Here are the 14 Growth Mentors of April 2025

1. Brittany Rastsmith

Describe yourself

Hey there! I’m Brittany, a Remote Work Strategist & Consultant with years of hands-on experience working inside startups to optimize remote teams for focus, efficiency, and growth. I’ve spent my career advising founders and remote leaders while also being in the trenches myself – building systems, solving productivity bottlenecks, and refining remote collaboration strategies firsthand.

If you’re scaling a startup and struggling with productivity bottlenecks, scattered priorities, or a team that’s always busy but not always effective, I can help. Let’s work through remote team strategy, async collaboration, productivity systems, and leadership best practices to help you and your team do more with less stress. Looking forward to connecting!

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I’ve learned a lot from mentors on my startup journey, and I’d like to pay it forward.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is about always focusing on how to improve next time, not dwelling on your mistakes this time.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

If I could mentor a startup on one topic, it would be helping founders and leaders eliminate mental overload so their teams can focus on high-impact work. Too many startups mistake busyness for productivity, leading to scattered priorities, constant task-switching, and burnout. I help teams implement simple, scalable systems to cut through the noise, optimize workflows, and create a culture of deep focus, so they can move faster without burning out.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I start by gathering context for the problem, ideally from multiple sources. Then I dig down into the problem by conducting in-depth investigative conversations with the key stakeholder(s) until we’ve pushed past the symptoms (which always connect to another problem below them) and found the root cause. Often, it’s the thing that people too close to the situation think is unchangeable (although that is almost never true).

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2. Catia Nunes

Describe yourself

Hi, I’m Catia. I’ve spent the last 5+ years in demand gen and paid media, scaling a tech unicorn where I consistently exceeded targets, most recently driving $25M in pipeline with a 13x ROI.

I love helping startups cut through the noise, build marketing engines that fuel real growth, and hit ambitious goals. If you’re looking to scale demand and paid media programs, I’d love to connect and share what’s worked.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I want to mentor to share my marketing expertise and startup experience, and help companies scale effectively

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

To me, a growth mindset means staying curious, testing fearlessly, learning fast from what works (and what doesn’t), and always pushing for better results.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Demand generation and paid media strategy. It’s where I’ve consistently delivered results, scaling programs to $25M+ in pipeline and helping startups build repeatable growth engines.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I start by digging into the data and asking questions to understand what’s really driving (or blocking) results, it’s often not what people think. From there, I break it down into smaller parts, test assumptions, and focus on the changes that will make the biggest impact.

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3. Daria Reutovich

Describe yourself

I help impact-driven startups set up and scale their operations by implementing structured processes, clear goal-setting (OKRs), effective cross-team collaboration, and setting up HR functions. With hands-on experience in building strategic operating models, I work closely with companies to improve execution, align teams, and drive measurable business impact.

I have led complex projects across venture building, corporate innovation, and investment ecosystems, optimizing ways of working in fast-changing environments. My focus is on breaking down silos, improving decision-making, and equipping teams with the right frameworks to work efficiently—whether it’s refining team structures, setting up cross-functional workflows, or improving board-level communication.

As a mentor, I provide practical, actionable guidance to help startups build scalable, high-performing teams and operational systems that support long-term growth.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I believe in the power of giving back, and I have the needed skills & knowledge to help founders scale operations and set up the right infrastructure for strategy execution, so founders can focus on what is most important for them – revenue generation & scaling

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

The ideal example of the founder’s growth mindset is when they are fundraising, instead of directly asking for money, they ask for advice (and because of that, they usually are given money). And the opposite of a growth mindset is when they ask for money, but they are given advice, and they are not willing to consider it.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Setting up an effective OKRs structure

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Asking 6 times “why/so what” (in a waterfall format) to really dig deep into what is happening underneath the initial motivation to do something/or not to do something

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4. Dexter Zhuang

Describe yourself

Over the last 10 years, I’ve been a product leader, PM, and advisor across the US, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. I’ve worked at public companies (Dropbox) and growth-stage startups (Xendit (YC15), CreativeLive).

Highlights:

• Helped scale a fintech from Series A to Series D ($4B to $15B+ TPV)
• Led the growth of a 20-person to a 70-person product org
• Managed a $50M+ product-led growth business through IPO
• Launched multiple products & teams from scratch

I advise fintech/SaaS startups (seed/Series A/Series B) and corporates on product strategy & growth. I’m also a VC scout for Saison Capital and an angel investor.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I want to help growth-stage startups build successful products and teams.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Growth mindset to me means continually learning and growing as an individual, which leads to a stronger product and team.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Product-led growth, product management, leadership/management

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Ask a lot of questions, especially WHY

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5. James Fitzgerald

Describe yourself

I’ve been a founder with an exit; advised and helped others grow their scale-up businesses, and held exec roles in large corporates. I’ve got loads of experience in product, marketing, people, ops, strategy, and heaps of bloody noses and bruised shins to show for it

