Mentor Application

How to Help

Sharing expertise and time to prepare the next generation of business owners

Mentor

Sponsorships

Why Mentor?
As a seasoned professional you are uniquely positioned to provide valuable industry insight to the next generation of business owners and entrepreneurs.
In fact, studies show, under the guidance of a mentor, business survival rates within the first 5 years DOUBLE!
Who Can Mentor?
Mentors must be located in the Greater Triangle area of NC and have a strong familiarity with the local business community:
  • Business owners and entrepreneurs with at least 2-3 years of experience
  • Experienced professionals
  • Retired business professionals with a successful business background

Time Commitment

  • Anticipated 2-4 hours per month
  • Minimum of 4 months
  • Must be committed to forming a strong relationship with mentee

Join our partners in supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in Garner!

Our network of partners provides a broad spectrum of support and resources to the LaunchGARNER Program.

Because of our partners, LaunchGARNER delivers comprehensive business training, connection to financial resources, carefully paired mentoring, and networking with other business professionals.

These opportunities are provided at no cost to our students. Your sponsorship will help us expand the support and resources we offer to LaunchGARNER participants.

Some of the extra benefits we would like to offer include dinner before each class, a Launch Networking Social (current and former students, mentors, business leaders), and a LaunchGARNER Expo.

If you are interested in supporting LaunchGARNER as a sponsor, please contact April Wood: awood@garnernc.gov(opens in new tab) for a custom sponsorship package.

What is Mentoring?

​We expect our mentors to fill a very specific support need.  Business mentoring is different from management consulting or business coaching. It assumes that the mentee already possesses the basic technical skills to make their product or deliver their service. The mentor focuses on business perspective and guidance, personal development, and soft skills.

The mentee benefits from the knowledge and experience of the mentor by receiving:

  • Advice, counsel and encouragement
  • A confidential sounding board, thinking room, and support
  • Networking and contacts
  • Ongoing personal support and encouragement

Anticipated time commitment is 2-4 hours per month for a minimum of 4 months.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please APPLY (Mentor Application).