How to find startup mentors for your business

Entrepreneurs often gain invaluable insights from connecting with startup mentors

By Stephen Kenney Email Stephen

5 minute read September 24, 2024

Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart.

Its many tasks and responsibilities often leave even the most well-planned founders unsure of what decisions to make and when. For that reason, aspiring startup founders often look for mentorship when they consider launching a business.

Where do you start your search, though? At the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub, a robust support system is available to aspiring entrepreneurs who need advice. If you’re elsewhere but looking for similar solutions, our team has four tips for locating startup mentors.

1. Reach out to your personal network

The easiest place to find potential startup mentors is among your current circle of friends and family members. You may immediately want to discount those closest to you, but there could be someone with years of experience in starting and running a business.

Think through those in your personal network and consider whether any of them have founded a business before. It’s even better if their company works in a related field to that of your own startup. Don’t be afraid to reach out; your closest acquaintances will likely cheer for your success and may be willing to go above and beyond for your business.

2. Participate in professional networking

Start attending business networking events and consider joining a few professional organizations. You’ll likely find a tight group of individuals who crave connections with fellow entrepreneurs. If you’re lucky, an experienced member may even be willing to provide wisdom for your business. This also will make the entrepreneurial journey less lonely.

Rebecca Arwine. Photo/Rebecca Arwine

“In our research on entrepreneurial loneliness, we uncovered that finding like-minded people at meetups or professional networking events was one way entrepreneurs were able to combat feelings of loneliness,” said Rebecca Arwine, assistant professor of management at UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business. “Finding other individuals and mentors who understand the unique pressures and isolation inherent in starting a business helps founders feel less isolated in what they are trying to accomplish.”

For example, graduates from UC can join the UC Alumni Association to connect with fellow Bearcats across various industries. Other places to look for potential business mentors are Meetup.com, events hosted by your city’s chamber of commerce and activities set up by the professional organizations you joined.

3. Connect with prospects on LinkedIn

If in-person connections fail, turn to LinkedIn as you search for entrepreneurial advice. Note that there’s a specific code of etiquette when doing so, however.

Don’t cold-call strangers on LinkedIn asking them to be your business mentors. Not only will you put them in an awkward position, but you’ll also significantly reduce your chance of building a worthwhile connection.

Instead, join professional organizations related to your field and engage with fellow members on pertinent topics. If anyone promising shows up, send them a connection request and start to speak with them on a one-on-one basis. Once you’ve established a strong rapport with an experienced entrepreneur, ask them to help guide or mentor your startup.

4. Join startup accelerators, incubators or coworking spaces

Startup incubators and accelerators are programs that help entrepreneurs find the resources, wisdom and capital to launch businesses successfully. Coworking spaces also help connect founders to potential resources and mentors by providing a shared working space around other entrepreneurs and independent workers. Because of this, many startup founders strategically join these initiatives to connect with experienced entrepreneurs in their hometowns.

UC’s Venture Lab pre-accelerator links aspiring founders with some of Cincinnati’s eminent business leaders. By doing so, beginner entrepreneurs can connect with those who’ve taken fledgling entities and transformed them into flourishing companies.

Cincinnati has a vibrant startup ecosystem with several accelerators, incubators and coworking spaces.

Rebecca Arwine Assistant professor of management, UC's Lindner College of Business

Beyond UC there are also several options for Cincinnati founders.

“Cincinnati has a vibrant startup ecosystem with several accelerators, incubators and coworking spaces through which founders can meet other entrepreneurs and potential mentors,” Arwine said. “StartupCincy is a great resource for new founders to get plugged in and start making connections.”

In summary

Proximity provides your simplest pathway to finding valuable startup mentorship. From those in your personal network to like-minded entrepreneurs from networking events, the best way to find business mentors is by simply sharing space, interests and a conversation.

That’s one reason why UC invested in establishing the 1819 Innovation Hub. The building’s business community includes corporate titans such as Kroger and Procter & Gamble along with entrepreneurs who just launched their first startups. Networking is everything if you’re connecting with business mentors, and 1819 makes it straightforward for Cincinnati founders.

Featured image at top: Young professionals sit at a table. Photo/Adobe Stock

Innovation Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.