A successful mentorship program

Important results from the project

The aim of the project was to create a better understanding of the value-creating components of the mentorship program at SSE Business Lab, potential development opportunities, what contributes to a high level of committed pro-bono mentors, and how other incubators work with mentorship and consequently what their needs are. Through interviews and conversations with companies and mentors connected to SSE Business Lab and those responsible for other incubators, we have been able to get answers to all questions.

Expected long term effects

The result of the project provided evidence that the existing mentorship program has a structure that has proven to be valuable for both companies and mentors and that the process of match-making has maintained high quality. Development opportunities were described to ensure good matching between company and mentor depending on individual needs, and to some extent to develop the mentor network. Conversations with incubators showed that their need for mentorship was largely met through existing activities.

Approach and implementation

The project has involved an inventory of the existing mentorship program, a needs analysis of incubators around mentorship programs and which incubators that would want to take part in an extended, scalable model of a mentorship program. Through the project, interviews have been conducted with existing startups from the mentorship program, mentors, and managers at other incubators.