TYE Mentors
Our mentors are incredible people who not only understand all the components of building a startup, they also care about creating a supportive learning environment for young people!
Tristen Tucker
Executive Director, TYE Program 2019/20
Tristen Tucker is a celebrated professional coach specializing in business communications, special event speeches, networking, professional interaction and more. Tristen evaluates the physical and mental processes of an individual in order to provide the guidance that will lead them towards being effective communicators, whether in interpersonal networking situations or while giving a speech in front of key stakeholders. Tristen employs several methodologies in her work such as body mechanics, modeling, situational practice, guidance practice, style recommendations and goal identification.
Tristen has recently provided keynote speeches coaching at Seminar Lecturer on Communications for International Students, UC Irvine Continuing Education, Summer 2018, Pitch Instructor for Entrepreneurs, Irvine Valley College, Summer 2018, First Place Evaluator, Toastmasters Founders District, Spring 2018 and Podcast Guest Speaker, ‘Getting Topical with Carlos’, Fall 2018. She provides keynote speech themes on Public Speaking and Body Mechanics: Combining the Physical and Mental Processes, Team Communication: Transitioning from ‘No But’ to ‘Yes And’ Identifying the Key Takeaways for Your Audience Business Team Innovation: Communicating to Foster Innovation.
Murthy Simhambhatla
Murthy Simhambhatla is President and CEO of SetPoint Medical, a clinical stage company focused on the treatment of chronic autoimmune diseases. He was formerly President and CEO of Evolus, a medical aesthetics company with a lead biologic drug, DWP-450, which he led towards an IPO in 2018. Prior to Evolus, Murthy was a Senior Vice President at Abbott Laboratories and President of Abbott Medical Optics, a $1B-plus global ophthalmic business focused on cataract and refractive surgery.
Ananta Mukerji | Founding Partner Aviana Global Technologies
Ananta Mukerji, a founding partner of Aviana Global Technologies, has over 30 years of managerial, functional and technical experience in the IT industry, including many years as a Big-4 management consultant. He is responsible for Aviana’s Business Intelligence (BI) and Analytics practice, in addition to being responsible for the strategic planning and direction of infrastructure technology at Aviana and for its clients. Mr. Mukerji supports clients in the Health Care, Public Utilities, Government, Manufacturing, Entertainment and Service industries. He is currently spearheading the innovative application of predictive and analytical technology to solve critical, complex business problems for key clients – so empowering them to do more with less a key strategic objective in today’s turbulent marketplace. Prior to Aviana, Mr. Mukerji was a senior project manager in the Los Angeles office of Price Waterhouse.
He has an MBA with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Finance from the University of Florida, Gainesville. He also has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Mr. Mukerji is a Fellow of Healthcare Financial Management Association (FHFMA) and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information & Management Systems (CPHIMS)
Anurag Bist, PhD | Founder, CEO, Monet Networks, Inc
TYE Program Leader
Anurag is an inventor, a scientist and a prolific technology entrepreneur. He is recognized for contributing to and leading several seminal technology trends and companies over the past two decades. He most recently invented the Monet Humanized Data solution. Dr. Bist has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with 30 patents issued, pending and spanning technologies including audio + video signal processing, wireless telecom, data processing and consumer Internet applications. He was intimately involved with the International Telecommunications Union in the formation of low bit rate video algorithms including MPEG-4 and H.264 which continue to be the de facto standards for video compression today.
Anurag was co-founder of VxTel, the semiconductor company that led the transformation from traditional telecom infrastructure to VoIP technology. In 2001, Intel acquired VxTel for $550 Million cash. Previously, he was Founder and CEO of Moxair, a technology start-up that developed solutions for low power display technology in smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices for Apple, Samsung, LG and Nokia. Prior to becoming a founder, Anurag held technical and management positions at Intel, Conexant, Rockwell Semiconductor and AT&T Bell Labs.
Anurag was the first recipient of the coveted Capocelli Prize for best student paper presented at the Data Compression Conference by IEEE, “the world’s largest technical organization for the global advancement of technology and humanity.” He also earned the IIT Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership & Technology Innovation.
