Film-style poster for the Keep the Rhythm presentation

A guide for startup mentors A guide for startup mentors

How to keep meetings with a startup steady for the whole program.

EN DE ES FR IT NL PT TR

What this guide covers

Why rhythm matters

The strongest pairs kept meeting

The data shows a link, not proof, between regular meetings and stronger startups.

33% Founders mentored by successful founders who reached the top group, three times the rest Endeavor Insight, New York tech, 2015

3+ Meetings held by the most effective mentor pairs Endeavor Insight, 2015

Setting the rhythm

Book a fixed rhythm up front

Every two to four weeks, booked ahead, so the rhythm survives a busy month.

Six months with one startupEvery 3 weeks

Week 1 Week 4 Week 7 Week 10 Week 13 Week 16

Pre-read, 2 days before Mid-point review Wrap-up

The pre-read

Ask for five lines first

Two days ahead, founders send progress, their number, a blocker, a decision and an ask.

Ryan C.Pre-read · 2 days before

Since last time12 interviews done, 3 want a pilotOur numberWeekly active teams: 142, up 6%Stuck onPilots stall at procurementDecision we needFree pilot or paid pilot?Ask for youOne intro to a procurement lead

Promises on both sides

Open with last time’s promises

Check theirs and yours first, then ask where things stand against the milestone.

Their promises done, late or dropped
Your promises intros and reviews, within the week
The milestone where are we against it?

The middle and the end

Review halfway, plan the ending

Ask halfway what to change, and agree from the start when the mentoring ends.

Start goals and ground rules
Work most of the progress
Mid-point what to change
Wrap-up what they can now do alone

Doing it on Mentornity

Let Mentornity hold the rhythm

Your open hours, your calendar and reminders keep meetings on track without email chains.

Open weekly hours

Add weekly or one-off slots, and founders book them.

Busy times stay closed

Connect Google or Outlook, and busy times are blocked automatically.

Forms before and after

An answered form reopens prefilled, ready to update.

Alerts on your phone

Browser push tells you about new, moved or cancelled meetings.

Open weekly hours

Add weekly or one-off slots, and founders book them.

My availability

Istanbul (GMT+3)

Weekly Availabilities

Set the hours that repeat every week.

Every Monday 09:00 – 12:00 Zoom · Gives 6 meetings of 30 min
Every Tuesday 14:00 – 16:00 Google Meet · Gives 4 meetings of 30 min
Every Wednesday 13:00 – 15:00 Mentornity Video · Gives 4 meetings of 30 min Add
Every Thursday 10:00 – 11:30 Microsoft Teams · Gives 3 meetings of 30 min

Busy times in your Google Calendar are closed to bookings.

Start Time13:00 End Time15:00 Duration of each meeting30 min

Meeting Format

Mentornity VideoZoomGoogle MeetMicrosoft Teams

Save

Susan Whitfield Mentor

Wednesday, March 11

Mentornity Video · 30 min

13:0013:3014:0014:30

Meeting scheduled