OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
What Mentors Do
Mentors support founders in ways that are flexible, practical, and rooted in real experience.
Depending on their background and availability, mentors may serve as:
- Lead Mentors who work directly with a specific cohort member through the process, helping shape the idea and connecting that founder with specialty mentors, partners, and alumni for deeper support.
- Specialty Mentors who work directly with cohort members around a specific topic or area of expertise.
Mentors provide mostly virtual one-on-one support to cohort members and alumni, with in-person meetings available if mutually desired.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Ways Mentors Contribute
If mentors would like to support the program beyond one-on-one mentoring, they may also:
- Deliver a webinar on an open topic or their specialty.
- Deliver part of, or an entire, deep-dive course built around a topic that is helpful to the cohort but not covered in depth in the core curriculum.
- Deliver part of, or a full, core class in Business and Investor Readiness or SBIR / STTR.
- Provide feedback during virtual pitch review sessions, if available and appropriate.
- As Senior Advisors, evaluate cohort applicants.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
What Mentors Gain
Mentors get the chance to shape promising companies, stay close to emerging innovation, and contribute to a growing Oregon ecosystem. They also build relationships with founders, peers, and partners working in one of the state’s most active UAS and autonomy communities.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Mentor Roles
Lead Mentors
Lead Mentors work directly with a specific cohort member through the process. They help build the founder’s idea and connect them with the right specialty mentors, partners, and alumni.
Specialty Mentors
Specialty Mentors work directly with cohort members around their area of expertise.
Advisors and Senior Advisors
Once a mentor is approved and onboarded, they may be referred to as an Advisor or Senior Advisor depending on role and level of involvement.
FAQ
Who can become a mentor?
We are recruiting experienced business mentors and technical mentors who can offer practical, experience-based guidance to early-stage and growth-stage startups.
Mentors can be founders, operators, investors, engineers, researchers, technical leaders, and functional experts who can provide practical guidance to startups building UAS, robotics, autonomy, AI-enabled, sensing, communications, payload, or dual-use technologies. The most important qualification is relevant experience and a willingness to help founders make better decisions.
Do mentors need to be based in Oregon?
No. Oregon-based mentors are valuable, but the program also welcomes mentors from outside the state who bring relevant industry, technical, regulatory, or commercialization experience.
Is mentorship paid or volunteer?
Mentorship with the Oregon UAS Accelerator is a volunteer opportunity. Mentors contribute their time and expertise to support high-potential startups and strengthen Oregon’s innovation ecosystem.
How much time does mentoring require?
Mentor involvement can vary based on availability and interest. Some mentors support through occasional office hours, while others contribute through webinars, classes, or deeper engagement with cohort members.
Do I need prior UAS experience to be helpful?
Not necessarily. Direct UAS or robotics experience is highly valuable, but mentors with expertise in fundraising, commercialization, manufacturing, cybersecurity, procurement, go-to-market strategy, regulatory pathways, and startup operations can also make a meaningful impact.
What kinds of topics do mentors help with?
Mentors may help founders with product-market fit, customer discovery, pilot readiness, regulated market entry, business models, pricing, SBIR/STTR and grant readiness, investor materials, pitch preparation, technical risk, and growth strategy.
What happens after I apply?
Mentor applications are reviewed, followed by interviews and onboarding. Approved mentors are then matched with the most appropriate role and opportunities.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Ready to become a volunteer mentor and help founders build smarter?
If you want to help founders think more clearly, build more confidently, and move with more momentum, we’d love to hear from you.