The World's Top Innovation Experts

Ajuma is the Managing Director at Founder Institute Abuja. She is an experienced business development consultant with expertise in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and international trade. A Cochran Fellow, Mashav Scholar, and Swedish Institute Alumna with social entrepreneurship certifications from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and Copenhagen Business School. Award-winning global startup ecosystem builder and venture partner in private equity.

Managing Director of Founder Institute Luanda and a seasoned angel investor with a deep commitment to building resilient startups across emerging markets. With over two decades of experience in entrepreneurship, business development, and innovation, she has supported 50+ early-stage founders in Angola and Lusophone Africa. Haymée bridges the gap between founders, capital, and networks, helping startups scale sustainably while fostering inclusive growth. A recognized ecosystem builder, she serves on advisory boards and global councils, championing women's leadership and startup innovation across Africa.

Keshni is the Managing Director at Founder Institute South Africa. She is also an expert in business development, mergers and acquisitions, and transformation, with experience in multinational companies and tech startups. She led 200+ projects worth over US$4.5 billion in Africa. Founded 4 businesses, and now invests in and mentors startups, guiding founders through fundraising.

A seasoned startup investor, advisor, and entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience in launching and scaling innovative ventures globally. He currently serves as the Managing Partner at Founder Capital, where he leads strategic investments. Maher is also a Partner at RelativelyFund and the Managing Director of Founder Institute in the Middle East, where he has been instrumental in driving startup accelerators and providing advisory services across multiple regions. As an advisor to Loyal VC, Microsoft for Startups, and Enterprise Singapore, Maher is deeply involved in mentoring, judging, and guiding high-growth companies across the MENA and global startup ecosystems. He is the co-founder of cg imagine+invent and has held leadership roles at prominent organizations like Plug and Play Tech Center and Brinc. With a background in technology coordination and venture management, Maher brings a unique blend of strategic vision and operational expertise to the world of startups and investments.

Ghazi Saddem is a leading figure in the innovation and startup ecosystem, renowned for his work in accelerating growth and fostering digital transformation across MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America. With over 700 founders coached and more than 90 accelerator programs supported and designed, he has become a trusted advisor to startups , support programs , government agenciess, and corporations on innovation policy, startup strategy, growth and market expansion. As a member of Tunisia's National Startup Act Committee (2024-2027), he plays a pivotal role in shaping the country's innovation landscape, while also mentoring and advising global startups on scaling, fundraising, and digital transformation.

Sameer Sortur is a Dubai-based entrepreneur and venture partner, founding SquareCircle Ventures to assist startups and corporations with market entry, strategic partnerships, and growth in the MEA region. As a Global Innovation Partner at Founder Institute, he supports early-stage ventures and fosters innovation globally. Sameer has helped 50+ GCC-based companies raise $2.7 million in capital and mentors through roles at Techstars and Startup Grind Dubai. With expertise in business strategy, corporate ventures, and digital transformation, Sameer’s work drives impactful growth. He holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance, along with certifications in venture capital and innovation management.

Yu Li is a startup advisor, partnerships leader, and ecosystem builder with 12+ years of experience across Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and global markets. She co-founded Openfor.co, expanding into 20+ countries, and serves as a Venture Partner at Co-Capital, focusing on cross-border growth and ecosystem synergies. She is also leading the Founder Institute in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, mentoring 100+ startups. Passionate about empowering founders, she specializes in partnerships, GTM strategy, ecosystem development, and scaling innovation globally.

Ferdinand is the Managing Director at Founder Institute Germany. With 20+ years in consulting, travel, and internet businesses, he specializes in corporate strategy, revenue management, lean startup, and digital transformation. Passionate about fostering innovation to solve global challenges and supporting founders and intrapreneurs.

Alberto is an Entrepreneurship Director connecting corporate innovation with high-growth ventures across the fintech, energy, mobility, and traveltech sectors. He specializes in go-to-market strategy, commercialization, and strategic financing, with a proven track record of orchestrating fundraising opportunities for start-ups and scale-ups. Drawing on 20+ years of corporate leadership, including at American Express where he led $20B+ B2B commercial product portfolios, Alberto translates innovative products into compelling investment narratives using financial analysis and data-driven insights. As an Innovation Partner with FI, he focuses on economic development and capacity building, developing and managing innovation accelerator programmes in partnership with governments and universities. He excels at recruiting mentor networks, securing strategic partnerships with institutional investors, and designing initiatives that strengthen local ecosystems. His board experience with FCA-regulated entities and investment certifications (UK EIS/SEIS) allow him to navigate regulatory frameworks and funding landscapes with confidence. Alberto acts as the essential bridge between acceleration programmes, local ecosystem development, and institutional capital, ensuring entrepreneurs have the expertise and resources they need to start and scale.

Misha is a Dutch creative entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience helping global brands drive growth and innovation. As the founder of 10X Growth and multiple startups, he’s advised companies like Nestlé, Unilever, and Shell on innovation strategy, portfolio development, and execution. He formerly led a 55+ person innovation consultancy and has played key roles in major initiatives such as Nestlé’s R&D accelerator and Unilever’s “Lean Like a Startup” program.

