I first joined GATSVI in Summer 2019 as a fellow in their flagship startup incubator. The program was fast-paced and high-stakes: in just 10 days, I ideated, designed, and launched a product, culminating in a pitch to a panel of Bay Area venture capitalists. That pitch led to $7,500 in pre-seed capital to build my first startup, Zeta — my earliest experience turning an idea into something real under pressure.

After the program, I was invited back to mentor future cohorts. Every year since, I’ve worked closely with 3 batches of 12 fellows per, helping them shape early ideas into launch-ready products. I’ve supported teams through product sprints, pitch development, and fundraising — some of whom have gone on to raise capital, be featured in Forbes, and build lasting relationships with top-tier investors in the Bay Area.

In addition to mentoring, I now serve on GATSVI’s board. I help manage a $1M portfolio of fellow-founded startups, conduct quarterly board reviews to assess performance, and support recruitment for each new incubator class. What started as a single pitch turned into years of investing in the next wave of builders.

Website: www.gatsvi.org