More about Mentoring

Mentors listen, coach, and advise. Mentors provide candid and honest appraisal of the mentee teams and their technologies and/or startup companies, pointing out options, considerations and recommending courses of action.

A team mentoring approach is used with a minimum of two mentors assigned per mentee team, attending the same mentor meetings, which provides a diverse and engaging perspective
Mentor/mentee meetings are flexible as determined by mentors and mentees, given the time required to accomplish key next goals/milestones
Mentor/Mentee meetings occur on average once per month, via virtual video conference or in-person meeting as driven by the mentor
The length of a mentor/mentee pairing is flexible, but generally 6 to 12 months, or longer
Networking events are held throughout the year to facilitate networking and relationship building among existing and prospective mentors and mentee teams
OSU mentee knowledge gained regarding business and technology commercialization during a mentor relationship is prioritized over specific technology’s successful commercialization outcome. Getting to no-go recommendations on some inventions are just as important as moving others forward

OSU Cowboy Innovations Program Support

Providing commercialization training to OSU innovators on intellectual property, customer discovery, industry engagement and technology commercialization
Matching mentors and mentees based upon mentee need and mentors’ experience and/or interest
Facilitating communication between mentors and mentees including help with sending meeting reminders and scheduling meetings
Conflict of interest management in situations such as when mentors become interested in investing in startups, or assume compensated or uncompensated role with startups