Our Mentors | Sunstone Innovation Challenge
Behind every Sunstone Innovation Challenge team is a mentor who’s 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
💼 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.
⚙️ 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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, Graphic Design
🎨 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 . His research spans UX/UI, typography, and linguistics.
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The INDUStry Show
💼 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
💼 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
💼 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
⚙️ Engineering & Tech
Brian has 15+ years in engineering, strategy, and operations, and co-founded 's Apostle Incubator. He mentors students navigating engineering careers, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking.
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Vizibly
💼 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
⚙️ 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 “second brain” tool for individuals.
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Blue-X
⚙️ Engineering & Tech
Ocean technology and biotech expert, co-founder and CSO at Blue-X. Advises startups with experience in market research and entrepreneurship mentoring.
📈 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
📈 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
⚙️ Engineering & Tech
Lynn's background spans corporate, entrepreneurial, and government technology roles. He co-authored the bestselling textbook “Nanotechnology: Science, Innovation & Opportunity” and chairs the Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum.
J.P. Morgan
📈 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
💼 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
💼 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
💼 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
⚙️ 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
📈 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
📈 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
💼 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
🎨 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
💼 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
⚙️ 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
📈 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
⚙️ 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
⚙️ 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 “Supply Chains to Virtual Integration.”
Riggs Creative Group
🎨 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
⚙️ 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
💼 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.
💼 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
📈 Investment & Growth
Financial professional with expertise in business analytics, financial reporting, and management consulting. Multilingual in English, Spanish, and German.
P2S Inc.
⚙️ Engineering & Tech
Travis has 30+ years managing consulting, engineering, design, and construction projects, spanning infrastructure, energy, and environmental remediation.
WorkOnward
⚙️ 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
🎨 Design & Branding
Nathalie is Founder and President of Zydeco Design, with 15+ years helping organizations clarify their brand identity and value proposition.
