Students in our program will receive direct, hands-on mentoring from leading Seattle entrepreneurs and investors. Your mentors will consist of a core group of Seattle founders, CEOs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and attorneys who have both foundational expertise and startup experience. Learn more about the mentors below.
About me
I am an accomplished technology entrepreneur with a track record of providing tech and product management leadership in both startups and companies like Travelocity.
Fields of expertise
Product development: MVP (from ideation to market), lean analytics, product market fit; Customer Development; Accelerators, fundraising & pitching for seed rounds.
About me
I am a passionate serial technology entrepreneur having been a part of half a dozen startups over 20 years (co-founded 4 startups with 5 acquisitions).
Fields of expertise
Software architecture, Data and machine learning applications, Technology innovation, Product design, Growth marketing, Fundraising, Startup leadership patterns and styles.
Forrester Research Inc.
About me:
Leading Forrester’s efforts to build the real time CX cloud by leveraging best of breed ML technologies. Previously Co-Founder & CEO of GlimpzIt, an AI Customer Intelligence platform that was acquired by Forrester.
Fields of expertise:
Product Development (Technology), Go To Market, Sales enablement and Fundraising
About me
I am officially giving up on retirement. I need to solve hard problems in addition to attending spin and Barre classes.
Fields of expertise
Business Model validation, Product Viability, Market Facing Strategies.
About me
I’m an experienced business builder, having been a key leader bringing new products and services to market in several early stage startups.
Fields of expertise
Early stage startup strategy and operations. Customer development, angel pitch deck approaches.
About me
I am a highly-driven Serial Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Rare Patient Advocate, turning creative & scientific ideas into powerful narratives, policies, and socially-responsible business and marketing strategies for Fortune 1000 brands, mid-sized companies, and nonprofit organizations.
Fields of expertise
Effective leadership, business strategy, product development, marketing & advertising, social entrepreneurship, global branding, global expansion, content creation, purposeful economics, motivational living, having fun.
About me
Innovation leader with 15+ years of experience in digital marketing, go-to-market strategy, customer acquisition, customer research, analytics, and sales enablement.
Fields of expertise
Marketing, Customer Acquisition, Financial Models, Fundraising.
About me
I successfully take big ideas to the masses through highly integrated marketing plans that engage the potential client in well thought out sales processes.
Fields of expertise
Leadership development, business planning, marketing strategy and execution, building corporate culture, and honing in one’s thought leadership
About me
A technology leader with extensive experience leading complex organizations and strategic initiatives in fast moving environments.
Fields of expertise
Product & Market Strategies.
About me
I help private sector and non-profit clients develop and introduce consumer products into challenging global markets.
Fields of expertise
Product development and commercialization.
About me
I am a business professional and consultant who helps technology companies and startups explore, create and expand new opportunities and initiatives.
Fields of expertise
Creating marketing and communication plans, strategic development, helping companies create their pitch.
About me
I advise companies (start-ups to global enterprises), entrepreneurs, legal departments, and attorneys on strategic business and legal matters.
Fields of expertise
Legal: Intellectual Property & Technology Licensing, Strategic Alliances.
About me
I am an energetic and enthusiastic team leader with entrepreneurial vision and background striving to create or develop companies that exude a profound purpose, provide a valuable service, and generate collective prosperity.
Fields of expertise
Start-ups, marketing, business development, leadership, sales, operations, product development, global sourcing, overseas manufacturing, supply chain and transportation logistics, contract negotiation, intellectual property and business law.
About me
I build, cultivate, and scale of new products. Experienced with solving customer pain points, leading with business model and product innovation.
Fields of expertise
Business models, Market segmentation, financial modeling, Enterprise focus
About me
I am an entrepreneur, educator and author, dedicated to solving real-world energy problems with a balance of technology, business and social impact.
Fields of expertise
Startups, Communications/Marketing, Real Estate Development, LEED
About me
For the past 15 years I’ve been a pioneer in mobile payments and mobile commerce. I’ve led innovative mobile products for Amazon.com, Citibank, AT&T Wireless and leading iOS and Android game developers.
Fields of expertise
The Pitch: positioning the product / opportunity / go-big vision / highlights / sales projections / amount to raise.
About me
I am a dynamic and collaborative organizational development professional with a proven record of developing strong relationships and building community capacity with particular expertise in non-profits and K-12 education.
Fields of expertise
Coaching and leadership development, social impact enterprises and business models, 501(c)3 & non-profit management, grant writing, organizational development, diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI), developing and delivering strategic intent, and data visualization.
About me
The opportunity for entrepreneurship exists everywhere- you just need to identify the need.
