Reviews

It was really straight to the point, janko is one of the few we had worked with that moves beyond the conceptual part of any mentorship to onground points that actually helps, it was like talking with an experienced founder from your network that understands what you’re talking about and actually tells you how to think about it the right way

It was definitely Jankos energy. The way he explains things in a calm and to the point way, allows one to focus and not lose interest. Along with a lot of useful information that was beneficial.

"We’ve worked with Janko on around 5 different programs and he’s been nothing but exceptional all throughout! Founders LOVE his sessions and benefited a lot from his experience as a previous founder especially during their fundraising processes. I remember one founder told me after his session “you can hear a needle drop during Janko’s session” referring to how focused 50 different startup founders were in the training room during his session. Also, outside the training room Janko was super open and accessible to the founders, have chats with them in hallways and during breakfast and lunchtime, and sharing his valuable tips and insights with them during. On the other hand, and on a spiritual and psychological level, we’ve hired him 3 different times for founders’ wellness retreats, and he somehow managed every single time to crack the founders open, and let them share their vulnerabilities and worst fears, to release at the end that they all share the same fears, and that they’re not alone on their entrepreneurial journeys. This reflection alone has created an incredible bond within each batch, and we still see the founders seeking advice / help from one another on their WA groups, even 3 years later! That’s the kind of spark and impact someone like Janko leaves behind :) "

"Many founders make the same mistake. They struggle to see the larger picture because they are too narrowly focused on execution. Janko was a crucial mentor who helped those founders reconnect with fundamentals and expand their view to a broader scale. What I valued most about Janko was the distinct perspective he brought into every discussion, combining clarity, structure, and depth. That quality of insight is something I deeply appreciated and believe should be carried forward."

"Janko tells it like it is, of the real founder experience - the good the bad the ugly. He also does it with his own flare, which is a very grounded, connected and witty way. He's one of only a handful of mentors I've worked with in my more than decade of mentoring experience who comes out with perfect NPS scores for experiences from our founders. Because of this, he is always highly sought after, long after programs end. As a colleague, he's supportive, rolls his sleeves up and works to help us all create a supportive and supportive team culture. I always look forward to the opportunity to continue working with him!"

Working with Janko was an excellent experience — he provided clear guidance, valuable insights, and practical advice that truly helped our growth journey.

I’m truly grateful for the invaluable mentorship and guidance I received. Your positive mindset and encouraging approach have made a huge difference for me as a founder. Not only did your expertise in fundraising strategy, business consultations, and growth planning guide us forward, but your optimistic spirit helped me personally navigate the startup journey with confidence. Thank you for being such a pivotal part of our journey.

"Janko was an impactful and creative coach. His speaking abilities were great. Presentation skills were also awesome. I could see how he might have been trained in Silicon valley to sell and do those sort of pitches. He helped engage with me in a creative way ideating with me and my team as opposed to just telling us to ideate or giving some fickle advice/directing us elsewhere. He has been through this process a ton and is able to zoom in and out of problems easily. Something that was really useful during my time under his tutelage. As a founder you are so caught up on the minute details and so close to problems his perspective really does help to find more creative solutions to things. In terms of what got better? I think before we were limiting ourselves with how we get shit done according to more normal or proper business practices. After I think he sparked a scrappy fire within me to help me solve problems in a more dastardly way LOL! Like if I need information there are at least 94 ways to get it you just have to be creative. "

Janko’s sessions are always entertaining to watch even if it isn’t your first time attending them. His funny and upfront style of teaching really resonates with the founders and they appreciate it. His office hours are also very good. His upfront style is a great learning experience for the founders as they sometimes need to hear things as they are from a different perspective.

Before I met with Janko, I was struggling with how to walk the line between humility and striving for awesomeness as a startup founder.

My experience with Janko was as a startup founder going through a 500 Global bootcamp with Janko as one of the mentors. I have been through multiple accelerator programs, and Janko is among my favorites of the mentors I have worked with.

