Testimonials

Aki Kaltenbach

Founder / CEO of Save Da Sea Foods Inc.

Mark was incredibly helpful in pushing me to think bigger around the story I was telling investors and helped me refine my pitch to plant-based investors, which ultimately lead to me closing my pre-seed raise within weeks of his coaching.

Jeffrey Harris

CEO of Green Venture Advisory, Co-Founder of Plant Power Fast Food

In my journey as an advisor and consultant to companies and teams in the plant-based and sustainability sectors, Mark Winstein has been an invaluable mentor and guide. Mark’s input been instrumental in expanding my perspective on the impact that various capitalization models may have on a company’s long term expansion strategy.

His insights have helped me to more deeply grasp the interplay between our current economic system and the unique challenges faced by both start-ups and companies poised for growth. Through our discussions, I’ve come to appreciate how traditional funding models often overlook vast pools of available capital and in doing so may hinder the potential of many important innovative ventures. Moreover, Mark has a clear grasp on how these conventional models can inadvertently erode a company’s moral and ethical foundations through short-sighted exit strategies.

What sets Mark apart is his ability to envision alternative paradigms for capitalization and growth that are rarely considered in traditional circles. His innovative approach challenges the status quo and encourages a reevaluation of how we understand both the role of capital and methods of capitalization in potentially world-changing business endeavors.

Emily Patrick

Mark is excellent at quickly identifying underlying issues and providing powerful, concise advice on how to move forward. As a foreigner living in another country, I had been conflicted over the mixed impacts I might be having on locals. Talking to Mark helped me make peace with what I can control as an individual versus the larger forces that are out of my hands. While speaking with Mark, I felt a sense of calmness and relaxation that I had never experienced before. Now, I’m better able to focus on my work in the social good space and on what I can do to have a net positive impact on my local community.

Tony Aziz

Co-Founder, Heart Core Hotels

Heart Core Hotels is the world’s first collection of entirely plant based hotels. After our first hotel in Hawaii became self-sustaining, I sought out Mark’s guidance on how finance our global plan.

Mark taught me about financial design, how to raise capital, and the difference between venture capital funds and the kinds of investors we’d need to engage to achieve our goals. While we ended up using traditional bank financing to buy our second property, I would enjoy working with Mark again if we ever need to raise outside capital.

Leticia Galicia

Founder, Centli Ecotienda

I founded Centli Ecotienda to offer the people of the capital of Oaxaca, Mexico, healthy lifestyle options by expanding the distribution of local, organic foods and other sustainable products from small producers in the state.

I felt overwhelmed by the idea of starting a business in such a competitive and ever-growing market. Mark helped me organize my original action plan into small, doable steps that I am confident will get us to our goal. Thanks to his mentoring, we are working to generate a positive impact for 30 farming families and are committed to reducing the use of plastic as part of our policy of minimizing environmental impact.

Mark’s mentoring is essential to the social impact entrepreneurship we are promoting. I am grateful for his support and guidance and excited for the road ahead.

Roland Schwarcz

I am building a business aimed at helping people at the lower end of the economic ladder lift themselves out of poverty. I did this for myself and want to help others. But I was feeling a lack of motivation. I signed up for Mark’s 30-day mentoring program in the hope of truly understanding “why”, my reason to go for my goals.

First, I didn’t know what to expect. Second, I was skeptical. But thanks to Mark’s guidance, I gained the clarity I was seeking. It was great to communicate with someone who listens, asks questions and replies based on my answers. I gained a real sense of possibility during our conversations. Like, “I can really do this. I can make the impossible possible.”

Now, my “why” is clear. Since working with Mark, I have done more than before. I made huge progress, and my focus and determination are high.

Mahima Purohit

I had the privilege of working with Mark during my stint at Vegan Launch, and it was truly a rewarding experience. It’s rare to find a mentor who works with you to identify your strengths and creates a work culture that encourages immense learning and personal growth.

Mark is an ocean of knowledge and his rich business and life experiences can be invaluable for anyone seeking guidance. His clarity of thought and optimistic outlook can really help gain perspective and clear the path forward.

Sarah Hawley

Author & Founder, Gromotely

Mark came into my life at a time of real stress and struggle. My startup was failing, and so was my mental health. He immediately helped me gain a handle on my inner world so I could focus again on my business and make more grounded and sound decisions. I’m grateful for his support and guidance and the shifts created in my life through his sharing of wisdom, experience and practical tools.

Luca Peters

Researcher & Project Manager – Climate Action, Land & Water Management, International Development

Mark has provided invaluable support and advice regarding my goal to work in environmentally-beneficial food systems. One key piece of advice was to avoid working without proper compensation. At the time, I had taken on a task for a minimal fee from an organization that promised more work once they secured funding. After five months, no funding materialized, and I hadn’t pursued other opportunities. I wish I had followed Mark’s advice sooner.

Additionally, Mark guided me through the job application process, likening it to a sales process. He explained the importance of making people curious about what I know without revealing everything upfront. His insights into how the world works have been enlightening. I highly recommend Mark as a coach and mentor.

Yesenia Luciano

Biologist

Speaking in public is a topic that for many of us means an unsatisfactory emotion which produces anxiety and a lot of nervousness. Not everyone has the ability to stand in front of an audience and express themselves, but fortunately or unfortunately, no one escapes that today in the professional work world.

Personally, it is a topic that has cost me and continues to cost me to this day. Luckily I met Mark with whom I practiced, and he taught me some relaxation and tranquility techniques that help me a lot and I continue to practice them, techniques that anyone can apply and help a lot to calm the mind and emotions.

Guy Duperrault

Writer & Yogi

I met Mark for the first time by chance in a coffee shop. I told him that I was working on becoming a professional writer. He asked me a few questions, gave me one suggestion, and less than twenty-four hours later I officially became a professional writer with my first paid subscriber on Substack. Following Mark’s guidance, I also held my first paid yoga retreat, and gained my first paid life-coaching client.

Mark helped me to see and understand my internal money blockages, and then helped me to clear them. I became free from old stories that had monetarily imprisoned me and have begun to tangibly grow my financial freedom and with it the expansion of my writing and yogic practices into true professional expressions of joy and love.