Become an Edson E+I Mentor

Edson E+I mentor overview

Mentors are a critical element of the Edson E+I ecosystem.

By sharing your experience and insight, you help students, community entrepreneurs, and changemakers turn ideas into impact. Whether guiding early-stage thinking or supporting business growth, your involvement fosters a culture of innovation, inclusion, and collaboration across Arizona and beyond.

E+I supports a diverse range of innovators—including entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, social impact creators, and changemakers—in growing scalable, impactful ventures. More than guidance, mentorship offers relationship-driven support from cross-sector experts who understand how to scale in real-world contexts. Deeply embedded in ASU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the program integrates with venture development, targeted programming, and pitch experiences to deliver research-based, strategic feedback at every stage. By focusing on both personal growth and organizational strength, Edson E+I mentoring empowers innovators not just to start—but to scale—with purpose and confidence.

Why mentor with Edson E+I?

• Be part of a thriving, mission-driven innovation ecosystem
• Become more embedded with ASU and its entrepreneurial community
• Expand your professional network through connections with founders, researchers, and changemakers
• Gain access to exclusive events, learning opportunities, and thought leadership
• Stay inspired and sharp by engaging with bold new ideas and creative energy
• Play a direct role in shaping the future of innovation in Arizona and beyond

Who we serve

Our diverse mentor community supports a wide range of audiences, including:

• K–12 students and teachers exploring innovation and creative problem-solving
• ASU and Maricopa County Community College students launching ventures or projects
• Community-based and ASU alumni entrepreneurs and changemakers
• ASU faculty and researchers working to commercialize ideas or expand impact

Types of mentorship opportunities

Mentorship at the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute is designed to be flexible, accessible, and responsive to the needs of diverse entrepreneurs across our network.
Opportunities include:

Program-specific mentorship

Structured mentorship is available through both time-bound and ongoing Edson E+I programs, including Venture Devils, Chandler Endeavor Venture Innovation Incubator, Blackstone LaunchPad, and a range of youth and faculty-focused initiatives. These mentorship engagements are strategically aligned with each program’s objectives and may be linked to specific pitch events, funding opportunities, or venture development milestones. Mentors are thoughtfully matched to participants based on evolving needs and areas of focus, ensuring targeted support throughout the duration of the program or as ventures progress.

Open mentorship

Available to ASU students and community entrepreneurs outside of formal programs. This flexible, request-driven model allows individuals to connect with experienced mentors for guidance on specific challenges or opportunities, often through mentor directories, office hours, or ad hoc introductions.

Responsibilities

Mentors play a critical role in supporting ventures through a variety of engagement opportunities and by modeling the values of ASU and the Edson E+I Institute. As a mentor, you are expected to:

• Provide strategic support
  Offer guidance, encouragement, and honest feedback to help ventures grow.
• Engage consistently
  Participate in 1:1 meetings, office hours, or workshops as your schedule allows. Attend pitch competitions, milestone events, and other key programming.
• Help ventures advance
  Support goal-setting, identify and help overcome roadblocks, and assist in developing key deliverables.
• Facilitate connections
  Connect ventures to relevant people, tools, and opportunities when appropriate.
• Maintain professional integrity
  Refrain from soliciting paid services or taking equity from mentees. Mentors may transition into paid roles only after formally exiting the mentor community.
• Complete required processes
  Finish mentor onboarding, utilize provided technology to log mentorship activity and feedback, and complete brief evaluation forms to track venture progress and improve experiences.
• Uphold institutional values
  Represent the charter, mission, and values of ASU and the Edson E+I Institute in all interactions.

What you bring

• A desire to give back and support the next generation of innovators
• Experience in entrepreneurship, startups, innovation, creative industries, community development, or a related field
• Strong communication, listening, and collaboration skills
• A commitment to inclusion and respect for diverse backgrounds and perspectives

For additional information about becoming a mentor with Edson E+I, contact [email protected]