The Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship offers a two-tiered Mentorship Program. First, we have hundreds of mentors who have volunteered to be accessible to entrepreneurs on an ad hoc basis. Entrepreneurs may send an email to entrepreneurs@chapman.edu to request a mentor. The Center staff will match you with a mentor who background and experience best match your business needs.
Entrepreneurs in Residence – EIRs
The other level is a team of volunteer mentors who act as Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) who host ‘office hours’ in the Center to provide you with guidance in an unstructured fashion.
We have EIR office hours by the most frequently asked questions including:
Innovative Ideas and Market Validation
- Is my business idea viable?
- Who is my target market?
- How do I validate my business idea?
- What problem does my product or service solve?
- Who are my competitors, and how can I differentiate my offering?
Office Hours: Thursdays 10am – 12pm
Product Design and Development
- What are the best practices for designing my product?
- Should I build a minimum viable product (MVP) first?
- How do I create a product roadmap?
- What development methodology (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) should I use?
- How do I find and work with product designers and developers?
Office Hours: Wednesdays 10am – 12pm
Funding and Financial Management
- How much capital do I need to start my business?
- Where can I find investors or funding sources?
- How do I create a financial forecast?
- What are the best practices for managing cash flow?
- How do I price my products or services?
Office Hours: Mondays 1pm - 3pm, Thursdays 5pm - 7pm
Marketing and Branding
- How do I create an effective marketing plan?
- What are the best channels to reach my target audience?
- How do I build a brand?
Office Hours: Thursdays 10am – 12pm
Growth and Scaling
- How do I acquire and retain customers?
- What sales strategies should I use to grow my business?
- How do I scale my business effectively?
- What strategies can I use to drive sustainable growth?
- How do I measure and analyze my business performance?
Office Hours: Thursdays 1pm – 3pm
If you wish to be a mentor, please fill out this form: