Manhattan Professional Mentor Program
“Start-ups don’t necessarily need only capital. They need the right mentorship. In many cases, they’ve never been where they want to go and are just learning their way through it. If they had someone to help them, it would make a tremendous impact.”
Take the First Step: Apply to be a Mentor
Mentorship is a vital way to get involved in Greater Manhattan’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and support the next generation of business. Business mentors provide their experience, expertise and guidance to young and growing business owners, entrepreneurs and innovators who are facing the challenges of launch, growth and expansion.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Mentorship is a vital way to get involved in Greater Manhattan’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and support the next generation of business. Business mentors provide their experience, expertise and guidance to young and growing business owners, entrepreneurs and innovators who are facing the challenges of launch, growth and expansion.
Is mentorship right for you?
You may be a good fit as a mentor if you have experience starting, running or scaling your business or if you have executive experience within a business. While mentors who are also entrepreneurs have a unique understanding of the challenges, business leaders who have experience in scaling a business, navigating an exit or other vital business experience would be valuable and welcome to apply for our business mentorship program.
How does the program work?
Entrepreneur mentorship through the Manhattan Professional Mentor Program is an informal pairing that starts with an application by both mentors and mentees. After being accepted, mentors participate in a brief orientation to learn about what’s expected from mentors and how to make the most of the role. Mentees are able to access the listing of mentor profiles and select a mentor that will suit their business and entrepreneurial needs. They will then contact the Spark team to be matched with the mentor.
Mentors have the opportunity to determine their own availability and the amount of time they want to volunteer as a mentor. A minimum commitment of 12 months is requested in order to ensure continuity in the mentoring relationship.
Support from Spark staff will be accessible to help you and your mentee to help you get the most of your mentoring relationship. Mentors will also have the chance to convene periodically throughout the year to meet together in a social setting.
WHO BECOMES A MENTOR?
Experienced Entrepreneurs
Subject Matter Experts
Established Business Leaders
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.”
Want to know how you can get a mentor for your business?
The Manhattan Professional Mentor Program launched in Fall 2022, and we will have mentor profiles online for you to view soon. If you want to be notified when the program is ready to go, be sure to get added to our waitlist.