Everyone needs a mentor. Luke Skywalker had Yoda. Daniel-san had Mr. Miyagi. Liz Lemon had Jack Donaghy. Any seasoned founder will tell you that mentors are key to helping them through challenges as they build their business. At the Innovate! and Celebrate conference in Silicon Valley this September, you’ll be able to meet plenty of Yodas or mentors who are giving their time to help founders maneuver through issues that keep them up at night as they grow their company.
Together with Consumer Technology Association (CTA) we’re offering a wide range of mentorship tracks with everything from one-on-one attention to group advice from tech leaders, experts, investors and influencers in industries that coincide with your particular niche and stage of startup.
“These mentor sessions are nuggets of gold to founders who wish to take a deep dive into issues they are facing in their business and talk with investors, founders, CEOs and experts who have walked their path and can offer valuable and actionable advice to help them succeed,” said Jen Consalvo, co-founder and COO of Tech.Co.
Mentor 1:1 Sessions
Getting one-on-one attention is nearly impossible in the startup world. Founders, CEOs, investors and directors of employees are always moving a mile a minute and rarely have time to sit down and talk shop. But at Innovate! and Celebrate, you’ll be able to pick the brain of some of the most influential entrepreneurial minds in the world today.
These 30 minutes private sessions are designed for attendees who wish to take a deep dive into challenges facing their startup or business and gain valuable insight and advice to help build their business.
Mentor Circles
Sometimes, you need to bounce your ideas off of other founders to get the most out of a mentorship program. That’s where our mentor circles come in handy. You’ll have the chance to sit down with tech leaders, experts, influencers, and aspiring entrepreneurs like yourself to learn about how your startup should progress through the next stage in your business.
These 30 minute group sessions are designed for attendees that want the opportunity to gain insight into specific challenges they are having within their business and receive valuable targeted advice for those issues.
Meet the Mentors
Tristan Pollock of 500 Startups
Tristan is an Entrepreneur in Residence and Venture Partner at 500 Startups, the world’s most active seed fund and startup accelerator. He’s been named to the 2015 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, cameoed in NBC Universal’s Bazillion Dollar Club, and crafted the most read Best Buy email of all time reaching over 23 million customers.
Justin Fishkin of Local Motors
Justin Fishkin is Chief Strategy Officer of Local Motors, a technology company that designs, builds and sells vehicles. He marries a lifelong dedication to sustainability and making a difference in the world with a background in finance and investing.
Gabriella Draney Zielke of Tech Wildcatters
Gabriella Draney Zielke is cofounder and CEO of Tech Wildcatters, a Top 10 seed accelerator for B2B startups, as ranked by Forbes, TechCruch, and Inc Magazine. In 2013, she co-founded and is also a Partner in Health Wildcatters, a healthcare based seed accelerator.
Clara Sieg of Revolution Ventures
Clara is a partner and founding member at Revolution Ventures, where she focuses on identifying, investing in, and helping to build innovative and impactful early-stage companies. Clara was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Venture Capital and named one of Levo League’s 100 millennials redefining the world.
Cayla Chambers of InvestHER Ventures
Cayla Chambers is a partner at InvestHER Ventures and a familiar face in the Chicago startup community. She has built a track record for scaling startups and providing a voice for women in tech. She is focused on technology enabled business services, data driven products, and disruptive solutions for large-markets.
Marc Nager of TechStars
Since 2009, Marc has focused on building startup communities around the world through experiential programming, primarily Startup Weekend which has reached over 300k individuals in over 130 countries to date.
Register Now to Attend Innovate! and Celebrate 2016
Come join us at the Innovate! and Celebrate conference in San Jose, CA. The event will take place September 20 – September 22, and is held in partnership with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).
Photo: Flickr / Tech.Co