MENTORS

• Mentors are volunteers
• Mentors are guides, rather than advisors or consultants
• Mentoring has great benefits
  • Free mentor training
  • Exclusive access to handpicked startups
  • Exclusive network of mentors
  • Give back to your community
  • OBI highlights its mentors in the monthly newsletter
• Mentors are matched with a mentee in a structured matching process
  • Matching process takes place twice a year
  • Includes mentor training and a pre-matchmaking session
• Mentors volunteer ~2 hours per month with their mentee for 6 months
  • Mentors must sign a non-disclosure agreement with mentee before beginning work together
• Mentor fills out an exit survey at the end of the program
• Mentor and mentee may continue the mentoring or other business relationship after the program ends

Timeline:

• Application for Winter-Spring 2023 cohort will be open now through October 31
• Important dates to know:
  • Mentor training is Tuesday, December 6 from 1-2 p.m.
  • Pre-matchmaking session is Tuesday December 13 from 12-2 p.m.
  • Cohort begins January 3 and ends June 30, 2023

Mentor Application Form

MENTEES

• OBI’s free Mentoring Program helps you grow your business!
  • A recent survey from Kabbage found that only 22% of businesses had mentors when they started their business
  • 92% of businesses who have a mentor say mentoring has directly impacted their business growth and survival
• Mentees are matched with mentors in a structured matching process which takes place twice a year
  • Prospective mentees prepare and record a 5-minute pitch for the mentors
  • OBI matches mentees and mentors after mentee training and a pre-matchmaking session
  • Formal mentoring program lasts for 6 months
• Mentoring time commitment
  • Mentee meets with mentor ~2 hours a month for 6 months
  • Mentee checks in with OBI once per month
  • Mentee is always responsible for their own outcomes
• Mentee fills out exit survey at the end of the program and again after one year

Timeline:

• Application for Winter-Spring 2023 cohort will be open now through October 31
• Important dates to know:
  • Mentee training is Tuesday, December 6 from noon-1 p.m.
  • Pre-matchmaking session is Tuesday December 13 from 12-2 p.m.
  • Cohort begins January 3 and ends June 30, 2023

Mentee Application Form

This Oregon Bioscience Incubator Mentoring Program is specifically focused on Oregon entrepreneurs. If you identify as a woman, and are employed in bioscience and seeking professional development mentorship, consider the OBW Mentorship Program.