"I used to think pitching was about perfect slides and memorizing every word. Working with Janko completely changed that. He listened to my pitch and then retold my entire story—clearly and confidently—in under three minutes. That’s when it clicked: pitching is storytelling. Once I focused on telling my story instead of reciting slides, my anxiety dropped dramatically and everything felt more natural. Janko helped me find clarity, confidence, and connection in how I present my work—and that made all the difference. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sylviewatikum_i-used-to-think-pitching-your-startup-was-activity-7375846735266402304-0HWf/? "

Working with Janko was a game-changer for us. He’s sharp, inspiring, and always ready with the right data, references, and insights exactly when you need them. His guidance helped us refine our thinking and make critical decisions with clarity. I even called him ‘Janko GPT’ because his knowledge and responsiveness were just that valuable. Beyond the professional side, he’s also incredibly supportive and a great person to chat with. Any founder would be lucky to have Janko in their corner.

Janko brings such a rare mix of experience, insight, energy, humility, and genuine kindness...pretty much everything you could ask for in a startup mentor. He balances big-picture strategy with hands-on practicality effortlessly. On a personal note, he’s very approachable and definitely someone you’d want to get stuck on a long layover with: great company, meaningful conversations, and just an all-around good human.

The way janko leads his sessions are great, he moves quickly so keeps you engaged and covers so many points in one session that you finish it having completely re-learned how to approach a specIfic situation or dynamic. He also focuses a lot on practical tips and guidance, so as to not just give you a conceptual understanding of a situation but shows you how to deal with it and related it to his past experiences which consolidates the theoretical with the practical

Janko is an exceptional mentor with deep expertise across customer insight, GTM, and fundraising. A battle-tested entrepreneur himself, he brings calm clarity, sharp perspective, and gritty, action-oriented advice. Authentic and globally minded, he’s generous with his vast network and has helped hundreds of founders thrive. Janko also champions founder wellness and inner growth, helping entrepreneurs build with resilience, focus, and purpose.

Janko was completely different, his training style, his experience, and the way he delivered his message were all unique. He presented ideas from perspectives I had never considered before. He’s highly experienced, and his knowledge comes from real, hands-on work rather than theory or books. I truly enjoyed his bootcamp session; it added a lot of value to me personally and professionally.

He is the guy who try to make some actions, not only talking and consulting. I like that part of him!!

"Janko has been the best mentor we’ve ever worked with. When we were preparing for our first VC funding round, we were struggling to structure our story and understand how VCs think. Janko guided us through every step from clarifying the core principles of venture investing, to refining our pitch deck, and helping us build the confidence to deliver it effectively. Once we started pitching, he continued to support us by reviewing investor feedback, helping us assess and negotiate different offers, and guiding us until we successfully closed the round. Having a strong mentor and friend like Janko has truly been a blessing and a game changer for us."

Working with Janko was a truly transformative experience. His energy, clarity, and conviction stood out he pushed me to think bigger and communicate with greater confidence. Before working with him, I was focused mainly on structure and delivery, but his guidance helped me open new channels for angel investing, reach out more effectively to people in the Valley, and tell a more compelling story with conviction. His mentorship made me feel both supported and inspired to step into a stronger version of myself as a founder.

Janko's feedback and style is very direct and to the point. Sometimes it can hurt, but its all for the good so you buckle down and focus on what matters. As his feed back is all so you don't waste your time either on a poor business idea or a poor execution. Fail fast and fail often, but always listen to your customers so you don't build what they don't need or want.

Janko transformed my entrepreneurial journey by refusing to force-fit my enterprise healthcare build into standard startup templates, instead teaching me how to bridge Takoda Health's marathon infrastructure development with oneday program sprint requirements while preserving Takoda's strategic integrity. His holistic mentorship cut through complexity with detective-like precision, helping me map multi-stakeholder systems and pivot from regulatory paralysis to executable market entry through an offshoot program, Takoda Nutrition. Most valuably, Janko pushed me toward radical clarity on purpose and control before I ventured to secure investor commitments, using reflective practices that prevented costly misalignments while his practical frameworks (like "speak in threes" and "magic wand" discovery questions) elevated my stakeholder conversations from presentations to genuine partnerships.

Janko amazing experience with startups helped me understand the aspect of my product. He doesn't sugarcoat advice and that is much needed!

I think Janko was one of the most energetic and experienced entrepreneurs I've ever had the privilege of working with and learning from. I think any startup he touches has a good chance of making it. He gave me the confidence to speak with investors even before I had something that I'm comfortable sharing. Since then, I've had prospective investors lined up and I'm given the chance to chose whomever fits me best.