Founder Institute Mentors

Austin Fall 2025

Founder Institute Mentors join weekly feedback sessions, host office hours, and in general provide you feedback every step of the way. In addition, through our Equity Collective, Mentors are invested in the success of your company both during and after the program.

See the list of current and past mentors for the Austin program below.

Mentors

Aaron Ali

CEO, Helix

Aaron Chavez

Managing Partner, (un)conventional ventures

Abdellah Aouf

Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM

Abe Chu

Co-founder & CMO, NextSeed

Abhi Dobhal

Founder/ COO/CFO , Warehouse Republic

Abhishek Kumbhat

Dr, SapidBlue Technologies

Adam Weinroth

CMO & Advisor, Various Startups

Adeo Ressi

CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab

Aeryn Cagle

FI Mentor

Aki Ohashi

Vice President, Evolution Ventures

Albert Baez

President, Blended Sense

Alexander Alt

Founder | Angel Investor, Holstein Technology Ventures

Alexandru Bogdan

Co-CEO, Linnify

Amanda Lettmann

CEO, COO & Co-Founder, Kardia Ventures/ SimpleDisability, Inc.

Amanda Eakin

VP Marketing, SaveDay

Amanda Patterson

CEO, RocketFuel Labs

Amos Schwartzfarb

Managing Director, Techstars Austin

Andrew Millet

Founder, Process Pro Consulting

Andy Hart

Advisor, a Mana Project

Anita Roberts

FI Mentor

Anu Pansare

CEO, Volyx

Arturo Piña

President, ProductCamp Austin

Ashley Jennings

Managing Director , Texas Innovation Center - Technology Commercialization at UT Austin

Ashley Connell

CEO & Founder, Prowess Project

Becky Taylor

Interim Executive Director, Austin Technology Incubator

Ben Stacey

CEO, Pitchverk

Ben Chaib

FI Mentor

Bob Bridge

Founder and Executive Director, SWAN Impact Network

Bora Laci

Assistant Director of Programs, SMU Tower

Bre Cruickshank

Founder & CEO, Radical Girl Gang

Brendan Kennedy

Co-President: Austin , Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs Texas

Brett Beckett

Vice President - Finance & Strategy, Realogy - Independence Title

Brian Hammer

Founder & CEO, Residual Media

Brian Childress

Architect, Technical Advisor, Calendly

Brian Sparkes

Head of Communications, Bay Angels

Brianna Mc Kernon

Chief of Staff, Aspen Insights

Candace Ohm

Founder, Canz.Art

Candice Digby

Partnerships and Events Director, Vapor IO

Cara McCarty

CEO, Betterleave

Caroline Healey

Director , Antler

Catalin Briciu

Co-Founder | Co-CEO, Linnify

Chad Barrett

Business Performance Adviser, Insperity

Charles Martin

Co-Founder , Flux Bucket

Chintan Oza

Founder, Anantam Ecosystems

Chris Palmisano

Investor, Sano Ventures, LLC

Chris Turnley

FI Mentor

Chris Smurthwaite

Founder, VC Insider

Christiana Yebra

CEO, Vouch

Corey Rose

Vice President, Global Technology & Innovation, Opportunity Austin

Cs Freeland

Co-Founder, Texas Venture Association

Dana Marruffo

Principal, Buzz Public Relations, LLC

Dana Abramovitz

Founding Team, SXSW

Daniel Alvarez

Vice President, Disruptive Technology & Disruptive Commerce, JPMorgan Chase & Co

Daniel Hernandez

Founder & CEO, Palaterra

Daphne Bernicker

CEO, HumanAim

Dave Heimnuck

CEO / Founder, Hidrent

Dave Blake

Owner, Spirit Pieces

David Kobierowski

FI Mentor

David Robinson Jr.

