UCI ANTrepreneur Center x SCORE Orange County Collaboration
Unlock Personalized Guidance to Build Your Business
Meeting with experienced SCORE mentors provides real-world business advice, helping you shape your ideas into a viable plan. With a team of over 100 mentors from various industries, you’ll have access to seasoned professionals who understand the challenges of starting and growing a business.
Why Should You Stop By?
Startups fail for many reasons, but the most common reason is not finding a market need—58% of startups face this challenge. Meeting with a SCORE mentor can help you refine your product and ensure you’re solving the right problem from the start. Don’t go at it alone—get expert feedback to avoid common pitfalls.
Build Connections That Last
SCORE mentors don’t just give advice—they open doors. With walk-in office hours every Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, you can meet industry veterans who will connect you to valuable networks and tools. Whether you’re just starting or scaling, their guidance is invaluable for your success.
What is SCORE Orange County?
SCORE Orange County is a chapter of the national SCORE organization, dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs. With over 100 experienced mentors across various industries, SCORE provides free and confidential business advice to those looking to start, grow, or manage their businesses. From one-on-one mentorship to a wealth of online resources, SCORE has a track record of empowering entrepreneurs to succeed.
Walk-In Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Starting this quarter, students can meet with SCORE mentors in-person during weekly walk-in office hours at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center. Every Tuesday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, you’ll have the chance to get personalized advice on your business ideas. No appointment necessary—just walk in and speak with mentors who have decades of experience in industries like tech, real estate, finance, and more.
Meet the SCORE Mentors
BART MORAN
About Me: As an experienced entrepreneur, I support aspiring and established business owners in numerous ways which include business financing, work-life balance, business plan development, market strategies, government contracts, sales tactics, and partnership considerations.
Areas of Expertise: Entrepreneurship, assembling the right team, hiring practices, sales channels (direct sales, distribution, rep), business operations, partnerships, key employee retention, building a winning company culture, customer service, and selling a business.
Fluency: English
JACK JOHNSON
About Me: I can help you in the following ways: assess and provide feedback on your financials; Buy or sell a business; bid, win, and negotiate Federal contracts; Operate a customer service business; feedback on your business plan
Areas of Expertise: Accounting & Finance, Business Plan, Government Regulations
Fluency: English
DZIYANA AYDIN
About Me: I help organizations meet goals through expert proposal development and strategic support. I provide operational guidance, process improvement, and innovative solutions with a focus on best practices and results-driven teamwork.
Areas of Expertise: Budgeting, Business Plan, Business Structure, Contracts, Customer Service, Government Contracting, Human Resources, Management & Operations, Social Media, Strategy Development, Technology, Websites, Work/Life Balance
Fluency: English
TOM WRIGHT
About Me: I can help turn your high-tech ideas into profitable products with 40 years of experience in semiconductor, computer, medical, communications, aviation, and industrial sectors. My expertise spans sales, technical support, and AI technology, working with clients from startups to multinational tech companies.
Areas of Expertise: Accounting & Finance, Budgeting, Communications Tech, Contracts, Hardware & Equipment, Management & Operations, Marketing Strategy, Product Development, Sales, Software & Applications, Technology
Fluency: English
TOM MARKEL
About Me: I am a serial entrepreneur with 18 companies started, sold or closed. This experience has given me the ability to deal with a bandwidth of issues from HR, financial, operations, logistics, M&A, etc. The industries which my companies served were; financial services, manufacturing, nutritional, sporting goods and technology.
Areas of Expertise: Advertising, Business Structure, Cash Flow, Ecommerce, Funding/Loans, Marketing, Strategy Development, Technology
Fluency: English
RAMAN RAJAN
About Me: I counsel businesses on getting better at using tech to solve issues and improve performance. With many years of experience utilizing software tools to improve operations, sales, marketing, and other enabling functions, I can help you with better decisions on what is right for you and how best to make it work for you. I have consulted with businesses on data analytics, RPA and AI for many years and am able to provide practical guidance on what is feasible and best for your needs – for you to address problems, drive growth and stay ahead of competition.
Areas of Expertise: Digital Marketing, Ecommerce, Financial Literacy, Marketing Strategy, Sales, Software & Applications, Strategy Development, Technology, Websites
Fluency: Bengali, English, Hindi
VEER BERI
About Me: I can help clients in the areas of International Export/Import Expansion, Sales Marketing, Business Start-ups, Business Plans and Business Turnaround.
