Techstars Mentor FAQs
Thinking about becoming a Techstars mentor? You’re in the right place.
This guide answers some of the most common questions about what it means to mentor with Techstars, how to apply, and what to expect once you do. Whether you’re a first-time mentor or a longtime supporter of founders, you’ll find everything you need to get started and make an impact.
Techstars Mentorship
1. What does it mean to be a Techstars mentor?
Techstars Mentors care about and offer value to founders through industry or personal knowledge or expertise, life experience and/or learnings, but also connections or introductions.
While there are different types of mentors who #givefirst through a myriad of Techstars programs like our accelerator and founder catalyst programs.
Techstars Mentors help in areas like product-market-fit, sharing learnings from failures, business model, distribution, customers, partners, and (when appropriate) connections within their personal networks. We attribute much of the companies’ successes to the generous contributions of time and effort of Techstars Mentors.
2. Who makes a great mentor?
Great mentors bring real-world experience and a #GiveFirst mindset. Many are current or former founders, executives, or operators who have built, scaled, or invested in companies and understand the challenges early-stage founders face.
We look for mentors who meet founders where they are, listen deeply, and offer candid, actionable guidance. The best mentors focus on helping founders, not selling services or promoting their own work.
They embody the Techstars Mentor Manifesto and practice the Essential Mentorship Skills shared by Brad Feld, such as guiding instead of directing and leading with humility and empathy.
3. What kind of time commitment does mentoring require?
There isn’t one set time commitment to be a Techstars mentor. Your involvement depends on your current availability to mentor and our current founder and program mentorship needs. In the mentor application, you can share how much time you’re interested in and available to spend mentoring founders, and you can always update that later as things change (especially if you end up building your next company yourself).
During accelerator programs, many mentors spend about one to two hours a week over the 13-week cycle. Others meet with founders occasionally throughout the year outside of program time. What matters most is clear communication and follow-through. If you agree to meet with a founder or participate in a program, we ask that you show up, stay engaged, and respond when founders or program teams reach out.
4. Do mentors get paid?
Mentorship at Techstars is entirely voluntary. Mentors give their time and experience because they believe in the #GiveFirst philosophy: helping founders without expecting anything in return. While mentors aren’t paid, they often find the experience deeply rewarding, gaining fresh perspectives, meaningful relationships, and a lasting connection to the Techstars network.
5. Where Can I Mentor with Techstars? Can I mentor remotely? In-person?
Techstars mentors support founders all over the world. You can indicate your interest in mentoring in person, remotely, or through a mix of both when you complete the mentor application. You can also explore current Techstars accelerator programs to see where programs are running globally.
Mentorship opportunities come up year-round across our accelerator programs and broader startup community. Even if you’re not located in a specific city, you can often still mentor founders there, especially if your expertise aligns with their industry, stage, or market.
Whether you’re joining sessions virtually or supporting founders in person, there are plenty of ways to get involved across the Techstars network.
6. Why mentor with Techstars?
Mentorship is at the heart of Techstars. Many of our mentors were once founders themselves, guided by someone who helped them navigate tough moments and see what was possible. Becoming a Techstars mentor is a chance to support the next generation of founders and stay connected to the energy of building.
Mentoring startups in a Techstars program is also a way to share your experience, learn from fresh perspectives, and stay close to emerging trends in innovation, markets, and technology.
As a mentor, you’ll join a global community of founders, mentors, investors, corporate partners, and startup ecosystem builders, all connected by a shared belief that entrepreneurs can change the world.
Techstars mentors engage with this worldwide network through:
Mentoring founders through one-on-one sessions, office hours, workshops, and small group conversations, both in person and virtually
Founder roundtables and mentor meetups
Local and global Techstars events
Mentor newsletters and updates from across the network
Opportunities to mentor in other Techstars programs and community initiatives
Whether you’re mentoring for the first time or returning after your own Techstars journey, every conversation and every moment you spend with a founder helps strengthen the community that makes Techstars what it is.
The Application Process
7. How do I apply to become a mentor?
You can apply anytime through the Techstars Global Mentor Application. The application takes just a few minutes and helps us learn about your background, areas of expertise, and interest in mentoring founders. It’s the first step in joining the Techstars mentor network and helps us understand where your experience might be the best fit.
8. What happens after I apply?
Mentor applications are reviewed twice per year to align with accelerator program schedules. Once you submit your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email with next steps and details about the current mentor application review cycle.
You can visit the Global Mentor Application page anytime for the latest review cycle dates and updates. Program teams will review your application based on their upcoming founder cohorts and mentor needs. If your background aligns with one or more programs, you may hear directly from those teams to continue the conversation. No further action is needed on your end; we’ll reach out once your application has been reviewed.
9. I was referred by someone. Do I still need to fill out the application?
Yes. Even if you were referred by a Techstars team member, founder, or another mentor, please complete the Global Mentor Application. This ensures your background, expertise, and interests are captured in one place and visible to program teams across Techstars.
It’s also how we identify the best opportunities to connect mentors with founders and programs that align with their experience and availability.
10. I’m a Techstars alum. How can I become a mentor?
We love when founders come back to mentor with Techstars! Alumni can use the same Global Mentor Application to share their interest in mentoring. Be sure to note your experience as a Techstars founder in your application; it’s one of the most valuable perspectives you can share with new founders in program.
11. What are the different ways to mentor at Techstars?
There are many ways to mentor with Techstars. Most mentors work directly with founders in one of our accelerator or Founder Catalyst programs through one-on-one meetings, office hours, or workshops.
You can share your areas of interest and experience in the Global Mentor Application. We’ll keep you in mind for opportunities across the network, from accelerator programs to working with Techstars alumni or supporting founders through global mentorship initiatives.
12. Can I mentor for more than one program?
Yes, some mentors support more than one program, but it depends on your availability and capacity to mentor. We recommend focusing on the programs where your background, interests, or expertise are the best fit for the founders.
When completing the Mentor application, you can indicate which programs you’re most interested in. Each program team reviews mentor applications individually, so selecting a few that align closely with your experience helps us make thoughtful connections and ensures you can stay meaningfully involved.
13. Can I take a break if my availability changes?
Yes. We understand that mentors often have busy lives and that many go on to start new companies or take on new roles themselves. If your availability changes, just let us or your program team know.
You can always pause your mentorship and re-engage when the timing is right. The most important thing is to communicate early so founders and teams know what to expect.
Other Ways to Get Involved with Techstars
14. I want to offer perks, discounts, or resources to Techstars founders.
If you want to share a product, discount, or resource with Techstars founders, contact perks@techstars.com. Our Perks team reviews these opportunities and determines which resources are the best fit for founders in our global network.
If your primary goal is to sell a service or find new clients, mentorship is not the right path. Techstars mentors follow our Code of Conduct and the spirit of the Give First philosophy, offering help because they want to see founders succeed, not because they expect something in return.