Mentors
Mentors
Desai's wide network of experienced advisors volunteer with us as mentors, industry experts, investors, speakers, workshop leaders, skilled networkers, and fellow entrepreneurs. Located across the country, they consult with founders in-person and remotely on topics ranging from investor relations to legal aid.
Below are just a few of the startup experts who graciously volunteer their time with Desai teams.
Desai's wide network of experienced advisors volunteer with us as mentors, industry experts, investors, speakers, workshop leaders, skilled networkers, and fellow entrepreneurs. Located across the country, they consult with founders in-person and remotely on topics ranging from investor relations to legal aid. Below are just a few of the startup experts who graciously volunteer their time with Desai teams.

Kelly LaPierre
Startup Consultant, Founding Managing Director, Desai Accelerator

Jonn Behrman
VP Program Management & Ann Arbor GM, Criteo

Josh Botkin
Lecturer & Entrepreneur in Residence, Zell Lurie Institute

Paul Brown
Partner, Michigan eLabs/eLab Ventures
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Amy Cell
Chief Matchmaker, Amy Cell Talent LLC

Bikram Chatterji
Managing Director, Maximum Fun

Jonathan Chizick
Head of Marketing, AppZen

Ted Dacko
Founder & Consultant, Arbor Dakota Strategies

Melanie de Vries
Consultant, SBDC Tech Team

Jonathan Fay
Executive Director, Center for Entrepreneurship

Adrian Fortino
Partner, Mercury Fund

Charles Fry
Founder, Code Éxitos

Pete Giordano
Startup Advisor, GoStart.co

Michael Godwin
Managing Director, Resonant Venture Partners

Mike Johnson
Faculty & Entrepreneur in Residence, Zell Lurie Institute

Nate Johnson
Chief Marketing Officer, Realtor.com

Satish Katpally
Product Strategy Advisor, Independent Consultant

Bob Kuehne
President, Blue Newt Software & Renaissance Sciences Corporation

Eugene Lee
Investor, OMERS Ventures

Ethan Linkner
CEO, Screencastify
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Satish Malnaik
CEO, NextServices Inc

Lisa McLaughlin
CEO & Co-Founder, WorkIt Health

Renee Rhoten Morris
CCO, Uncle Funky's Daughter

Rishi Narayan
Founder & Managing Owner, Underground Printing/ChiBor Angels

Rajesh Nerlikar
Director of Workplace Products, Morningstar

Eric Nuzum
Co-founder, Magnificient Noise

Hirakh Parikh
Seed Fund Program Manager, Center for Entrepreneurship & Fast Forward Medical Innovation

Jim Price
Faculty & Entrepreneur in Residence, Zell Lurie Institute

Jeff Rinvelt
Principal, Renaissance Venture Capital Fund

Jeremy Schneider
Founder, Personal Finance Club

Deb Siegle
Principal, Strategic Marketing Solutions

Heath Silverman
Co-Founder & CEO, Stessa

Mickey Swortzel
CFO & Founder, New Eagle

Stefan Sysko
Co-Founder & CEO, Citizen Retail

Edward Tang
Co-Founder & CTO, Avegant Corporation

Dana Thompson
Clinical Professor of Law & Director of Entrepreneurship Clinic, University of Michigan Law School

Stewart Thornhill
Executive Director, Zell Lurie Institute

Jim Vitek
VP Digital Commerce, Yum! Brands

Robert Vogt
CEO, IOSiX

Richard Walker
Co-Founder, Impellia

Christina York
CEO, SpellBound

Grow With Google
2021 Consultant

Siren PR
2021 Consultant

Kelly LaPierrek
Startup Consultant, Founding Managing Director, Desai Accelerator

Jonn Behrman
VP Program Management & Ann Arbor GM, Criteo

Josh Botkin
Lecturer & Entrepreneur in Residence, Zell Lurie Institute

Paul Brown
Partner, Michigan eLabs/eLab Ventures

Amy Cell
Chief Matchmaker, Amy Cell Talent LLC

Bikram Chatterji
Managing Director, Maximum Fun

Jonathan Chizick
Head of Marketing, AppZen

Ted Dacko
Founder & Consultant, Arbor Dakota Strategies

Melanie de Vries
Consultant, SBDC Tech Team

Jonathan Fay
Executive Director, Center for Entrepreneurship

Adrian Fortino
Partner, Mercury Fund

Charles Fry
Founder, Code Exitos

Pete Giordano
Startup Advisor, GoStart.co

Michael Godwin
Managing Director, Resonant Venture Partners

Mike Johnson
Faculty & Entrepreneur in Residence, Zell Lurie Institute

Nate Johnson
Chief Marketing Officer, Realtor.com

Satish Katpally
Product Strategy Advisor, Independent Consultant

Bob Kuhne
President, Blue Newt Software & Renaissance Sciences Corporation

Eugene Lee
Investor, OMERS Ventures

Ethan Linkner
CEO, Screencastify

Satish Malnaik
CEO, NextServices Inc

Lisa McLaughlin
CEO & Co-Founder, Workit Health

Renee Rhoten Morris
CCO, Uncle Funky's Uncle

Rishi Narayan
Founder & Managing Owner, Underground Printing/ChiBor Angels

Rajesh Nerlikar
Director of Workplace Products, Morningstar

Eric Nuzum
Co-Founder, Magnificent Noise

Hirakh Parikh
Seed Fund Program Manager, Center for Entrepreneurship & Fast Forward Medical Innovation

Faculty & Entrepreneur in Residence, Zell Lurie Institute
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Jeff Rinvelt
Principal, Renaissance Venture Capital Fund

Jeremy Schneider
Founder, Personal Finance Club

Deb Siegle
Principal, Strategic Marketing Solutions

Heath Silverman
Co-Founder & CEO, Stessa

Mickey Swortzel
CFO & Founder, New Eagle

Stefan Sysko
Co-Founder & CEO, Citizen Retail

Edward Tang
Co-Founder & CTO, Avegant Corporation

Dana Thompson
Clinical Professor of Law & Director of Entrepreneurship Clinic, University of Michigan Law School

Stewart Thornhill
Executive Director, Zell Lurie Institute

Jim Vitek
VP Digital Commerce, Yum! Brands

Robert Vogt
CEO, IOSiX

Richard Walker
Co-Founder, Impellia

Christina York
CEO, SpellBound

Grow With Google
2021 Consultant

Siren PR
2021 Consultant