Mentoring for Startup Founders

Who is this for?

Founders of pre-seed to early-stage tech startups with a meaningful stake and decision-making power. Simple test: when something important needs a yes or no, your vote carries real weight.

What I can help with

I've never worked in any industry outside tech, and I still code for fun. My strength is bridging technology and the real world, helping non-technical founders make confident decisions about what to build and why.

• Review your investor or sales deck
• Scope the MVP and say "not now" to the rest
• Turn a business or expansion idea into a concrete plan
• Decide where AI or other tech actually helps and what to skip
• Structure the team and make distributed work… work

If you're opening a restaurant, I can suggest software or sensors that help, but I can't tell you how to make cheaper pizza.

How much does it cost?

Nothing. I mentor in my free time because I enjoy it, so the project needs to interest me, and I need to feel that I can help.

The Rules

1. You talk first. I listen and map your world before I suggest anything. I do not come in with an agenda.
2. Confidentiality. What you share stays with me, but I'm not your lawyer, and I don't sign NDAs for free mentoring sessions.
3. Candor over comfort. I'll be direct. If something's weak, I'll say so and explain why.
4. The final decision is yours. I listen and advise and you make the decisions. At the end of the day, it's your company.

Why do I mentor?

When I started my first company, I had no mentors. I grew up in a working-class family with no business role models, so I learned many things the hard way.

Over time, I learned a simple truth: in business, actions and outcomes are often out of sync — what you decide now can echo years from now.

I mentor to help the earlier version of me avoid obvious traps, make better decisions sooner, and avoid irreparable mistakes that may cost you millions of dollars in the future. It's my way to give back to the world for all the good in my life.

What if I can't help?

I'm part of Venture Mentoring Team (VMT), a large network of hundreds of mentors with diverse expertise. If I'm not the right fit, I'll refer you to VMT or to someone better suited.