Members
Built by Armenians.
Built for Armenians.
NAYI exists for ambitious young Armenian students, founders, creatives, and professionals who want a network that actually shows up. Here is who runs it — and what you unlock when you join.
What membership unlocks
Three things every NAYI member gets.
- Access
In the room
Members are first on the list for every mixer, workshop, and speaker night — plus the rooms after the rooms.
- Mentorship
1:1 guidance
Get matched with Armenian founders, operators, and creatives who have already walked the path you are starting.
- Opportunities
Real openings
Internships, referrals, partnership intros, and platforms to share your work with a network that already roots for you.
What we do
Three pillars. One network.
Everything NAYI builds rolls up into three commitments to our members — repeatable, accountable, and built for the long run.
- 01
Mentorship
Direct access to Armenian founders, executives, creatives, and operators who have built careers worth modeling — and who give back generously.
- 1:1 mentor matching
- Speaker series & masterclasses
- Cohort-based guidance
- 02
Networking
A real community — not a logo on LinkedIn. Members meet, collaborate, and unlock doors across industries through curated events and intimate gatherings.
- Monthly mixers & socials
- Industry-specific roundtables
- Chapter exchanges
- 03
Opportunities
Internships, referrals, partnership pipelines, and platforms that let young Armenians ship their ideas, get hired, and start something of their own.
- Job & internship board
- Startup & founder support
- Sponsorships & scholarships
The team
25 people running NAYI.
A fully volunteer-built leadership team across NAYI Core and the GCC chapter — plus chapter leads in Yerevan, Hoover, and the diaspora.
NAYI Core
- Alexander Kasumyan Founder & President Tujunga, CA
- Ellen Vartanyan Director of Yerevan NAYI Pasadena, CA
- Joe Akopekyan Moderator Glendale, CA
- Mari Grigoryan Social Media Lead Glendale, CA
- Natalie Aivazian Event Coordinating Lead Sunland, CA
- Sophia Antaplyan Outreach Lead Granada Hills, CA
- Mike Koshkaryan Event Coordinator Tujunga, CA
- Ellen Meroyan Outreach Coordinator Granada Hills, CA
- Derik Hovsepian Event Coordinator Granada Hills, CA
GCC NAYI
- Emily President La Crescenta, CA
- Maya Alchian Vice President Glendale, CA
- Aline Shahbazian Secretary Glendale, CA
- Hakob Avetisyan Treasurer Glendale, CA
- Aren Sepanian Event Coordinator La Crescenta, CA
- Eva Mardigian Event Coordinator Altadena, CA
- Lemoil Evartarazian Event Coordinator Burbank, CA
- Elizabeth Nenedzhyan Moderator Glendale, CA
- Nare Grigorian IOC Representative Glendale, CA
- Nare Yesayan Event Coordinator Glendale, CA
- Tatevik Avetisyan Event Coordinator Glendale, CA
- Vahagn Manukyan Social Media Coordinator Glendale, CA
- Daniella Hakopian Outreach Coordinator Glendale, CA
- Lilit Manandyan Social Media Coordinator Glendale, CA
- Elen Yeghiyan Social Media Coordinator Glendale, CA
- Mariam Minasyan Outreach Coordinator Glendale, CA
Our network
One movement.
Chapters everywhere Armenians build.
From classrooms in Glendale to founder hubs in Yerevan, our chapter network keeps the community connected and the door open — no matter where in the diaspora you live.
- Yerevan Armenia
Our home-country chapter: bringing the global NAYI network back to where it started.
@yerevan.nayi - GCC Glendale, CA
Glendale Community College chapter — connecting Armenian college students with mentors and alumni.
@gcc.nayi - Hoover Glendale, CA
High-school chapter at Hoover, planting the next generation of Armenian innovators early.
@hoover.nayi - + New Your city
See a missing chapter in your city or school? Start it. We'll help you launch with a starter playbook and mentor matching.
Start a chapter
Voices in the network
“Success depends on how much you really want it.”
Narek Sirakanyan NAYI Speaker Series Ready?