Ask Me Anything
with Ashod Donikian
I’ve spent over a decade building and running startups and often a short call with some tactical advice can help prevent something from being a blocker or analysis paralysis. If … Read more
Ashod Donikian
Founder & Startup Builder / 3x startup founder (2x venture-backed) / Robotics PhD
Scheduling conflict? No-show? Cancel session & get your money back instantly.
About this session
I’ve spent over a decade building and running startups and often a short call with some tactical advice can help prevent something from being a blocker or analysis paralysis. If you have an issue that could use some feedback this is for you!
Your mentor
I’m a 3x startup founder (2x venture-backed) with deep experience building companies from research to market. My first startup spun out of my PhD in robotics and machine learning, giving me first-hand insight into turning cutting-edge research into real products and businesses. Moving from Australia to the US to found my first company also taught me the challenges of building a startup as a foreign founder.
Throughout my journey, I’ve learned how to balance product development, customer needs, and the complexities of managing research and software teams—all while serving as a CEO and technical founder.
I know how valuable it is to have real startup experience on your side—not just advice from consultants or business school frameworks. My goal is to be that resource for founders, helping with pitch decks, fundraising, team building, product strategy, IP and patents, sales, and even M&A.
How I can help:
- Crafting a pitch deck that attracts investors
- Hiring top talent as a small, emerging startup
- Balancing research and software development teams
- Developing effective interview techniques
- Choosing the right investors and navigating negotiations
- Creating sales strategies and pricing models
- Guiding through the process of selling your startup
I offer actionable advice from deep-tech founding, fundraising, and team management experience. If you’re building an early-stage startup and need guidance, reach out!
Founder Experience:
- Current Startup: Building a consumer iOS app
- Robotics Startup: Founded a machine learning company from my robotics PhD, raised $3.7M, secured patents, built a team, and led acquisition talks.
- Web3 Ad Startup: Co-founded a venture-backed startup, raised $4M, and developed the initial codebase.
- Technical Expertise: Experienced in hardware/software engineering, real-time estimation, and ML code in C++.
- Education & Speaking: PhD in Robotics, lecturer, and speaker at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and other universities.
What mentees say
“Ashod was my mentor during my startup journey. Strategic clarity and technical depth showed up in every discussion we had on our calls. My questions received direct, actionable answers. Decisions moved faster and with c…”
Nikolcho
Standard Plan · 4 months
“Ashod has great energy on every call, a sharp mind, and lots of availability. He’s very responsive to messages, and a wealth of experiential knowledge. Fully recommend ”
Chris
Standard Plan · 2 months
“Ashod has been extremely helpful as a mentor. One of the most valuable aspects of working with him was that we were both local, which allowed us to meet in person and have more meaningful discussions. He provided excell…”
Felix
Standard Plan · 4 months
“My session with Ashod was one of the best investments into myself and my business, I could make. He was passionate, knowledgeable, and efficient with the time. Before the call, I was beginning to feel a bit stuck as a f…”
Spencer
Session
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Ashod Donikian
Founder & Startup Builder / 3x startup founder (2x venture-backed) / Robotics PhD
Scheduling conflict? No-show? Cancel session & get your money back instantly.