Venture Asheville Elevate

The Elevate program enables startup entrepreneurs to simultaneously navigate the practical, day-to-day challenges of building great companies and develop their skills as effective managers, leaders and CEOs. Offering mentorship modeled on the MIT Venture Mentoring Service, Elevate is a service provided by Venture Asheville as part of our strategy to systematically strengthen and support high-growth ventures in the Asheville area.

But here’s how we pitch it, “Elevate, based on the MIT VMS, is a long-term relationship you build with a team of mentors to help you through the inflection points of your growth curve.” Let’s break that down.

• “Elevate, based on the MIT VMS,”
  • M.I.T. is probably one of the top two or three schools in the country for producing entrepreneurial talent. VMS stands for Venture Mentoring System. For branding purposes, we call our adaptation of this mentorship model Elevate. To be in good standing and consistent with the MIT model, the staff visits MIT for training as needed, and we bring in their trainers to work with our mentors every year or two. It’s expensive, but worth it to make sure our mentors are consistent and that we are providing the best possible mentorship.
• “is a long-term relationship”
  • There’s no time-limit on your participation as long as you are working toward milestones and goals. Some companies are for six months, some are now going on three years. The average startup is with us for about 12-18 months.
• “you build with a team of mentors”
  • Team-based mentoring is the secret sauce that makes the MIT VMS so special. We’ll be putting three experienced mentors on your team. As you discuss the issues on your agenda, you’ll find that the interplay between mentors is where the magic happens. Having a front-row seat to experts working on and with you on these issues makes the program.
• “to help you through the inflection points of your growth curve.”
  • In Elevate, we want you working on the meaty parts of your business. Bring the big issues that keep you up at night. If you’re not growing and going into maintenance or execution mode, it may be time to graduate from the program.

PROGRAM FEATURES

• Team Mentoring Sessions with highly skilled founders, C-level executives and functional experts – matching 3 to 4 mentors with each entrepreneur in a highly dynamic environment

• Office Hours with Specialized Mentors including experts in HR, patents, finance, and branding

UNBIASED ADVICE IN A CONFIDENTIAL SETTING

Core to the the Elevate program is a Statement of Principles governing the standards and ethical guidelines that all mentors and entrepreneurs adhere to as a condition of participation. This ensures that entrepreneurs receive unbiased advice in a confidential setting whether in mentoring sessions or peer-to-peer group meetings. Our mentors listen, coach, and advise without scouting for investment opportunities, new clients, or a job.

BUILDING GREAT VENTURES AND GREAT LEADERS

Entrepreneurs accepted into Elevate learn how to perfect their products and services; identify, enter and grow new markets; build business organizations; seek funding; and become effective managers, leaders and CEOs.

COST AND PARTICIPATION

Elevate is free to participating entrepreneurs for their entire first year in the program. Entrepreneurs can continue to benefit from the program in subsequent years. To remain in good standing, entrepreneurs must maintain a 90% participation rate in all activities.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Elevate is a service provided by Venture Asheville. Our team: Jeffrey Kaplan, Director of Venture Asheville, is Elevate’s Director (his bio). Desiree Monstrola is Elevate’s Operations Manager (her bio).