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A 1:1 resource for the Duke community to help further your entrepreneurial pursuits
Looking to take your idea to the next level? Hit a roadblock and need guidance? Considering taking the plunge into entrepreneurship? Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship are dedicated volunteers who offer valuable advice, connections, and ad hoc support to alumni and students during weekly 1:1 office hours.
These seasoned entrepreneurs and innovators are committed to supporting others on their entrepreneurship journey, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the Duke community, and building and strengthening the Duke I&E Network.
Interested in scheduling time with one of our experts?
How to Engage with Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship
Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship is…
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Access to amazing Duke alumni who are volunteering to support the Duke I&E ecosystem.
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A place to take your entrepreneurial ideas forward.
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To be taken seriously out of respect for everyone’s time.
Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship is not…
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A regular mentorship or coaching relationship. Our Experts will help set you on a path for success and point you to other resources.
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A job search tool. Please access Duke alumni career services for support with a job search.
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To be abused. Users who miss two scheduled calls or who display inappropriate conduct will be banned from future use.
Our Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship are giving their valuable time to the Duke entrepreneurship community. If you schedule a time with our experts, preparation is expected. You will provide the following through Calendly in advance of your call:
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Your LinkedIn URL and/or a professional bio
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A link to your company/organization website (if available)
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Up to three questions or issues you would like to discuss with your Expert
Please note: If you book a call with an Expert, you are expected to attend as scheduled. If you miss two calls, you will lose access to the network.
Opinions and advice given by Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship are not those of Duke University. The information provided by the Experts does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials from the Experts shall be used for general informational purposes only.
Meet Our Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship
Saniya Ali PhD ‘15
Talk to Saniya about:
- Biotech leadership & strategy
- Women’s health
- Healthcare innovation & entrepreneurship
- Product development
- Fundraising & startup growth
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Al Araiza JD ‘12
Talk to Al about:
- Developing IP Strategies for Startup Growth, aligned with your startup's goals
- Patents to Attract Investors: Valuing your startup's IP and enhancing your portfolio
- Protecting Emerging Tech Innovations: Safeguarding innovations in certain tech sectors (e.g., AI, blockchain, climate tech)
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Jason Fernandez MBA ‘08
Talk to Jason about:
• Venture capital investing in early-stage companies
• Scaling startups through Seed and Series A rounds
• Structuring and managing venture capital funds
• Developing growth strategies for emerging businesses
• Networking and partnerships in the venture ecosystem
• Fundraising strategies for venture capital and startups
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Bette Ann Fialkov ‘07
Talk to Bette Ann about:
- Social media marketing
- Influencer marketing, outreach, and strategy
- Art, fashion, music, and entertainment industries
- Experiential partnerships around major cultural moments
- Marketing innovation inside large tech firms
- Celebrity partnerships/endorsements
- Strategic brand partnerships
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Scott Finkelstein '03
Talk to Scott about:
- B2C SAAS Software and Auction Technology
- Bootstrapped Growth and Running a Family Business
- Sales and Business Development
- Strategic Planning and Operations
- Entrepreneurship and Leadership
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Mike Handelsman ‘88
Talk to Mike about:
- Entrepreneurship through acquisition
- Customer acquisition strategy
- Digital marketing
- Team and culture building
- Business-for-sale marketplaces
- Manufacturing/Operations
- eCommerce
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Quinci King ‘20
Talk to Quinci about:
- Business Operations & Corporate Development
- Board development
- Entrepreneurship & Social innovation
- Corporate sponsorship and fundraising
- Mission-based organizations, community engagement and nonprofit leadership
- Tech for startups
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Jay McKenna ‘06
Talk to Jay about:
- Designing, building, and growing companies and teams
- Business plan creation and pivot planning and execution
- Creating and structuring strategic partnerships
- Fundraising, business capitalization, and exit strategies
- Clean and traditional energy industry markets and trends
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Avery Reaves ‘04
Talk to Avery about:
- Company structure and formation
- Building the team and the board
- Utilizing equity awards
- Fundraising strategies
- Protecting IP
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Fernando Soto MBA ‘17
Talk to Fernando about:
- Business strategy
- Family business governance
- Corporate advisory
- Investing
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Brynne Thompson ‘99
Talk to Brynne about:
- Growth for early-stage startups: Business plan development and financial analysis
- Fundraising + Investor Communication and Cultivation
- Strategic Planning + Scenario analysis
- Early-stage human capital development: Hiring, training, high performing teams and culture
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Kelly Van Winkle ‘99
Talk to Kelly about:
- Leading a family business
- Female leadership in male-dominated industries
- Building c-suite level leadership teams
- Managing Spanish-speaking workforce and customers
- The process of developing, constructing and maintaining retail centers, distribution centers, and large warehouses (million square foot plus)