Your Mentors

Chad is a maestro in the Arts and Entertainment industry, having made his mark as an Artistic Director / Producer for renowned companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Franco Dragone, MGM and many more. Beyond that, he's a serial entrepreneur, bringing his creative expertise to various ventures. From crafting unforgettable experiences in theme parks to leaving his artistic touch on TV and orchestrating large-scale events and productions, Chad's passion and skill make him a standout in the industry.  Chad currently serves as an assistant professor for the Production & Project Management graduate program at the UNCSA School of Design and Production. 

​

With his rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Chad will be at the event to guide you through customer and idea validation, as well as foster creativity and innovation. 

​

Chad says he's most excited about: “creative people + creative processes = transformative experiences.”

Jenn Hensel is the Founder & Chief Strategist of ElePitch, supporting entrepreneurs with pitch and public speaking and ESOs with pitch events and accelerator programs. According to Jenn, entrepreneurs attending Techstars Startup Weekend can expect an abundance of opportunities through this event.

 

Jenn Hensel believes in the transformative power of this experience, and her insights are a testament to the boundless potential that awaits every entrepreneur stepping into the Techstars ecosystem.  Jenn has designed and facilitated startup workshops and accelerator programs and understands founders' struggles communicating their vision to key stakeholders. 

 

With her rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Jenn will be at the event to guide you through pitch decks and customer and idea validation. 

 

Jenn says she’s most excited about, “Watching strangers collaborate, innovate, and challenge each other! And how we, as mentors, can support new ideas, new business models, new minds, and more new startups coming out of the Triad!”

Leo Jerez, is the Senior Manager of Software Engineering at Inmar Intelligence. In his role at Inmar Intelligence, Leo is at the forefront of software engineering, and now he's extending his expertise to Techstars Startup Weekend Winston-Salem. His enthusiasm for this new adventure is contagious, and he's ready to make a significant impact on the journey of budding entrepreneurs.  He's eager to explore the diverse range of problems identified and witness the ingenious business solutions that teams will craft during this transformative experience.

 

Leo shared his thoughts on Techstars and said, “It is a great opportunity to network with other professionals, kickstart an idea into a business, and get early research and validation for their startup venture.” His words resonate with the spirit of innovation that this event embodies. 

 

With his rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Leo will be at the event to guide you through tech.

 

Leo says he’s most excited about: “Getting to meet and network with the innovators and ideators of our local community and seeing what sorts of problems are identified and the business solutions that the teams come up with.”

Founder of "Go For It, Creative", Taryn Jerez is a creative business business coach and industry expert empowering women to show up boldly and go after what they want most to create the wildly passionate and profitable version of their business they can’t stop dreaming about.

 

She believes that just because you can build a business by yourself it doesn't mean you have to. Taryn has served hundreds of small business owners over the last 8 years through her 1:1 coaching clients, speaking at events, hosting workshops and building community. Taryn also hosts the Empowered for Profit Collective, a monthly membership for women creatives to make meaningful moves in their business through high touch support and accountability. 

 

With her rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Taryn will be at the event to guide you through marketing, as well as branding. 

 

Taryn says she’s most excited about: “Hearing what ideas get sparked on Day 1, during that initial brainstorming activities, and seeing the different teams coming together and lean on one another's skill sets as they curate their pitches.”

Leah Wyrick is a recent graduate from Wake Forest University's Business School, where she concentrated on Marketing and minored in Entrepreneurship. At a young age of 19, she founded Three Strands Recovery Wear and created the Resilience Bra to address postoperative complications for breast cancer and breast cosmetic surgery patients. Inspired by her mother's breast cancer diagnosis, she recognized the potential to make a meaningful impact in people's lives.

 

As the CEO of Three Strands Recovery Wear, her focus has been on driving growth and expanding the brand's presence in the healthcare industry. With a true passion for product development, she thrives on challenges and embraces the opportunity to think outside the box. She firmly believes that valuable work is achieved by constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. 

 

With her rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Leah will be at the event to guide you through customer & idea validation, as well as foster creativity & innovation. 

Leah says she's most excited about: “The opportunity to meet new entrepreneurs and hear their innovative ideas first hand. Additionally, I look forward to the potential learning experiences and fresh perspectives that mentoring at this event can offer, which may reignite my own enthusiasm and creativity in my business ventures.”

Santiago Ramos, one of the brilliant minds behind the Wingme app – your go-to smart hospitality tool revolutionizing event interactions and data collection! Fresh from conquering the TechnoArt startup accelerator, Santiago and his team are now teaming up with the global powerhouse, Selina, a dynamic co-working, and hospitality company. 

