Our Mentors | Sunstone Innovation Challenge
Behind every Sunstone Innovation Challenge team is a mentor who鈥檚 been there, built that, and is ready to give back. Meet our mentors that are helping the next generation of founders turn bold ideas into real-world ventures.
This Wall Is Full of People Like You
Every mentor on our wall has built something real and helped founders reach for their stars. Add your name and help the next generation of entrepreneurs go further.
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Tribal Engineering LLC
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Dan brings 20+ years solving complex engineering challenges for aerospace, defense, and renewable energy manufacturers. He specializes in helping startups turn visions into reality, with deep expertise guiding companies into North American markets.
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P2S Inc.
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Greg is a civil engineer with 20+ years specializing in ports, harbors, environmental planning, and regulatory compliance. He helps teams build sustainable solutions that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship.
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色中色, Graphic Design
馃帹 Design & Branding
Sam is a graphic designer and information architect with 20+ years in interaction and web/mobile design, and an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at 色中色. His research spans UX/UI, typography, and linguistics.
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The INDUStry Show
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Nitin is a growth strategist with expertise in product management, digital innovation, and business development. He hosts The INDUStry Show, sharing insights from industry leaders with aspiring entrepreneurs.
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Pelagic
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Natan blends nearly two decades as an educator with hands-on experience scaling a family business through acquisition. He now helps CPG brand founders launch and scale in collaboration with Pelagic.
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Materion Corporation
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Uli is a C-level executive with a track record leading global manufacturing companies, including as President of Heraeus and SVP Operations at Materia Corporation. He has built and led teams across the US, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and China.
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Boeing
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Brian has 15+ years in engineering, strategy, and operations, and co-founded 色中色's Apostle Incubator. He mentors students navigating engineering careers, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking.
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Vizibly
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Briant is Co-Founder of Vizibly, a decision-intelligence platform for multifamily real estate. He brings a background in revenue management and business intelligence from Steadfast and Greystar, blended with Silicon Valley startup thinking.
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Wayfinder
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Nick is a systems-oriented technology strategist with a background in backend engineering and enterprise systems, helping people turn complexity into clear, actionable plans. He's currently building Wayfinder, a 鈥渟econd brain鈥 tool for individuals.
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Blue-X
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Ocean technology and biotech expert, co-founder and CSO at Blue-X. Advises startups with experience in market research and entrepreneurship mentoring.
馃搱 Investment & Growth
Rosemary is a retired television executive who now invests in and manages a property portfolio. She's been involved in numerous tech startups and mentors entrepreneurs through SCORE Long Beach.
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PureFit
馃搱 Investment & Growth
Robb is affiliated with OC & IE SBDC and is founder/CEO of PureFit, with expertise in the nutrition bar industry, international business expansion, and export strategies.
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Z-Field Technologies
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Lynn's background spans corporate, entrepreneurial, and government technology roles. He co-authored the bestselling textbook 鈥淣anotechnology: Science, Innovation & Opportunity鈥 and chairs the Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum.
J.P. Morgan
馃搱 Investment & Growth
Nick is an Associate on J.P. Morgan's Innovation Economy Startup Banking team, partnering with pre-seed and seed-stage founders on banking, treasury, and financial foundations. He brings a founder-first, execution-oriented mindset to mentoring.
CSU Dominguez Hills
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Michael has 23+ years founding, funding, and mentoring startups, and serves as Entrepreneurship Faculty and Executive Director of The Entrepreneurial Institute at CSU Dominguez Hills. He's also an active angel investor.
Wiggins Hunter Consulting Group
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Tasha is Founder & CEO of Wiggins Hunter Consulting Group, with 20+ years across business development, project management, and economic development. She also works in education and the arts, including at Long Beach City College.
xStear Incorporation
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Girish co-founded an IT consulting firm delivering solutions across healthcare, insurance, finance, and retail, drawing on three decades of tech experience. He's also an active angel investor with 20+ startup investments.
Wiz-a-Witz
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Serial entrepreneur and innovator with expertise in AgTech, AdTech, and educational technology. Founder of multiple startups, skilled in strategic partnerships, branding, and product design.
PteraX Capital
馃搱 Investment & Growth
Yan is an entrepreneur turned investor with a track record of helping companies expand globally. He specializes in identifying market opportunities and building diverse, talented teams.
SpaceX
馃搱 Investment & Growth
Calvin is a three-time Innovation Challenge finalist and 2017 winning team member, now at SpaceX after leading a manufacturing company to nearly $500K in annual EBITDA. He mentors students on business strategy and leadership.
LandCare Tech
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Frank is President/COO of LandCare Tech (formerly Mario's Tree Service), a national leader in vegetation management and emergency disaster recovery with 16+ years of experience.
Sensis
馃帹 Design & Branding
Jeffrey has 30+ years leading marketing research, strategy, and integrated advertising campaigns across a wide range of industries. He specializes in solving complex, multifaceted marketing challenges.
Cerebral Blue
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Kent is a channel sales leader who builds strategic alliances with ISVs, systems integrators, and major tech companies. He specializes in enablement programs and go-to-market strategies that drive revenue growth.
Walmart Global Tech
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Kapil is a Senior Software Engineering Leader at Walmart Global Tech with nearly two decades building large-scale digital health and commerce platforms. He regularly mentors startups at the intersection of AI and digital health.
TiE SoCal Angels
馃搱 Investment & Growth
Shankar is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor with four successful company exits over 20+ years. He chairs TiE SoCal Angels and serves on the TiE Global Board, actively investing in and mentoring early-stage startups.
Gigaforce
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Rajeev has 25+ years building data and AI strategies for Fortune 500 organizations including Molina Healthcare, Toyota Financial, and Farmers Insurance. He co-founded Gigaforce, an AI-driven claims and legal technology platform.
Reddy Consulting Group
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Ram is a technology executive who aligns IT strategy with business goals for Fortune 500 companies across Aerospace & Defense and Financial Services. He authored 鈥淪upply Chains to Virtual Integration.鈥
Riggs Creative Group
馃帹 Design & Branding
Entrepreneur and marketing expert, founder and managing partner of Riggs Creative Group. Expertise in strategic communication, integrated marketing, and business development.
Sensei Ag
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Marcus is a senior engineering executive with deep experience in AgTech, robotics, and sustainable technologies. He has a strong track record commercializing new technologies and building strategic partnerships.
Saguna Consulting Services
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Venkatesh is CEO of Saguna Consulting Services, with expertise in digital transformation, technology solutions, and business strategy. His background spans engineering and international marketing.
Madas Inc.
馃捈 Business & Strategy
Experienced business development executive with expertise in sales management, technology startups, and international market expansion. Background spans aviation, computer science, and finance.
Management Consulting
馃搱 Investment & Growth
Financial professional with expertise in business analytics, financial reporting, and management consulting. Multilingual in English, Spanish, and German.
P2S Inc.
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Travis has 30+ years managing consulting, engineering, design, and construction projects, spanning infrastructure, energy, and environmental remediation.
WorkOnward
鈿欙笍 Engineering & Tech
Rahul (BCS Fellow) has 15+ years in technology and innovation, holding 59 U.S. patents from his time at Dell and HPE. He actively mentors engineers and entrepreneurs.
Zydeco Design
馃帹 Design & Branding
Nathalie is Founder and President of Zydeco Design, with 15+ years helping organizations clarify their brand identity and value proposition.
