Vetted Mentors

“Highly experienced robotics software engineer building ROS/ROS2 systems for fleets of autonomous mobile robots (Clearpath Jackal/Husky and custom platforms), spanning localization, navigation, and multi-robot coordination. Has published work at ICRA (including RL-based local planning and heterogeneous robot coordination via a ROS-to-ZMQ bridge) and maintains open-source ROS modules, with strong simulation, debugging, and CI/CD practices.”

Jimmie Lee

Screened

Executive Technology & Strategic Operations Leader specializing in AI governance and cybersecurity

Greater Seattle Area, WA25y exp

“Serial entrepreneur who has launched 9+ bootstrapped businesses and has repeatedly raised capital as a CTO for other startups, leveraging a 7,000+ funder network and a sales-like fundraising pipeline approach. Deeply embedded in the VC/studio/accelerator ecosystem for 15+ years and currently mentors/advises with Stanford Venture Studios, Alchemist, and Ignyte in Dubai. Recently left Meta and is specifically targeting CTO roles for the next 5–10 years.”

Jim Woodroffe

Screened

Executive Engineering Leader (CTO/VP) specializing in scaling platforms, AI, and cloud infrastructure

San Francisco, CA24y exp

“Entrepreneurial operator who previously built an AI context layer for personal communication/relationships and has worked with a New York-based venture group to evaluate early-stage ideas from both technical and business angles. Currently exploring broad startup opportunities and collaborating with 2–3 early-stage companies, with a structured approach to assessing market outcomes, competition, and team fit.”

Alex Kittredge

Screened ReferencesStrong rec.

Executive People Strategy & Transformation Leader specializing in workforce planning and operating models

Brooklyn, NY8y exp

“Senior Program Manager / HR Chief of Staff (Global Industrial) specializing in cross-functional risk remediation, HR systems implementations, and M&A compliance. Delivered measurable outcomes including closing 18 payroll audit findings in 16 weeks, rolling out SAP SuccessFactors performance management to 2,000+ employees with major adoption gains, and remediating 600 I-9s in 6 weeks to avoid ~$3M in exposure; experienced operating with high confidentiality across large-scale M&A.”

“Former Managing Director of the LimeLife Fempire Fund with 4 years in corporate venture capital, where they built the fund, sourced deals, led diligence, and deployed $2MM into four women-owned early-stage consumer companies. Also brings nonprofit small business accelerator experience, giving them a strong operator-investor perspective on what startups need to grow.”

hemant jha

Screened

Executive Design & Innovation Leader specializing in product, strategy, and sustainable systems

Chicago, Illinois25y exp

“Product/system designer focused on ultra-clean, modular, customizable work/organization environments (e.g., making stations for studios and fabrication spaces). Emphasizes rules-based interaction models, restrained structural visual language, and hands-on field research/prototyping to embed industrial constraints (tolerances, load paths, safety) into intuitive, training-free user experiences.”

“CTO-minded builder seeking to join a startup; previously created an AI-driven platform that abstracted away DevOps and infrastructure for drug discovery researchers. Emphasizes high-leverage, zero-to-one execution with managed cloud/open-source tooling, and a strong reliability/reproducibility mindset validated against existing scientific pipelines.”

“Edtech product leader with experience at Harvard Business Publishing, Coursera, and Ariel Group, specializing in experiential learning products like simulations, role plays, and AI-enabled practice tools. Particularly compelling for mission-driven education roles because they pair strong platform and go-to-market execution with a clear philosophy of human-centered AI that augments teaching rather than replacing it.”

George Villacis

Screened ReferencesStrong rec.

Mid-level Business Development Manager specializing in financial data for VC/PE

New York, NY6y exp

“Sales/business professional from PitchBook who managed a high-volume pipeline (50–100 opportunities) and drove hundreds of thousands in new business while simultaneously leading cross-functional initiatives, including a product/data dataset implementation and ERG (La Cultura) campaigns. Strong in executive alignment, operational tooling (Salesforce/Asana/Excel), and handling sensitive information with discretion.”

Jay Butler

Screened

Executive GM specializing in marketplace growth, P&L leadership, and digital acquisition

Tulsa, OK16y exp

“Entrepreneurial operator with a decade+ of experience running businesses (teams, P&Ls, partnership scaling) now building a free, AI-driven fitness/nutrition/mental health platform with a B2B2C monetization model. Plans to fund the venture by leveraging equity from a current business exit (sale/IPO) and to launch via influencer equity partnerships and local wellness business collaborations.”

“Product leader with experience rebuilding AI-enabled products in healthcare and other domains, including a major Lingraphica mobile experience redesign for people with aphasia that improved NPS by 20% and increased usage while reducing support burden. They emphasize empowered PM/UX/engineering triads, discovery-led decision making, and mentoring product talent into leaders. Also brings a human-centered AI lens shaped by current team leadership, prior work at Intradiem, and a patent related to just-in-time learning.”