Open Call – Apply to become an EIC Scaling Club Mentor!

The EIC Scaling Club helps deep tech scale-up founders connect with peers, investors, potential new hires, mentors, and other stakeholders. It achieves this by carefully selecting entrepreneurial teams and ensuring they receive the support they need to grow. We invite all interested, motivated and experienced entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and senior managers to join the programme as Mentors. 

APPLY NOW
Applications are open until 13 March 2024 (9:00 AM CET)!

The EIC Scaling Club is an ambitious initiative funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) to proactively facilitate the growth of Europe’s top-performing enterprises towards a more sustainable and autonomous future.

The Club aims to bring together the most active EU-centric investors, corporations, mentors, and other stakeholders to foster the growth of 100+ selected European companies in 10 different sector-specific groups. It builds upon the success of the EIC ScalingUp pilot with success stories such as IQM, Pascal, SMART Photonics, and Kheiron Medical.

Discover here a short presentation about the EIC Scaling Club with detailed information about its commitments.

Are you a seasoned non-executive director (M/F) with a rich professional background who is looking to play a pivotal role in the development of European deep tech scale-up companies? If you have expertise in corporate or venture investment, M&A advisory services, or scaling deep tech companies, then you’re exactly who we’re looking for as a Mentor in the EIC Scaling Club!

What’s in it for you?

As a Mentor, you will benefit from:

• Visibility in relevant communications, including the website and social media channels;
• Access to all online and onsite Club events, networking opportunities and company pitching sessions both online and onsite;
• Access to researched lists and selected profiles;
• Enhanced recognition and brand profile through features in EIC Scaling Club reports;
• Direct access to Europe’s top-performing innovative companies in strategic areas;
• An exclusive profile on the EuroQuity platform and access to the EIC Scaling Club community, where you can connect with more companies and investors;
• Financial contributions for performing mentoring services.

Who are we looking for?

If you are a change-maker eager to make a lasting impact on the business landscape, be sure to apply to the EIC Scaling Club open call for Mentors! Before applying, consult the following list for required and relevant expertise.

• Corporate/Venture Investment Expertise: Significant experience in corporate finance or venture investment, especially in mergers and acquisitions.
• Deep Tech Company Growth: Demonstrable experience in the development and scaling of deep tech companies.
• Knowledge in Private Investments and IPOs: Proficiency in private investment spheres and IPO processes.
• Track Record in Deep Tech SMEs: Documented involvement in the growth of deep tech SMEs, either directly or through strategic board-level contributions.
• Domain senior network: Mentors shall have an extensive network.
• Board-level experience: Relevant experience in board-level positions
• Mentorship experience: Relevant track record in mentoring deep-tech SMEs.
• Sector-Specific Expertise: Club Mentors are expected to have expertise in one or more of the following deep tech sectors: Next-gen computing; Digital security & trust; Renewable energies; Smart mobility; Cardiovascular therapies; New biotech platforms; New space; Clean fuels & hydrogen; Batteries & energy storage; Agri & food tech.
• Gender balance: Each Market Opportunity Group must have a minimum of 5 female mentors.
• Regional balance: Mentors must come from different EU Member States or Associated (non-EU) Countries and each market opportunity group must have 2 mentors from Southern Europe (SE) and 2 mentors from Central/Eastern Europe (CEE).
• Mentorship skills: Club Mentors should cover one or more of the following areas:
  • Investment & financing
  • Sales & partnership
  • Leadership & talent
  • Branding & PR
• Additional qualifications include strategic facilitation skills, effective communication, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurial experience in start-ups or early-stage SMEs, and knowledge of government/public or private funding.

What responsibilities will the Mentors have?

Mentors will be expected to:

• Advise companies on their growth challenge and financial strategies by
• using assessment tools to analyse and address key challenges, opportunities, and risks.
• challenging entrepreneurs’ assumptions, anticipating problems and actively following up for maximum impact.
• adhering to Non-Disclosure & Confidentiality agreements and facilitating investment and partnership introductions.

• Seek investment & partnership contacts for allocated companies and make relevant introductions.
• Support two entrepreneurs in four mandatory sessions every six months, including at least one club event and compulsory online sessions, with a commitment of a minimum of 35 hours.
• Optionally, participate in additional sessions on a goodwill basis.
   

How to apply

Confirm your availability and apply to become a Mentor by filling out the following application form (LINK) by Wednesday 13 March 2024 (9:00 AM CET)! Please submit an updated CV and ensure your application outlines how your experience and skills fit our mentor selection criteria in the description mentioned above.

SAVE THE DATE!
If you are selected as a Mentor to our first cohort, you will be invited to join our kick-off event, The Ignition Forum, on 9 & 10 of April 2024 in Leuven, Belgium. The Forum will launch the first 4 Market Opportunity Groups, each with 12 Companies, along with specialised and committed Mentors, Investors, Corporations and Agencies as Member Teams of the Club. This event will also include Teams of EU and Horizon Europe governmental scaling champions to take part in the Forum’s Programme.

Information Webinar for Mentors

Join us for an information webinar on Wednesday 6 March 2024 at 14:30 (CET). Sign up now to participate!

The planned agenda entails:

1. Welcome & Intro to the EIC Scaling Club (5 mins)
2. Presentation of mentorship calendar (Tasks & Timeline, 10 mins)
3. Presentation of Mentor profile, commitments & benefits, and selection (10 mins)
4. Presentation of Market Opportunities (5 mins)
5. Q&A (30 mins)

Additional information

About the EIC Scaling Club

The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 100+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators, and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.

The top 100+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.

The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative run in partnership with Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.

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