Become a Startup Mentor

Why are we starting a Mentorship program?

Every great founder and startup team member needs a network of experienced mentors they rely on during their startup journey. Not all founders and startup team members start out with this advantage, especially if they are first-time founders or team members located in areas other than top startup hubs like Silicon Valley, New York, Austin, Atlanta, or Boston.

What is a mentor?

Startup mentors provide valuable advice to entrepreneurs and startup teams in areas they want to improve in or learn more about. This includes areas such as how to manage their business best, developing growth and success strategies, and ensuring they remain competitive in the market. They also provide guidance on topics such as marketing, finance, legal issues, technology, and customer service. Mentors help startups stay focused on their goals by asking questions and offering guidance and support throughout the process, helping them understand and find a path forward. In addition to providing advice about specific aspects of running a business, mentors can also help startups identify opportunities for growth and development. By leveraging their expertise in various areas of business management, startup mentors can help entrepreneurs maximize their potential for success.

What does a successful mentoring relationship look like for startups?

Startups can benefit greatly from having access to an experienced network of mentors. These knowledgeable advisors can provide guidance and support during specific points in their journey, smoothing out their progress and raising the chances of a successful outcome. Startups can benefit from having a confidential relationship where they can share their ideas, worries, and questions and get feedback and advice whenever necessary. This way, founders won’t have to feel like they don’t have anywhere to turn for help.

The Mentor Lab

Become a Startup Mentor

Share in the Goal of

Share in the Goal of

Connecting experienced business and innovation leaders with new founders and startup team members to improve their chances of success.

Become a Startup Mentor

Mentor Wizardry

By mentoring startups, our mentors enjoy the benefits of receiving fresh insights and perspectives, inspiration, and motivation, plus the opportunity to become a better leader, build a new network and friendships, and contribute to elevating the startup ecosystem.

  • Inspire – Startup life is challenging (and sometimes brutal)

  • Show empathy – Behind every startup are humans

  • Enlighten them – Open their eyes to the knowns and unknowns

  • Be their Polaris – Consistency is essential for them to be successful

  • Maintain trust – Keep confidences and details private (even without an NDA)

  • Be responsive – Make it easy to connect with you and reply predictably

  • Be a guide – Show them the way and provide advice, but don’t try to control

  • Be direct – Startups need and can handle honesty

  • Share Freely – Expertise, connections, and experiences shared freely are invaluable

  • Be altruistic – Startups and their founders are usually broke

Do you have the qualities of a great mentor?

  • You have deep industry or entrepreneurial experience gained by working in the startup or innovation ecosystem.

  • Sharing comes naturally to you, and you’re excited to share your knowledge, guidance, and even helpful connections in your network freely.

  • You don’t expect a reward or compensation for working with early-stage founders and startup teams.

  • There’s room in your schedule to commit a minimum of 2 hours per month to schedule mentoring meetings.

What’s in it for the mentors?

Mentoring relationships can be incredibly beneficial for both the mentor and mentee. It is a two-way street, where the mentor provides guidance, support, and advice to their mentee while the mentee learns from the mentor’s experiences and knowledge.

Mentoring relationships provide an opportunity for both parties to grow in their respective fields. The mentor can learn more about their field as they help shape their mentee’s future, while the mentee can gain valuable insights from someone who has been in their shoes before.

Mentoring relationships also create a platform for open communication between both parties. This allows them to build trust and understanding that will lead to better working relationships in the future. The benefits of these relationships go beyond just career growth; they also foster personal growth.

  • This a fantastic opportunity for experienced professionals to share their knowledge, insights, and guidance that may help new startups be successful
  • By taking part in formal training or certification programs, you can hone your mentorship capabilities
  • You can earn badges that you can post to your LinkedIn profiles

  • Accelerated learning journey resulting in the ability to move forward faster
  • Better personal and business development
  • Confidential, experienced advisory, ideas, and support
  • Enhanced self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses
  • Greater confidence in managing challenges, change, transitions, and uncertainty
  • Networking opportunities
  • New, focused feedback and insights specific to their startup

  • Certification and achievement badges
  • Gain perspectives and new ideas
  • Increased personal visibility, reputation, and prestige
  • Learn more about the challenges, purpose, and workload of other teams
  • Networking opportunities
  • Opportunity to give back increased personal and professional satisfaction
  • Practical altruism
  • Reverse mentoring

  • Builds mentoring capabilities and leadership skills
  • Develops leaders at all levels
  • Maximize the potential of founders and startup teams
  • Increased diversity and inclusion
  • Expanded professional networks
  • Increased ecosystem viability
  • Creates a culture of support and enablement
  • Increase the likelihood of startup success
mentor lab
Become a Startup Mentor

How It Works

Becoming a mentor is easy! Follow the steps below.

  • 1

    Mentor registers – Explore whether you meet membership criteria and register your interest in joining us in The Mentor Lab.

  • 2

    Approved by Creative Hive Startups – Once approved, complete your mentor profile

  • 3

    Added to mentors page – Your mentor profile includes additional information about your interests, expertise, and availability

  • 4

    Mentor match program – Our ecosystem connects you to ideal founders and startup teams — once connected, you can arrange your first mentoring session

  • 5

    Mentoring Kickoff – Begin mutually beneficial mentor and founder/startup team relationship

  • 6

    Be open to reverse mentoring  – Gain new skills and insights from diverse entrepreneurs

Let’s work together

We deliver the building blocks for building great startups

0
Years of experience
0
Courses
0
Tools & Worksheets
0
Ultimate Guides

Let’s work together

We deliver the building blocks for building great startups

0
Years of experience
0
Courses
0
Tools & Worksheets
0
Ultimate Guides
Become a Mentor

Do you qualify?

See if you meet our mentor criteria:

  • Shared vision
  • Aligned values
  • Deep industry or entrepreneurial experience within startups/innovation
  • No expectation of reward or compensation
  • Can commit to at least 2 hours per month of mentoring
mentor lab

Learn More About Creative Hive Startups

Creative Hive Startups is a virtual business incubator and accelerator that provides a complete startup ecosystem with equitable access to tools, guidance, mentoring and capital for founders and startup teams. We focus on helping them validate their ideas, hone their pitch, develop their offering, and check in with experienced mentors along their journey.