Founding Member, Blueprint Local

David Franklin

Founder & CEO, knowRX

David Gibson

FI Mentor

David Mandel

Managing Partner, Managing PartnerManaging Partner Emerging Ventures Fund

David Valentino

Managing Director, Austin Venture Association

David Hendrawirawan

Founder, Data Integrity First

Dean Cruse

Principal, DC Marketing

Dennis Dayman

Startup Advisor & Seed Investor, Bluewater International, LLC

Dennis Menendez

FI Mentor

Diane Yoo

Managing Partner, Medingenii Capital

Dianthe Skurko

Principal, GVC Partners

Dr. Nikki Siso

Founder, The Conscious Collective

Dustin Byington

FI Mentor

Ed Latson

CEO & President, Opportunity Austin

Edward Madongorere

Co-Founder, CEO, Moon

Emma Borochoff

Head of Marketing, 8fig

Emmit Schultz

Founder & CEO, Savi, Inc.

Eric Fishhaut

President, MKB Services

Eric Samdahl

CEO / Founder, GHSD Group

Eric Salwan

Co-founder, Firefly Aerospace

Erin Pitts

Founder / Creative Partner, The Label Collective

Ezinne Udezue

FI Mentor

Fabian Geyrhalter

Founder and Principal, FINIEN

Francesco Cassinerio

Mentor, Founder Institute Texas

Frankie Arvelo

Startup Counsel, Arvelo PLLC

Franklin Kamnang Ngansop

Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching

Gabriel Rucker

Co-Founder & CEO, Founding Titans

Garrett Dailey

Co-Founder; CEO, Lucid Consulting

Gary Forni

Chairman, Central Texas Angel Network

Gennadiy Goldenshteyn

Managing Partner, First Principles, LLC

Ghazi Saddem

CEO, Ghazi Saddem Consulting

Gigi Kizhakkechethipuzha

FI Mentor

Gray Mc Dowell

Certified Business Performance Advisor, Insperity

Guc Ozenci

Advisor | Investor, ConnectOp

Guy Parker

Chief Strategy & Creative Officer, Ambient Way

Harrison Wells

VC, Notley

Haynes Dallas

CEO, Managed Facility Solutions (MFS),

Hazel Chappell

CEO | Founder, ishca health Inc

Heath Butler

Founder/Managing Partner, Gestalt Growth Advisors

Heather Buffo

FI Mentor

Heidi Leach

Vice President, Emerging Tech & Disruptive CommerceVice President, Emerging Tech & Disruptive Commerce, JP Morgan

Horacio Rodriguez Rilo

Founder, Boop

Howard Freidman

Managing Partner, Bluechip Jets

Hugh Forrest

Chief Programming Officer, SXSW

Ian Bidot

FI Mentor

Ignacio Castro

Managing Partner, 128vc

Ivelin Ivanov

Venture Advisor, Founder Institute

Jacqueline Hughes

Founder, Austin Startup Week

Jaleh Daie, Ph.D

Chairman/Founder, AgFoodHealthSpan (AFH Vertical), Band of Angels

James Phelan

Investment & Growth, The Cannon

Janice Omadeke

CEO, The Mentor Method

Jasmin Brand

Founder / CEO, Her Texas

Jasmin Brand

CEO and Founder, Her Texas

Jason Taylor

FI Mentor

Jason Assir

Principal Consultant, Opex Digital Consulting

Jason Scharf

Creator and Co-Host, Austin Next

Jason Rigolli

FI Mentor

Jason Rigolli

Mahdlo, CRO

Jason W. Taylor

President & Founder, CodeLaunch Accelerator

Javier Arriagada

Founder & CEO, Straton Investments

Javy Martinez

Managing Director | Startup Advisor | Event Host, Founder Institute North Texas

Jeff Eversmann

Mentor, FI

Jenaro Diaz

Founder & CIO, Minero

Jodie Slater Hastings

Co-Founder , The Slate

Joe Daniels

Partner, Co-Chair - Emerging Companies, Partner & Co-Chair, Emerging Companies Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Joe Merrill

