On this episode of The Cross-Check, we sit down with Sameer Romani, a seasoned bizav veteran with only five years of industry experience underneath his belt. A commercial rated pilot who went from teaching systems at Mesa Airlines to dabbling in venture capital and launching his own startup, EssenceJet, Sameer’s story is anything but linear. Sameer talks about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, what it’s really like to build something from scratch in this industry, and why mentorship is more than just a buzzword. These days, Sameer is focused on winglets and as it turns out, those little upturned fins on the end of airplane wings are big business and a lot more important than they look. He breaks down how this winglet tech is boosting fuel efficiency and helping aviation take baby steps toward sustainability. While Sameer's business aviation path is unique, his story is both inspiring and educational. Chapters: 00:00 Sameer Romani's Aviation Journey 02:48 Transitioning to Venture Capital 14:09 Teaching at Mesa Airlines 16:55 Founding EssenceJet 19:46 Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations 19:52 Meeting Gary Dunn and the Introduction to Winglets 20:33 Understanding Winglets and Their Impact 21:26 The Evolution of Winglet Design 24:05 Performance Benefits of Winglets 26:02 Current Applications and Future of Winglets 27:46 Common Misconceptions About Winglets 28:47 The Importance of Mentorship 29:08 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 31:43 Persistence in Business and Networking 36:38 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Opportunities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices