Skip to main content
UploadLanguage (EN)Support
BusinessMobileSocial MediaMarketingTechnologyArt & PhotosCareerDesignEducationPresentations & Public SpeakingGovernment & NonprofitHealthcareInternetLawLeadership & ManagementAutomotiveEngineeringSoftwareRecruiting & HRRetailSalesServicesScienceSmall Business & EntrepreneurshipFoodEnvironmentEconomy & FinanceData & AnalyticsInvestor RelationsSportsSpiritualNews & PoliticsTravelSelf ImprovementReal EstateEntertainment & HumorHealth & MedicineDevices & HardwareLifestyle
Franck Nouyrigat, profile picture
Uploaded byFranck Nouyrigat
3,284 views

Mentors and mushrooms

The document discusses the characteristics of good and toxic mentors within the startup ecosystem, emphasizing the difficulty of finding effective mentors who can provide valuable connections and resources. It outlines the dangers of toxic mentors who offer misleading advice and can negatively impact startups. Additionally, it highlights the importance of networks and academic connections in building an unfair advantage for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Business◦Technology◦
Downloaded 59 times
Mentors Wednesday, November 2, 11
Mentors are like Mushrooms by @peignoir Wednesday, November 2, 11
How to recognize the good ones? Wednesday, November 2, 11
Good mentors Wednesday, November 2, 11
How to recognize them.. Successful people Rare / hard to find You will have to attract them (they usually say no) They are awfully busy They have connections and usually $ They helped a lot of successful Startups Wednesday, November 2, 11
Toxic Mentors Wednesday, November 2, 11
How to recognize the toxic ones.. They claim to be a mentor (it’s not a job!) They will come to you (usually you beg for a good one) They cost $ (usually mentors will invest...) They never successfully launched anything They will spend a lot of time with you (they have time!) They are everywhere! Wednesday, November 2, 11
Side Effects of Toxic Mentors - Weird strategic move - If you survive he will claim success - Killing your Startup -Losing credibility Wednesday, November 2, 11
Where to find them in the Startup eco-system You are taking over the World! HIGH GROWTH You have a stable business model and a great product SCALE You have a solid team Garage STARTUP with some good ideas You are an ACTION Entrepreneur You want to be an DISCOVERY Entrepreneur INSPIRE/CELEBRATE You’ve got some passions & ideas ? Wednesday, November 2, 11
What is Mentoring? Wednesday, November 2, 11
Origin Someone who imparts wisdom to and shares knowledge with a less experienced colleague Wednesday, November 2, 11
Is it only about Knowledge? Wednesday, November 2, 11
ork etw ’s n or e nt M An unfair advantage provider Wednesday, November 2, 11
Example of unfair advantage: Before After Mary Maxwell Gates was an American businessperson. Gates served 18 years (1975–1993) on the University of Washington board of regents. She was the first female president of King County’s United Way, the first woman to chair the national United Way’s executive committee where she served most notably with IBM's CEO, John Opel, and the first woman on the First Interstate Bank of Washington's board of directors. Wednesday, November 2, 11
Type of Mentors The Connector Mentor The Guru Mentor Network > Knowledge Network < Knowledge Wednesday, November 2, 11
How networks and Money Interact with startups Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company George W. Fairchild Sherman Fairchild Gordon Moore (1854 - 1924) (1896 - 1971) (1929 ... ) Wednesday, November 2, 11
Be good at school kids! Having a great Academic network is your first ally! It allows you to build a great “unfair advantage” by yourself! Wednesday, November 2, 11
It’s only been 6 Years since good accelerators allows you to have access to great mentors via your Talent (usually technical talent!) Like Colleges each accelerator / incubators are different. Avoid the ones who don’t provide good Mentors (cf the Mushroom section) Wednesday, November 2, 11
Do you need mentors / great academics to succeed? Wednesday, November 2, 11
Nope... There’s always exceptions! Wednesday, November 2, 11
Though having models might help... Edwin H. Land Wednesday, November 2, 11
Questions? franck@startupweekend.org Wednesday, November 2, 11