What is the process for allocating Mentors to teams?

During the first two days of the Bootcamp (September 29th and 30th), students will present their venture ideas and form teams.

On September 30th, during the Mentor Allocation session (18:30–19:30), mentors will meet the teams, learn about their ventures, and select the team(s) they would like to mentor.

Once the allocation is confirmed, mentors will have access to the team information and student contact details. Teams will then submit their One-Pager on October 2nd, giving their assigned mentor(s) a clearer overview of the venture before mentoring begins.

We will aim to distribute mentors according to each team's needs and the mentors' areas of expertise. If some teams need additional support, mentors may be invited to work with more than one team; this is always optional and depends on their availability.

How many teams can mentors advise?

Mentors can choose the number of teams they wish to advise. If a team has multiple mentors, students are responsible for scheduling time with each mentor during the designated slots and communicating their specific needs.

Mentors can also provide informal mentorship to groups that were not initially assigned to them.

When are the mentoring sessions scheduled?

Your presence would be highly valued on the following days:

Key moments for mentors:

Wednesday, September 30th - 18h30 - 19h30 ⭐
Mentor Allocation & Team Introductions: Meet the teams, learn about their ideas, and choose the projects you would like to mentor.

ONLINE Friday, October 2nd -  10h00 ⭐
One-Pager Submission & Mentor Review: Students will send you their Idea Summary before requesting their first mentoring session. Your feedback should be sent before 16h00 the same day, to approve the mentorships or to help them strengthen their direction before moving forward.

Saturday, October 3rd - 12h00 ⭐

First Mentoring Session: Although mentoring sessions are flexible, we kindly ask all mentors and teams to hold their first mentoring meeting on this day, as this helps establish the relationship early in the bootcamp. Later teams will contact you directly to arrange meetings based on your availability, and online mentoring is always welcome.

Monday, October 5th or Tuesday October 6th (Optional)
Project Previews with Expert Feedback: Your attendance is optional and will depend on the presentation slot chosen by your mentees. This is an excellent opportunity to observe their progress, hear the experts' feedback firsthand, and help the team incorporate it before the Qualifying Round.

Thursday, October 8th
Final Presentations & Closing Cocktail

The students will be responsible for scheduling the mentoring sessions with their mentors autonomously. Mentors can decide how many sessions to have and when, based on what works best for the mentors’ time and availability.

In addition to their assigned mentor, students are also encouraged to reach out to other mentors, both from within the pool and external experts, depending on their project needs.

Online mentorships are also allowed.

Which sessions can mentors attend?

Mentors are welcome to attend all sessions of the Tech Venture Bootcamp (TVB) program to gain insight into what students are learning during the program and be able to provide more tailored feedback. However, if this is not feasible, mentors can focus on the designated mentoring slots to support the teams directly.

We encourage you as well to attend the different group presentations of your mentees that are scheduled in the following days:

October 5 | IE Tower
10:00–13:00 | Project Previews with Expert Feedback I

October 6 | IE Tower
10:00–13:00 | Project Previews with Expert Feedback I

Teams will choose to present on either October 5 or October 6.

October 7 | IE Tower
14:00–17:00 | Project Previews with Expert Feedback II

October 7 | IE Tower
18:00 | TVB Finalist Announcement

At 18:00, we will announce the TVB finalists, followed by a special introduction to MXT: an opportunity open to TVB students who want to continue developing their entrepreneurial and exponential mindset. We will then wrap up the day with a cocktail & networking session with students, alumni, jury members and guests.

We recommend checking with your mentees to confirm which presentation slot they have selected, so you can join them whenever your availability allows.

Where will the mentorships take place?

Mentors and students can meet wherever they feel most comfortable, either in person or online via Zoom. Workrooms are available on all floors. No booking is required. On October 3rd, you will have access to Area 31, Maria de Molina 31, if needed, from 9am to 10pm.

What are the mentors’ roles?

In the Tech Venture Bootcamp, mentors play crucial roles that contribute significantly to the success and development of the participants. Here are the key roles of the mentors in this program:

1. Guidance and Support: Mentors provided continuous guidance and support to the participants, helping them navigate through the complexities of their projects. They offered personalized advice and assistance tailored to the unique needs of each team and individual.

2. Expert Knowledge Sharing: Leveraging their industry experience and expertise, mentors share valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies, particularly in the field of generative AI and entrepreneurship. This includes teaching practical skills in design thinking, coding, data analysis, and integrating AI into startup development.

3. Business Strategy Development: Mentors coached participants on building robust business models, emphasizing the importance of creating unique solutions and sustainable competitive advantages (or "moats") around their businesses. They guided teams in understanding the business context of their technological innovations.

4. Project Feedback and Evaluation: Throughout the bootcamp, mentors provide constructive feedback on participants’ projects, helping them refine their ideas and approaches. They also participate in the evaluation process, assessing the feasibility and potential impact of the ventures develop by the teams.

5. Encouraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship: By sharing their own experiences and success stories, mentors inspire participants to think creatively and pursue innovative solutions. They foster an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging participants to take risks and think outside the box.

What is the assessment criteria?

You can check the assessment criteria here.