Mentoring with JFDI.Asia

Mentoring is the keystone of JFDI’s work. Our mentors are passionate about the potential of disruptive innovation, digital technology, and young entrepreneurs.

Most of our mentors are entrepreneurs themselves. They broadly form three groups:

• Heroes – people who have personally founded, built and sold businesses in the digital space, who can inspire our startups on a strategic and personal level.
• Role Models – entrepreneurs who are further down the road than our start-ups and who can advise our startups on a practical, tactical level.
• Specialists – people with specific technical, commercial or other skills that are essential for our start-ups to succeed.

Our experience is that ‘Hero’ and ‘Role Model’ mentors are particularly valuable to start-ups from the beginning of our accelerator program. ‘Specialist’ Mentors are most relevant to start-up companies during the last half of an accelerator program, once their businesses are better defined.

Why do mentors do it?
Mentors get to meet world-class startups who are interested in their advice and appreciative of their contributions as they explore new technologies, business models and markets. Mentors also have the opportunity to collaborate with a community of fellow mentors and investors. All mentors are welcome to attend the Demo Day at the end of the 100 day program. They are also encouraged to establish on-going relationships with JFDI.asia start-ups that interest them and to make introductions as they see fit. The invitation to serve as a mentor is our recognition that mentors can meaningfully contribute to early stage digital ventures through even a modest time commitment.

How do mentors and startups connect?
Both mentors and startups are briefed in advance about how to get the best out of a mentoring relationship. Then, JFDI matches Mentors and start-up teams at an appropriate stage with needs that match each mentor’s expertise. Mentors provide feedback and guidance to the entrepreneurs going through an acceleration program, sharing important lessons and insights they have learned through direct personal experience.

Can Mentors invest in startups?
Yes. Direct contact with the Startup businesses going through our programs brings early opportunities (but no obligation) to make investments. These would be negotiated on an individual basis between the parties involved.

What’s the time commitment?
We understand that our mentors have busy professional and personal lives and therefore, appreciate the level of engagement that fits their circumstances. Some mentors are passing through Singapore and only able to spend an afternoon or evening with startup teams, yet still provide invaluable access to key people or specific insights that unlock opportunities otherwise unattainable to an early-stage business. Other mentors will choose to work with one or two startups intensively for several weeks, using JFDI’s network and facilities as a springboard from which to explore opportunities and the culture of South East Asia.

How does the mentoring happen?
Some mentors will participate via skype, video-conference or webinar. Some will feel comfortable giving a public talk while they are with us. Most will prefer to work face-to-face with a specific business closely aligned to their own interests, in some cases choosing to take an active role beyond giving advice.

Do Mentors get paid?
None of JFDI.Asia’s mentors are paid in either cash or equity. We often meet business consultants who make a living by providing advice. Some ask if they can be mentors with JFDI on a commercial basis, either for cash or for equity in the startups. The answer is no. Likewise professionals or companies whose aim is to sell services to start-ups. Instead please contact us and we can explore organizing a talk/pitch to our start-ups where it’s clear that a valuable but transactional relationship is intended.

Who is already mentoring with JFDI.Asia?
Pictures and information on our past and present mentors are here.

This page is part of JFDI.Asia’s archive of Frequently Asked Questions on innovation and entrepreneurship. For more, Read The Frogging Manual. If you’re here because someone at JFDI gave you a link, please don’t be offended. We get a lot of questions from people, and these pages are the best way we have found to offer a comprehensive, helpful response. If your question remains unanswered, please post it to our OpenFrog Community and we will compile the best of the answers here.