startup-mentoring
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Aaron Kennedy and the Value of a Bad Review
A noodle shop gave Aaron Kennedy an idea. A bruising start taught the Noodles & Company founder how to make it work - and when to let other people take it further.
Marc Randolph and the idea that survived the mail
Before Netflix became a streaming habit, Marc Randolph put a disc in an envelope. His story turns on the less glamorous work that followed: changing the business, sharing control, and learning which part of the job he wanted to keep.
Mun Yew Wong and the Other Side of the Table
Before founding Imagene Labs, Mun Yew Wong spent years assessing other people’s companies. His career between Singapore, Silicon Valley and China offers a closer look at what changes when an investor becomes a founder.
Edwin Tay and the business of choosing a future
A niece’s confusing university search set Edwin Tay on a new course. The EasyUni co-founder’s story runs through rented laptops, a printed guidebook and the practical work of helping people decide what comes next.
Marcus Tan and the art of opening doors
After nearly 15 years leading Healthengine, Marcus Tan handed over the keys. His next chapter is about helping other founders, leaders and givers find their way in.
Rami Katz and the business of helping people begin
He came to Rochester for an MBA and stayed to help build young companies. Now Excell’s CEO, Rami Katz brings a lawyer’s discipline to early-stage investing - and keeps making time for the next generation.
Aaron Walls and the trouble with leaving things unattended
A hot Atlanta apartment helped send Aaron Walls into brewing hardware. After crowdfunding, Shark Tank and years of helping other founders, the Boulder entrepreneur is working on another unruly system: AI agents.
Victor Dong and the education of a venture builder
At MIT Sloan, Victor Dong helped turn a cohort of classmates into a venture network. His work with TwentySix Ventures, C10 Labs, and ClarityNorth Partners follows a practical question: how does a promising idea become a working business?
Matt Downs and the distance between talent and opportunity
The Sandbox Industries co-CEO has spent two decades connecting capital with companies. His work with students around the world asks a more personal question: who gets a chance to join in?
Jeff White and the art of leaving room for the team
A former varsity basketball captain became a finance executive, then an early-stage investor. At NBIF, Jeff White is learning how to help New Brunswick companies grow without making himself the centre of every play.
Chris Burry and the distance between an idea and a company
From Avanade’s founding team to startup classrooms across borders, Chris Burry has spent his career working on a stubborn problem: helping capable people become capable founders.
Asaf Amit Learned to Make Empty Rooms Tell Better Stories
The Apply Design co-founder turned experience in 3D, VR and computer vision into a practical lesson: people do not buy square footage alone. They buy the life they can picture inside it.