A good mentor does not take the decision away.

Method mentors help teams frame questions and design validation. Technical mentors examine decisive feasibility and risk.

Industry mentors add context and adoption logic. Founder mentors help teams understand product, organisation and operating choices.

A team submits one page of context, current evidence, a single material question and the form of feedback it needs.

Matching should depend on relevance, not title, prestige or the perceived investment value of the team.

Agree scope and confidentiality before the meeting; distinguish facts, experience and personal opinion during it; record decisions and owners afterwards.

A mentor must not seek undisclosed commercial work, equity, procurement or private paid services from a participant.

Sessions involving minors require age-appropriate settings, traceable channels and specified adult oversight. Private social relationships cannot replace programme communications.

Mentors must disclose conflicts, respect IP and personal data, and be subject to feedback and, where necessary, removal.

The mentor network is still being designed. No person is listed or implied as a confirmed CIE mentor on this page.

Entry criteria, training, screening, conduct, time commitment and compensation will be stated before recruitment.