Mentorship
Mentorship
At the George Washington University (GW) Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIE), we provide mentorship through our Mentors-In-Residence (MIRs) program and interactive Mentor Community.
Our MIRs provide personalized, stage-appropriate support through weekly office hours, regular check-ins, and milestone-driven mentorship. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your venture, our mentors are here to guide you through every step of the Innovator’s Journey.
Mentorship Across the Innovator’s Journey
OIE’s Mentors-in-Residence (MIRs) are experienced entrepreneurs and business experts trained by OIE staff, who serve as long term, strategic advisors for venture teams. As permanent members of the OIE team, MIRs have a deep knowledge of our programming and the broader GW innovation ecosystem. Grounded in the stages of the Innovator’s Journey, MIRs provide personalized support while connecting teams to the right resources, partners, and opportunities at every step.
See how our mentors support you along each stage of your innovator's journey.
- Educate & Ideate
At this stage, mentors help you explore ideas, navigate OIE programs, and take your first steps as an innovator. They’ll support you in defining your venture concept, identifying early hypotheses, and building a plan to test your ideas with real users. Mentors also engage in classroom-based programs, offering feedback, advice, and hands-on guidance to help shape your entrepreneurial thinking.
- Train
Mentors work closely with you to refine your business model, shape your value proposition, and guide your customer discovery strategy. You’ll gain practical insight into market research, early adopter behavior, and go-to-market fit - all while preparing for key programs like the New Venture Competition, Lean Startup Short Course, and National I-Corps.
- Incubate
At this stage, mentorship becomes highly tailored and milestone-based. Your MIR* will build a team of dedicated Industry Mentors* and Subject Matter Experts* to:
- Validate your go-to-market strategy
- Develop a prototype
- Refine your scalable business model
- Prepare for funding, partnership development, and commercialization
- Connect you to accelerator pathways
Together, they will define and track progress against key milestones informed by customer insights and business model validation. Teams are supported through this structured mentorship for up to two years post-program, contingent on milestone achievement.
Mentor Team Composition:
*Mentors-in-Residence (MIRs): Long-term strategic advisors who guide ventures across all phases. Permanent residence at the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
*Industry Mentors (IMs): Experts with sector-specific knowledge who provide market insights and make relevant introductions. Sourced from OIE Mentor Community.
*Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): Technical and professional specialists in areas like legal, finance, technology, and SBIR grants. Sourced from OIE Mentor Community.
Our Mentorship Philosophy
At GW's Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIE), we believe that entrepreneurship is just one expression of innovation. Success as an innovator isn’t solely about building a company; it's about the impact you make and the solutions you create.
Our mentorship program is anchored on three core principles:
Innovator-Centric Approach
We focus on training the innovator, not just the innovation itself.
Judgment-Free Environment
We never assess the potential of an idea—that’s the responsibility of the innovator and their market.
Guidance Over Consulting
We provide guidance on how to develop ideas, rather than dictating what teams should do.
Booking an MIR Appointment
Booking a mentors-in-residence appointment is simple:
Review our experienced mentors, book an appointment, and connect for valuable insights to support your journey!
Qualifications:
- Must be affiliated with the GW community
- Student, Staff, Faculty, Alumni
*Interested in mentorship at GW's OIE, but not part of the GW community? Contact innovate
gwu [dot] edu (innovate[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Review
Meet our mentors below. Review their profiles and area of expertise.
Book
Find a mentor you like, book an appointment on their profile.
Connect
Connect with the mentor and schedule follow ups.
Meet The Mentors-In-Residence
Explore our selection of mentors below, and if you find one that meets your needs, schedule an appointment!
Principal Consultant at Alpha-Flow Management Consulting
MedTech / Product Development / Management
President and CEO, Recurrent Computing, Inc.
Commercialization / Marketing / Team Building
Serial entrepreneur & mentor to early stage companies.
Product Development / Startup Finance / Management
Director of Programs at Global Good Fund
Social Venture / International Business / Startup Finance