Film-style poster for the Diagnose Fast, Refer Well presentation

A guide for startup mentors A guide for startup mentors

How to help in one session, and pass founders on well.

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What this guide covers

What this guide covers

The kind of problem

Name the kind of problem first

A knowledge gap, a decision, execution or people each need different help.

A knowledge gap Teach it, or name a source

A decision Lay out the options

An execution problem Plan it, then check in

A people problem Listen first, then ask

Finding the real problem

Three questions find the real problem

Ask for the number, what they tried, and what they would do without you.

What is the number?
What have you tried?
What would you do if I were not here?

Referring

Refer by name, with the reason

A warm introduction carries the context, so the next mentor starts ahead.

Michael C.Your session

Rachel B.Pricing

Intro with context

Susan W.EU regulation

Intro with context

David M.Hiring engineers

Intro with context

After the session

Leave a note, follow up once

Two lines help founders brief their next mentor; check in once within a week.

Session note problem, advice, next step
Introduction a name and the reason
One check-in within a week

Doing it on Mentornity

Hand off well on Mentornity

Notes, messages and program events keep founders moving between mentors.

Write a visible note

The founders get it by email; program admins can read it.

Follow up by message

Messages also arrive by email, so one line is enough.

Meet founders at events

Program events come with sign-up and a calendar invite.

Write a visible note

The founders get it by email; program admins can read it.

Meeting notesOrbital Labs · 3 founders

Visible noteEmailed to the participants at once Emailed

Agreed: test annual billing with the next 20 sign-ups.

pricing-test.pdfUp to 10 files

Hidden noteOnly you and the program admins

Follow up by message

Messages also arrive by email, so one line is enough.

Meet founders at events

Program events come with sign-up and a calendar invite.

1Write a visible note

Meeting notesOrbital Labs · 3 founders

Visible noteEmailed to the participants at once Emailed

Agreed: test annual billing with the next 20 sign-ups.

pricing-test.pdfUp to 10 files

Hidden noteOnly you and the program admins

2Follow up by message

3Meet founders at events

In your next session

Name the kind of problem within the first five minutes.

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