Question
I am a product manager / director and was an engineer for many yrs before that. I've led engineering teams before, currently leading product and design for a large project at my current role. Also started a company before this, which folded...but I got a ton of experience out of that. I feel people could benefit from my successes and failures, and I'd like to become a mentor at 500 startups but I don't know who to approach or where to start. Any ideas?
(ps. I cold-emailed a few of the mentors at 500 startups, with what I thought was a thoughtful email...but got no response)
Answer
To become a mentor at 500 start-up you must understand how the mentor program works:
1. Founder reaches out to mentors through founder's own network
2. Some mentors may be interested enough in founder/start-up to take a meeting
3. Mentor might then start providing mentoring (but not as part of the "500Startups Mentor Program"), or may refer start-up to Dave McClure
4. Start-up may become a 500Startups start-up - this decision is made by Dave McClure and his inner circle
5. If selected to be a 500Startups start-up, which typically (always?) includes investment by 500Startups/Dave McClure, the start-up will start receiving referrals from Dave and his team to various 500Startups mentors for short or long-term mentoring on specific business issues
6. Additionally, as noted by Christine, once part of 500Startups, the start-up may attend presentations given by 500Startups mentors
7. Mentor secret powers may lead to additional weird and wonderful effects, not yet fully understood by anyone.
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath
