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Founder Institute Mentors

Houston Spring 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 Houston program below.

Mentors

Aaron

Aaron Chavez

Managing Partner, (un)conventional ventures
Aaron

Aaron Hines

Co-founder, Darbe
Aaron

Aaron Gathmann

Executive Director, North Texas Angel Network
Aaron

Aaron Swinton

Co-Founder & Managing Director , ShockVentures
Abdellah

Abdellah Aouf

Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Abe

Abe Chu

Co-founder & CMO, NextSeed
Adeo

Adeo Ressi

CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
Akeel

Akeel Bernard

Community Development Manager , Impact Hub Houston
Ali

Ali Syed

CEO / Founder, Emerald Labs
Allie

Allie Danziger

Founder, Integrate
Amina

Amina Buric

CEO, Aeolus Group
Amy

Amy Tran

Investor, Early Stage Investments, IMPAVIDUS
Ana

Ana Rojas Bastidas

Founder & CEO, Orolait
Andrea

Andrea Sager

CEO, Legalpreneur
Andres

Andres Gomez

Founder, Editeer
Anh

Anh Mai

Founder, Company of Nomads
Armando

Armando Mualumene

Founder and Project Developer & Team Leader, The iDEASLab
Ashley

Ashley Connell

CEO & Founder, Prowess Project
Ashley

Ashley DeWalt

Managing Director, DivInc
Atul

Atul Patel

CEO and Founder, Orbee
Austin

Austin Langley

FI Mentor
Bade

Bade Aluko

Managing Partner, White Hibiscus Capital
Ben

Ben Stacey

CEO, Pitchverk
Ben

Ben Ghazi

Co-founder and CTO, Codiac
Bram

Bram Cohen

Founder/Chief Scientist, BitTorrent
Brandy

Brandy Guidry

Executive Director, The Cannon
Brianna

Brianna Flemings

FI Mentor
Carolyn

Carolyn Rodz

Founder and CEO, Hello Alice
Cassandra

Cassandra Iku

Community and Operations Coordinator, SheSpace
Chantell

Chantell Preston

Co-founder/CEO, Facilities Management Group
Charles

Charles Dauber

CEO, Warm Commerce
Christine

Christine Galib

Founder, road less traveled enterprises
Christy

Christy Cardenas

Managing Partner, Grit Ventures
Courtnay

Courtnay Siegfried

FI Mentor
Creig

Creig Graham

VP Partnerships, Budapop Bottling Co.
Curt

Curt Olivares

2x Founder | Startup Advisor | Tech Career Coach, Product Saint
Dana

Dana Marruffo

Principal, Buzz Public Relations, LLC
Dana

Dana Abramovitz

Founding Team, SXSW
Denise

Denise Giordano

Commercial Training & Development Manager, BP Energy - Retired
Didar

Didar Bekbauov

Founder and CEO, Xive Inc
Eduardo

Eduardo Buelna

Director Structured Products, BP Energy
Eléonore

Eléonore Cluzel

Sr. Director of Accelerator Partnerships, Empire State Development
Elisa

Elisa Sepulveda

FI Mentor, Mentor
Elizabeth

Elizabeth Tsai

Founder & CEO , HiOperator
Elizabeth

Elizabeth Gore

President, Hello Alice
Eric

Eric Fishhaut

President, Gelber & Associates
Erin

Erin McClarty

Principal, Erin McClarty, PLLC
Erin

Erin Fitzpatrick

President, MendIt, Inc.
Fareed

Fareed Zein

Founder and CEO, Unytag
Farell

Farell Duclair

CEO, Starborn Solutions LLC
Fernando

Fernando Moguel

Creator, The Syneverse
Gabe

Gabe Zichermann

CEO, Failosophy
Gaby

Gaby Rowe

CEO, The Ion
Gary

Gary Katz

Patent Attorney & Managing Attorney, Katz Law Group
Gina

Gina Bianchini

Cofounder, Ning
Gina

Gina Morales

Founder & CEO, a Mana Project
Giselle

Giselle Bisson

Managing Director, Chain Reaction PR
Grace

Grace Rodriguez

CEO, Impact Hub Houston
Graciela

Graciela Perez

Founder & Lean Start Up Coach, Lean Sigma Tech, LLC
Guillermo