Partner, Sputnik ATX / Linden Ventures

Joe Beard

Founder / CEO, Advisor

Joey Jones

Co-Founder/Chief Revenue & Compliance Officer, CurveBlock Ltd

John Bianchi

CEO, The Omega Agency

Jonathan Libby

Partner Development Manager, Tableau

Jose Padilla

FI Mentor

Jose Angel Ortega

Investor, VC

José Luis Silva Vázquez

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Dux Capital

Joseph Liu

Venture Partner, Wise Ocean

Joyce Durst

CEO & Co-Founder , Acceleration Growth Partners

Juan Thurman

Managing General Partner, SWAN Impact Fund

Juan Martinez

Founder, HyveCity

Judy Tsuei

Founder, Wild Hearted Words

June W Choi

Managing Partner, Serval Ventures

Justin Mc Kenzie

Vice President, Bandera Electric Cooperative

Katie Russel

Executive Director, Central Texas Angel Network

Ken Pomella

Business Coach & Consultant, Ken Pomella, LLC

Kendall Gallagher

Head of Sales , Skaled

Kennie Matthews

Chairman & CEO, M Infrastructure, Inc.

Kevin Sharp

General Partner, WIV Ventures

K.J. Royal

Founder, Join Sprints

Kristie Whites

FOUNDER & CEO, Serving Social

Kristy Alballero

Co-Founder & CFO, IOOGO

Kwame Boler

Co-Founder & CEO, Spritz

Kyle Wiggins

FI Mentor

Laura Kamrath

CEO, Zebra Marketing Solutions

Lauren Washington

Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech/Fundr

Lauren Postler

Founder & Managing Partner, Solution Focused

Levi McMellian

CEO | Founding Partner | Managing Director, CFO4Life

Lily Turner

Manager, Global Investment & Innovation, Opportunity Austin

Lito Rodriguez

Partner, DWX Par

Logan Jennings

Managing Partner, Global Profit Advisors

Lucas Chaya Del Pino

Entrepreneur - RE investor, CHL Rentals

Malcolm Woods

Founder - Alumni, Meander Travel

Mara Rada

Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)

Marc Nathan

Senior Director of Market Development, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Marcos Rodriguez

Mentor Investor, Rodriguez Capital Holdings LLC

Maria Pienaar

Principal, First Principles

Mariana Muntean

Founder & CEO, Cinevva

Mariano Gonzalez

Founder and General Partner, MGV Capital Group

Mario Soave

Founder, CleverFi

Marlon Montgomery

Director of Technology & Product , Globant / MediaTech.ventures

Martín Martinez

Founding & Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas

Mason Mote

Founder, Managing Partner & General Counsel, Pearl River Companies

Matt Brown

HEAD OF TECH & GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, Galaxy Venture Capital

