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Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship & Business Ethics

»Mentor Programs Entrepreneurs in Residence – EIRs 

The Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship offers a two-tiered Mentorship Program. First, we have hundreds of mentors who have volunteered to be accessible to entrepreneurs on an ad hoc basis. Entrepreneurs may send an email to entrepreneurs@chapman.edu to request a mentor. The Center staff will match you with a mentor who background and experience best match your business needs. 

The other level is a team of volunteer mentors who act as Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) who host ‘office hours’ in the Center to provide you with guidance in an unstructured fashion.  

We have EIR office hours by the most frequently asked questions including: 

Innovative Ideas and Market Validation 

  • Is my business idea viable? 
  • Who is my target market? 
  • How do I validate my business idea? 
  • What problem does my product or service solve? 
  • Who are my competitors, and how can I differentiate my offering? 

Product Design and Development  

  • What are the best practices for designing my product? 
  • Should I build a minimum viable product (MVP) first? 
  • How do I create a product roadmap? 
  • What development methodology (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) should I use? 
  • How do I find and work with product designers and developers? 

Funding and Financial Management 

  • How much capital do I need to start my business? 
  • Where can I find investors or funding sources? 
  • How do I create a financial forecast? 
  • What are the best practices for managing cash flow? 
  • How do I price my products or services? 

Marketing and Branding 

  • How do I create an effective marketing plan? 
  • What are the best channels to reach my target audience? 
  • How do I build a brand? 

Growth and Scaling 

  • How do I acquire and retain customers? 
  • What sales strategies should I use to grow my business? 
  • How do I scale my business effectively? 
  • What strategies can I use to drive sustainable growth? 
  • How do I measure and analyze my business performance? 

 

If you wish to request a mentor, please fill out this form:  

Request a Mentor 

 

Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) - Onsite Mentors 

 
Scott Gale 
Scott Gale | LinkedIn 
https://ventusgroup.com 
Mondays 
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
 
James Bennett
James Bennett | LinkedIn
Mondays
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
 
Joseph Choi 
Joseph Choi | LinkedIn 
Mondays 
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
 
Tyler Makin 
Tyler Makin | LinkedIn 
Tuesdays 
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
 
Darryl Schoen 
Darryl Schoen | LinkedIn 
https://mfslease.com 
Tuesdays 
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
 
Duc Huy Tran 
Duc Huy Tran | LinkedIn 
https://dirox.com 
Tuesdays 
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
 
Ray Chan 
Ray Chan | LinkedIn 
https://k5ventures.com 
Wednesdays 
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
 
Anshuman Sinha 
Anshuman Sinha | LinkedIn 
https://startuptalent.pro 
Wednesdays 
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
 
Kevin Meredith 
Kevin Meredith | LinkedIn 
https://4thsi.com 
Thursdays 
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
 

Kristie Bell 
Kristie Bell | LinkedIn 
Thursdays 
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Cynthia Kirkby 
Cynthia Kirkeby | LinkedIn 
Fridays 
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Dhia Rabiai 
Dhia Rabiai | LinkedIn 
Fridays 
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

The Leatherby Center hosts a startup incubator and accelerator for both community and Chapman entrepreneurs. We offer a structured program guiding entrepreneurs from idea to business plan. Students, staff, alumni, and community members may apply.

Get Involved


Learn about the multiple ways to get involved by visiting our various program pages.