ENHANCE Mentoring Programme 2026: Applications Now Open
The ENHANCE Mentoring Programme is returning for 2026, and we're looking for both mentors and start-ups / academic teams to take part in the next edition.
The previous edition connected 8 start-ups with 28 mentors across 19 mentoring pairs, with every start-up supported by at least two mentors. The results speak for themselves: mentees rated the overall usefulness of the programme 4.7/5, mentors rated match quality 4.7/5, and 100% of mentor respondents said they'd take part again. Reported outcomes included stronger pitch decks, sharper customer strategy, and improved product positioning.
Three thematic areas of mentoring
Every start-up receives mentoring in Sustainability, plus two further "elective" areas based on their needs and stage of development:
Idea Validation: testing and refining business concepts, gathering customer feedback, and working toward first "real" customers
Sustainability: aligning business models with the Sustainable Development Goals and turning sustainability into a strategic advantage
Internationalization: guidance on expanding into new markets, from research and cultural adaptation to legal and financial considerations
