Finding the right mentor for your small business is an invaluable asset that will help the long-term success of your business. For one, a mentor is there to advise and guide you in areas where you may not have enough experience. Then there’s the research that shows that 70% of mentored small businesses survive past the five-year mark — nearly twice the rate of non-mentored businesses.
None of this changes the fact, however, that finding the right mentor can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Here are a few key organizations that help businesses like yours find a mentor.
1. SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit organization that helps connect small businesses to more than 10,000 volunteer mentors of both active and retired executives and entrepreneurs across 62 industries. Small business-owners like you can connect with more than 250 local chapters via email, phone, video, and in-person meetings. You can read more about how the organization is helping small businesses adapt to COVID in a recent blog post here.
2. SBDCs
Small Business Development Centers provide the opportunity to forge relationships with other entrepreneurs and business owners through its local centers, training sessions, and free business consulting. You can search for a location near you using this tool on SBA.gov.
3. MicroMentor
MicroMentor offers free online mentoring services that connect small business owners to other small business mentors. You can start by setting up a profile on the site and exploring mentor profiles who have the experience, background, and knowledge you’re looking for.
4. TiE Global
TiE Global is a nonprofit organization founded in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs and corporate executives with roots in the Indus regions. The group is devoted to supporting entrepreneurs by offering education, mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities.
5. One Million by One Million
Also referred to as 1Mby1M, this is the first global virtual accelerator headquartered in Silicon Valley. Their programs offer free and online weekly roundtable discussions for entrepreneurs looking to discuss finances, position, and other aspects of building a startup.
6. Mogul
Mogul, a worldwide platform reaching 18 million women a week, provides personalized mentorship in the form of 24/7 digital advice hotline. Female entrepreneurs can connect with experts like the former chairwoman of Hearst Magazines and Miss New York.
7. Find a Mentor
This free self-service tool matches mentees with adult mentors in more than 1,500 categories including leadership, success, career, and communications coaching. Aside from one-on-one mentorships, members can also build a mastermind group to brainstorm and learn from peers.
8. MentorCity
MentorCity offers a cloud-based mentor-matching service for businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions. The services include a free online registry for mentors who are interested in finding entrepreneurs and students they can help, while mentees can also use the registry to find the mentor who meets their needs based on skills, industry, job function, experience, and more.
9. Techstars
Techstars is a global platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations looking to invest and innovate. Founders and small businesses owners can join a three-month mentorship driven accelerator program with hands-on mentorship. Founders can also request one-on-one time with accelerator staff to discuss their business plan, gather feedback, and learn more about the company’s mentorship driven accelerator programs.
10. Founder Institute
The Founder Institute is the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to raise funding, get into seed accelerators, generate traction, and more. The programs connect founders to local startup experts who are invested in their success.
11. Girlboss NYC
Last but not least, GBNYC helps more than 100 women per year create successful startups that will have a positive impact on their communities by giving them access to professional and personal development workshops, mentorships, networking events, small business meetings, and more. Their six-week She Means Business Incubator guides early-stage founders through business development with the support of mentors, facilitators, and more. Cohorts open
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