Acquire knowledge and get connected
.png)
Learning Via Industry Expert-Led Courses While Building a Long-Term Network
Gain an edge and get ahead
LegUp helps high school and college students learn real-world skills and connect with industry experts, laying the foundation for career success.
It’s more difficult than ever to get into a top university and then land your dream job. LegUp can help.
The Challenge
Today's students face a more competitive path to college and career than ever before
5%
Elite College Average Acceptance Rate
More applicants and inflated grades & test scores
2%
Online Job Application Success Rate
Most applications are never seen by a human
30–50%
Success through referrals and relationships
Opportunities are often found through who you know.
The LegUp Difference
We help ambitious students stand out through a career oriented focus
Industry Expert Access
Learn directly from the best in their respective field
Real Work Product
Create projects that can be included on your resume
Industry Awareness
Gain firsthand insight into specific career paths
Meaningful Connections
Forge relationships that can open doors for years to come
what we offer
Accelerate Your Educational and Professional Journey Here
It's never too early to demonstrate passion by working towards your career goals
LegUp Courses
Our live virtual courses are taught by industry leaders that have demonstrated excellence in their field
Via practical knowledge and case studies, we have designed a learning environment through which students create carefully thought out deliverables.
Click below to see select pages from our upcoming course: Pick Stocks like a Hedge Fund Manager
LegUp Network
Our professional network is a curated group of industry specialists that are passionate about mentoring
The top students in each course gain access to this network through a unique mentoring program to help them in the early stages of their career path. Calendar bookings become available after course and final project evaluation.
Select current mentors include:
Emmy award winning producer
CEO of a publicly traded mortgage company
Senior fixed income portfolio manager
Partner at a litigation private credit firm
Chief Marketing Officer in technology
Portfolio Manager of a relative value hedge fund
Chief Revenue Officer at a leading digital media and technology company
Chief Financial Officer at a mortgage technology company
Chief Investment Officer at a prominent single family office
Portfolio Manager of an equity long/short hedge fund
Portfolio Manager of an equity long/short hedge fund
Portfolio Manager of a relative value hedge fund
Chief Revenue Officer at a leading digital media and technology company
Chief Financial Officer at a mortgage technology company
Chief Investment Officer at a prominent single family office
COURSES
Fall Course: Pick Stocks Like a Hedge Fund Manager
Taught by Michael Zimmerman, a renowned equity hedge fund specialist
APPLY
Beginning October 12, 2026
$2,499
Before you can successfully trade stocks, you need to know how businesses work.
- What makes a good business?
- What are the key risks to a business model?
LegUp will teach you how to analyze a business and how to assess the investment merits of that company:
- Is the company cheap or expensive as a stock?
- How does that stock compare to other companies in the same industry?
However, the process of becoming a high level stock picker doesn't end there, and LegUp's distinctive teaching approach deconstructs those "other" factors.
.png)
About Michael Zimmerman
Michael Zimmerman is currently the Founder and Portfolio Manager of Prentice Capital Management. Previously, Mr. Zimmerman was employed by S.A.C. Capital and managed a sizable portfolio in the U.S. consumer sector. Mr. Zimmerman also worked at Omega Advisors, where he concentrated on U.S. consumer investments. Mr. Zimmerman began his investment career at Lazard Asset Management where he focused on investments in U.S. consumer companies, homebuilders, and utilities. Prior to joining Lazard, Mr. Zimmerman played professional tennis as a member of the ATP and Challenger tennis tours. Mr. Zimmerman graduated from Harvard College in 1992 with a B.A. in Economics and was a three-time All-American for the Harvard Tennis Team.
Future Courses:
Sports Management
Private Equity
Real Estate
Future Courses:
Sports management
Private Equity
Real Estate
Sports management
Private Equity
Real Estate
Sports management
Private Equity
Real Estate
Sports management
Private Equity
Real Estate
The LegUp Lifecycle
A differentiated learning experience and access to a network that opens doors
Apply to Live Virtual Course
Students submit an application that helps us understand their curiousity, drive, and interests.
Merit-Based Selection
Our team carefully reviews each application to build diverse cohorts of excellent students. Scholarships will be awarded to need-based exceptional applicants.
Enroll and Participate in Our Industry Expert-led Cohort
Work through real-world problems, learn frameworks, ask better questions, and participate in a project competition where the winners gain access to the LegUp network.
Join The Network
Become part of a growing community of students, alumni, advisors, and market participants that extends far beyond the cohort with an opportunity to book 1:1 conversations with market leaders.
About Us
about us
As parents of high school and college students, we understand the unprecedented competition and pressure that children are experiencing on all levels. From the historical low acceptance rates at elite universities to artificial intelligence's significant and uncertain impact on the future of the job market, there is legitimate concern. So we thought, how can this generation differentiate themselves, or get a "Leg Up"? The answer: Design a process for high achieveing students that combines life learning from the best market leaders with early access to a robust long-term professional network. We're excited for you to be a part of it.
Evan Goldschneider
Co-Founder
Teaching and connecting with individuals have been a focal point of Evan's career.
Evan graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics and a love for numbers. Naturally, he began a career on the fast-paced Emerging Markets Debt trading desk at Credit Suisse First Boston.
He then attended Georgetown University, where he received his Masters in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he continued his trading career in Emerging Markets Debt at JP Morgan Chase.
After a brief stint at RiskMetrics Group, where he learned important lessons about risk measurement, Evan began his career in alternative investments as an Investment Committee member of Olympia Group. Olympia was a multi-billion dollar fund of hedge funds. Eventually, Evan founded a hedge fund firm called Beachhead Capital.
Currently Evan is the Co-Founder of The Distinction Group, a boutique advisory firm that helps top-performing asset managers grow and scale. Evan has been an adjunct professor since 2022 at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business.
