Founder Institute Mentors

Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia program below.

Mentors

Aaron Price

cofounder, rocketfuel.cc

Aaron Karp

Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Founder Institute

Abby Sugar

CEO, Play Out Apparel

Abdellah Aouf

Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM

Adam Chain

FI Mentor

Adam House

FI Mentor

Alan Rihm

Managing member, Entrevest

Albert Whale

Founder & CEO, IT Security Solutions

Alexander Summers

Founder, AI Edtech Startup

Alfred Poor

Keynote speaker and virtual event expert, The Health Tech Futurist

Ali Schaeffer-Lybacki

Universal Branch Manager, MEMBERS 1ST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Amrish Macedo

Co-Founder, Intempio

Andee Silverman

Chief Problem Solver, founderkeystone.com

ANDRES OLIVEROS GONZALEZ

Co-Founder, ASTROLAB

Andrew Soh

Founder & CEO, Fundigo

Anshuman Gwal

Managing Partner, Brightside Partners

Arcui Usoara

Founder/CEO, Iaculus

Arsy Khodabandelou

Founder, WoofHelp.com

Austin Cox

FI Mentor

Aviv Shalgi

CEO, Solar Simplified

Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills, MSEL, PCC, CPQC®, CELC

Founder & Owner, Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions

Ben Stacey

CEO, Pitchverk

Ben Kniffen

Chief Visionary Officer & Co-Founder, LinkedSelling

Ben Williams

FI Mentor

Bhaskar Ahuja

CEO, Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund

Bill Rivkin

Virtual Relationship Manager |non-dilutive funding, Citizens Bank

Bo Motlagh

Co-Founder, Managing Partner, UE Venture Studios

Bob Olsen

FI Mentor

Bobbi Muscara

CEO - Director of Education, Ledger Academy

Bonnie Ravina

FI Mentor

Brad Messer

., .

Brian Slough

FI Mentor

Brian Griffiths

FI Mentor

Brynne TIllman

CEO, Social Sales Link

Carl Starkey

Co-Founder & CEO, AWSM Sauce Co

Cassie Tate

FI Mentor

Celine Schulze

Co-Founder & CEO, Benezet-Bridge Ltd.

Chelsea Samuelson

Director of Growth, Entrepreneurship | Fund Manager, NJIT Venture Fund | at New Jersey Innovation Institute, New Jersey Innovation Institute

Chintan Oza

Founder, Anantam Ecosystems

Chris Foltz

Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute

Chris Sprague

CEO, Chris M. Sprague

Chris Morris

FI Mentor

Christian Behl

International Business Development, Cognition IP

Christopher Flynn

FI Mentor

Chuck Sacco

FI Mentor

Craig Do'vidio

FI Mentor

Daniel Nelson

Recovering Accountant, Startup Economics

Daniel Rosenthal

Partnerships Manager, StartEngine

Daniel Ritterman

CEO & Founder, MainLineDelivery (acquired by Square)

Daria Duda

Product Marketing, Consultant

Darnell Davis

FI Mentor

David Chung

Regional VP Sales, VirnetX

David Hendrawirawan

Founder, Data Integrity First

David Foster

FI Mentor

David Lasus

CEO, Heart + Paw

David Stengle

CEO & Founder , Board++

David Postolski

Partner, Gearhart Law

Debjit Saha

Co-Founder, HomeAbroad Inc.

Deep Parmar

Founding Partner, Caramel Advisors LLC

Deka Dike

CEO, Omatochi

Deka Dike

Founder & CEO, Omatochi

Derek Tyner

FI Mentor

Don Samoil

Managing Partner, Trusted Scale

Don Pancoe

Chief Blinker, Blinkenlights Technologies

Drew Chapin

Partner, The Discoverability Company

Dustin Betz

Director of Operations, White Rose Ventures

Ed Keenan

Lead Principal, iO Associates

Elena Mlotok

General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon

Elizabeth Planet

FI Mentor

Ellen Weber

Executive Director, Robin Hood Ventures

Eric Torigian

CEO and Managing Director, Advisory Services, CHRO Solutions

Eric Griffin

FI Mentor

Esther Hiamang

FI Mentor

Flyn Penoyer

FI Mentor

Francisco Marinaro

Ceo & Chariman, Afront Digiatl LTD

Frank Vito

Corporate & Technology Attorney , OlenderFeldman LLP

Frank Jacquette

FI Mentor

Franklin Kamnang Ngansop

Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching

Garry Johnson

FI Mentor

Gary Cohen

Owner, Practical Agility LLC

Geoffrey Kent

Founder and CEO, I left corporate America 24 years ago, and launched my current venture (Think Big with Geoffrey Kent) 4 years ago.

