Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and MentorCloud Launch Mentor Matching Platform For Founders

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and MentorCloud, a purpose-driven mentorship technology company, have joined forces to launch Mentor Makers, a free mentor platform for entrepreneurs.

The aim is to make it easy for entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses to find support and expertise. The team behind the project says this type of support is especially important in the difficult economic circumstances that have followed the Covid-19 pandemic.

Through Mentor Makers leading business people can share their areas of knowledge. The platform’s algorithm matches them with business owners seeking such expertise.

The initiative also facilitates one-to-one mentoring sessions for aspiring business owners to discuss specific business issues privately with mentors.

According to an analysis of New York tech companies by Endeavor, a non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs all over the world, businesses whose founders have been mentored by a successful entrepreneur are three times more likely to be successful themselves.

However, it has often been said that entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities are less likely to find access to mentor networks and investors. Mentor Makers is open to everyone however there’s a big focus on equity and inclusion.

“When an entrepreneur creates an advisory board of mentors, they are able to find the help they need when they need it the most, gaining insights and support to survive what can seem un-survivable at the moment,” said Nicola Corzine, Founding Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, an independent non-profit committed to advancing entrepreneurial education worldwide.

“Being able to learn beside others who are helping build, or may have already built, successful businesses can help entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes and leverage their capital, resources, and most importantly their time and energy wisely,” she added.

Mentor Makers has enlisted the support of a range of leading organizations that will provide support. It says that this support will be given regardless of skin color, gender, zip code, or bank balance. Organizations supporting the project include A Seat At The Table, the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs, the Association of Women’s Business Centers, City Light Capital, ESO Ventures, Hello Alice, Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech, Techstars, The ActOne Group, VETSinTECH, Voyaj and the ParentPreneur Foundation.

Speaking about how the platform can help business owners deal the economic challenges brought about by the recent pandemic, Dr. Ravishankar Gundlapalli, CEO of MentorCloud said: “Beyond getting capital support from government and other sources, what these business owners need is mentorship to navigate this crisis, find ways to refine their business models, manage their cash flow better, reimagine their products and services and prepare themselves for growth in 2021 and beyond.”

James Oliver, Jr., Founder of the ParentPreneur Foundation said, “Mentorship matters. Giving the Black ParentPreneurs in our community access to the rich and deep experiences of the people in the Mentor Makers movement will help them take their businesses to the next level. I’m excited to watch as these relationships blossom from mentorship to sponsorship because that’s where the real magic happens!”

The Mentor Makers vision is to make finding, connecting, and engaging with mentors easy for business owners from all backgrounds. MentorCloud offers a robust technology platform and methodology where mentors can share their areas of expertise and availability, who are then matched algorithmically with business owners seeking such expertise. The platform facilitates 1-1 mentoring session for business owners to discuss their specific business issues privately with mentors.

Mentors often reflect that the greatest gift they receive in the process of mentorship is learning and finding new creative solutions to challenges and opportunities in this world. “Beyond getting capital support from government and other sources, what these business owners need is mentorship to navigate this crisis, find ways to refine their business models, manage their cash flow better, reimagine their products and services, and prepare themselves for growth in 2021 and beyond,” says MentorCloud’s CEO Dr. Ravishankar Gundlapalli.

The Mentor Makers free mentor matching platform connects entrepreneurs and small business owners from every corner of the world with mentors ready, willing, and able to support their needs and guide them through these trying times.

For more information about how to find or become a mentor or to become a partner in the movement, visit here.