Identifying the types of mentoring approaches in startups, studied by accelerators in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student in entrepreneurship management at Razi University

2 Associate Professor, Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Social Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economics and Accounting, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Accelerators provide a structured process that includes an educational component, a set of networks and capable mentors. Despite the special position of the mentor in accelerators, there is no comprehensive description of the types, roles and methods of mentoring in accelerators and how they work. Therefore, the aim of the current research is to fill this gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive description and classification of mentors in accelerators, examining their roles, goals, characteristics and performance. The research has a qualitative approach and uses the content analysis method. Using purposeful and snowball sampling methods and conducting 14 interviews, theoretical saturation was achieved. The studied community included managers and mentors, managers and entrepreneurs in startup accelerators. In order to respect the credibility of the research, the criterion of researchers' sensitivity, selection of suitable participants, long-term involvement with the subject and approval of participants and reliability, recoding and peer review were used and confirmed. The findings of the research were obtained in several parts, which included a complete classification of mentors in accelerators, a comprehensive description of the types, roles and methods of mentoring in accelerators, and based on the characteristics of the mentor, the best method in terms of mentoring style and suitability of the mentor. And the entrepreneur was suggested.

Keywords

Main Subjects


آغشلوئی، حامد، مصدق، محمدجواد، احتشام‏راثی، رضا. (1402). طراحی سیستم استنتاج فازی‌ـ‌عصبی انطباقی جهت امکان‌‌سنجی استارتاپ‌های تجارت الکترونیک. نشریه علمی پژوهشی مدیریت کسب‏وکارهای بین‏المللی، 6(1)، 200-179. 
ایران­نژادپاریزی، الهام، طالبی، کامبیز، یدالهی­فارسی، جهانگیر، رشادت­جو، حمیده. (1401). ارائه مدل اشتیاق کارآفرینانه تیمی در شتابدهنده­ها با استفاده از روش کیفی تئوری داده بنیاد، فصلنامه مدیریت کسب­وکار نوآورانه، 56، 61-80.
بغدادی، مصطفی، محمدی، مهدی، الیاسی، مهدی، رادفر، رضا. (1402). طراحی الگوی بلوغ مدل کسب‌وکار استارتاپی در ایران (مطالعه چند موردی: استارتاپ‌های پلتفرمی/ دیجیتالی). نشریه علمی پژوهشی مدیریت کسب‏وکارهای بین‏المللی، 6(1)،260-227. 
شهبازی، میثم، رزاقی، رویا، کریمی، آصف. (1401). چارچوبی برای جمع­سپاری تأمین مالی کسب­وکارهای نوپا: مورد مطالعه وام­دهی نفر به نفر با استفاده از روش فراترکیب، فصلنامه مدیریت دارایی و تأمین مالی، 10(2)، 102-81.
صحرایی میثم. (1399). بررسی نقش شبکه­های اجتماعی در رشد استارتاپ­ها، پایان­نامه کارشناسی ارشد رشته علوم ارتباطات اجتماعی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد دماوند، دانشکده علوم انسانی.
ملک‎زاده، ندا، داداش‎پور، هاشم، رفیعیان، مجتبی. (1398). بررسی عوامل مؤثر بر ساختار فضایی شهری و منطقه‏ای با استفاده از روش تحلیل محتوا، فصلنامه دانش شهرسازی، 3(4)، 14-1.
میرمحمدعلی­رودکی، سیده­ راحله، مهرجو، محمدصادق، اشرفی، بشرا، علیزاده­مجد، امیررضا. (1399). مروری بر نقش شتابدهنده­ها در تحقق دانشگاه کارآفرین، نهمین همایش ملی پژوهش­های مدیریت و علوم انسانی در ایران، تهران. 
 