Areas of Expertise: Business Plan, Customer Service, Import & Export, Marketing, Strategy Development
Fluency: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
ERICK GONZALEZ
About Me: I’m excited to support entrepreneurs in realizing their dreams. With 21 years in financial services, I specialize in product development, go-to-market strategy, sales management, B2B, account management, digital marketing, customer retention, budgeting, risk management, and global team management. My expertise also covers project management, compliance, pricing strategy, and software tools.
Areas of Expertise: Financial Services – Product Development & Planning; Sales Management, Business Development; B2B; Project Management; International Expansion & Management; Team Management & Resource Optimization; Budgeting; Credit Management & Operations
Fluency: English, Portuguese, Spanish
SIVA GOGULAPATI
About Me: I can help clients with business plans, information technology (IT) solutions, information systems tools and software development, product development, workflow management, team building, project management, Human Resources (HR) and recruiting.
Areas of Expertise: Business Plan, Customer Service, Product Development, Software & Applications, Strategy Development, Technology
Fluency: English
JOE CURIEL (Virtual Meetings)
About Me: With over a decade spent in business lending and credit counseling, I specialize in assessing loan applications and guiding clients through credit improvement and financial planning. My experience as a banker and certified counselor allows me to help clients strengthen their business plans and improve their chances of loan approval. I also support businesses in creating financial strategies for sustainable growth.
Areas of Expertise: Accounting & Tax Services, Professional Services
Fluency: English, Spanish
DAVID WILD
About Me: I can help optimize your sales pitch and marketing strategy. With 30+ years at Hasbro, I launched major product lines like Marvel, Nerf, and Star Wars across all distribution channels. I’ve worked with top marketing partners like Disney and developed successful products for retailers like Costco and Amazon. Currently, I mentor CSUF entrepreneurship students on business consulting projects.
Areas of Expertise: Advertising, Branding, Digital Marketing, Ecommerce, Import & Export, Management & Operations, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, PR/Media, Product Development, Sale, Social Media, Strategy Development
Fluency: English
Why You Should Attend
- Get Real-World Advice: These mentors have started, scaled, and exited successful businesses. Now they’re here to help you do the same.
- Direct Access to Expertise: Get one-on-one feedback on your business challenges and ideas without needing an appointment.
- Flexible Support: Whether you’re just starting with an idea or are already working on your business, our mentors can help you refine, pivot, and grow.
Ready to Take Your Idea to the Next Level?
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Join us for walk-in office hours every Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, and let’s start building your business!
Boost Your Business with Expert Training
Explore SCORE’s library of free, online webinars and courses to gain the skills needed to grow your small business. From marketing strategies to business planning, SCORE offers live and recorded sessions led by industry experts. Learn at your own pace, with courses tailored to every stage of your business journey.
Latest News From the ANTrepreneur Center
From UC Irvine to Digital Innovation: Payal Lohia’s Entrepreneurial Insights
At the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, we celebrate entrepreneurs like Payal Lohia, a UC Irvine alumna, digital innovation expert, and founder of HHQueen. With nearly 20 years of experience driving growth for major companies, Payal shares her entrepreneurial journey, her passion for giving back to the UC Irvine community, and her advice for aspiring student entrepreneurs. From launching her own startup to leading alumni chapters, Payal exemplifies the power of innovation, resilience, and community.
Side Hustler Stories: Interview with Arek Haddadian of EtherParts
UC Irvine’s ANTrepreneur Center introduced the Side Hustle Challenge in Spring 2024, equipping students with essential skills for building their own businesses. Discover how UCI student Arek Haddadian launched his side hustle, EtherParts, and how the program supports student innovation.
UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center Announces New Sponsor: SparkRockets
UC Irvine’s ANTrepreneur Center proudly announces SparkRockets as the official sponsor for the Fall 2024 AI Innovation Course. This collaboration will provide students with SparkRockets’ AI-driven co-pilot, enabling them to rapidly validate and develop business ideas. Scott Ford, SparkRockets’ CEO, discusses the platform’s capabilities and the partnership’s potential impact on student entrepreneurship.
OFFICE HOUR MENTORS
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