Wellington – 6 June 2024: Creative HQ’s accelerators provide our cohorts with mentors and coaches to assist them through their unique challenges across a 12-week programme.
Mentors and coaches play critical roles in startup accelerator teams, but what exactly is the difference?
Mentor vs coach: defining the difference
Mentors are industry veterans who act as advisors and provide strategic guidance to startups. They share their expertise and connections to help startups overcome obstacles.
- Style: socratic, questioning, strategic, supportive and challenging
- How they work in a programme: Work in a pair or as a group of three in the form of a ‘mentor board’. Each mentor board works with one team, meeting fortnightly throughout the programme.
Coaches focus on implementation and operations. They train founders in startup methodologies and provide hands-on support. They keep founders accountable to goals and timelines.
- Style: instructive, demanding, training and practice-oriented (like a tennis coach)
- How they work in a programme: Work directly with a team on a weekly basis throughout the programme. They run the sprint process for all the teams.
Together coaches and mentors equip founders with the knowledge, skills and mindset to build strong startups.
So, we sat down with our current coaches and mentors of the 2024 Climate Response Accelerator to spill the beans on what it’s like to be in either role.
Meet the mentors: Philippa Dawe and Martin White
Philippa Dawe
2024 Climate Response Accelerator Mentor
Philippa Dawe‘s background spans design, retail leadership, brand strategy and innovation leadership.
“I describe my background as doing a reverse MBA,” says Philippa. “I’m a trained designer that spent the first 20 years of my career as a Creative Director variously working for agencies and starting my own marketing consultancy in London.”
She became a mentor to help startups seek a clear customer value proposition and ensure they have the right partners. She finds this business stage exciting having come from executive roles in complex organisations.
“The businesses that are being created are tackling challenges and opportunities in innovative ways, and it’s energising to be a part of this level of creative thought.”
“It’s also an opportunity for me to learn more in-depth about current industry challenges which adds to my professional knowledge,” says Philippa. “I’ve really enjoyed reconnecting with old industry colleagues as I’ve introduced my teams to them, and know that they will get a lot back themselves by being exposed to new thinking.”
Martin White
2024 Climate Response Accelerator Mentor
Martin White has 25 years’ experience in technical software, leadership, product and strategy development. He got involved with mentoring 8 years ago after going through an accelerator programme himself.
“I loved being in the formative stages of a company, helping figure out what the business is actually doing,” Martin shares.
He finds the most challenging part of mentoring is not having the opportunity to get more deeply involved with the startups.
However, he tells us the rewards are worth the time investment. Nothing beats those ‘a-ha’ moments, where Martin has helped a mentee connect the dots or learn something new about their product.
Tama Toki, CEO of Aotea Energy and current Climate Response Accelerator participant shares his thoughts about the mentorship throughout the programme.
“The mentors’ expertise on various parts of the ecosystem has been super cool – One of my mentors has a wealth of knowledge with regard to the market and electricity markets.”
“Our other mentor has been terrific at understanding communication and how to acquire those high-level PR opportunities.”
Meet the coaches: Brett Holland and Holly Beals
Brett Holland
Creative HQ Chief Innovation Officer
2024 Climate Response Accelerator Coach
With a startup background, Brett Holland started his first web-based software company in 1997. He then launched Akoya in 2003 that helped large manufacturers better understand their purchasing and design environment.
After selling the company, Brett has been helping startups with Creative HQ for the past 10 years.
“I wanted to pass along the tools and techniques that I have discovered, which can help founders not make the mistakes I made in my own startups,” says Brett… “I also love the world of startups and respect anyone willing to give it a go.”
For Brett, the variability of every team and founder’s needs poses a challenge, but solving problems together is incredibly fulfilling.
“I love the feeling of solving a problem or getting to the root of an issue together with someone, especially when that person is doing something they are passionate about.”
“I really believe in our tools and processes at Creative HQ, and it is great to see them make a difference in building the capabilities and confidence of the founders we work with,” says Brett. “I also love seeing those founders go on and make substantial, positive impacts in the world.”
Holly Beals
Creative HQ Senior Innovation Specialist
2024 Climate Response Accelerator Coach
Holly Beals is a designer by degree and her diverse career in innovative and impact-focused businesses led her to coaching.
“I love working with founders – they are inherently gutsy and passionate people,” she says.
Her biggest challenge is keeping teams focused on their goals amidst a sea of possibilities. However, Holly loves helping founders recognize the value that they can bring as leaders and gain confidence in their authentic selves.
Jessie Stanley, co-founder at Good Grub Agritech and current Climate Response Accelerator participant shares her thoughts about the coaching available in the accelerator.
“It’s like having a warm hug. I love having Holly as my Coach, she really is a star.”
“It’s not easy what we are doing and having cheerleaders available to support, connect and keep you going… It’s a really wonderful, wonderful experience.”
The impact
As we’ve seen from Martin, Philippa, Brett and Holly – mentors and coaches play a critical role in the success of startups.
Their guidance helps navigate the challenges of getting a startup off the ground and making an impact.
Kushla Okano from Team Biokū Technologies and current Climate Response Accelerator participant reflects on her interaction with her coaches and mentors.
“With Colm [Creative HQ Programme Manager and Coach] and Holly, they come from such a deep place of integrity and genuine support.”
“They’re actually there to guide you through a process to help you be the best person you need to be and where you want to be. And that’s very empowering; that’s a really special gift.”
“I also have incredible mentors who have helped refine my ideas. It’s that whole thing of iron sharpening iron and coming into this place of fizzy energy, then being able to use that to shape something that is desirable, feasible, and viable and this experience does that.”
“I don’t think you’ll get that anywhere else.”
To our current mentors and coaches, we salute you. Your dedication and support are invaluable in shaping the future of innovative startups.
Keen to learn more?
Check out our upcoming accelerators or events to get involved in our startup ecosystem:
https:/creativehq.dartworks.nz/startups/
- Email Joe Slater, GM Startups if you are interested in becoming a mentor.
- Read more about the 2024 Climate Response Accelerator