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I’ve always mentored up-and-comers, keen to expand on this and see who I can help

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Learning from the past as a means to shape your future. Always being prepared to try things, see what fails, see what succeeds, and then iterate on that.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Growth, Product

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Look at everything, don’t look at one thing in isolation, and hope you’ll get the answer. And you definitely won’t get the solution

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6. Julie Bliss Mullen

Describe yourself

I was most recently a deep tech founder and the CEO of Aclarity, a cleantech company that designs, deploys, and services proprietary industrial equipment for the management and destruction of PFAS, “forever chemicals,” in industry and the environment. Over eight years, I raised three VC fundraising rounds, learned hard lessons about hiring, and eventually built the best team possible to commercialize our products. I am a founder advocate and am eager to give back to startups as they navigate similar challenges.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I am a recovering founder & CEO, and need to support founders as an advocate for personal and entrepreneurial growth.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Having a growth mindset means being able to overcome challenges creatively and quickly to achieve goals.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Wow, just one topic — lessons learned in deep tech fundraising.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

My approach to pinpointing the root cause of a problem is to understand the players involved, collect perspectives, outline potential possibilities, and quickly eliminate variables.

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7. Lakshmi Harikumar

Describe yourself

I’m Lakshmi Harikumar, and over the past 17 years, I’ve helped startups such as Uniqode, MoEngage, and global SaaS giants such as LinkedIn, Freshworks solve various product marketing challenges. I love helping founders of scale-ups solve marketing challenges with real, actionable solutions.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I would like to use my Product Marketing expertise distilled from 17 years of my experience working for various global SaaS companies to offer free mentorship to those who seek help!

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Being humble, acknowledging the fact that I don’t know what I don’t know. The world is constantly evolving, and change is the only constant.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Product Marketing

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Understand the problem statement by hearing out all subjective opinions, overlaying those with factual data, and arrive at the most feasible solution.

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8. Mohan Krishna Mannava

Describe yourself

As a technology leader with over 12 years of experience in Data Analytics and AI/ML, I specialize in building innovative solutions that transform how organizations leverage data for decision-making. I have a proven track record of developing data-driven products and AI capabilities, with expertise in strategic planning, market analysis, and process management, while also mentoring startups in implementing these technologies to drive meaningful business outcomes.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

With over 12 years of experience building data-driven solutions and AI/ML products, I’m passionate about helping startups harness the power of analytics and artificial intelligence to solve real business problems and drive meaningful innovation in their markets.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset, to me, means embracing challenges as opportunities to learn and innovate, rather than seeing them as obstacles. In my years working with data and AI, I’ve learned that success comes not from having all the answers upfront, but from being willing to experiment, adapt, and continuously evolve our approach. It’s about seeing setbacks as valuable feedback that guides us toward better solutions.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

I would mentor someone on how to effectively leverage data analytics and AI to drive business decisions. Having spent 12 years building data-driven solutions, I’ve learned that the real challenge isn’t just in understanding the technology, but in bridging the gap between technical capabilities and business value. I would focus on teaching how to translate raw data into actionable insights that drive meaningful business outcomes, something I’ve successfully done throughout my career in product analytics and AI implementation. The reason I chose this topic is that it’s increasingly critical for business success, yet many struggle with making the connection between advanced analytics and practical business application. Being able to harness data effectively is no longer optional – it’s a fundamental skill that can make or break a business in today’s AI-driven world.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

As a data-driven leader, my approach to problem-solving starts with gathering comprehensive data and metrics to understand the full scope of the issue. I believe in combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights, using tools like root cause analysis and data visualization to identify patterns and correlations. Through systematic investigation and hypothesis testing, I work to separate symptoms from core issues, always validating assumptions with data before determining the fundamental cause. This analytical approach has consistently helped me uncover and address underlying problems rather than just treating surface-level symptoms.

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9. Natalia Burakova

Describe yourself

I’m a Product & Growth professional with 10+ years of experience scaling subscription-based products. I help startups, solopreneurs, and indie developers grow revenue by optimizing their onboarding & monetization funnels, increasing product value, and improving retention.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

After seeing so many missed revenue opportunities on the acquisition side, I want to help indie devs and early-stage startups make more money, grow smarter, and exit on a higher evaluation.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is about never giving up. Try, fail, adapt, and keep going. If you keep going, you’ll get there.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Onboarding experience & conversion optimisation

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I start by digging into the data to spot where the issue may lie, then complete the findings with user feedback & market info to get full context. Once I find the root cause, I test fast, learn quickly, and keep iterating.