Anurag earned a B.Tech. degree from Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, an M.S. degree from Princeton University, currently an admissions interviewer, and his Ph.D. from University of Hawaii.
Ashish Khera
As a bio-mechanical engineer from Carnegie Mellon University, with a 15 year background including executive management positions at start-up and Fortune 500 medical companies, Ashish is a veteran of the medical device & pharma industry. In 2004, Ashish co-founded Scientific Animations, a full-service medical animation, and e-learning solutions company that works to understand businesses and give products the “wow” factor.
Ashish has been an active member and supporter of the Entrepreneur cause and lifestyle and works with several organizations that foster Entrepreneurship in the community.
Ravnish Bhalla
Ravnish is the founder and CEO of Technossus, an award-winning technology consulting company, and has 28 years of software engineering, development and leadership experience. He is a global business leader, founder and entrepreneur, with a keen interest in technology and how it can transform businesses, impact communities and change lives. He is a thought leader, innovator and disruptor with great people skills and a genuine desire to help businesses and people reach their potential.
MK Raheja, Ph.D., MBA | Head, Ophthalmic Implants R&D, Johnson & Johnson Vision
MK Raheja is an Life Sciences Executive with a track record of bringing dozens of key innovations to market. MK joined AMO (recently acquired by Johnson & Johnson) in 2009 and is currently Head, Ophthalmic Implants R&D at Johnson & Johnson Vision. Prior to this, MK was Chief Technology Officer for CIBA Vision (A Novartis Company). In these two roles, MK led large global R&D organizations responsible for bringing ophthalmic innovations to market. Earlier in his career, MK served as President of Amorphex Therapeutics (an ophthalmic drug delivery start-up) and President/Chief Operating Officer of Hill Top Research, Inc, a private equity funded clinical research organization with operations in 18 cities in North America and Europe.
At Hill Top, he partnered with world's leading pharmaceutical and consumer health products companies in product development. MK began his career at Bausch & Lomb in R&D where he held a number of leadership positions, including Vice President, R&D, and Vice President, New Product & New Business Development. He has a PhD from the University of Massachusetts and an Executive MBA from Boston University.
Deepak Krishan, CPA, MBT
Deepak is a Finance Executive with a record of running multiple small businesses. After obtaining his Accounting and Taxation degrees, he worked for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company and Deloitte and Touche for several years and then began his career as an entrepreneur. He has been involved in managing an accounting practice, agriculture, ranching, real estate projects, small manufacturing and lending businesses.
Chandru Sharoff
Chandru Sharoff is an entrepreneur and senior finance executive with extensive experience in healthcare, technology enabled businesses, banking, ecommerce, manufacturing and distribution. Chandru started his career in banking in Dubai and worked in Europe and Africa in banking before starting his own business in Africa and expanding into Eastern Europe. He moved to the US 20 years ago and has worked for several public and private companies as a Finance Director, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Financial/Business Officer. Chandru is a Chartered Accountant from India with an MBA and CPA from the US
Arie Shen
Arie Shen has created a diverse and successful career growing companies and leveraging business opportunities. Arie’s international background, experience and training have successfully guided a broad range of companies, including B2B, B2C and non-profit organizations. Arie lead companies in various sectors such as Software, Service, IP research, Consumer, Logistics, Med devices and others. He is passionate about company growth patterns and management of their vision, strategy and execution. Arie is a board member of various startups, board member of few schools at UCI and other colleges in the area. On a day to day Arie runs a management consulting company that serves various local and international companies expanding operations in the US. Arie is focused on operations, software creation, sales and business development, but also handling all aspects of growing businesses and overcoming challenges of various types. BSc in computer engineering and MBA. C level management and fractional CxO for the last 8 years after 15 years of executive positions with global software companies
Adaz Virk
Azad Virk is a shareholder in Stradling's Corporate and Technology Transactions practice groups. Azad's practice focuses on a variety of corporate, commercial and intellectual property transactions, including the formation of startups, equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, intellectual property and technology transactions across multiple industries. Azad is actively involved in Southern California’s entrepreneurial community and regularly mentors entrepreneurs at UCI, USC, TiE and Founders’ Institute. Azad was named a "Southern California Rising Star" by Super Lawyers from 2015 – 2019.
