Kaveh Abhari
Digital EntrepreneurshipSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Supporting the discovery, evaluation | Development of business opportunities enabled by digital assets
ZIP Launchpad Directory
Amit Agarwal
Associate Technical DirectorBroadcomSDSU
Nik Bandak
CEOBandak Project ManagementSDSU
Amber Bertelsen
Business BankingUS BankFinance, Accounting, Banking & InsuranceSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Choosing a business bank account and setting up financial accounts | Separating personal and business finances for clean bookkeeping | Evaluating credit, lending, and basic financing options for startups
Rashida Scott Blades
Market ResearchUnderstanding Your Customer and MarketSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
How to use library resources, databases for market research | Competitive research using sources | Identify relevant research tools
Brendan Boerbaitz
PrincipalDeloitteSDSU
Cameron Brock
Idea Labs ManagerZIP LaunchpadDivision of Research and InnovationSDSU[email protected]EIS
Malia Callero
Marketing LeadZIP LaunchpadDivision of Research and InnovationSDSU[email protected]EIS
Dane Chapin
CEOUSAopoly (the Op)SDSU
Erica Charlonis
Program ManagerZIP LaunchpadDivision of Research and InnovationSDSU[email protected]EIS
Carny Cheng
Software DevelopmentTechnologySDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Scoping and prioritizing product features, Managing development timelines, scope, and execution tradeoffs, Collaborating effectively with developers and technical teams
Liz Cunningham
Vice PresidentTechnology & Workforce Solutions. AMN HealthcareSDSU
Shan Cureton
Pitching CoachPitching and FundraisingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Structuring the pitch deck | Tailoring your pitch to the audience | Communication and presentation skills, storytelling
Mike Donohue
Leadership & Team ManagementSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
What makes great leaders | Public speaking (development of public speaking content, the delivery of content and the proper state of mind) | Personal development (development which leads retirement of personal and business goals) | Developing a proper definition of values to provide direction for the company
Ben Eisenstein
Associate DirectorAztec ShopsSDSU
Maileen Flores
Business Model Development & Financial ModelingFinance, Accounting, Banking & InsuranceSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Building an early stage financial model
Drue Freeman
Independent Board Director, Consultant, Advisor & Investor, Experienced Automotive Semiconductor ExecutiveSand Hill AngelsSDSU
Tiffany Gil
Social MediaSales and MarketingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Social media | Digital marketing | Overseas manufacturing | Navigating Alibaba.com
Spencer Gordon
E-CommerceSales and MarketingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Developing e-commerce strategy and implementation plans | Defining and optimizing sales channel strategy | Building and executing marketing channel strategies
Anita Hix
Senior Director, Product MarketingQualcomm IncorporatedSDSU
Preston Holland
Paid Media & Marketing AnalyticsSales and MarketingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Tracking key online metrics | Creating landing pages, campaigns, and dashboards
Alli Howard
Associate Director of DevelopmentFowler College of Business & ZIP LaunchpadDivision of Research and InnovationSDSU[email protected]EIS
Rob Hutti
Graphic DesignSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Digital strategy and brand narrative | Customer experience design | Creative art direction and branded content creation | Tech implementation and applied AI
Zeynep Ilgaz
Angel Investor | Founder | Yale Entrepreneur in Residence | Board MemberSDSU
Fadee Kannah
Software DevelopmentTechnologySDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Scoping and prioritizing features | Managing development timelines and scope | Working with developers
Sam Kassegne
Director at NANOFab.SDSUCo-Founder at Grapheton, IncSDSU
Kim King
Investor Strategy & E-Track AdvisorPitching and FundraisingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Development of a fundraising strategy | Crafting a go-to-market strategy | Insights for target audiences
Kate MacArevey-Colello
H.G. Fenton Idea Lab ManagerZIP LaunchpadInnovationEntrepreneurship InitiativesDivision of Research and InnovationSDSU[email protected]EIS H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab
Hala Madanat
Vice PresidentResearch and Innovation, SDSUSDSU
Stanley Maloy
Emeritus AVPResearch and Innovation, SDSUSDSU
Josh Markham
SDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Supporting startup strategy and go-to-market planning | Advising on product management and technical development for early-stage ventures | Providing fundraising guidance for early-stage technology startups | Offering expertise across advertising, AI, cloud solutions, blockchain, gaming, mobile apps, media, and entertainment
Tommy Martindale
DirectorTechnology Transfer Office, SDSUSDSU
Carlos Martinez