Guillermo Barrera

Founder and President , CliniCore International
Gustavo

Gustavo Sanchez

Founder, Pandata Tech
Guy

Guy Parker

Chief Strategy & Creative Officer, Ambient Way
Harini

Harini Bhamidipati

Founder & CEO, Bearable
Haris

Haris Ali

Chief Executive Officer, Vertechx Technologies Private Limited
Harvin

Harvin Moore

FI Mentor
Heath

Heath Butler

Founder/Managing Partner, Gestalt Growth Advisors
Heather

Heather Harde

Former CEO, TechCrunch
Heather

Heather Mezher

Sr. People Business Partner, Code42
Huan

Huan Le

General Counsel, DiCentral
Indrajit

Indrajit Datta

Co-founder & President, Equipt Innovation, Inc.
Ivelin

Ivelin Ivanov

Mentor, FI
Jag

Jag Singh

Managing Director, A.R.M. Consulting
James

James Kaskade

CEO, Janrain Inc.
James

James Phelan

Co-Founder, The Cannon
James

James Adams

Director of Operations, Gallant
Jasmine

Jasmine Victoria

Founder & CEO, The Cathexis Project
Jason

Jason Assir

Principal Consultant, Opex Digital Consulting
Jason

Jason Trahan

FI Mentor
Javier

Javier Fadul

Chief Innovation Officer, HTX Labs
Javy

Javy Martinez

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

Jay Jamison

FI Mentor
Jay

Jay Steinfeld

CEO/Founder, Blinds.com/Global Custom Commerce [Home Depot]
Jay

Jay Patel

Co-Founder & CEO, Enlight
Jc

Jc Garrett

Chief Executive Officer, Dashfire
Jeff

Jeff Scott

Founder/CEO, iDOMOCILIO
Jess

Jess Hughes

Founder and President, Citizen Pilates
Jessica

Jessica Reitmeier

Co-Founder, Pandata Tech
Jessica

Jessica Seidel

Principal, Signify Marketing
Jo

Jo Clark

Founder and CEO, Circle.ooo
Joe

Joe Betts Lacroix

CTO, Vium
Joe

Joe Daniels

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

Joey Jones

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

John Young

principal, Alkimie Pte. Ltd.
John

John Ngo

DBA, John&Partners Global
Jonathan

Jonathan Abrams

Founder and CEO, Nuzzel
Joseph

Joseph Daniels

Partner, Co-Chair -- Venture Capital and Emerging Companies Group , Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough
Joshua

Joshua Wang

Software Engineering Career Coach, Over the Shoulder Coding
Joy

Joy Hutton

Founder and CEO, Joy of Consulting
Juan Felipe

Juan Felipe Campos

Partner, Manos Accelerator via Google Launchpad
Juliana

Juliana Garaizar

Lead Investor, Portfolia
Julie

Julie Hartman

Founder/President, J. Hartman
Justin

Justin Moore

CEO, Axcient, Inc.
Katie

Katie Wallace

Founder, Hux Sustainables
Keith

Keith Kriegler

CEO, Ideas Are Us
Kelsey

Kelsey Ruger

Chief Product & Technology Officer, Hello Alice
Ken

Ken Cohen

Managing Principal, Grow Associates, LLC
Kenley

Kenley Clark

Founder and CEO, TC Energy
Kennie

Kennie Matthews

Chairman & CEO, M Infrastructure, Inc.
Kerry

Kerry Rupp

General Partner , True Wealth Ventures
Kian

Kian Gohar

Founder & CEO, Geolab
Krishna

Krishna Vattipalli

Founder and CEO, Imaginnovate Techsolutions
LaGina R

LaGina R Harris

CEO / Visionary / Founder, The Us Space
Levi

Levi Baer

Co-Founder, Second Shift
Levi

Levi Velez Reed

Venture Partner, Loyal VC
Lila

Lila Smith

Founder, #SayThingsBetter
Lina

Lina Mateus

Founder and CEO, Digi-Clicks
Lindsay

Lindsay Eulenfeld

Senior Director of Operations, MassChallenge
Lori

Lori Freese

Principal, FreeseMediaGroup
Lyndon

Lyndon Mouton

Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer, New Paradigm Technology Partners / Veiled Growth
Marco

