About JANUS

JANUS Innovation Hub is a startup incubator based in San Diego, supporting a global community of first-generation, immigrant, and underrepresented founders, helping them build scalable, investor-ready startups.

The JANUS
Innovation Hub Story

The story of Janus Innovation Hub begins when Aras Sheikhi personally saw the difficulties first-generation immigrants had in the business circle.

Why We’re Called JANUS

Named after JANUS, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, JANUS looks both backward and forward, seeing what’s been and imagining what’s possible. At Janus, we take the same approach with startups. We help founders connect what they know with what they need to succeed, guiding them through every transition, from an idea on paper to a product in the world. Like JANUS watching over doorways, we’re here at every threshold, helping you step confidently into what comes next.

Our mission is
simple

to open doors for people who are often left out of the startup world. We work with bold entrepreneurs who are building solutions that matter, while building a more inclusive tech ecosystem along the way.

Our
Team

Aras Sheikhi Janus Janus Innovation Hub Startups

Aras
Sheikhi

CEO and Founder

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Mostafa Afkhamizadeh Janus Janus Innovation Hub Startups

Mostafa
Afkhamizadeh

Co-founder, Business Sterategy, Advisor, Mentor

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