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10. Nick Valiotti

Describe yourself

Data Analytics Consultant and Founder of Valiotti Analytics with extensive experience in BI, data engineering, and analytics systems. Passionate about helping digital companies leverage data for better decision-making. Strong entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on profitability, efficiency, and scalable solutions. Thrive in high-stakes environments, balancing strategic vision with hands-on execution.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

Want to share my expertise with the world

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is about constantly seeking improvement, embracing challenges, and seeing failures as opportunities to learn

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Data Analytics

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I take a structured, data-driven approach to identifying the root cause of a problem. First, I clearly define the issue and gather relevant data to understand its scope and impact

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11. Prakash Channagiri

Describe yourself

Hi there, my name is Prakash and I am an ex-Microsoft, two-time startup cofounder, currently building 0-1 products and managing a portfolio of products generating more than $XXX million in ARR.

I have shipped cool products that have been used by hundreds of millions of users, and one of my startups grew to be India’s largest telematics company, with a very successful exit. I have a great track record in advising startups and would love to help you grow your startup!

My strengths are in advising pre-seed and seed-stage startups, and my areas of expertise include product management, GTM strategies, and funding.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

To share my learnings and learn from others.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Opportunities are always present. A growth mindset is about training yourself to recognize and realize them.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Product management in general and getting to product-market fit in particular. I have done this many times in my career and am confident I can help your startup get to this stage.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I am definitely a first principles kinda guy, as I believe every business situation is unique. So, while I generally don’t believe in a one solution fits approach, I can also state that a framework that has consistently worked for me in the past is the 5 Whys system. Like many great innovations (Kaizen, Kanban, JIT manufacturing, Andon, etc.), this too came out of Toyota and you can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_whys

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12. Roya Pakzad

Describe yourself

A proven entrepreneur bringing 15 years of expertise in company building & business growth strategy. My first startup was a digital health company for women’s hormones that was acquired in December 2024. I’m a solutions architect and a growth hacker currently helping other founders build & grow their businesses.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I recently sold my first digital health startup, and ever since, I have been approached by other founders to help them in various areas of their startups. I have really enjoyed this process, and I’ve been able to add a lot of value to my portfolio founders. I would like to expand my advisory and consultancy services to other founders, so I thought joining GrowthMentor would be a great way to start.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is a solutions-oriented mindset. It’s embracing challenges as opportunities to grow rather than viewing them as obstacles.​​​​​​​​​ It’s putting in extra effort to learn and improve, and trying new strategies when old ones aren’t working.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

I would mentor the person on how to build confidence and self-belief, because I have firsthand experience with the importance of being confident as a founder & leader. Confidence and self-belief are essential for entrepreneurs because they form the foundation for resilience in the face of inevitable challenges and setbacks. When you’re building something new, you’ll frequently encounter skepticism, rejection, and failure – having deep self-belief allows you to persist when others doubt your vision. This inner conviction is critical for several key areas such as decision making, leadership, risk taking, resilience, and negotiation.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

My main approach in life has always been getting to the root cause of problems rather than finding a band-aid solution. In fact, my first startup was built around finding the root causes of women’s hormonal imbalance symptoms, and my solution helped thousands of women successfully treat those symptoms.

The best way to pinpoint the root causes of any problem is to first identify the instigator/culprit or the obstacle causing the problem. The next step is to remove the obstacle and replace it with the right solution. In some cases, you might have to investigate further to find out what the solution is, as it might not be readily obvious at first.

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13. Tom Buchok

Describe yourself

I’m a two-time SaaS founder who’s been through the rollercoaster of building, scaling, and exiting businesses—and lived to tell the tale! Now, I love sharing what I’ve learned (and gotten wrong!) to help other founders navigate their own journeys with a people-first approach.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

Encourage founders to keep going!

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Two critical attributes of a growth mindset are patience and persistence; there is no secret “hack” to success.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

If, to you, something is important and worth fighting for, it probably is.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Picking apart the words and language used to describe a problem or issue allows us to dive deeper into what’s really going on.

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14. Tom Simpson

Describe yourself

Hi, I’m Tom. I’ve run GTM ops in different capacities across enterprise, seed, and series A and  B2B SaaS businesses. I’ve sat in the growth, marketing, and finance functions and have a broad skillset across GTM tech, analysis, and process. I love working with early-stage founders and GTM leaders to solve their most pressing challenges.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I have found huge value in mentoring founders via another mentoring platform and would love to do more of it via GrowthMentor.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Making the subjective, objective.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

CRM Management

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I always aim to use first-principles thinking. Articulating the problem as clearly as possible to then breaking it down into its core components and rebuilding from there.

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Interested in becoming a growth mentor?

What we’re looking for:

• Growth marketers, product managers, and designers, with extraordinary track records of success
• Inspirational founders that have “been there and done that.”
• Friendly people that take joy in helping other people.
• At least 5 years of demonstrable experience working in growth.
• GrowthMentor is a #givefirst platform. You should be cool with mentoring for free until you have three reviews.