Arash Adami is a neuroscientist and has over 15+ research experience, ranging from stem cells to brain injury and MRI physics. His career includes 5 years as a regulatory affairs professional attending multiple FDA meeting and he has founded 2 startups (medtech, gaming). Currently, Arash is the director of the CTE Neurotechnology Lab at SDSU, teaches neuroscience and data literacy courses, and a University Senator.

CRVFT is disrupting the men’s grooming industry with premium hair styling and facial care products designed to help men look and feel their best with minimal effort and expense. We’ve simplified keeping men’s grooming to be up to date with fashion trends and matching their lifestyle with the correct products while integrating the highest tested ingredients. Since starting the company in 2018, we’ve earned the Amazon’s Choice Badge across our product line and impacted thousands of men to look good, feel good, and be great. Prior to CRVFT, I helped scale and co-lead Tinuiti’s (FKA CPC Strategy) Amazon Department for 4 years, becoming the largest Amazon Ad Agency in the world. My primary focus was on growth opportunities and keeping Tinuiti ahead of its competitors by constantly evolving and improving the online experiences of clients so they could thrive on bottom-of-the-funnel and top-of-the-funnel retail search channels. Additionally, I serve as a mentor to students through the San Diego State University's Aztec Mentor and Lavin Program. My commitment to SDSU is driven by my experience there as Student Body Vice President, which uniquely placed me as COO of Associated Students, a $30M student-directed not-for-profit auxiliary organization of San Diego State University.

Joel is the founder and CEO of Partner in Aging, Technologies. Partner in Aging is an AI-powered platform (web and mobile app) designed to help families keep their aging loved ones safe and independent at home. By guiding families to create and execute a personalized aging-in-place plan, it ensures seniors are safe, healthy, and prepared for the future.
At the core of Partner in Aging is an AI-powered Virtual Expert (VE), built with real-world expertise from geriatric physicians, registered nurses, aging care managers, grief counselors, and financial and insurance specialists. This Virtual Expert guides families step by step, helping them create and implement a plan that ensures their loved one can age safely at home.Prior to Partner in Aging, Joel was the co-founder of a digital health company called TOVI Health (ZIP Alumni)
Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, Joel has a Computer Science degree from Dalhousie University and Executive MBA from San Diego State.

Founded Shake Smart 15 years ago as a student at San Diego State University. The brand has now grown to over 50 locations across 18 states with a staff of over 1,000. Kevin was also a part of the Lavin program in its second year. 

I’m positive, purpose driven and problem solver individual. I’m very passionate and enthusiastic about building system to enhance technology and society. I challenge myself every day to learn something new and apply learning to build products. 

Tim Hance is the founder of Hance Fractional Counsel, PC, a boutique law practice that provides fractional general counsel services to venture-backed startups. Previously, Mr. Hance served as general counsel for both public and private companies. In addition to managing the day-to-day legal matters, he has completed numerous strategic transactions, including venture capital financings, initial public offerings, spin-outs, and mergers/acquisitions. Mr. Hance graduated from Harvard Law School and began his law career at the top Silicon Valley-based law firm Cooley LLP, where he specialized in representing startups. Prior to becoming an attorney, he was a senior business analyst at a large Silicon Valley startup.
Mr. Hance grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys board games and surfing in his free time.

Jeff Hinshaw is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of TAP, Inc., a patented U.S. payment and investment platform modernizing financial access through blockchain and AI-driven infrastructure. He is also the Co-Founder and COO of HUMBL, Inc., a publicly traded fintech company focused on simplifying digital payments and financial technology for global users.

Andrew is an experienced Retail and Real Estate Professional skilled in Operations, Sales, Management, Business Development, and Marketing Strategy. I grew up working in a family business and spent 20 years growing our retail chain to 14 locations in California. Currently working at Redfin as a realtor. Connector, Mentor, and member of San Diego Angel Conference (SDAC) Fund VII. Sales and Marketing professional with a MBA focused in Entrepreneurship from SDSU.

My name is Jim Meyerott. I am an SDSU alumni, graduated in 2015 with a degree in Finance. I am currently the owner of a popcorn company called PartyPop since 2018. We sell our popcorn wholesale, events, festivals and do private catering as well.

Jenna has spent her career at fast-growing startups, first in tech, later in consumer health. After successfully co-founding, growing & exiting a women's health company based in San Diego, she has stayed committed to making an impact in her community, and continues to advise other entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders.

Michael Selepec is a startup builder with 15+ years of experience helping companies grow from early stage to global scale. He was part of the early teams at Yammer, Eaze, and Bird, leading partnerships, go-to-market strategy, and operations. Today, he runs his own consulting firm and enjoys sharing lessons learned with students and future founders who want to create things people love.

Jeff Silver, Founder and Recent Owner of Rough Draft Brewing Company After graduating from UCSD in 1994, Jeff began a career in technology sales with Maxwell Technologies. After receiving his MBA from UCI in 2002, he transitioned to executive positions in marketing with Capital One Bank and Kemper Insurance and then on to building a business with Rough Draft Brewing Company in 2012. Jeff’s hobby turned passion then career began shortly after graduating from UCSD as he began making beer with a home brewing kit he received as a gift from his parents. With many a batch tested on his roommates and friends, he eventually became an award winning home brewer with local and national honors. Rough Draft began with support and investment from a number of UCSD and UCI classmates and has grown from one brewer and a few beer tenders to a staff of 18 in brewery operations, sales and the tasting room. Over the past few years, the brewery has expanded and evolved from the brewery tasting room to include domestic and international distribution, a kitchen that serves food to tasting room patrons, and a pub on campus is the Mesa Nueva graduate student housing area at UCSD, and a tasting room at the popular Sky Deck in the Del Mar Highlands.

Steve Sivitz has over 35 years experience in technology business development, product management and marketing, international sales relationships, and business P&L management. He has had senior roles in large corporations such as Qualcomm, Motorola, Siemens, and Viasat, down to starting three companies.
Steve is currently advising start-ups, small businesses, and corporate clients with a focus on customer discovery, sales strategies, product roadmaps, and comprehensive business plans. He is a mentor with SCORE San Diego, sits on its Leadership Committee, and Leads Community Engagement.

Tracy is a passionate product leader with broad experience in all aspects of product management, including product strategy and prioritization frameworks, product discovery, end-to-end customer experience design and optimization, user research, iterative development, go-to-market planning and product market fit. She has led product teams at GoDaddy, Appfolio and Intuit, among others, and has overseen the conception, execution and delivery of several category-leading products.

My UC Irvine Computer Science degree led to over a decade in domestic and global management consulting, traveling the world for client projects.  I was one of 85k global professionals that got “Enroned” and I traded my suitcase for the sunny stability of San Diego, and transitioned into a role in Corporate Strategy and Planning at Sony HQ.  Recently taking an early retirement option and integrating into the vibrant local San Diego tech, life sciences, and education communities, and exploring the world of angel investing. 

Shirley Yager is a business and market development executive with 20+ years of experience evaluating, quantifying, and validating new markets, business opportunities, and launching high tech products. Her work results in the generation of new revenue streams and the creation of new business units. Most recently, she served as the Director of Product Management at Qualcomm where she analyzed new growth areas, M&A deals, and formulated strategy for Qualcomm’s $6+ billion technology licensing business. In the past, Shirley has worked with startup companies, both as a part of the founding team and as a consultant. With depth of experience in market research, marketing, product development, product management, and business development, Shirley wears multiple hats when serving in an executive role and as an individual contributor for these startups.