Become a Mentor

Our goal is to create high impact connections between successful business men and women and young or new entrepreneurs.

Apply Today

Would you like to mentor startup founders?

Innovate Charlotte is seeking experienced individuals who want to  mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs.  It’s an opportunity to give back and get plugged in into the entrepreneurial community.

Key Benefits For Entrepreneurs

  • Access to a diverse pool of expertise
  • Ability to size, shape, and change mentor teams to meet evolving needs of venture
  • Access to a wider pool of contacts
  • Once they get in, the service is available to them until they no longer need it.

Mentor Characteristics / Qualifications

  • Significant and relevant experience
  • Enthusiasm for the program
  • Ability to advise and coach through constructive critiquing
  • Listening skills
  • Respect from peers
  • Time to participate

Why do Mentors Mentor?

  • Access to a diverse pool of expertise
  • Ability to size, shape, and change mentor teams to meet evolving needs of venture
  • Access to a wider pool of contacts
  • Once they get in, the service is available to them until they no longer need it.

What's Special About Team Mentorship?

Key Benefits For Entrepreneurs

  • Access to a diverse pool of expertise
  • Ability to size, shape, and change mentor teams
  • Meet evolving needs of your startup over time
  • Access to a wider pool of contacts
  • Mentoring available long-term

Key Benefits for Mentors

  • They are motivated to give back
  • Pride in developing the next gen entrepreneurs
  • Opportunity to meet, network and learn from other mentors
  • Pride in the connection with a prestigious program

Mentor Characteristics / Qualifications

  • Significant and relevant experience
  • Enthusiasm for the program
  • Ability to advise and coach through constructive critiquing
  • Listening skills
  • Respect from peers
  • Time to participate

Team Mentoring

Based on the MIT Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), the team methodology we use has many advantages:

Tested approach refined over 20+ years of experience

Interact with, learn from, and develop relationships with like-minded peers on your team.

Since mentoring is done in teams, mentor colleagues provide excellent sounding boards

Easily move into other teams as needed, and focus your talents and expertise on the startups who are looking for specific help.

Apply to be a Mentor

Apply to be a mentor in 3 easy steps:
(1) Fill out the application

(2) Schedule a 60-minute interview

(3) Get onboarded and begin mentoring!

We would like to thank you for your interest in Innovate Charlotte Venture Mentoring Service based on the successful model used by the renowned Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

We look forward to reviewing your application!