Become a Mentor
How to Apply
To become a mentor, please first submit an online application. Successful applicants will then be invited to complete an interview with a Regnier Institute team member. Please review the mentor information below to see if the program is a good fit for you.
What Makes a Good Mentor?
Our ideal mentors share a mix of key traits.
- Prioritizes helping students learn the entrepreneurial process
- Is committed to UMKC’s principles of inclusive excellence, openness, and support for students of all backgrounds
- Has worked in a startup, a small business, and/or started their own company with at least four years of experience
- Has completed our E-Scholars program, is no longer a degree-seeking undergrad student, and has at least two years of experience (not counting the time in E-Scholars) of working in their own startup, someone else’s startup, or a small business
- Has functional expertise in at least one of the areas listed on our mentor application (product, technology, marketing, finance, legal, etc.)
- Can engage in at least one mentorship activity per academic semester (a mentorship activity may include participating in E-Scholars Mentor Madness, serving as a guest speaker in a class, serving as a judge at the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge, serving as a one-on-one mentor with a student startup team, etc.)
Mentorship Opportunities
Mentors lend their expertise, enrich our student’s experience, and enhance UMKC’s standing as the home of one of the world’s premier entrepreneurship institutes.
Entrepreneurship Scholars
E-Scholars work alongside a peer group of entrepreneurs while taking their business from idea to launch. They learn how to develop a scalable and sustainable venture from accomplished entrepreneurs from the Kansas City startup community and exceptional faculty.
The Entrepreneurship Scholars Program offers a workshop-structured instruction designed to provide E-Scholars with a practical framework for venture advancement. Mentors serve as coaches to E-Scholars.
1 on 1 Mentoring
Work as a mentor with E-Scholars venture(s) in a long-term relationship with frequent one-on-one meetings. As a mentor, you help them find creative solutions to problems. Mentors are available at mutually agreeable times and may participate in offices provided at UMKC or an off-site location.
Group Mentoring
Work as a part of a group of mentors, focusing their combined experience on a single venture.
Demo Day
At the culmination of each semester, E-Scholars have an opportunity to present their business ideas to a group of mentors. Students receive feedback and input from mentors, who can then identify who they might like to work with.
Mentor in Residence
- Provide assistance and advice to students with ventures they create for their entrepreneurship classes.
- Counsel students on business structure, management, and general questions, augmenting their classroom experiences with industry subject matter experts.
- Meetings take place on campus with office hours accommodating mentors and students.
Mentor Speakers Bureau
Mentors Speakers Bureau connects mentors with Bloch School students during their class sessions.
- Provide experience and expertise, adding a practical perspective to specific topics taught in classes. Department faculty dedicate specific class sessions for bringing in mentors to work with students on special topics.
Special Events
Community leaders who elect occasional program participation may elect to serve for specific special events. The mentor’s time commitment is limited, but the benefit to the student is tremendous.
- Judge the Regnier Venture Creation Challenge
- Evaluate many of the competition programs students participate in throughout the academic year.
- Mentors do not have to be available regularly and instead volunteer when needed.