Ignite Your Startup's Potential

Tapasya Bali is a successful entrepreneur and seasoned finance executive with expertise in financial modeling and valuations. Specializing in tech, med-tech, and consumer companies, she has guided numerous businesses in defining their value propositions, developing go-to-market strategies, and exploring capital raising options across equity and debt instruments. Tapasya holds an MBA from NYU and a master’s in information systems from Baruch College.

Dan has served in various finance, strategy, M&A and investment roles with Microsoft, Samsung, Honeywell and Affirm, where his responsibilities included deal sourcing, diligence, financial modeling and negotiations across various industries.

In addition to his corporate career, Dan is an entrepreneur, having co-founded three companies—two in Asia and one in the U.S. Most recently, he built the Finance, Legal, and Operations functions at a medical device startup in Irvine, California, helping it secure Series A funding.

Dan holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis, and is licensed to practice law in California. He first joined LaunchPad as an advisor in 2023.

Nathan is the founder of nnstudio, a senior design practice specializing in enterprise B2B. With 20+ years in design and a decade focused on complex marketing work, he delivers Figma systems and high-production Adobe assets across fintech, healthcare, and technology. Clients include Google Cloud, Capital One, and WhatsApp.   

Jim Gustafson is an exceptional resource for early-stage medtech startups in the LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator, bringing over 30 years of hands-on leadership in Class II and III medical devices. With a remarkable track record that includes leading two successful Pre-Market Approval (PMA) applications, securing 30 510(k) clearances, and driving eight successful IDE clinical programs across three continents, Jim offers unmatched expertise in regulatory strategy, clinical trial design, and quality systems.

His career is defined by successfully navigating complex FDA pathways, resolving critical compliance challenges, and executing innovative clinical strategies to recover product viability and business value. Jim’s experience across regulatory, clinical, and quality functions, combined with his direct involvement in M&A evaluations and FDA-industry collaborations, makes him an invaluable mentor. His strategic insights help founders anticipate obstacles, accelerate timelines, and build strong foundations for commercial success in the highly regulated medtech space.

Lori A. Torres is the founder and prior CEO of Parcel Pending, the nation’s leading provider of package management solutions, and brings over 25 years of real estate experience. Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including the 2017 Orange County Business Journal “Innovator of the Year,” EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ 2017, and EY Regional Entrepreneur of the Year 2019.

Previously, as SVP at The Irvine Company, she oversaw 1,200 property management associates across 44,000 apartment homes. She currently holds multiple board positions and advises and coaches entrepreneurs.

Lori holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and is the proud mother of two sons and grandmother of four.