Greg Curry

FI Mentor

Greg Mester

President, Idea Communication Networks, Inc.

Heather Lawver

Founder & CEO, Ceemo

Helen De La Rosa

FI Mentor, Founders Institute

Holly La Porte

FI Mentor

Irene Verheijen

FI Mentor

Isabelle Kent

FI Mentor

Isaiah Jenkins

FI Mentor

James Green

CEO, Cognome

Jasmin Sethi

CEO, Sethi Clarity Advisers

Jason Pont

FI Mentor

Jay Aigner

FI Mentor

Jedidiah Weller

CEO, OpenForge

Jennifer Marion

FI Mentor

Jess Edelstein

FI Mentor

Jesse DiLaura

FI Mentor

Joan Popolo

FI Mentor

Joe Daniels

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

Joe Singer

Cofounder and CMO, MergedAnalytics

Joel Ginsparg

Managing Partner, Firelight Partners, LLC

John De Marco

FI Mentor

John Weathers

Business Development & Research Consultant | Board Member | Co-Founder & Director, Vizmoo.com | BenchK12.com | The Cultural Bridge Project

John Gies

Business Growth Strategist, RAS - Squared

John Schnelle

Director of Sales, Early Charm Ventures

John Gamba

FI Mentor

John Steele

FI Mentor

Jon Zaikowski

Assistant Director, New York Angels

Jon Wonnell

CEO, Transformative Sciences LLC

Jon Tornetta

Founder, Meddkit

Josh Devon

CEO, Sublime Strategy

Josh Devon

FI Mentor

June W Choi

Managing Partner, Serval Ventures

Justin Bean

FI Mentor

Justis Mendez

FI Mentor

Karen Robinson

Pitch Deck & Data Room Advisor, Karen Robinson Consulting

Karina Sotnik

Founder/CEO, WorldUpstart

Karolis Pranckevicius

CEO, Blue Orange

Karolis Panckevicius

Analyst, Blue Orange Agency

Ken Cheo

FI Mentor

Kenny Avallon

Lead Technical Recruiter, Eric Gong & Company

Kiley Giebel

Managing Partner, Techstars

Kirill Satanovsky

Co-Lead, FI Santa Cruz

Kostas Karolemeas

Founder, CEO, Allcancode

Kumar Mehta

Author; Speaker; Consultant, Bridges Insight

Larry Gordon

Managing Director, Gordon Risk Solutions

Leon Degtar

FI Mentor

Leong Cheah

Founder & CEO, ae'lkimi Consulting FZ LLE

Libby Balsiger

Co-Founder, Campvs

Liz Vibber

FI Mentor

Lynn Donaldson

FI Mentor

Mac Goswami

Senior Technical Program Manager, Fiserv Inc

Maggie Dillon

CEO, Empress Security Insights, LLC

Mara Schwartz

FI Mentor

Mario Casabona

Angel Investor, Casabona Ventures

Mark Style

FI Mentor

Mark Mc Anallen

FI Mentor

Mark Crouse

FI Mentor

Martina Truche

Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast

Matiullah Rahmaty

Founder/President , BrightPoint Consulting Services

Matt Salerno

FI Mentor

Matt Star

Co-Founder / Head of Operations, Narrator

Matthew Jenkins

FI Mentor

Matthew Saline

Owner, The Alternative Board

Max Thalheimer

Co-Founder & CEO, Fynd

Maya Nazareth

FI Mentor

Melissa Li

Managing Partner and Head of Community, Dorm Room Fund

Mellie Chow

Venture Partner, Archangel Axion

Mellie Chow

Venture Partner, Axion Fund

Michael Piggott

CEO, Gamechat

Michael Parker

FI Mentor

Michael Bertoni

Founder and CEO, SaaS Talent

Michael Spidaliere

Principal, First Time Founder Capital

Michael Canzoneri

Managing Partner, Rebel Consulting

Michael Liebowitz

FI Mentor

Michael Cirino

FI Mentor

Michael Kainatsky

FI Mentor

Michelle Peters

Co-Founder & CEO, Supplino

Michelle Mallette

Head of Business Development, Stargrove Capital

Michelle Pujadas

Founder and Co-CEO, Zer0 to 5ive

Michelle Carfagno

CEO/Founder, The Greater Knead

Mike Simmons

FI Mentor

Mo Zerban

FI Mentor

Morgan Doyle

Associate Director - Buisness Development, Corporate Tax Incentives (CTI)

Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA

Senior Director of Product and Business Development, Allarta Life Science

Nadine Campbell

Founder, ACE Entrepreneurs

Nareg Soghomonian

FI Mentor

Natalya Bagrova

Co-Founder, Art Director, Brand Strategist , Suva Inc.

