The Ashesi Venture Incubator (AVI) is a one-year incubation experience for recent graduates and alumni of Ashesi University. The incubator is a program of NEXT I2I, which is a collaboration between Ashesi University and MIT D-Lab.
Over the course of one year fellows are provided with the opportunity to invest in their business and redefine their business models through the incubator’s provision of business coaching from local and global business leaders, business development sessions, support services and financial stipends.
About the Program: The AVI Mentor Program will match fellows (mentees) within the incubator to both local and global business/industry leaders over the course of the year-long incubation period. Matches will be formed based upon the fellow’s needs, a basic gaps analysis, and a business scorecard assessment taken during the pre-incubation period. Mentors and mentees are expected to meet either in person or via teleconference a minimum of once a month for a minimum of one hour and thirty minutes per meeting. Per mentor availability, once every three months, mentors will lead coaching groups (in person or virtual) with two to three fellows of similar industries to share industry insights and strategies.
The goal of the mentorship program is to provide supplemental and targeted technical assistance in an effort to assist them with critical areas within their business and to help meet their objectives for economic impact as they complete the incubator. Check out our list of fellows and the amazing work their startups are accomplishing https://www.nexti2i.com/avi-mentorship-recruitment-programme/
About the Process: Interested mentors are expected to apply to be selected as a mentor for the incubator and matched. Mentors should meet the minimum qualifications described below, submit an application, and if selected, should be able to commit to the one-year mentoring period. All mentor applications will be reviewed and selected applicants will be notified and matched within two weeks of their notification. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all matches are satisfied. Selected mentors who do not get matched within the period will be placed in our waiting pool until the next term of fellows is selected. Mentors of a current term are eligible to extend their term or terminate it after their year of support is completed. You can check out our 2020 mentors here http://www.nexti2i.com/2020-avi-mentor-page/
Minimum Qualifications:
- At least 6 or more years of professional business or industry experience which must include demonstrated leadership in senior-level positions.
- A general understanding of a hybridized business model and the management of such a model. A successful track record of developing and executing strategies that grow businesses rapidly. Demonstrated contribution of innovative research, products, or services that have led to some form of measurable impact.
- Passion for and commitment to the NEXTi2i vision and mission and overall desire to put some good back into the world.
- A strong desire to support early-stage businesses that have a mission to transform their economies.
- Overall high-level ability to collaborate, lead with empathy and provide feasible directives.
- Fluency in English
Apply here:
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Follow this link to express interest bit.ly/AVImentor. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email [email protected] with the subject line: Mentor Application Inquiry.