Mentor network

The people in
your corner.

Every Aeroventure student is matched one-on-one with a mentor from our network of founders, operators, investors, and domain experts. They provide advising, honest feedback, and industry guidance throughout your program.

25+

Active mentors

01

Get accepted

Aeroventure reviews your application and selects the next cohort of student founders.

02

We match you

Based on your idea, industry, and goals, we pair you with a mentor whose background aligns.

03

Start building

Meet at least every two weeks — in person or over video — for 1:1s, feedback, and strategy.

Oliver-Werner Kneittinger

Oliver-Werner Kneittinger

International Business & Public Relations

Oliver brings deep experience in international business and public relations, helping student founders think globally from day one — from cross-border market strategy to brand communication that resonates across cultures.

EntrepreneurshipMarketing
Nathaniel Niyazov

Nathaniel Niyazov

SaaS & E-Commerce Specialist

Nathaniel has built and launched SaaS products and e-commerce businesses, navigating everything from product-market fit to paid acquisition. He helps student founders move fast, validate early, and avoid common early-stage mistakes.

EntrepreneurshipEngineeringMarketing
Glenn Leibowitz

Glenn Leibowitz

Finance & Consulting

Glenn brings expertise in financial analysis, business consulting, and strategic advisory. He helps student founders build solid financial foundations — from understanding unit economics to structuring early client engagements.

FinanceEntrepreneurship
Yash Patel

Yash Patel

Aerospace Engineer & Photographer

Yash combines aerospace engineering with a creative eye for visual storytelling. He advises student founders at the intersection of technical product development and brand identity — helping them communicate complex ideas clearly.

EngineeringDesign
Shawn Roscoe

Shawn Roscoe

Public Safety & Search and Rescue

Shawn brings field-tested experience in public safety and search and rescue operations. He advises student founders working on safety-critical products and community impact ventures where mission and execution have real stakes.

Nonprofit / Social ImpactEngineering
Tom Rein

Tom Rein

Youth Entrepreneur & Engineer

Tom is a young entrepreneur and engineer specializing in the low altitude economy — drones, UAVs, and emerging aerial markets. He brings firsthand experience building ventures in cutting-edge aerospace sectors and mentors students on technical entrepreneurship.

EngineeringEntrepreneurship
Manuel Allinger

Manuel Allinger

Real Estate & Geotechnics

Manuel spans real estate development and geotechnical engineering. He helps student founders understand land, infrastructure, and property markets — and how to build ventures that are grounded in the physical world.

FinanceEngineering
Alyssa Kate Wong

Alyssa Kate Wong

Economics & Theatre

Alyssa brings a rare combination of economic analysis and performance arts. She coaches student founders on storytelling, presence, and pitch delivery — while grounding them in the market fundamentals that shape every business decision.

FinanceMarketingDesign
Exavier Brumfield

Exavier Brumfield

Managing Director & Business Strategist

Exavier is a managing director with deep expertise in business strategy and organizational leadership. He advises student founders on how to think like executives — building scalable systems and positioning ventures for long-term growth.

EntrepreneurshipFinance
Tom Walker

Tom Walker

Security & Aviation

Tom brings decades of experience in security and aviation, advising student founders on industries where safety, compliance, and trust are non-negotiable. He helps students in aviation, defense, and critical infrastructure think through risk from day one.

EngineeringNonprofit / Social Impact
Kyle J. Ginavan

Kyle J. Ginavan

Smart Technology & Insurance Distribution

Kyle operates at the intersection of smart technology and insurance distribution — two industries being rapidly reshaped by data and automation. He advises student founders on InsurTech, distribution strategy, and how emerging technology transforms traditional markets.

EntrepreneurshipFinanceEngineering
Ethan Strong

Ethan Strong

Business Management & Communications

Ethan brings experience in business management and communications, helping student founders develop the organizational and interpersonal skills that separate good ideas from successful ventures. He advises on team dynamics, stakeholder communication, and running a business day-to-day.