Nate Hecker

CEO, Big Idea, Inc.

Nathan Mancine

FI Mentor, LeanTaaS

Noah Wallach

Founder, Hope OS

Orly Zeewy

Brand Strategist, Zeewy Brands

Owen Occhetti

Consultant, Avant Technology Group

Ozan Sonmez

Co-Founder, Brutally Honest Group

Pam Knox

CEO/Chief Strategist, Pam Knox LLC

Paul Mosenson

Owner, NuSpark Consulting and NuSpark Media

Paul Len

Founder, Citymove

Paul Toub

FI Mentor

Pete Biggam

Director / Mentor / Advisor, Founder Institute

Peter Yeargin

Founder & CEO, Sage SEO

Peter Hornberger

Lecturer, Director of 'LaunchBox', Penn State University

Peter Chmiel

Owner, Cutting Edge Consulting

Raghu Rao

CEO, Splitbyte Inc

Raj Sahu

Founder and CEO at , Utobo Inc

Rajat Kapur

FI Mentor

Rajiv Madhok

Founder, Oorja

Rajprasath Subramanian

FI Mentor

Randy Fisher

CEO, Expand to New Markets

Raoul Davis

CEO, Ascendant Group

Rich Heckelmann

Marketing Specialist , Forward Vision Consulting

Richard Ward

FI Mentor

Robert Edelstein

Advisor / Owner , Inflection Point

Robert Hart

FI Mentor

Robert Stinsa

FI Mentor

Roger Yomba Ngue

Founder & CEO, Dhaxle Inc

Ronda Siegel

Partner, RSiegel Consulting LLC

Ryan Long

CPO & Founder, OnPurpose Studio

Ryan Alcorn

FI Mentor

Ryan Frankel

FI Mentor

Ryan Hummel

FI Mentor

Sameer Babbar

Director, SVB Group

Samir Fouzir

CEO, 3Genii

Sara Ledterman

General Partner, 3+ Ventures

Scott Shelko

FI Mentor

Scott Wittrock

Fractional CPO, Head for Product

Sean Adams

Head of Sales & Partnerships, iorad

Seth Goldstein

Principal Creative Director, Goldstein Media LLC

Shashank Aiisvari

Founder, Aiisvari

Shaun Gold

Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures

Shawn Gregoire

FI Mentor

Sherrill Mosee

Founder/CEO, Minkeeblue

Solomon Asad

Principal, SSCP

Stacy Rowan

FI Mentor

Stacy Kimmel

Independant Consultant , FoodVisors LLC

Stefanie Smith

Founder, Double S Consulting

Stefanos Damianakis

President, Zaruko Advisors

Stephan Thomas

Managing Partner, Artimon3D

Stephen Spivak

FI Mentor

Steven Turner

President, Flow Business Solution

Sushma Rajagopalan

FI Mentor

Tanya Williamson

Chief Visionary Officer , Tanya Williamson

Theresa Deeney

FI Mentor

Tiara Durham

Business Strategist | Ecosystem Builder | Board Trustee | Social Impact Advocate | Founder, Founders First Capital Partners

Tiffany Yau

FI Mentor

Tim Dodd

Founder, JTD Group

T.J. Butler

Founder, 45 Solutions

Tovit Neizer

Chief Storyteller, Yellow Bricks

Trevor Longino

Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers

Trevor Geise

Founder, Boom Venture

Ty Jackson

Sports Tech Investor, SeventySix Capital

Vincent Perez

Strategic Management & Corporate Development, Penn State

Vipin Makhija

Founder, Mentor, Advisor, Kast

Vladimir Pletyukhin

Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck

Wendy Moore

Founder & CEO, Eleve Talent

Xan Hong

Owner, Drive Phase Consulting

Yemi Oluseun

Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive

Yousif Memon

FI Mentor

Zach Messler

Founder, 26th Letter LLC (zachmessler.com)

Zave Smith

Co-Founder and CEO, xBound

Zoe Qiao

FI Mentor

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