advocate
“Being part of Innovation Fuel has enriched my understanding and connected me with like-minded changemakers.”
Event Participant
Lifelong Learner