All startups face the universal challenge of transforming an idea into an attractive investment. An integral part of this process, according to Tom Sperry, is finding a good mentor. Sperry is a co-founder of Rogue Venture Partners, a local venture capital fund based in Portland, Oregon. Last summer he began providing advice and support to technical startups as a mentor through Mercy Corps’ ADNI (Arab Developer Network Initiative) program. His first mentee was a Palestinian programmer Ayman Awartani, interviewed by Global Envision in March. Ayman’s glowing review of his mentor led Global Envision to track down Tom to get his perspective on mentoring someone halfway across the world.