2026 ENTREPRENEURS & INVESTORS IN RESIDENCE

Our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) and Investors in Residence (IIRs) are deeply embedded in the VILLAGEx 2026 cohort experience. They work closely with founders, offering hands-on guidance, strategic insight, and direct access to networks.

ENTREPRENEURS IN RESIDENCE (EIRs)

Vicki Briggs

Executive Chair, Bioceptive

Joe McMenemon

Co-Founder, ChapterSpot

Kelly Schexnaildre

Founder, Merf’s Condiments

Nassir Criss(IIR)

Principal, Sixty8 Capital

 

Jeanne Davids

Founder, CEO, Outer Aisle

Julian Herbert

CPO, dosespot

RoBERT McAllister

Lead Advisor, Foundry Financial

Soumitra Sengupta

Venture Partner, Elevate Capital

 

Andrew Dunn

Head of Data, Hello Gravel

Chris Meaux

Founder and CEO, QiMana Inc.

Andy Quick

Former Chief AI Advisor, Entergy

Corey Tisdale

Managing Principal, Build With Shift, Founder, BBQGuys

 
 
 

MEET OUR VILLAGE OF MENTORS

 

Beyond our EIRs and IIRs, founders have access to a broader network of mentors who contribute across programs, office hours, pitch prep, and targeted introductions. This group reflects the depth of experience behind The Idea Village and spans startups, venture capital, corporate leadership, creative industries, and emerging technology.

 
 

  • Kwamena Aidoo, Managing Director, Corridor Ventures

  • Frank Alfieri, Managing Director, EMA International

  • Matthew Allan, Sr. Product Owner, POOLCORP

  • Matthew Armstrong, SparkBridge Strategy

  • Steve Bachmann, Managing Partner, Artis Partners

  • Robin Barnes, Senior Advisor, Julep Consulting

  • Prithwee Bhat, Executive, Innotech Frontier, Inc.

  • Will Bishop, Partner, Phelps Dunbar LLP

  • Joe Bonavita, ED, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Vicki Briggs, Executive Chair, Bioceptive

  • Joe Brinz, Founder, EIS

  • Owen Brown, Founder and CEO, SRE Partners

  • Jimmy Cash, Area VP, Johnson & Johnson

  • Leslie Campisi, Co-Founder, Beginners

  • Jane Cooper, Owner, Grande Krewe Fine Wine and Spirits, President, JLC

  • Patrick Comer, CEO, Cint, Founder, Lucid

  • Christa Cotton, Founder and CEO, El Guapo

  • Tom Daly, VP of Corporate Benefits, NFP

  • David Dart, CFO, Proof, Operating Advisor, Blue Heron Capital

  • Jeanne Davids, Founder, CEO, Outer Aisle

  • David Decuir, CEO and Founder, iCAN Technologies

  • Andrew Dunn, Head of Data, Hello Gravel

  • Hugh Evans, Founder, 3D Ventures

  • Logan Farley, VP of Operations, IngestRonnie Harper, CEO, My Sports Dietitian

  • Julian Herbert, Chief Product Officer, DoseSpot

  • Leo Holzenthal, CEO, MSB Consulting Engineers

  • Maureen Huguley, Co-Owner, Forman Huguley Consulting

  • Jeremy Hunnewell, CFO, Blue Cypress

  • Corey James, Chief of Staff, Survival and Flourishing Corp.

  • Alex Jagodzinski, Director of Digital Solutions, Get Online NOLA

  • Josh Johnston, Founder and CEO, TrayAway

  • Abbey Kish, Pitch Coach

  • Amber Kodish, GTM Leader, NVIDIA

  • Diego Llaneza, Innovation Manager, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

  • Kate Lingoni, Fractional COO, BonBon Strategic

  • Sanjay Manchanda, CMO, Vendasta

  • John Marshall, CEO, Series Next Solutions

  • Chris Meaux, Founder and CEO, QiMana Inc., Founder, Waitr

  • Dan Meth, CEO, Ingest

  • Robert McAlister, Lead Advisor, Foundry Financial

  • Stephen Morel, Founder, JurisDeed

  • Sean Peoples, Carmigo

  • Diego Pinzon, CEO, DAWn Audio

  • Andy Quick, Chief AI Advisor, Entergy

  • Sydni Raymond, Director of Marketing, French Quarter Festivals

  • Trey Richoux, Director of Innovation, MC Bank

  • John Roberts, Managing Partner, Boot64 Ventures

  • John Ross, VP of Marketing, PosiGen

  • Kelly Schexnaildre, Founder, Merf’s Condiments

  • Will Scott, CEO and Co-Founder, Search Influence

  • Kristina Sanderson, Principal Strategist, Clique Marketing

  • Shoban Pattam, Software Architect, nThrive

  • Soumitra Sengupta, Venture Partner, Elevate Capital

  • Claire Smith, Founder, Hilight

  • Christy Swann, Founder and CEO, R-Coast

  • Bailey Surtees, CEO, Kubanda Cryotherapy

  • Ramin Tabib, President, Santiago Consulting Company

  • Camille Terk, Owner, Terk Consulting LLC

  • Corey Tisdale, Managing Principal, Build with Shift, Founder, BBQ Guys

  • Elizabeth Tilton, Founder, Oyster Sunday, Founder, OS Benefits

  • Marianne Van Meter, Managing Director, Legacy Capital LLC

  • Lucy Warburton, Head of Product, RentCheck

  • Andrew Warmath, Founder and CEO, Carmigo

  • Josh Webb, Managing Director, Vici Partners

  • Lydia Winkler, Co-Founder and Advisor, RentCheck

  • Justin Wohlstadter, Founder and CEO, Waldo

  • Anne Wylde Serpente, Founder, Annem Academy