Join our mentor network
Help a student build their first venture.
Aeroventure mentors are founders, operators, and professionals who work one-on-one with Long Island teen entrepreneurs — not through a workshop, but directly, over the course of a cohort.
Who this is for
You don't need a resume. You need experience.
If you've built a business, managed a team, sold a product, navigated a competitive market, or developed deep domain expertise in any field — you have something a 16-year-old founder genuinely needs. You don't need to be a celebrated entrepreneur or know how to teach. Aeroventure provides the structure; you provide the experience.
The program is specifically designed for practitioners: people who have done the work, made the mistakes, and can recognize early-stage problems because they've lived them. Our most effective mentors aren't the ones with the longest résumés — they're the ones who remember what it felt like to be figuring it out for the first time.
Good candidates include founders at any stage, operators at mid-size companies, professionals with industry-specific knowledge, and anyone who has navigated the process of turning an idea into something a customer would pay for. Prior mentorship experience is welcome but not required.
Areas of focus
What mentors work on.
Customer discovery
Helping students determine whether a real problem exists before building — talking to customers, identifying pain points, and validating demand.
MVP planning
Defining the smallest version of an idea that tests the core assumption — what to build, what to skip, and how to launch quickly.
Pricing strategy
Understanding how to set and defend a price with a real customer, including value-based pricing and common early-stage mistakes.
Marketing & growth
Identifying the right channel to reach the first 10 customers, building word of mouth, and measuring what's actually working.
Pitching & communication
Communicating clearly to investors, partners, and customers — structure, confidence, and handling questions under pressure.
Industry guidance
Sharing domain expertise relevant to a student's specific venture — market knowledge, regulations, relationships, or category experience.
You don't need to cover all of these. Mentors focus where they're strongest — we match students to mentors based on fit, not comprehensiveness.
The process
How it works.
01
Submit your interest
Fill out the form below with your background, availability, and areas you're best positioned to support. It takes about 10 minutes.
02
Screening call
A brief call with the Aeroventure team to review expectations, answer your questions, and confirm fit.
03
Review your match
We match based on the student's idea, industry, and goals — paired with your expertise and preferences. You review the match before confirming.
04
Cohort begins
Structured sessions start with agenda templates and check-in support from the Aeroventure team throughout the cohort.
05
Pitch day
The cohort closes with a pitch event where students present their ventures — you'll be there to see what you helped build.
Time commitment
Pick the track that fits your schedule.
Mentoring with Aeroventure is structured but flexible. There are three engagement tracks — indicate your preference when you apply, and we'll match accordingly.
Active Mentor
StandardEvery 2 weeks
~45 min per session
The standard track. Regular sessions give students consistent support and accountability through the full cohort.
Monthly Advisor
Once per month
~45 min per session
A lighter touch that still provides meaningful guidance. Good fit if your schedule is unpredictable or you're advising a more independent student.
Office Hours
Drop-in only
No fixed schedule
Available for questions when students need specific input. Best for practitioners with deep domain expertise who can offer targeted advice.
How we protect students and mentors
Program integrity.
Every mentor who joins the Aeroventure network is screened before working with any student. That includes a background review, a direct conversation with our team, and a signed code of conduct. This protects students — and it also protects you as a mentor.
There is no unsupervised 1:1 contact between mentors and students. All sessions are conducted through Aeroventure-provided channels, with structured agendas so you always know what to prepare and what to expect. You are never guessing what the student needs — the program surfaces that for you.
All mentors screened before joining
Signed code of conduct required
No unsupervised 1:1 contact
Structured session agendas
Mentor interest form
Apply to mentor.
This form takes about 10 minutes. Fields marked * are required.