Evan graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics and a love for numbers. Naturally, he began a career on the fast-paced Emerging Markets Debt trading desk at Credit Suisse First Boston.
He then attended Georgetown University, where he received his Masters in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he continued his trading career in Emerging Markets Debt at JP Morgan Chase.
After a brief stint at RiskMetrics Group, where he learned important lessons about risk measurement, Evan began his career in alternative investments as an Investment Committee member of Olympia Group. Olympia was a multi-billion dollar fund of hedge funds. Eventually, Evan founded a hedge fund firm called Beachhead Capital.
Currently Evan is the Co-Founder of The Distinction Group, a boutique advisory firm that helps top-performing asset managers grow and scale. Evan has been an adjunct professor since 2022 at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business.
Constantine Contopoulos
Co-Founder
Education, mentorship, and an ever-growing network have been critical to Constantine's career.
Upon graduating magna cum laude from Tufts University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering, Constantine worked for the management consulting firm Accenture, where the professional development of analysts through an intense learning environment is core to the firm's success.
He then attended Yale University and received a Master's in Business Administration. Subsequently, Constantine joined Bear Stearns, where he participated in a 6-month Sales and Trading curriculum tailored for new associates.
Constantine later became a managing director at Credit Suisse within the firm’s fixed income division where he oversaw client relationships for interest rate, foreign exchange, and mortgage-backed security instruments. While at the bank, he ran the Analyst and Associate summer internship program and served as a senior advisor within the firm's mentorship program.
Constantine was head of macro hedge fund and asset manager sales for developed market rates in North America at BNP Paribas prior to becoming a co-founder and managing partner of The Distinction Group. He credits his evolving network as a key to success in building the company from the ground up.
Outside of work, Constantine is an avid tennis player and world traveler. He has been an active fundraiser and board member for philanthropic organizations with a current focus on helping to cure type 1 diabetes.
Upon graduating magna cum laude from Tufts University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering, Constantine worked for the management consulting firm Accenture, where the professional development of analysts through an intense learning environment is core to the firm's success.
He then attended Yale University and received a Master's in Business Administration. Subsequently, Constantine joined Bear Stearns, where he participated in a 6-month Sales and Trading curriculum tailored for new associates.
Constantine later became a managing director at Credit Suisse within the firm’s fixed income division where he oversaw client relationships for interest rate, foreign exchange, and mortgage-backed security instruments. While at the bank, he ran the Analyst and Associate summer internship program and served as a senior advisor within the firm's mentorship program.
Constantine was head of macro hedge fund and asset manager sales for developed market rates in North America at BNP Paribas prior to becoming a co-founder and managing partner of The Distinction Group. He credits his evolving network as a key to success in building the company from the ground up.
Outside of work, Constantine is an avid tennis player and world traveler. He has been an active fundraiser and board member for philanthropic organizations with a current focus on helping to cure type 1 diabetes.
Ronaldo Gonzalez
Partner
Ronaldo Gonzalez brings more than 25 years of experience across finance, capital markets, and digital assets. He is currently a Registered Representative at GB Capital Markets and previously served as CEO of AOC Securities, the broker-dealer affiliate of Angel Oak Capital Advisors.
Ronaldo began his career at JobDirect, an early online recruiting and resume-matching platform during the early growth of internet-based career services, prior to its acquisition by Korn/Ferry International.
Earlier in his career, Ronaldo was a Principal and Head Trader at Merrion Financial Group, where he helped manage institutional trading and investment strategies. He was also part of the team at 12th Street Capital prior to its acquisition by GFI Group, one of the world’s leading interdealer brokers at the time.
He later became Partner and Head of Business Development at Genesis Block, a digital asset strategic advisory and infrastructure firm that worked with founders, startups, investors, and institutions across blockchain and Web3.
Throughout his career, Ronaldo has worked closely with hedge funds, family offices, institutional investors, and entrepreneurs, helping connect capital, strategy, and growth opportunities across rapidly evolving industries.
A longtime mentor and advocate for ambitious students and young professionals, Ronaldo’s interest in LegUp grew out of both his professional background and his firsthand experience navigating today’s increasingly competitive college admissions environment with his own children. He has also been involved with community organizations supporting youth mentorship and scholarship initiatives. He is passionate about helping students gain earlier exposure to real-world thinking, mentorship, and differentiated experiences that extend beyond traditional academics.
Ronaldo holds a B.A. in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and remains actively involved in mentorship and alumni initiatives.
Ronaldo began his career at JobDirect, an early online recruiting and resume-matching platform during the early growth of internet-based career services, prior to its acquisition by Korn/Ferry International.
Earlier in his career, Ronaldo was a Principal and Head Trader at Merrion Financial Group, where he helped manage institutional trading and investment strategies. He was also part of the team at 12th Street Capital prior to its acquisition by GFI Group, one of the world’s leading interdealer brokers at the time.
He later became Partner and Head of Business Development at Genesis Block, a digital asset strategic advisory and infrastructure firm that worked with founders, startups, investors, and institutions across blockchain and Web3.
Throughout his career, Ronaldo has worked closely with hedge funds, family offices, institutional investors, and entrepreneurs, helping connect capital, strategy, and growth opportunities across rapidly evolving industries.
A longtime mentor and advocate for ambitious students and young professionals, Ronaldo’s interest in LegUp grew out of both his professional background and his firsthand experience navigating today’s increasingly competitive college admissions environment with his own children. He has also been involved with community organizations supporting youth mentorship and scholarship initiatives. He is passionate about helping students gain earlier exposure to real-world thinking, mentorship, and differentiated experiences that extend beyond traditional academics.
Ronaldo holds a B.A. in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and remains actively involved in mentorship and alumni initiatives.