 

He's a Techstars Startup Weekends veteran, having rocked not one, but two events – one at the buzzing Flywheel and another at the vibrant Knox Street Studios. 

 

With his rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Santiago will be at the event to guide you through tech, as well as product development and definition.

 Santiago says he’s most excited about supporting and empowering young entrepreneurs.

Q. Nicole Vanderhorst is the CEO of WH Farms Co - a USDA licensed, vertically integrated botanical manufacturing company based in Charlotte, a turn-key solution for businesses/brands providing everything from private label CBD products like bath bombs and body scrubs to FDA compliant marketing. As a B2B company, WH Farms helps wellness entrepreneurs like home health nurses, chiropractors and massage therapists along with other brands and businesses, launch their CBD product line.

 

With a seasoned leadership team, committed in exchange for equity, this company has secured trademarks, established key departments, and crafted exceptional hemp formulations through organic practices, positioning us for substantial growth. Q. Nicole shared with us that “Winston Salem is a great meeting place in the state to attract innovative Southeastern startup talent because it offers the most hospitable environment so the upcoming TechStars Startup Weekend is the perfect time and space to incubate ideas and be a huge success!” 

 

With her rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Nicole will be at the event to guide you through marketing, as well as foster customer & idea validation. 

 

Q. Nicole said she’s most excited about: “Extending her experience and expertise to budding & excited entrepreneurs (and absorbing their great energy) and supporting the mission of Techstars Weekend.”

Mike Schmid, co-founder of inStryde and a 2022 Techstars SportsTech Melbourne Accelerator alum.

Mike is geared up to actively support your entrepreneurial journey by mentoring during the Techstars Startup Weekend Winston-Salem, Feb. 23-25.
 

With his rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Mike will be at the event to guide you through tech, as well as monetization.

Mike is the founding director of Vision to Venture. He has also led and developed digital strategies for various Fortune 500 firms ranging from apparel, financial services, SaaS, B2C, B2B, and startups from Chicago, New York, Washington, Richmond, and, most recently, various cities in North Carolina.

 

Mike has been involved with Techstars for around seven years. He has participated in many Techstars Startup Weekends nationwide, from San Jose, San Francisco, New York, Richmond, Durham, and Winston-Salem. He has been assisting founders, startups, accelerators, private equity groups, and enterprises with 30+ years of experience in the advertising, marketing, customer experience design, digital product development and management, and software development world.

 

With his rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Mike will be at the event to guide you through tech, problem-solution development, and monetization 

 

He says he’s most excited about: “The energy of all sorts of folks wanting to bring a business idea to life. And helping them to do just that.”

As the founder of Aspen Studios, I help organizations craft compelling stories that connect with their audiences and drive results. I am a StoryBrand Certified Guide with over 10 years of experience in creative, marketing, and content strategy.

 

I have worked with diverse clients, from startups to nonprofits, to create engaging and impactful digital and social media campaigns, websites, videos, and podcasts. I am passionate about using my communication and design skills to empower and inspire others, and I am always looking for new opportunities to learn and grow. I value collaboration, innovation, and social responsibility, and I believe that everyone has a story worth telling.

Rebeca founded the Güipil Publishing House, where her strategies have literally transformed the way books based on personal experiences and inspiration are written, published, and released. Along the way, she has become one of the world's best literary coaches and advisors.

Recognized author in the Hispanic world for her work in the development of leadership of Latina women, social action, and adoption. Highly qualified speaker with more than ten years of experience in different topics such as Leadership, entrepreneurship, and the publishing world. Rebeca is also a radio personality with the program Ella Vive 360 ​​and the television program “La luz de la sangre” which are broadcast on different stations throughout Latin America and the United States.

With her rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Rebecca will be at the event to guide you through marketing. 

​

Rebecca says she’s excited “To offer guidance and support to other entrepreneurs, helping them navigate challenges and unlock their potential during the intense weekend of innovation, mainly in the areas of marketing, social media, and revenue streams. Additionally, I look forward to connecting with the participants, which I believe will create a vibrant community of collaboration and learning experience” 
 

Víctor Aparicio is a graphic artist and photographer of Guatemalan origin. His formal education includes graphic design, marketing, photography, web design, typography, and color psychology.

He has also carried out photographic expeditions through Europe and Latin America, visiting more than 12 countries and capturing the essence of the life that surrounds him. He has worked with prestigious brands, organizations, and companies in Guatemala and the United States, sharing his ideas and helping them find ways to innovate their advertising and visual communication efforts. 

​

With his rich background and experience supporting entrepreneurs, Victor will be at the event to guide you through marketing, as well as foster creativity & innovation.