SEP17
01
Founder Salon
Founder Salon: Building AI Products That Last
A candid conversation with Trojan founders on moving from an impressive demo to a durable, customer-led company.
USC AENAlumni Entrepreneurs NetworkThe Trojan network for founders
Trojans build
what’s next.
A home for USC alumni who start companies, back bold ideas, and help each other go further.
20K+
USC alumni identify
as entrepreneurs
Los Angeles · Global
Founder-to-founder. Trojan-to-Trojan.
01Shared network
across every school
across every school
03Ways in
Connect · Learn · Build
Connect · Learn · Build
∞Introductions
worth making
worth making
On the calendar
Meet the people behind
the next big idea.
OCT08
02
Community
Trojan Demo Night
Five alumni-led ventures, fast feedback from operators and investors, and an evening built around useful introductions.
NOV12
03
Capital
Capital & Community Breakfast
A small-format breakfast for founders and funders to compare notes on the next twelve months of building and backing companies.
Why AEN
There’s no
cold intro in the
Trojan Family.
From the first sketch to the next raise, AEN turns a vast alumni network into a close, useful community.
Find your way in →Connect
Meet founders, operators, and investors who understand both the ambition and the work.
Salons · Mixers · IntroductionsLearn
Trade polished panels for generous, practical conversations with people who have been there.
Workshops · Mentorship · StoriesBuild
Find sharper thinking, warmer doors, and the momentum that comes from building alongside Trojans.
Showcases · Feedback · CommunityThe people making it happen
Meet the board.
Founders, operators, investors, and community builders volunteering to make the network more useful for every Trojan.
NT01
Board Member
Nick Toso
Founder, Rolli
RR02
Board Member
Ritu Riyat
Founder & Health Strategist
AS03
Board Member
Ashish Shah
Syon Capital
GF04
Board Member
Gilbert Fletcher Jr.
Product & Community Leader
From the network
Ideas, updates,
and founder stories.
MentorshipAugust 12, 2026
Applications open for the next AEN mentorship cohort
Twelve weeks. One well-matched Trojan mentor. Practical perspective for the founder journey ahead.
Read the story →
From USCJuly 28, 2026
What we learned from a room full of Trojan founders
Ideas move faster when operators, investors, and first-time founders share the same room—and the real story.
Read the story →
Member StoryJuly 09, 2026
Founder in action: building a category with community at the center
A Trojan founder on customer obsession, resilience, and why the network around the work still matters.
Read the story →Your next introduction starts here
Come build with
the Trojan Family.
Get event invitations, founder stories, mentorship openings, and the occasional warm intro worth answering.