Marco Antonio Morales

Co-Founder, SOPLIX
Marcos

Marcos Polanco

CTO, Flowent
Maria

Maria Fernanda Burgos

Founder & CEO, Startup Advisor
Mariana

Mariana Muntean

Founder & CEO, Cinevva
Mark

Mark Friedman

Mentor, retired
Martín

Martín Martinez

Founding & Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
Matt

Matt Mandell

Principal, PayNerd.com
Meghan

Meghan Hendley Lopez

Co-Founder; Director of Corporate Engagement , SUNN and TekRevol
Mery

Mery Ramirez

Co-Founder/COO, ResQ TRX
Miao

Miao Yan

Global Product Manager-Alternate Energy, Xylem
Michael

Michael Umansky

Co-Founder & CEO, Edgy Labs
Michael

Michael Girdley

Investor and Entrepreneur, Geekdom Fund
Mike

Mike Breck

Principal, Acuity Thinking
Mike

Mike Francis

CEO, Nanotech
Molly

Molly Walsh

Director, Founder Institute, Miami Florida
Mona

Mona Defrawi

CEO & Founder, Radivision
Munjal

Munjal Shah

CEO, Like.com
Muriel

Muriel Foster

Director, gBeta
Natasha

Natasha Gorodetsky

Founder&Head of Product, Product Pursuits
Neal

Neal Murthy

Chairman, Haven Holdings
Neal

Neal Hamil

President, Carnan Properties
Noah

Noah Wallach

Founder, Hope OS
Noah

Noah Fons

Coordinator, Greater Houston Partnership
Olayinka

Olayinka James

President/CEO, CYBEROPS INC.
Oleg

Oleg Lysiak

Partner Success Manager, Honeycomb Software
Parag

Parag Jain

Dr, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas
Paul

Paul O'Brien

CEO, MediaTech Ventures
Paul

Paul Kwiatkowski

Co-Founder and CTO, GroupRaise
Payal

Payal Patel

Principal, Softeq Ventures
Phil

Phil Libin

Founder & CEO, All Turtles
Phil

Phil Clarke

CEO, Ecosweet, Inc.
Philip

Philip Kaplan

Founder and CEO, ADHD Labs
Rafael

Rafael Kartaszynski

CEO, TechEdge Developers
Rahul

Rahul Agarwal

Principal Technical Product Manager, Hasura
Rahul

Rahul Brahmbhatt

Investor / Mentor, Day One
Raja

Raja Mawad

Founder, Thrv.health
Rajesh

Rajesh Setty

Rajesh Setty - Serial Entrepreneur and Author, WittyParrot
Rajneesh

Rajneesh Dwivedi

Co-Founder and CEO, Second Medic
Ram

Ram Prasad

Fractional CPO/CTO, Delence
Rebecca

Rebecca Councill

Chief Social Officer, CLR Digital Media Services
Richard

Richard Jones

Partner, Healthseers
Richard

Richard Munassi

Co-founder, Blackfin Technology Partners
Richard

Richard Seline

Cofounder, Resilience Innovation Hub
Richard-Sebastian

Richard-Sebastian Alexander

Founder & CEO, Darbe.co
Riley

Riley Knox

CEO & Co-Founder, Accelerate3D
Robert

Robert Tucci

Managing Director, HALO
Robert

Robert Pieroni

Director of Economic Development, Central Houston Inc.
Roberto

Roberto Moctezuma

Founder and CEO, Fractal River
Ron

Ron Palmeri

Founder/CEO , Layer, Inc/MkII Ventures
Russ

Russ Fradin

Chairman & CEO, Dynamic Signal
Ryan

Ryan Micheletti

Fouder, Illuminate Nootropics
Saima

Saima Siddiqui

Director of Product Management, Joyride.com
Salvatore

Salvatore Grignano

Marketing Officer, Italian Trade Agency (ITA) - Houston
Sameer

Sameer Sortur

Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Santiago

Santiago Sanchez

Founder & CEO, Etailers Ecommerce
Sarah

Sarah Hein

CEO, March Biosciences
Sarah

Sarah Vega

Former Product Owner, Innowatts
Sarika

Sarika Tyagi

Chief Product & Operations Officer, My22BMI
Sarika

Sarika Tyagi

Product Leader, ScarletFreshShoe | Amazon
Scott

Scott Gale

Executive Director, Halliburton Labs
Sebastien

Sebastien Long

Founder & CEO, Lodgeur
Shlomi

Shlomi Podgaetz

Director/CEO, Rizasmart Consulting
Sloan

Sloan Foster

Principal , Envisage Associates
Sneha

Sneha Lundia Agrawal

Founder & CEO, Step2Growth
Sophia

Sophia Clark

Founder & Creative Director, Galiatea
Stephen

Stephen Meade

Founder & CEO, MonetaPro
Steve

Steve Jennis

Founder and CEO, Jennis Consulting Group
Steve

Steve Jennis

Founder and CEO, Jennis Consulting Group LLC
Stewart

Stewart Pisecco

Director of Innovation (Ret.), Pearson
Tabbie

Tabbie Saenz

Founder, Business and Trade Alliance
Talha

Talha Bin Shuja

Startup and Business Consultant, High Hope International
Tanu

Tanu Jain

Lead Product Manager, BioIQ
Telha

Telha Ghanchi

Managing Director, Valhalla Investment Group
Tiana

Tiana Laurence

GP, Laurence Innovation
Tim

Tim Marx

Venture Partner, Baird Capital
Tim

Tim De Silva

Founder & CEO, Culture Pilot
Travis

Travis Baldwin

Managing Partner, J. Galt Finance Suite
Trey

Trey Smith

CPA, Beaumont Inc.
Ty

Ty Audronis

Founder/ ceo, Tempest Droneworx
Vern

Vern Chan

Certified Startup Coach, Your Pivot
Vijay

Vijay Sekhara

Director Of Strategic Partnerships, MassChallenge
Vladimir

Vladimir Pletyukhin

Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Wade

Wade Pinder

Founder, Product Houston
WAEL

WAEL DOUKMAK

CEO, AHLAN, Inc.
Wenceslao

Wenceslao Casares

CEO, Bling Nation
Will

Will Bunker

Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of One-and-Only (became Match.com)
Will

Will Moore

Principal, MoreThan Capital Advisors
Willy

Willy Verbrugghe

FI Mentor
Winston

Winston Choe

Founder/CEO, Innoscape
Yared

Yared Akalou

CEO/Founder, Alcove Group
Yemi

Yemi Oluseun

Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
Yj

Yj Lin

Senior Program Manager, Dell
Yogesh

Yogesh Kondaskar

CEO, Bizteon
Ziv

Ziv Gillat

Co-Founder, Recogni Inc.`

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