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Mentor
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Are you a professional looking to make a difference by supporting young planet-positive innovators?
beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship launched in 2023 to equip thousands of young people around the world with the tools and resources to implement environmental projects for a sustainable planet. In our third year, we have now expanded to include 1000 young eco-entrepreneurs.
A key component of the Fellowship experience is the one-on-one mentoring each Fellow receives. Mentors play an important role in Fellows’ support ecosystem, alongside Venture Coaches and Subject Matter Experts. We invite volunteer mentors and experts to join us in our mission and to support Fellows across their innovation journey:
- Mentor for Foundational Year fellows, early in their innovation journey
- Scaling Mentor for fellows with more advanced projects
- Bookable subject matter experts for fellows across the innovation journey
Application Details
Mentor applications are now open, apply here! We would love to hear from you. Curious to see what the mentoring journey is like? Take a look here.
Why become a Mentor?
Dedicate just 1-2 hours monthly over 10 months to make a lasting impact:
- Empower young innovators by accelerating their personal and leadership development
- Discover new eco-innovation and sustainability ideas from diverse, solution-focused youth
- Enhance your leadership skills through regular feedback and support to ambitious entrepreneurs.
- Join our global network of thousands of professionals shaping a more sustainable future
- Boost your visibility through social media exposure and speaking opportunities at key events.
Keen to learn more about the mentoring impact you can make? Hear from our beVisioneers Fellows here !
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mentoring look like?
To get involved, you can apply as a:
- Mentor for Foundational Year Fellows, early in their innovation journey, focusing on personal development and growth as leaders (1 hour/month)
- Scaling Mentor for Fellows with more advanced projects, providing tailored support for project development and entrepreneurial skills (2 hours/month)
- Bookable Subject Matter Expert for Fellows across the innovation journey in areas such as sustainability, finance, legal, and prototyping (<1 hour/month)
Time commitment: August 2025 – May 2026
Mentors will have access to a series of optional tools and resources (feedback tools, conversation guides, etc.) to facilitate learning and sharing of expertise. There will also be quarterly circles, networking and exchange opportunities with the other Mentors and beVisioneers team
What does the application process involve?
- Apply: Complete the online application (15–20 minutes) by 31 May 2025.
- Selection: Receive results in June or July 2025.
- Engage: If selected, connect with your matched Fellow starting August 2025.
If your profile meets the Scaling Mentor criteria, you’ll be shortlisted and invited for a brief interview. Additionally, if you’ve expressed interest in supporting Fellows as a subject matter expert (<1 hour/month), we’ll provide further details on engagement opportunities.
Who are the Fellows?
beVisioneers Fellows are young innovators, aged 16 to 28, with promising ideas for sustainability projects. Starting with a 12-month intensive program, our Fellowship equips them with training in entrepreneurial, leadership and sustainability skills, expert support and resources to bring their planet-positive projects to life, regardless of their stage or financial situation.
To learn more about the Fellows’ project ideas and the environmental challenges they are tackling, check out the Fellow Bios here.
Who should join to become a Mentor or Expert?
We are looking for professionals who:
- Have fluency in English
- Have sustainable development or general business skills
- For Scaling Mentors, the following additional requirements apply: Have 4+ years experience in or advising business innovation or startup building
We are also looking for subject matter experts with skills including: sustainability knowledge, finance, legal (e.g. incorporation, partnership agreements), user & market research, prototyping and fundraising.
How will I be matched with a Fellow?
Mentor-mentees matches are determined by a combination of criteria including location, common interest in sustainability challenge(s)and mentor’s skills meeting the Fellow’s specific learning and project needs.
Information is collected in the Mentors’ applications as well as Fellows’ applications and interviews.
What if I currently reside in a country outside of beVisioneers activities?
We do not restrict mentor applications to specific countries. Since one matching criteria is based on location, mentors working or residing in Fellow-countries will be prioritised to match the Fellows’ locations.
Will I be matched with a Fellow that speaks the same language and lives in the same time zone as myself?
In most cases yes, there will be some exceptions if a Fellow does not have a good match in the same location.
Can I choose who I am matched with?
Mentors and mentees are matched determined by a combination of criteria and validated by our Fellowship team.
Will I receive compensation or reimbursement?
No, this is a voluntary opportunity.
Will I get training?
Mentors will not get training from beVisioneers. Mentors will have an initial onboarding, access to a series of optional tools and resources to facilitate learning and sharing of expertise. There will also be quarterly mentor circles, Masterclasses, and networking opportunities with our global community of mentors and experts.
How long is the program in total and what if I do not want to continue, for any reason?
The mentorship aspect of the Fellowship is 11 months from August 2025 until May 2026. As you sign the Mentor code of conduct, you commit to the time duration, but if you have a valid reason to stop, you can reach out to the team and we will find another mentor replacement for your original mentee.
What if there is a problem with my Fellow?
You will have regular touchpoints and check-ins both with the beVisioneers team and your Fellow. You will be informed about dedicated contact points in the unlikely case of an issue to help resolve it.