Inclusive Accelerator Application Process
-Mentors-

Mentors will serve as advisors and supporters for participants in the accelerator program. They should aim to provide a safe space for mentees to expose vulnerabilities associated with creating and building a business startup. Mentors may, for some of our participants, be an introduction to business networking. In addition, throughout the program, they will help reinforce the weekly lessons, advise their mentees on applying concepts to their business/nonprofit ideas, and assist with unique questions their mentee may have about their project. During the first 20 weeks of the formal program, mentors will be invited to join, and encouraged to attend, one or two pitch events as well as the final class celebration.

Our Next Accelerator will take place virtually

Mentors make their own schedules in collaboration with Participants


Time Commitment:

  • Initial 20 weeks: 1-2 hours per week with mentee

  • Thereafter: 3 hours per month for an additional 6 months


Mentor Training:

Our accelerator uses the principles of lean startup and customer-centric thinking. We will use the Business Model Canvas framework. Mentors will be expected to become generally familiar with key concepts that are foundational to the program curriculum so that particular advice given is consistent with the philosophy and orientation of the program. We ask all mentors to join us for one evening of “training” so we’re all “rowing in the same direction” while providing accelerator participants with a diversity of expertise.

When you become a mentor you also agree not to sell your professional services, time or other products to any of the current class of mentees. Serving as a mentor is an opportunity to serve, to support members of the cohort, and it is not intended to be a business development opportunity for the mentor. We ask that you not “sell into” the mentees’ businesses any of your friends services or products. Obviously we want to do right by helping our mentees so if there’s a great reason for an exception, we’ll talk it over together.


Why Become a Mentor?

  • Enjoy working with and sharing your knowledge, life experience and expertise with people

  • Enjoy the fun and satisfaction of being part of a welcoming community of entrepreneurs, leaders and neighbors improving lives one person at a time

  • Join the movement to make the entrepreneurial dream accessible to everyone no matter their background or financial status

  • Help budding entrepreneurs build solutions to their local communities’ most pressing challenges


Mentor/Mentee Matching

Matches will be made on the basis of needs and fit. No more than 3 mentors will be assigned to a mentee. Those mentors that are not assigned a mentee may be called upon where specific expertise is needed.

Ready to get started?

MENTOR APPLICATION

Complete the short form below and submit your resume to ossininginnovates@gmail.com. Please email us with any questions.