Build a product customers pay for.

Founder mentoring · B2B software and AI · Pre-seed through Series A

I'm Chris. I help B2B software and AI founders choose the right customers, decide what to build, and turn promising pilots into paid contracts.

I've spent 20 years in Silicon Valley and mentored 500+ founders. The B2B businesses I've built for clients and employers together generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. I know the work between a promising idea and a business with paying customers.

Bring me the decision you keep going back and forth on. We'll look at what your customers are telling you, challenge the assumptions, and work out what to do next.

Bring the decision. Let's work through it.

One focused question. Honest feedback from someone who has built and sold B2B products. A paid 15-minute session to decide what to do next.

Book a 15-minute session ↗

Where is your business getting stuck?

Every prospect wants a different feature, and your MVP keeps growing.
People like the demo, but no one is ready to pay.
A promising pilot isn't turning into a contract.
Your AI product works technically, but its value to the customer is still unclear.

These are the kinds of questions we can work through. Bring what you've heard from customers, what you've tried, and where you're unsure.

Here's how we'll work

Before the call

When booking, tell me what you're building, who it's for, and the question you want to discuss. A few sentences are enough.

During the call

I'll ask questions, give you my honest take, and help you weigh your options. In 15 minutes, we'll focus on one issue.

Your next step

We'll work out what to try next. If you'd like more time to get into the detail, you can choose a longer session on Intro.

First-time and nontechnical founders are welcome. You don't need a polished deck. Booking, payment, and rescheduling are handled through Intro. Available times and prices are listed there.

Built products. Won customers. Mentored founders.

At SAP, I took Connected Goods from an idea through customer pilots and launch. At Cognizant, I rebuilt a struggling product practice and closed $10 million in annual recurring revenue within ten months. That experience shapes how I work with founders: connect what you're building to a customer who will pay for it.

I'm a CEO mentor in the Ignite program at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where I've worked with founder teams since 2014. I also mentor through Alchemist, German Accelerator, Techstars, and Plug and Play.

My operating experience helps me ask practical questions. What did the customer actually say? Who can approve the purchase? What could you test before committing the team to another month of building?

What founders say

“In a short time, Christian made a huge positive impact on the direction and strategy of Reliabl.”Annie Brown, Founder, Reliabl · LinkedIn, July 2023

Reliabl builds AI training and evaluation software. It is backed by New Media Ventures and shares its latest customer work on LinkedIn ↗

“…guided my business strategy, and helped to edit and perfect my pitch deck. I unequivocally recommend him as startup coach!”Casey Qadir, Founder, Hubly Surgical · LinkedIn, June 2020

Hubly Surgical closed a $3 million seed round in 2023 and reported 5,000 surgical drills sold in February 2025 ↗

Read more recommendations on LinkedIn ↗

“Christian gave sharp, practical advice in our very first call.”Taskin · MentorCruise session review, May 2026

Read the review on MentorCruise ↗

Already working with me through an accelerator?

If you work with me through the Ignite program at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Alchemist, Techstars, German Accelerator, or Plug and Play, arrange your session through your program team.

Let's tackle the decision holding you back.

Bring one question about your product or customers. Let's work out your next step.

See available times ↗

Unsure whether I can help? Email me a few sentences about your startup and the question on your mind.

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