AccountingFinance, Accounting, Banking & InsuranceSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Set up an accounting system | Tracking income and expenses | Budgeting and forecasting
Lisa Michelle
BrandingSales and MarketingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Defining brand identity | Creating a visual identity | Connecting the brand to business goals
Bardia Moayedi
PartnerSnell & WilmerSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Advising on corporate governance best practices to support effective leadership and compliance | Navigating venture capital funding processes to raise capital and support growth | Providing guidance on preparing for and managing initial public offerings (IPOs) and public markets readiness
Dan Moshavi
DeanFowler College of BusinessSDSU
Carminia Panlilio
Chief Operating OfficerScaleCapacityZIP Launchpad ChairpersonSDSU
Tolulope Perrin-Stowe
Business Development and Licensing AssociateInnovationTechnology Transfer OfficeDivision of Research & InnovationSDSU[email protected](619) 594-1331GC 4525A
Cathy Pucher
Executive DirectorSDSU Entrepreneurship InitiativesSDSU
Tony Rindsberg
SDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Defining and executing go-to-market (GTM) strategy across sales, marketing, and growth | Supporting early-stage companies with customer acquisition and positioning strategies | Advising on demand generation, pricing, messaging, brand development, and marketing operations
Jim Ristuccia
Business OperationsSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Clarifying vision and plan | Build simple, repeatable systems | Prioritization and delegation | Breaking down financial and operational concepts | Strategies for team building
Jeffrey T. Roberts
DeanSDSU College of SciencesSDSU
Eddie Rodriguez
Co-Founder and General PartnerTeal VenturesSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Guidance on incorporation processes and selecting the right legal structure for your startup. Drafting and reviewing founder agreements to clarify roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Advising on equity distribution and ownership structures to align incentives. Supporting development of foundational business strategy to enable growth and scalability
Jenna Ryan
Beyond the First Customer- Customer Acquisition and RetentionUnderstanding Your Customer and MarketSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Post-purchase communications and retention tactics | Customer acquisition strategies | Audience and channel strategy
Jordyn Savard
Events & Outreach LeadZIP LaunchpadDivision of Research and InnovationSDSU[email protected]EIS
Ben Shapiro
Co-Founder, Head of Product and AI StrategyCadre AISDSU
Mike Sharp
Co-FounderDialStackSDSU
Mike Sherbakov
Angel FundingPitching and FundraisingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Fundraising strategy | Pitch refinement | Investor outreach | How VCs evaluate startups | Preparing for investor meetings
Ken Sherman
SDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Advising on technology strategy and stack selection | Translating product vision into an iterative, actionable development plan | Identifying and planning for all components of building a real product (scalability, integrations, security, licensing, marketing, customer support, reliability, etc.)
Andrew Skale
Intellectual Property MemberMintz LevinSDSU
Luke Sophinos
SDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Offering strategic guidance from startup ideation through scaling, grounded in real-world founder experience | Supporting early-stage founders with fundraising, growth, and product-market fit insights | Providing perspective on building and scaling a high-growth startup, including lessons from raising capital and achieving product traction | Helping teams think through execution, decision-making, and long-term company building
Cindi Temnick
B2B SalesSales and MarketingSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Sales strategy | Sales execution | Competitive landscape and differentiation
JR Tolver
InsuranceFinance, Accounting, Banking & InsuranceSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Understanding insurance requirements | Identifying required insurance coverage
Caitlin Wege
CEOKnipSDSU
Larissa Wojciechowski
SDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Understanding customer pain points, behaviors, and decision-making | Conducting customer discovery, surveys, and user interviews - Refining product-market fit and validating customer needs | Identifying growth opportunities through user and market insights
Shirley Yager
Retired Director of Product ManagementQualcommSDSU
Dr. George Youssef, Ph.D
Zahn Professor of Creativity 26/27Academic AffairsCollege of EngineeringMechanical EngineeringSDSU[email protected](619) 594-6649PS 127
Peter Zahn
Chairman & CEOFutures UnboundSDSU
Jonathan Zaidman
Social ImpactSocial and Environmental InnovationSDSU[email protected]Area of Expertise
Social enterprise | Environmental sustainability | Non-profit | Agriculture
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