Mentoring and Advising

Welcome to OBI’s 6-month structured Mentoring Program

“Mentoring is an ongoing relationship of learning, dialogue, and challenge.” -Thomas Hørdam

FAST FACTS ABOUT OUR MENTORING PROGRAM

MENTORS

  • Mentors are volunteers
  • Mentors are not advisors or consultants, but are guides
  • Mentoring has great benefits
    • Free mentor training
    • Exclusive access to handpicked startups
    • Exclusive network of mentors
    • Ability to earn mentor certification
    • 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

Applications accepted October 1-31 for the Winter-Spring 2022 cohort, which runs January-June 2022.

Important Dates:

  • The application will be accepted October 1-31, 2021. 
  • Selection takes place by November 19, 2021.
  • Mentor training is on Monday, December 6, 2021 from noon-1 PM on Zoom
  • Pre-matchmaking Session is Monday, December 13 from 1-3 PM on Zoom; matchmaking occurs within a week.
  • The 6-month mentoring program will run from January 3 to June 30, 2022.

Mentor Application Form

 

MENTEES

  • Mentoring 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 completes any necessary homework
    • Mentee is always responsible for their own outcomes
  • Mentee fills out exit survey at the end of the program and again after one year

Applications accepted October 1-31 for the Winter-Spring 2022 cohort, which runs January-June 2022.

Important Dates:

  • The application will be accepted October 1-31, 2021. 
  • Selection takes place by November 19, 2021.
  • Mentee training is on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 from noon-1 PM on Zoom
  • Pre-matchmaking Session is Monday, December 13 from 1-3 PM on Zoom; matchmaking occurs within a week.
  • The 6-month mentoring program will run from January 3 to June 30, 2022.

Mentee Application Form

 

ADVISING PROGRAM

We have a network of >90 Advisors who are available to provide short-term pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. Our Advisors have valuable expertise in a wide range of business topics that are integral to the success of early-stage life science companies, including:

  • Accounting
  • Business Plan
  • Digital Health
  • Gov’t Funding
  • Health IT
  • Legal/IP
  • Licensing
  • Machine Learning/AI
  • Management
  • Manufacturing
  • Market Analysis
  • Marketing
  • Private Funding
  • Product Development
  • Regulatory/FDA

If you would like to become an advisor or request free help, please fill out the forms below. Mentors may also register as Advisors. For questions, contact OBI Program Manager Rene Miller.

BECOME AN ADVISOR
REQUEST FREE HELP