OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Why Mentor
We are looking for people with experience in:
- UAS, autonomy, robotics, and related technologies.
- Business strategy, fundraising, commercialization, and operations.
- Defense, dual-use, public safety, and government markets.
- Manufacturing, systems integration, and technical development.
- Specialist areas that can help founders solve hard problems and move forward.
We welcome both business mentors and technical mentors.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Who We’ Need
We are recruiting both business mentors and technical mentors. Business mentors help founders with strategy, fundraising, operations, commercialization, and other core business challenges. Technical mentors bring deep expertise in areas like UAS, autonomy, robotics, systems, manufacturing, regulatory issues, and sector-specific problem solving.
We welcome mentors with experience in startups, defense, public safety, infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing, investment, government, and related innovation fields.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
How Mentors Works
Mentors work directly with accelerator cohort members and alumni.
Depending on their experience and availability, mentors may serve as:
- Lead Mentors who work directly with a specific member through the process, help build the idea, and connect them with specialty mentors, partners, and alumni.
- Specialty Mentors who work directly with cohort members around a specific area of expertise.
Mentoring is mostly virtual, with in-person meetings available if mutually desired.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Ways to Contribute
If you would like to do more than one-on-one mentoring, you may also:
- Deliver a webinar on an open topic or your specialty.
- Deliver part of, or all of, a deep-dive course built around a topic that benefits the cohort.
- 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.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
What Mentors Gain
Mentoring is a chance to stay close to emerging ideas, help founders move faster, and contribute to Oregon’s growing UAS ecosystem.
You also get to connect with cohort members, alumni, partners, and fellow advisors who care about building strong companies and practical innovation.
FAQ
Who can become a mentor?
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.
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.
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.
How much time does mentoring require?
Time commitment depends on your availability, area of expertise, and fit with participating founders. Mentor engagement is designed to be focused and flexible, and may include one-on-one conversations, office hours, feedback sessions, workshops, or introductions.
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.
Can mentors work with dual-use and government-focused startups?
Yes. The accelerator works with founders building solutions for commercial, public-sector, and defense markets, so mentors with dual-use, public procurement, homeland security, or government contracting experience are especially valuable.
OREGON UAS ACCELERATOR
Ready to Become a Volunteer Mentor?
If you want to help founders think more clearly, build more confidently, and move with more momentum, we’d love to hear from you.