Mentors

During the iQ workshops take advantage of our network of professional mentors looking to hear about your ideas and help you develop them. These professional mentors range from current and former entrepreneurs to experienced angel investors. The mentors will attend all of the workshops, network with all of the teams, evaluate final applications, and participate in the judging process. They are here for your success! Please contact the iQ team to be in touch with any of our mentors outside of the workshops. If you are interested in becoming a mentor in the iQ program, please contact Kevin Gardiner at kevin.gardiner@uconn.edu


Mentor Name
Area of Expertise

Bahl, Ashok

Supply Chain, Consumer Packaged Goods, Grocery, Wholesale, Business Generalist

Baker, David

Finance, Operations

Behandish, Morad

Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science

Belsky, Jonathan

Product Design, Mobile Applications, Web Development

Berg, Dan

Technology, SaaS, Product, Operations, Business Generalist

Bouley, Kevin

Business Generalist

Chale, Marc

 

Chen, Carson

Innovation Quest – Managing Partner, Business Strategy, Business Development, Technology, Team Building, Product Development, Keen Ability to Listen

Chen, Nelson

Sales

Chrosniak, Alycia

Brand and Venture Development

Cieslak, Tim

Patent Law, Intellectual Property

Cremins, Matt

Engineering, Business Startups, Real Estate

Daneshmandi, Leila

Biotech, Healthcare, Engineering, Technology, Idea Generation, Product-Market Fit

DeLisle, Pete

Entrepreneurial Leadership, Commerce, Engineering, Architecture

Dino, Rich

Former Director, UConn Innovation Quest Program, Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Evans, Annette

Biology, Science/STEM Fields, Small Business Startups in CT

Fagan, Tim

Startup Strategy, Business Development, Artificial Intelligence, Nutritional Science

Fiorita, Rick

Digital Communications, Commerce, Fintech, Company Culture, Business Strategy

Fox, Keith

Innovation Quest Founder, Brand Strategy, Product Development and Positioning, Marketing, Management, Finance

Gardiner, Kevin

Director, UConn Innovation Quest Program, Operations, Customer Service, Retail, SaaS, Startup Strategy

Gehring, Julie

Communication, Public Relations, Community Building

Littmann, Michael

 

Mathieu, Jennifer

Executive Director at CCEI; Startup Advisory, Small Business Support

Menard, Dave

Law

Noble, David

Business Model Development, Digital Innovation

O’Connor, Joe

Business Development, SaaS, Startup Strategy, Business Modeling, Venture Funding, People Management, Marketing, Branding, Pitch Training

O’Neil, Brooks

Healthcare, Consumer Packaged Goods, Financial Services

Rocha, Kathy

Startup Strategy, Technology, Business Generalist

Schloss, Gary

Manufacturing, Design, Prototyping, International Business

Shannon, Tim

Healthcare With a Focus on Biopharmaceuticals

Smith, Mark R.

Technical: Scientific Imaging and Geoscientific Research
Operations: Accounting, Product Development, Small Business Management, Sales & Marketing, Capital Growth & Cashflow Strategies

Tansey, Hugh

General Management, Product Development & Launch, Sales & Service

West, Steve

Supply Chain & Supplier Relationships, Manufacturing, Business Management