2026 Mentorship Opportunities
Starting May
We are recruiting mentors for both the virtual pre-work phase (May 20 – October 2) and the in-person In-Residence (October 3 – 9), supporting a cohort of invited Miller Center entrepreneurs.
The virtual phase focuses on helping enterprises articulate and defend their business models, including a mock investor session. The in-person program at Santa Clara University builds on this through workshops, peer learning, and another mock investor session to strengthen their readiness to present to a live audience. While not required, we encourage mentors to participate in both phases for continuity and deeper impact.
Dates:
- May 20 – October 2 virtual; October 3 – 9 in-person at Miller Center
Time Commitment:
- Weekly 1-hr. calls with the entrepreneur; plus 1-3 hrs. prep time
Program Manager:
- Karen Runde
Starting June
We are recruiting mentors to serve as Mock Investor Panelists for the current MCA30 cohort. The 90-minute sessions will be on Zoom June 1-4.
The session will simulate a meeting with an impact investor – the entrepreneur gives their pitch and panelists dive into deeper due diligence. Panelists will role-play as impact investors by asking clarifying questions, challenging the entrepreneur’s assumptions, and testing their knowledge of their business. Learn about the mock investor panelist role.
Dates:
- June 1 – 4
Time Commitment:
- 90-minute panel session per enterprise; plus 1-3 hours prep time
Program Manager:
- Joce Pulido
We are recruiting mentors for the next Miller Center Accelerator (MCA31) running June 25 – December 17. This program is designed for high-potential social enterprises with proven traction working on women’s economic power, climate resilience, or the intersection of both. This accelerator combines mentorship with structured curriculum to help social entrepreneurs address gaps in their impact model, business model, and growth strategies, and ultimately move them along the path toward growth, significant scale, and investment. Mentors hold weekly one-hour calls with the social entrepreneurs for the duration of the program to help them build sustainable and scalable businesses by providing their insights and feedback.
Dates:
- June 25 – December 17
Time Commitment:
- Weekly 1-hr. calls with the entrepreneur; plus 1-3 hrs. prep time
Program Manager:
- Gwen Lyman
Programs In Progress
- Miller Center Accelerator (MCA30)
- Miller Center Impact Model Intensive
- Miller Center Financial Model Intensive
- Innovation Works / Miller Center SP26 Accelerator
- Ask Me Anything Mentoring
- Pitch Practice Mentoring
Please note:
Once the entrepreneurs for each program or panel session have been selected, the Mentor Network Team will reach out to mentors who have registered their interest through our form or through the Miller Center’s community website. Accelerator mentors will receive a summary of the participants in the cohort and are encouraged to indicate any preferences, interests, and limitations. Panelists mentors will receive an email confirming their participation and an invitation to attend a panelist training Webinar. Generally, you can expect to hear from our team about two weeks before the start of any given program.
Email Lynne or Sharon with any questions at mc-mentors@scu.edu