Aguiar, R. B. D., Silva, D. S., Caten, C. S. T., & Silva, L. C. P. (2019). Lean Mentorship: Fitting external support to entrepreneur needs over the startup development. Production, 29.
Audretsch, D., Colombelli, A., Grilli, L., Minola, T., & Rasmussen, E. (2020). Innovative start-ups and policy initiatives. Research Policy49(10), 104027.
Avnimelech, G., & Rechter, E. (2019). Mentorship Processes within Startup Accelerators. Available at SSRN 3361638.
Baluku, M. M., Leonsio, M., Bantu, E., & Otto, K. (2019). The impact of autonomy on the relationship between mentoring and entrepreneurial intentions among youth in Germany, Kenya, and Uganda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 25(2), 170-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2017-0373.
Baluku, M. M., Leonsio, M., Bantu, E., & Otto, K. (2019). The impact of autonomy on the relationship between mentoring and entrepreneurial intentions among youth in Germany, Kenya, and Uganda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 25(2), 170-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2017-0373.
Bergman, B. J., & McMullen, J. S. (2022). Helping entrepreneurs help themselves: A review and relational research agenda on entrepreneurial support organizations. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice46(3), 688-728.
Bisk, L. (2002). Formal entrepreneurial mentoring: the efficacy of third party managed programs. Career development international, 7(5), 262-270.
Bruneel, J., Ratinho, T., Clarysse, B., Groen, A., (2012). The evolution of business incubators: comparing demand and supply of business incubation services across different incubator generations. Technovation 32, 110–121.
Clutterbuck, D., & Lane, G. (Eds.). (2004).The situational mentor: an international review of competences and capabilities in mentoring. Gower Publishing, Ltd.
Cohen, S., Fehder, D. C., Hochberg, Y. V., & Murray, F. (2019). The design of startup accelerators. Research Policy48(7), 1781-1797.
Cohen, S.G., and Y.V. Hochberg (2014). Accelerating Startups: The Seed Accelerator Phenomenon. SSRN Journal, March 2014, 1-16. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2418000.
Cull, J. (2006). Mentoring young entrepreneurs: what leads to success? International journal of evidence based coaching and mentoring, 4(2), 8-18.
Davies, C. (2017). Formal mentorship and entrepreneurial learning: The case of a support programme in the Western Cape clothing sector (Doctoral dissertation, University of the Western cape).
Díez-Vial, I., & Fernández-Olmos, M. (2016). The effect of science and technology parks on a firm’s performance: a dynamic approach over time. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 29(10), 1-14. Economist Intelligence Unit) http://store.eiu.com)
Ehrich, L. C., Hansford, B., & Tennent, L. (2004). Formal mentoring programs in education and other professions: A review of the literature. Educational administration quarterly, 40(4), 518-540.
Engle, R. L., Dimitriadi, N., Gavidia, J. V., Schlaegel, C., Delanoe, S., Alvarado, I., ... & Wolff, B. (2010). Entrepreneurial intent: A twelve-country evaluation of Ajzen's model of planned behavior. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 16(1), 35-57.
Eugenio, S. (2016, August 17). 7 reasons you need a mentor for entrepreneurial success. https://www.entrepreneur.
Glickman, C. D., Gordon, S. P., & Ross-Gordon, J. M. (2001). Supervision and instructional leadership: A developmental approach. Allyn & Bacon/Longman Publishing, a Pearson Education Company, 1760 Gould Street, Needham Heights, MA.
Gravells, J. (2006). Mentoring start-up entrepreneurs in the East Midlands–Troubleshooters and Trusted Friends. The International journal of mentoring and coaching, 4(2), 3-23.
Hansford, B., Tennent, L., & Ehrich, L. C. (2002). Business mentoring: help or hindrance? Mentoring and tutoring, 10(2), 101-115.
Harrison, D.A., Price, K. H., Gavin, J. H., & Florey, A. T. (2002). Time, teams, and task performance: Changing effects of surface-and deep-level diversity on group functioning. Academy of management journal, 45(5), 1029-1045.
Johnson, W.B. (2015). On being a mentor: A guide for higher education faculty. Routledge
Kar, B., & Sarangi, S. (2020). Factors of Small Business Mentoring and Practices. SEDME (Small Enterprises Development, Management & Extension Journal)47(2), 104-114.
Kempster, S., & Cope, J. (2010). Learning to lead in the entrepreneurial context. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 16(1), 5-34.
Kent, T., Dennis, C., & Tanton, S. (2003). An evaluation of mentoring for SME retailers. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 31(8), 440-448.