Fields of expertise
Business Strategy, Sales, Marketing, Business Development, Pitching, and Operations.
About me
Over 23 years comprehensive experience in new innovation development and team leadership, including P+L responsibility for new startups, long and short term planning, team building, and market development.
Fields of expertise
New Product Innovation (entrepreneurship & intrapreneurship).
About me
I am a seasoned business executive with 20+ years experience at cutting-edge technology companies.
Fields of expertise
Business and Corporate Development; Venture Capital Fundraising / Financing; Executive and Board Management.
About me
I’m an active advisor to startup companies including Creative Live, Inkwell Media, and EveryMove and active investor via Founders Co-op and SKV, and direct angel investing.
Fields of expertise
Customer development, VC fundraising, product development.
About me
I am a private angel investor in small businesses and real estate in the state of Washington.
Fields of expertise
Work-life balance, finance and accounting.
About me
A particle physicist by training, I enjoy both long term fundamental research and bringing new technologies to market.
Fields of expertise
Work life balance, venture capital, building the great group mentality, team dynamics/culture, Y Combinator, seed financing, cloud architecture, Mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and life post-acquisition.
About me
Over 25 years of experience with strategic planning for startups and emerging businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Developed and implemented strategic business, financial and market rollout plans for growth and/or repositioning strategies for leading brands including Starbucks, Gap, lululemon athletica, Nike, REI, Chase and Wells Fargo.
Fields of expertise
Playing a leadership role in business analysis, planning and strategy development for innovative emerging retail and consumer concepts as well as top fortune 500 companies.
About me
I am a seasoned executive and proven leader with a common sense approach to problem solving. Experienced in the challenges that face rapidly growing companies in a variety of industries.
Fields of expertise
Business strategy, financial modeling, work-life balance, operations, HR, international business.
About me
Entrepreneur, consultant, angel investor.
Fields of expertise
Customer development, VC fundraising, product development.
About me
I am a Product Leader, Angel Investor, Stanford Grad, IslandWood Board Member, and a PNW Native.
Fields of expertise
Customer development, product strategy, pitching angels.
About me
I am a marketing and business strategy executive with deep and broad expertise in emerging technology, innovation and design.
Fields of expertise
Value proposition and strategic positioning
About me
I am an entrepreneurial leader with more than 15 years of marketing, product management and technology leadership experience.
Fields of expertise
Go To Market (Sales, Marketing, Customer Success),product development, fundraising, business models/pricing.
About me
Experienced product and sales strategist with a passion for building companies. Founder of Impact Group & InstaFreight. Employee #6 at Convoy.
Fields of expertise
MVP development, brand / sales narrative, market positioning, strategic partnerships
About me
Corporate, Securities and Finance Attorney.
Fields of expertise
Board development, corporate legal issues, corporate formation / financing / deals, effective negotiation.
About me
I am a key business driver and leader within the marketing industry. Many times in my career I’ve been the change agent or risk taker to try new things and take on complex or challenging situations.
Fields of expertise
Leadership, Marketing/Advertising, Running a business
About me
Successful CEO with demonstrated experience in entrepreneurial tech companies. Led two companies to successful M&A exits. Strong product and technology skills.
Fields of expertise
Tech, Consumer products, General management, Hiring/HR, Finance, Culture.
About me
I am an experienced Internet entrepreneur and the holder of six patents. I enjoy building and sharing knowledge.
Fields of expertise
Company and product vision, Product Management, analyst relations, systems architecture.
About me
I’m a full time angel investor. I invest either directly or with others through different organizations: Alliance of Angels, SWAN Venture Fund, and Grubstakes.
Fields of expertise
Analyzing the basics of the business model. Strategic positioning and risk assessment.
About me
I am a certified food professional with 18 years of progressive experience in food safety and quality management. Skilled at leading in multicultural and international arenas and cross-functional teams. Highly effective at gaining alignment and influencing at all levels of the organization.
Fields of expertise
Market White Space Assessment, Product Ideation and Innovation, Supply Chain Management, MVP generation
About me
I am a savvy, driven, multilingual professional with years of progressive engineering, strategic/product marketing, and business development experience in 3 continents (North America, Asia, and Europe).
Fields of expertise
Providing my perspective and guidance on hardware, consumer electronics, technology, product marketing/management/development, business development, manufacturing, OEM/ODM, and business in Asia
About me
I’m passionate about the startup and venture capital ecosystem in Seattle, and believe that our region is poised to become one of the world’s premier hubs for entrepreneurship.
Fields of expertise
Business models, product positioning, fundraising, operations, patents (I’m a named inventor on six US patents).