{"id":198,"date":"2021-10-17T13:10:56","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T13:10:56","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-06-24T20:52:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T04:52:58","slug":"mentorshipprimer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/mentorshipprimer\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft for Startups founder guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">One of the most valuable yet challenging things for first-time founders can be finding the knowledgeable guidance and advice they need. That\u2019s why Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub works to bring together a variety of resources to support the founders in our network.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">As someone with a great idea, it\u2019s critical to validate your idea and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/mentorship-yearone\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">get advice on how to develop your company<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> as quickly as possible. Yet it can be difficult to find time to engage with individuals who can help. Microsoft for Startups streamlines the process by helping founders quickly find <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">experts <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">who can guide you in the right direction.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Microsoft for Startups provides founders like you with access to a diverse community of hundreds of business and technical experts working for Microsoft\u2014ensuring you get the guidance you need. The individuals within our network<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">many of whom were startup founders themselves<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to provide the types of guidance that Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub members need. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Screenshot-2023-06-15-194415.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Screenshot-2023-06-15-194415-1024x705.jpg\" alt=\"Expert Network\" class=\"wp-image-1373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Screenshot-2023-06-15-194415-1024x705.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Screenshot-2023-06-15-194415-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Screenshot-2023-06-15-194415-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Screenshot-2023-06-15-194415.jpg 1130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Microsoft for Startups <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Expert <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Network provides valuable support to help you:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Access guidance that improves your acumen\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Validate your idea<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Accelerate development<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Address critical areas of your business<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Access guidance that improves your acumen<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">From <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/training\/modules\/mentor-meeting\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">learning how to get the most out of meeting with experts and mentors<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/startups\/blog\/tag\/zerotoone\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">understanding the basics of building your startup\u2019s first prototype<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is designed to ensure that founders like you always have access to the guidance you need<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> when you need it.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cI recommend all my team leaders to look for peers outside of the company<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u201d said Harley Blakeman, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">founder<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> and CEO of <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Honest <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jobs.<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s easy to get tunnel vision and fall into set ways of thinking about problems. Our CTO was able to take advantage of the network through the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub platform. It\u2019s been extremely valuable to have access to mentors<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> and experts<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to bounce ideas off.\u201d <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">&nbsp;<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Validate your idea<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Find a Microsoft employee with industry experience who can discuss your ideas, challenge your assumptions and dispel your doubts.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">As founder and CEO<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> Mindaugas Bruzas of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oxus.ai\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Oxus.AI<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> shared: \u201cOur solution targets telcos, and we quickly clicked with an expert who had more than 20 years of experience in the field. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">He reinforced we were on the right path<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> which was supremely validating and kept us on the right path.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Accelerate development<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Our startup founder guidance <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">democratiz<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">es<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> access to resources, enabling startups to develop <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">strategically <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">and avoid <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">missteps. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Sebastian Kaul<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> cofounder of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyzeworx.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">WYZEWORX<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">shared that his connecting to Microsoft employees helped him navigate partnering with Microsoft: \u201cThe guidance <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">as incredibly helpful. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">It took <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a single call to get clarity of how we can achieve distribution and credibility using channels like AppSource and Azure Marketplace.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Address critical areas of your business<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Never underestimate the importance of networking. Having the right people in your corner can open doors by raising your profile and credibility with trustworthy people who care.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Rado Kotorov, founder and CEO of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/trendalyze.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Trendalyze<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> was able to recruit a Microsoft employee to serve on their board<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> \u201cThrough Microsoft we were introduced to a subject matter expert who knew our space incredibly well<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,\u201d <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Kotorov<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> said.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">After a few meetings, we invited him to join the board of our company.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">With Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, we\u2019re working to help startup founders <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">like you <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">find the guidance that <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">you <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">need<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">regardless of your <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">stage of <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">development. To get started, sign up at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.microsoft.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">microsoft.com\/startups<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft for Startups mentor network offers you access to a diverse mentor community with thousands of business and technical experts working for Microsoft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ms_queue_id":[],"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","_classifai_text_to_speech_error":"","_alt_title":"","ms-ems-related-posts":[924,353,207],"footnotes":""},"post_tag":[],"content-type":[728],"job-role":[],"topic":[734],"coauthors":[489],"class_list":["post-198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","content-type-news","topic-guidance-and-development"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Microsoft for Startups mentor network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Microsoft for Startups mentor network offers you access to a diverse mentor community with thousands of business and technical experts working for Microsoft.\" \/>\n<meta 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