Mohammed Ali is the Executive Partner at Osnaburgh Advisory, London & Global: the discreet high-calibre advisory for global players in innovation, international development and investment solutions. Mohammed works primarily with institutions, governments, ventures and investors focussing on growth and innovation. Following two successful entrepreneurial exits, Mohammed has also run various innovation and entrepreneurship centres and has supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs to launch and grow. His specialises in value proposition and customer discovery.

Former Director at Founder Institute Canada and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, with expertise in leadership, startups, market research, advertising, marketing, business development, and consulting. He specializes in launching and scaling transformative ventures, with a deep understanding of venture capital, private equity, fundraising, and business strategies.

Daniel is a marketing advisor, strategist, serial founder, and mentor. A Certified Brand Strategist and professor at OCAD University, he has received a 40 Under 40 Award. Daniel helps founders and teams with branding, storytelling, and more. His latest venture, The Good Growth Company, trains social good organizations to scale their missions. He previously founded Now Creative Group, acquired by King Street Media in 2021, where he became a partner and launched CreatorClub. Daniel also runs ACCESS, a nonprofit supporting youth-led initiatives.

Reid Hamilton leads the Founder Institute New York, helping inception-stage startups grow. He previously built venture processes at KPMG’s Venture Studio and led two deep tech accelerators for Verizon, focusing on 5G applications in AI, robotics, and smart cities. A global advisor on innovation, Reid also serves on the board of the NYC Innovation Collective. He holds an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management and a degree in Environmental Economics from Western Washington University.

Managing Director of the Founder Institute accelerator in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, where he has built a portfolio of over 40 early-stage companies. He is an angel investor, advisor, and connector, with a proven track record in growing startups and leading them to successful exits. Guc co-founded Peoplise, a B2B SaaS company, and successfully led its acquisition. He is also the Managing Partner at Connect-OP, helping startups in the East Coast US secure essential resources and partnerships. With a background in global tech companies like Cisco and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Guc is passionate about fostering innovation and growth in the startup ecosystem.

Bianca Diosdado is a strategic executive and industry connector with deep expertise across technology, education, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. She has led impactful initiatives in workforce development and nation-building, particularly bridging digital and economic gaps between Latin America and South Florida. As the CEO of multiple ventures, Bianca has supported innovation in blockchain, finance, and recruitment—driving growth for companies and public-private partnerships alike. A Forbes Technology Council contributor and long-time mentor at the Founder Institute, she is also the co-founder of the QTI CESUMAS Foundation, focused on sustainable development in emerging nations.

Vincent Perez is a strategic advisor and innovation ecosystem builder with over 25 years of experience advancing economic and workforce development through entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration. He partners with governments, universities, and corporations to design strategies that foster job creation, talent development, and inclusive growth in innovation-driven economies. As Strategic Advisor at Founder Institute and Founder & CEO of Long View Partners, Vincent helps regions and institutions build sustainable startup ecosystems, strengthen innovation capacity, and align entrepreneurship with economic competitiveness. His work bridges public policy, private sector strategy, and higher education to drive regional transformation and long-term economic resilience. A global professional with roots in Latin America and experience across the U.S. and Europe, Vincent combines international perspective with local impact. He holds an MBA in International Finance and executive training in social entrepreneurship, innovation, and AI strategy.

John Zozzaro is an ecosystem architect and innovation strategist dedicated to bridging the public and private sectors to build inclusive, tech-driven economic growth. As the Founder of Innovative EcoSystems, he helps cities, regions, and industries design and scale thriving innovation ecosystems that attract investment, develop talent, and stimulate sustainable development. With a background spanning media, technology, and entrepreneurship—including founding MediaTech Ventures and advising global innovation initiatives.John brings over a decade of experience aligning public policy, private capital, and community impact.

Jonathan Greechan is the Co-Founder of the Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, he has grown and scaled the organization to chapters in over 200 cities and 100 countries. The Founder Institute's mission is to activate entrepreneurial potential and empower communities across the globe to build ventures with positive economic and societal impact. He is also a General Partner at Founder Capital, the Founder Institute's Global VC Fund; and serves as an Economic Development and Innovation Advisor to several governments and organizations; like Oxford Entrepreneurs, Horasis, the USC Incubator, and a Fortune 500 company. Jonathan's writing has been featured on Fortune, TechCrunch, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and he has been a Keynote Speaker at business conferences on five continents.

Mahir Iskender is a serial entrepreneur and digital transformation strategist with 25 years of experience at the intersection of marketing, technology, and mission-driven innovation. He is the Founder of KNDR.digital, a growth agency helping nonprofits scale through AI and data-driven strategies, and Founder & CEO of Digno.io, with additional ventures including Rabalon and Take 5 Global. With roots in Azerbaijan and a background spanning international development, capacity building, and cross-sector strategy, including work with the United States–Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, Mahir brings a global lens to entrepreneurship and technology adoption.

Sandy is an early-stage ecosystem builder and financial analyst, specializing in startup valuations at Arca Análisis Económico. She is an experienced innovation leader with a strong track record in economic development across Latin America. With roles at the Founder Institute and IESA—Venezuela’s top business school—she has led high-impact programs and managed technical cooperation projects with institutions like IDB Lab. Her background spans both global corporations (Henkel, KPMG, Diageo) and international development, enabling her to bridge private sector rigor with sustainable innovation strategies. Sandy is a trusted partner for LATAM corporations looking to drive innovation and run effective acceleration programs.