Meet the Mentor

Friday 23 August 2019

Startup Guernsey will be hosting a Meet the Mentor Dinner event next month, offering entrepreneurs and start-up businesses the chance to share their business challenges or goals and connect with local business leaders, advisors and mentors.

The aim of the event is to widen the circle of advisors that entrepreneurs have access to and help make the journey from start-up to sustainable business much smoother.

“We know how incredibly difficult and lonely it can be starting and running your own business,” said Startup CEO Jennifer Strachan.  “We also know that having access to and learning from experienced business leaders is a powerful way for entrepreneurs to realise their ambitions and make an impact.”

The format of the Meet the Mentors Dinner mirrors that of speed dating. During dinner entrepreneurs sit down with a handpicked group of mentors and after each course rotate tables to ensure everyone gets the chance to connect. 

Ms Strachan said “We are hopeful that many entrepreneurs will go on to build relationships with mentors beyond the dinner; these could be one-off meetings to achieve a specific goal or form more long-term partnerships”

One entrepreneur who has formed a lasting relationship with his mentor via an introduction from Startup Guernsey is James Le Gallez of Aperitif & Haut Maison. For James, working with a mentor took his business from a creative hobby to an award-winning liquor brand.

Mr Le Gallez said “The biggest benefit in having a mentor is that it offers a sounding board. My mentor steered me away from some bad decisions and towards some good ones. It's fantastic being able to talk openly about ideas and difficulties and have the opinion of someone from outside the business”

The Meet the Mentor dinner is open to entrepreneurs at any stage of business who are wanting to grow and have a specific goal or vision in mind.  However, places are limited to 10 start-up or scale-up businesses.  

To apply for a place visitstartup.gg/eventsand complete the short application form by Friday 13September.

For more information on this event or Startup Guernsey’s mentorship programme and one-two-one advice for new entrepreneurs please contact Tony Brassell at  info@startup.gg