Mentors

I am an IT Project Manager and Operations Manager with a strong focus on digital transformation and process optimization. I have experience supporting startups and innovative teams, including mentorship activities within Impact Hub Milano, where I help founders structure technology strategies and operational workflows.

PhD in Policies and Institutions, expert in social and digital innovation; founder and program director of Impact Hub Reggio Emilia; board member of the Mondinsieme Foundation; lecturer for the University of Bologna and for a U.S. inter-university consortium in Verona.

Senior Manager & Entrepreneur, Energy Expert with broad experience in ICT and Digitalization, strong engineering education and strategic vision into business and technology.
Self-starter, thriving in unconventional, dynamic environments where change and pressure are the norm.

Expertise in:

• Energy transition – technologies, business models, compliancy
• Sustainability – strategy, business models, reporting
• Innovation – scouting technologies and trends, screening ventures, fundraising
• Digital transformation – strategy, technologies, project management
• Devising and implementing business strategies to secure achievement of company objectives
• Managing Key Accounts at C-level
• Building networks across industries involving clients, partners and investors, to maximise impact and speed up venture building

Matthias is a Business Advisor and Manager with more than 30 years of experience in local and international roles in many different industries, from Marketing Services and FMCG, to IT and Tourism to HR Services, Life Sciences and Health Care. In these roles he has worked in Germany, The Netherlands and Italy, where he has been living for more than 25 years.
Since 2016 he is a consultant for corporate strategy, innovation projects and startup development. In this role he is is collaborating as a mentor with incubators and accelerators, such as Impact Hub, Polihub, Innovation Park and Startup Accelerator of the Technical University of Milan, Wylab, Sportstech Incubator, and Plug & Play Italy.
He has also launched a startup, operating in the scuba diving sector – an experience which he considers extremely useful in his role as consultant for startup development.

Elif Ererdi is a mentor who transitioned from a corporate Human Resources career into the world of entrepreneurship. Despite having no technical background, she led the development of a mobile application with her team by embracing continuous learning and adapting quickly to the spirit of the times. Elif supports entrepreneurs in transforming ideas into products, with a focus on team dynamics, user-centric thinking, and strategic planning.

Dipanjan Das is a multidisciplinary innovator with a strong foundation in photonics, wireless technologies, and hardware systems. He has led and contributed to R&D, startup ventures, and global collaborations in silicon photonics, AR/VR, IoT, robotics, and drone systems. As a cofounder in hardware and interaction-tech companies, he combines technical depth with practical execution. Dipanjan stays active in Finland’s startup scene through Startup Nation Finland and communities across the Nordics. He has taken on multiple voluntary and global ambassador roles and has mentored founders through startup accelerators and Nordic integration programs, guiding teams with clarity, structure, and industry insight.

A strategic transformation leader with 15+ years of experience across the energy and industrial sectors—guiding corporate strategy, sustainable growth initiatives, and complex integration projects across Southeast Asia, Europe, and China.
I specialize in building resilient business models, leading cross-border collaborations, and embedding sustainability into enterprise value creation. My background in engineering and with my experience in business allows me to balance logic and data which is a competitive advantage in our dynamic industry. Given my experience across different business functions, I have the ability to connect and influence cross-functional stakeholders to drive & achieve the desired business results. I am able to quickly spot patterns and issues and provide goal-oriented solutions.

I’m an accomplished, versatile, and agile IT business leader focused on the B2B SaaS and sustainability sectors, with 27 years experience spanning banking, sales, IT consulting, product management, COO, and CEO roles. I’ve been an active startup mentor working with a local accelerator for a couple of years.
I have a proven track record as an effective change agent who leverages holistic systems thinking, technology expertise, and strong people skills to drive sustainable growth. This is demonstrated by the pivotal roles I played in establishing Finland’s top Apple IT consultancy and scaling and internationalising the organisation of a Finnish circular economy SaaS ERP developer.
I’m a dual citizen of Ireland and Finland, fluent in both English and Finnish.

Jan de Man Lapidoth works as an entrepreneurial advisor, practitioner and writer with focus on stewardship, organisational development, systems innovation, and sustainability. He cultivates learning processes that invite people and organisations to acknowledge systemic predicaments, rediscover purpose, explore more equitable ownership models and cultivate deeper dimensions of agency. Jan has a deliberate intergenerational and meta-relational orientation in his work. He is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Kay Nag is an expert in Digital and deep tech with a strong focus on safeguarding vulnerable communities and driving systemic change through technology and grants.
Kay has advised international organizations, including UN-Habitat, UN DOALAS, and EU projects, on digital transformation, risk management, and capacity-building strategies. His expertise spans mobile security, data privacy, and ethical AI
With experience spanning India, Dubai, Finland, and Sweden, he has worked at the intersection of information security, child protection, and digital inclusion.
With a background in Information Technology, Kay specializes in mobile security and has contributed to global knowledge through his work, including authoring Permissions in Android. He is also a certified yoga and meditation trainer, integrating mindfulness into his professional approach.
His work is driven by the belief that education, technology, and ethical leadership can create lasting social impact. Whether securing digital ecosystems or advocating for inclusive solutions, Kay is committed to using innovation to address real-world challenges.

A visionary and analytical business leader with over 20 years of cross-industry experience in retail, health & wellness, brand strategy, and business transformation. Known for connecting strategic insights with real-world execution, I specialize in using market trend & customer insights to shape future-ready business models, leading cross-functional teams, and delivering impact in dynamic, multi-stakeholder environments.

Strategic Life Sciences Executive with 30+ years of experience transforming vision into measurable results across Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Industrial markets. I bring a deep passion for innovation, people, and purposeful leadership, guiding organizations through complex change while unlocking sustainable growth.
Throughout my career, I’ve cultivated a track record of exceeding ambitious goals across general management, sales, and marketing, consistently expanding my responsibilities and competencies.
I believe that true success lies in not just achieving ambitious sales, marketing, and general management targets, but in cultivating an environment where every team member is empowered to excel. By leading high-performing, multicultural teams, I’ve championed collaborative and inclusive cultures that foster creativity and sustainable growth.