Kram KE. (1983). Phases of the mentor relationship. Academy of Management Journal, 26, 608-625.
Luik, J., Hook, J., & Ng, J. (2021). Framing the startup accelerator through assemblage theory: A case study of an intensive hub in Indonesia. Convergence, 13548565211054905.
Mansoori, Y., Karlsson, T., & Lundqvist, M. (2019). The influence of the lean startup methodology on entrepreneur-coach relationships in the context of a startup accelerator. Technovation, 84, 37-47
McGregor, J., & Tweed, D. (2002). Profiling a new generation of female small business owners in New Zealand: Networking, mentoring and growth. Gender, Work & Organization, 9(4), 420-438.
Memon, J., Rozan, M. Z. A., Ismail, K., & Jahanzeb, A. (2018). Mentor Protege Matchmaking Framework for IT Entrepreneurs: A Qualitative Study. arXiv preprint arXiv:1808.04724.
Memon, J., Rozan, M. Z. A., Ismail, K., Uddin, M., & Daud, D. (2015). Mentoring an entrepreneur: Guide for a mentor. Sage Open, 5(1), 2158244015569666.
Mullen, E. J. (1998). Vocational and psychosocial mentoring functions: Identifying mentors who serve both. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 9(4), 319-331.
Nabi, G., Walmsley, A., & Akhtar, I. (2021). Mentoring functions and entrepreneur development in the early years of university. Studies in Higher Education, 46(6), 1159-1174.
Orth, C. D., & Jacobs, F. (1971). Women in management-pattern for change. Harvard Business Review, 49(4), 139.
Ozgen, E., & Baron, R. A. (2007). Social sources of information in opportunity recognition: Effects of mentors, industry networks, and professional forums. Journal of business venturing, 22(2), 174-192.
Ozgen, E., & Baron, R. A. (2007). Social sources of information in opportunity recognition: Effects of mentors, industry networks, and professional forums. Journal of business venturing, 22(2), 174-192.
Poteat, L. F., Shockley, K. M., & Allen, T. D. (2009). Mentor-protégé commitment fit and relationship satisfaction in academic mentoring. Journal of vocational behavior, 74(3), 332-337.
Raabe, B., & Beehr, T. A. (2003). Formal mentoring versus supervisor and coworker relationships: Differences in perceptions and impact. Journal of Organizational Behavior: The International Journal of Industrial, Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 24(3), 271-293.
Rechter, E., & Avnimelech, G. (2022). Mentorship Processes within Startup Accelerators. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2022, No. 1, p. 16196). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
Sánchez, B., Mroczkowski, A. L., Liao, L. C., Cooper, A. C., Rivera, C., & DuBois, D. L. (2017). Mentoring as a mediator or moderator of the association between racial discrimination and coping efficacy in urban, low‐income Latina/o youth. American journal of community psychology, 59(1-2), 15-24.
Spigel, B., Khalid, F., & Wolfe, D. (2023). Alacrity: a new model for venture acceleration. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 19(1), 237-259.
St-Jean, E. (2011). Mentor functions for novice entrepreneurs. Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 17(1), 65-84.
St-Jean, E. (2012). Mentoring as professional development for novice entrepreneurs: maximizing the learning. International Journal of Training and Development, 16(3), 200-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2419.2012.00404.x.
St-Jean, É. & Mathieu, C. (2015). Developing attitudes toward an entrepreneurial career through mentoring. Journal of Career Development, 42(4), 325-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0894845314568190.
St-Jean, É., & Tremblay, M. (2020). Mentoring for entrepreneurs: A boost or a crutch? Long-term effect of mentoring on self-efficacy. International Small Business Journal38(5), 424-448.
St-Jean, É., Radu-Lefebvre, M., & Mathieu, C. (2018). Can less be more? Mentoring functions, learning goal orientation, and novice entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research24(1), 2-21.
Ting, S. X., Feng, L., & Qin, W. (2017). The effect of entrepreneur mentoring and its determinants in the Chinese context. Management Decision.
Waters, L., McCabe, M., Kiellerup, D., & Kiellerup, S. (2002). The role of formal mentoring on business success and self-esteem in participants of a new business start-up program. Journal of business and psychology, 17(1), 107-121.
Wise, S., Valliere, D., (2014). The impact on management experience on the performance of start-ups within accelerators. J. Private Equity 9–19.
Yitshaki, R., & Drori, I. (2018). Understanding mentorship. Accelerators: Successful venture creation and growth, 58-80.