EntrepreneurshipMarketing
Shani Cohen

Shani Cohen

Real Estate & AI Consultant

Shani works at the intersection of real estate and artificial intelligence, advising businesses on how to apply AI to transform traditional industries. She helps student founders understand how emerging technology creates opportunity in asset-heavy markets — and how to build products that solve real-world problems.

FinanceEngineeringEntrepreneurship
Robert Fox

Robert Fox

Law Enforcement & Information Systems

Robert brings a career in law enforcement combined with expertise in information systems, advising student founders on security, data integrity, and the operational rigor required in high-stakes environments. He helps students building in public safety, civic tech, and information infrastructure think through compliance and trust from day one.

EngineeringNonprofit / Social Impact
Mara Visentin

Mara Visentin

Finance & Environmental Science

Mara bridges financial analysis and environmental science, advising student founders at the intersection of sustainability and business. She helps students building in clean energy, environmental impact, and ESG-driven markets understand both the science and the economics behind their ventures.

FinanceNonprofit / Social Impact
Tanner Derderian

Tanner Derderian

MBA & Business Consultant

Tanner holds an MBA and brings hands-on consulting experience across strategy, operations, and business development. He helps student founders think through their business models rigorously, pressure-test their assumptions, and build with the discipline of a trained strategist.

EntrepreneurshipFinance
Matthew Choe

Matthew Choe

Finance & Economics

Emory University

Matthew studies finance and economics at Emory University, bringing an academically rigorous and analytically sharp perspective to early-stage ventures. He helps student founders understand financial modeling, market economics, and how to make data-driven decisions from day one.

FinanceEntrepreneurship
Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson

Client Relationship Manager

Danny specializes in building and sustaining client relationships across complex organizations. He advises student founders on customer success, retention strategy, and how to turn early customers into long-term advocates — the foundation of any durable business.

EntrepreneurshipMarketing
Imran Siddiqui

Imran Siddiqui

Economics & Molecular Engineering

Imran bridges economics and molecular engineering — two fields that increasingly intersect in biotech, materials science, and deep tech startups. He advises student founders on the business models behind science-driven ventures and how to think about commercializing hard technology.

EngineeringFinance
Eric Zhang

Eric Zhang

Economics & Finance

NYU

Eric studies economics at NYU and brings an analytical, research-grounded perspective to early-stage ventures. He advises student founders on economic modeling, market sizing, and the financial frameworks that turn a good idea into a defensible business.

FinanceEntrepreneurship
Niamh Craven

Niamh Craven

Business Development & Digital Construction

Niamh specializes in business development, digital construction, and data solutions — helping organizations modernize how they plan, build, and operate. She advises student founders on leveraging data and digital tools to create competitive advantages in construction, real estate, and infrastructure markets.

EntrepreneurshipEngineering
Monte J. Chambers

Monte J. Chambers

Consultant & Public Speaker

Monte is a seasoned consultant and public speaker who helps leaders and founders communicate with clarity, conviction, and impact. He advises student founders on presentation skills, personal brand, and how to command a room — whether pitching investors or speaking to customers.

EntrepreneurshipMarketing
Joyce Wang

Joyce Wang

Mentor

Joyce brings professional expertise and industry insight to Aeroventure's mentor network, guiding student founders through the challenges of building a business from the ground up.

Entrepreneurship
Sophie Rokshar

Sophie Rokshar

Mentor

Sophie contributes deep domain knowledge and a commitment to developing the next generation of Long Island entrepreneurs through hands-on advising and strategic guidance.

Entrepreneurship
Tiffany Liu

Tiffany Liu

Mentor

Tiffany brings valuable perspective and professional experience to student founders, helping them navigate early-stage challenges and build ventures with confidence and clarity.

Entrepreneurship
Shawn Bodmann

Shawn Bodmann

Energy Solutions & Consulting

Shawn specializes in energy solutions and consulting, helping organizations navigate the transition to sustainable energy systems. He advises student founders on building ventures in the energy sector — from clean tech and grid infrastructure to energy efficiency and resource management.

EntrepreneurshipEngineering

Join our network

Interested in mentoring?

If you're a founder, operator, or domain expert and want to support the next generation of Long Island entrepreneurs, we'd love to hear from you.