Startup Coaches, Events, and Resources

I founded TalkMaze, a public speaking and education platform that grew to 20,000 members, 4 million video views, and over 5,000 participants across North America. I raised $150K in funding, delivered 4 TEDx talks, won the national Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, and placed as a national runner-up in a venture capital investment competition. Every one of those outcomes came down to storytelling and pitching. I help early-stage founders take complex or technical products and turn them into clear, compelling pitches. Whether you're preparing for a demo day, a VC meeting, a competition, or an accelerator application, I help you find the version of your story that makes people lean in. I've coached thousands of people through high-stakes moments where the story has to land. If you have a great product but struggle to communicate why it matters, that's exactly where I come in.

I started my career at Airbnb, worked in Venture Capital, and now run my own VC-backed startup. I've raised $4M+, built our company into 7 figures, and was awarded Forbes 30 under 30. I've done everything from building 0-1 bootstrapped, raising multiple rounds of funding, scaling and building a team, navigating through crisis and more.

As an entrepreneur with a proven record of scaling companies from inception to multimillion-dollar valuations, I have led ventures in robotics, life sciences, and sustainable technologies. My leadership experience spans: Founding two companies with a combined valuation increase of 30x, raising over $25M in financing. Securing 6 successful exits through IPOs and M&A, driving cumulative valuations exceeding $600M. Developing global business strategies, managing cross-border teams, and establishing partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. Holding MBA credentials with honors from Columbia Business School and a Forbes recognition for outstanding entrepreneurship. My clients gain access to: Practical strategies for fundraising, scaling, and market penetration. Expertise in navigating international business landscapes, particularly in AI, robotics, and ESG-driven ventures. Tailored guidance to achieve their unique entrepreneurial goals.

Welcome to my profile! I'm Pedro, a passionate entrepreneur and startup coach with a rich background in both founding and scaling businesses. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Aloi Tech, I bring firsthand experience in navigating the challenges of launching and growing a tech company. My previous roles as a Product Manager at Minu Fintech and an Associate at Advent International have equipped me with a deep understanding of product development and financial strategies in the startup ecosystem. With an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, I am passionate about helping aspiring entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into successful ventures. Let's connect and explore how I can support your startup journey!

I've been mentoring and coaching founders on communicating the value of their venture since 2019. Leveraging storytelling principles, we develop a pitch that showcases their idea and locks in the minds of prospective investors and clients. Once the story is written, I'll help you deliver it with polish and poise.

I help CEOs and operators as they prepare to raise capital by translating investor expectations into clear, practical fundraising guidance. I have 4+ years across Private Equity, Growth Equity, and VC, and most recently served as an investor on Summit Partners’ flagship $10B fund, focused on technology investments. I also spent a year at Griffin Gaming Partners, where I evaluated earlier-stage gaming companies and infrastructure businesses. I graduated from Harvard, where I taught the largest Venture Capital club on campus to 100+ undergraduates. I designed the curriculum myself and mentored students on investing fundamentals, company analysis, and how to think like a VC or growth equity investor. I bring that same investor perspective to helping founders sharpen their pitch, anticipate diligence questions, and communicate their business more effectively.

As a Founder you can outsource almost anything you struggle with - except your mindset. My approach to coaching stems from the belief that the relationship we have with ourselves reverberates across every other part of our lives. To succeed in your startup, therefore, requires conscientious cultivation of healthy, enabling self-partnership. My practice combines Alderian and Applied Positive Psychology with a focus on human flourishing. Some of the primary pain points I address are: negative self talk, limiting beliefs, burn out, lack of self trust, purposelessness, unhealthy communication patterns, uncertainty about next steps, stress management, decision making under duress, and failure to take consistent action to achieve goals. Prior to coaching, I spent 8+ years as a 3x founder in B2B climate fintech, consulting, and fiscal literacy, 14+ years as a workshop facilitator & educator, and 5 years as an international speaker. Since starting Mountain Tops Consulting, I have coached 18 professionals and facilitated 200+ hours of executive masterminds, 60 development workshops, and 5 retreats. I currently lead programming at the Entrepreneur House of San Diego, the mission of which is to maximize founders’ personal and professional growth.

With years of hands-on entrepreneurial experience, I bring a deep understanding of what it takes to build, scale, and sustain a business. As the Co-founder & CCO of S2S Dynamics, a circular economy startup tackling e-waste through tech-driven solutions, I have led commercial strategy, partnerships, and market positioning to drive growth and impact. Prior to this, I co-founded and scaled a renewable energy company to million-dollar revenues, overseeing marketing, strategic alliances, and business development across multiple markets. My journey has given me firsthand exposure to the challenges of fundraising, go-to-market strategy, and sustainable business models—insights I now share as an adjunct professor mentoring startups and executives at IE University. Whether you're an aspiring founder refining your idea, a startup looking to scale, or a corporate innovator driving intrapreneurship, I can help you navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship with practical guidance and actionable strategies.

With over two decades of experience in leadership development, strategic consulting, and in technology leadership in C-Suite, I specialize in guiding startups and entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential by bringing enterprise-level expertise and agile thinking to high-growth companies. I work with Series A+ technology-focused companies needing experienced leadership to professionalize their organizations early and establish the right foundation to scale effectively. As the Co-founder of Sullivan Global Consulting, I have worked with high-profile clients like The Honest Company and its founder, Jessica Alba and the CEO (holding over 350 technology patents) of Perceive (acquired by Amazon) providing executive coaching and leadership development tailored to the unique challenges of startup environments. My diverse background from working for large enterprises, such as Intel within Transformation Programs to a Digital Entertainment startup in Ireland as General Manager to serving as COO of technology startup, Reppify and at 22nd Century Solutions by Design impact investment fund, equips me with a unique perspective on innovation and sustainable growth. Whether you're navigating the complexities of scaling your business or seeking to enhance your leadership skills, I'm here to help you succeed. How I work: For Startups: Building the Foundation - Leadership Alignment - Right People - Building effective teams and leadership structures - Right Processes - Establishing scalable systems that grow with you - Right Technology - Implementing solutions that drive efficiency: we help prevent the inefficiencies that come from ad-hoc systems and reactive decision-making, ensuring sustainable growth as you scale. 🎙️Breaking Boundaries: A Podcast of my Leadership Journey 🔹Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-boundaries-from-intel-to-pro-athlete-to-executive/id1769047061?i=1000708555318 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/64kqS1nYpXX5ykmj41kgSb?si=3DMFY04CSWiJBsJ5mX6PgA

Welcome! With over two decades of experience in leadership and executive coaching, I specialize in empowering startup founders to navigate the complexities of scaling their businesses. As the Founder of Surko Coaching, I have partnered with high-potential leaders to enhance their executive presence, strategic decision-making, and resilience, ensuring they are equipped to lead with confidence and clarity. My extensive background includes roles such as Chief Experience Officer at Flowcode and Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Bluecore, where I drove significant growth and operational excellence. I am an ICF Accredited Coach and hold certifications in Career and Leadership Coaching, which I leverage to tailor my coaching approach to each client's unique needs. Let's connect to explore how I can support your journey to success!