Mauricio Delgado

Co-founder and CPO, Nada

Maxim Nazarov

Investment Director , FinSight VC

Melisa Pinto-Rivera, MS

Founder, Creativa Impact Capital

Melissa Unsell-Smith

Co-founder and President, https://rectifydata.com

Mellie Price

Executive Director, Texas Venture Labs, University of Texas at Austin

Mercedes Bankston

Founder, Funderstar LTD

Miao Yan

Global Product Manager-Alternate Energy, Xylem

Michael Morton

CEO, Morton Consulting Group

Michelle Witt

Principal, Propelled Marketing

Mike Breck

Principal, Acuity Thinking

Mike Solow

FI Mentor

Molly Walsh

Director, Founder Institute, Miami Florida

Muhammad Hamza Altaf

FI Mentor

Naina Agarwal

Mrs, Apple

Najiba Wajiha Mahboob

CEO, Toureela

Nakevia Miller

Founder, Nakevia Designs

Narek Gevorgyan

FI Mentor

Natasha Gorodetsky

Founder&Head of Product, Product Pursuits

Nathan Ryan

CEO and Co-Founder, Blue Sky Partners

Navin Jagannath

Principal, KRP Consulting

Neha Sampat

Founder, CEO, Contentstack

Nelly Yusupova

Founder, TechSpeak.co

Nelly Yusupova

Founder, TechSpeak.co

Nick Hahn

President & Founder, Creative Liberation

Nikola Korac

CEO, Downstream IT Solutions

Noah Wallach

Founder, Hope OS

Oji Udezue

FI Mentor

Oksana Malysheva

Managing Partner & CEO, Sputnik ATX

Oleg Lysiak

Partner Success Manager, Honeycomb Software

Omar Zaki

Founder, Qima Ventures

Pablo Vidal Arean

CMO, VC Lab

Paola Origel

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, ChainLink Capital

Paul O'Brien

CEO, MediaTech Ventures

Pavan Kumar

Founder, 3pmVentures

Peter Busch

FI Mentor

Prerna Sharma

Associate Partner , Antler

Q Manning

Head of Design, SmartAC.com

Rafael Kartaszynski

CEO, TechEdge Dynamics

Rahul Agarwal

Principal Technical Product Manager, Hasura

Ram Prasad

Fractional CPO/CTO, Delence

Richard Delgado

Partner, ERA Capital Partners

Riley Knox

Founder, Accelerate3D

Robert Balderas

Founder & CEO, Bob's Containers

Rogelio De los Santos

Cofounder and Managing Partner, Dalus Capital & FI Monterrey

Roger Heaston

President & CEO, Refinition

Roland Peña

SVP Global Tech & Innovation, Opportunity Austin

Saima Siddiqui

Director of Product Management, Joyride.com

Sally Aiello

Business Development, Walmart

Samuel Riehn

Chief Executive Officer, SBIR Advisors Inc.

Sara Davidson

Managing Partner, Undeniable Ventures

Scott G. Cornelius

VP, Refinition

Sean Bauld

Founder & Chief Experiment Officer, spxk

Sean Voigt

Founder & Managing Director, Mount Koya Capital & Advisors

Sebastien Long

Founder & CEO, Lodgeur

Shelby Stephens

Founder & CEO, GrowthMatch

Shlomi Podgaetz

Director/CEO, Rizasmart Consulting

Shree Moorthy

Senior Vice President, Vertex Software

Sloan Foster

Principal , Envisage Associates

Sneha Lundia Agrawal

Founder & CEO, Step2Growth

Sophia Clark

Founder & Creative Director, Galiatea

Stefan Brunner

Angel Investor , CTAN

Sterling Smith

CEO, Sandbox Commerce

Steve Jennis

Founder and CEO, Jennis Consulting Group

Tarun Gulati

Founder & CEO, Contemplate

Taylor Johnson

Partner, Performance Coach, The Liminal Collective

Thom Singer

CEO, Austin Technology Council

Tiana Laurence

GP, Laurence Innovation

Tim De Silva

Founder & CEO, Culture Pilot

Tony Banning

Chairman, Smash

Trey Ikard

FI Mentor

Ty Audronis

Founder/ ceo, Tempest Droneworx

Ty Audronis

CEO, Tempest Droneworx

Tyler Durman

CEO & Founder, Ignition Growth Consulting

Ugochi Owo

CEO, Flindel

Unnat Bak

CEO, Revscale

Valentina Gomez

CX-UX-UI Designer, Yonderinteractive

Valliappan Narayanan

Director of Engineering, AT&T

Vidhi Data

FI Mentor

Vivek Dixit

Managing Partner , 369 Growth Partners

Wesley Grottesman

Partner, Brand Foundry Ventures

William Douglas

CEO, OpticWise

Wogbe Ofori

Founder, Wrx Companies

Yagub Rahimov

Founder, Polygraf AI

Yemi Oluseun

Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive

Yj Lin

Senior Program Manager, Dell

YJ Lin

Program Manager, Dell for Entrepreneurs

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