The Mentor Experience
Mentors are successful entrepreneurs, current or former corporate executives, and professionals with entrepreneurial expertise who enhance the learning experience of CCEW interns.
What's Expected
CCEW mentors are asked to serve for one semester and they possess the technical proficiency to understand the science along with a track record of commercialization, entrepreneurship, or intraprenuership.
A CCEW mentor coaches a team of four interns and a project leader beginning with a "boot camp" and ending with a final presentation at the end of the semester. Mentors routinely sit in on team meetings, address questions via email or conference call, and attend two progress reviews that occur every five weeks leading up to the final presentation.
Mentor's Role
The mentor's role is to challenge the team to address the commercialization questions related to the technology. While each technology is different, questions related to intellectual property protection, uniqueness of the product or service, market, sources of funding, etc. are typically addressed by every team. The mentor ensures that the team is thorough and realistic in their assessment.
Molding the Future
Mentors contribute to strengthening of Oklahoma's wealth creation by nurturing the next generation of Oklahoma entrepreneurs and supporting technology transfer efforts in the state.
