Mentoring Process

We provide face-to-face/virtual, team mentoring drawing from a pool of carefully selected and trained mentors who are industry experts. All interactions with VMS are confidential and under nondisclosure. Mentors follow a strict code of ethics.

This is a free service provided to students and alumni in the Faculty of Arts and Science and we do not take equity.

We help with all aspects of building a non-profit or for-profit venture. Your venture can be at any stage for any industry or technology. Our goal is your success and development as an entrepreneur.

VMS mentoring services are advisory. All business decisions remain under the full control of the participating entrepreneur. We provide practical mentoring that is focused on what your next steps should be.

Mentoring sessions are scheduled by Centre staff at the request of the entrepreneur to ensure timely response to challenges and issues as they arise. In the session, a group of mentors meets with the entrepreneur(s) to provide practical advice and coaching. Centre staff attend to ensure smooth running of the session and appropriate follow-up. Entrepreneurs benefit from a variety of perspectives and the diverse experience of the mentors taking part.

The frequency of meetings and length of participation are up to the mentee. There is no time limit on our mentoring engagement.

Your first one or two meetings will be with two mentors and their goal is to understand your specific needs and the stage of development your venture is at. Going forward, your mentor team will expand based on your needs, and its make up may change as your venture evolves. One of your mentors will become your lead mentor, and they will work with you on meeting agendas and on adjusting the make up of the mentor team over time.

VMS entrepreneurs are expected to commit to a sustained relationship with VMS and to be professional, open and responsive to the volunteer mentors who work with them. They are also expected to provide VMS, to the best of their ability, with accurate information about their venture.

The venture is responsible for the following:

• Scheduling meetings with the VMS office and providing meeting agendas;
• Taking meeting minutes and providing them to the office; and
• Providing monthly updates to the VMS office.

When entrepreneurs enroll in VMS and engage with a team of mentors, VMS services are available as long as needed.

We assist early-stage entrepreneurs as well as more advanced ventures with major changes and opportunities like strategic partnerships, exits, and mergers, and can pull mentor teams together to do so.