Mentorship Programs for Startups: Overview of the various incubator programs with focus on Y Combinator and Tech Stars
General Incubator Information
Community Driven Mentorship
-
Article points out that many stay at normal jobs, afraid to jump to startups because of the lack of support if they go off on their own. Incubators overcome this by building a community
Angel Pad
-
It's relatively easy to come by money compared to good mentroship. Raising money is relatively easy - harder to get people to spend time with you on an ongoing basis. 10-week program where the angels each meet with the companies once a week
What Happens At Y-Combinator
-
Office hours available on demand with 3 full-time mentors, legal assistance and networking
Selected Speakers from one semester
-
Host dinners once a week with a qualified speaker (investor, entrepreneur, etc.). "Dinners" usually last nearly half a day
Involve alumni
-
Because we fund such large numbers of startups, Y Combinator has a huge "alumni" network, and there's a strong ethos of helping out fellow YC founders. So whatever your problem, whether you need beta testers, a place to stay in another city, advice about a browser bug, or a connection to a particular company, there's a good chance someone in the network can help you.
List of Mentors
-
TechStars fills the experience gap by bringing together the best and the brightest in one place and surrounding you with incredible proven mentors for the three months. With this much talent in one place you’ll get great advice on your product and strategy, thereby ensuring the best possible start for your new business.
Video Overview of Tech Stars
-
We surround them with great mentors...engaging the mentors is the key to success...we've met 20 or 30 mentors that have really helped us take the companies to the next level