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ATTENTION: TARGET AUDIENCE
Build a Diversified Startup Portfolio Through Strategic Mentorship
Mentor 1-2 HealthTech or FinTech startups per cohort. Earn 0.25%-1% equity per startup. Guide founders through systematic validation to product-market fit. 14 weeks, 1 hour per week.
0.25%-1% equity per startup mentored
1-2 startups per cohort, multiple cohorts per year
Mentor from anywhere—timezone-flexible options
Why Experienced Startup Advisers Choose Speed2Seed Mentorship
Build a Startup
Portfolio
Traditional angel investing requires $10K-$50K per startup. Speed2Seed mentorship lets you build equity positions through strategic guidance rather than capital.
• Mentor 2 startups per cohort at 3 cohorts per year = approximately 3% portfolio
• Diversified in HealthTech and FinTech
• Time investment only
Even if only 1-2 succeed, your equity position can generate significant returns
Leverage Your
Own Experience
You’ve navigated the startup journey—the pivots, the customer discovery, the search for product-market fit. You will use that experience as a mentor.
• Systematic validation methodologies
• Customer interview techniques and pattern recognition
• Navigating revenue and pricing
• Building repeatable sales processes
• Managing founder psychology
You don’t need HealthTech/FinTech expertise—though it helps
Flexible, Time-Bound Commitment
This isn’t an open-ended advisory role. Speed2Seed has clear structure and defined duration.
• 14 weeks per cohort (not indefinite)
• 1 hour per week per startup
• Weekly video calls (timezone-flexible) • In-person sessions (optional)
• Online messaging for async questions
Total: 14-28 hours over 14 weeks, then your equity continues working for you.
Your 14-Week Journey with
Speed2Seed Founders
Day 2
Mentor Selection
What happens:
• Startups complete Day 1-2 bootcamp
• You’re introduced to the cohort
• Founders review your profile and select their mentor
• You’re matched with 1-2 startups
Your role:
• Present brief background and expertise areas
• Meet potential mentees informally
• Confirm commitment for selected startups
Weeks 1-2
Problem Discovery & Validation
What startups are doing:
• Conducting 50+ customer interviews
• Building Xamun prototype (4 days)
• Testing problem severity with target market
• Preparing for Angel Demo Day (Day 14)
Your focus (1 hour/week/startup commitment):
• Review interview insights and help identify patterns
• Challenge assumptions about problem severity
• Provide feedback on prototype and value proposition
• Help prepare angel pitch (if startup is ready)
Weeks 3-6
Version 1 Development
What startups are doing:
• Building production Version 1 via xDD (4 weeks)
• Launching to first 5-10 customers
• Iterating based on user feedback
• Generating first revenue ($5K-$25K MRR target)
Your focus (1 hour/week/startup commitment):
• Help prioritize features based on client feedback
• Guide pricing and packaging decisions
• Review early sales conversations
• Troubleshoot technical or operational blockers
Weeks 7-11
Product-Market Fit Optimization
What startups are doing:
• Testing 2-3 customer acquisition channels
• Building repeatable sales playbook
• Optimising for retention and NPS
• Scaling from 10 to 25+ customers
Your focus (1 hour/week/startup commitment):
• Evaluate channel test results and recommend focus
• Help refine messaging based on what’s converting
• Identify leading indicators of product-market fit
• Guide decisions on when to pivot vs. persevere
Weeks 12-14
Seed Readiness
What startups are doing:
• Preparing seed pitch deck
• Building financial models and projections
• Organizing data room
• Practicing for Seed Demo Day
Your focus (1 hour/week/startup commitment):
• Review pitch deck and provide feedback
• Help articulate growth strategy
• Pressure-test financial assumptions
• Conduct mock Q&A sessions
Post-Program
Your Equity Works for You
What happens next:
• Startup operates with your equity stake intact
• Optional: Continue advising (separate arrangement)
• You maintain relationship and receive updates
• Exit opportunities: acquisition, follow-on funding rounds
Your ongoing role:
• No formal commitment after Week 14
• Some mentors choose to stay on as advisers
• Other just maintain relationships and track progress
• Your equity per startup remains regardless
Got questions about Speed2Seed?
How Mentor Compensation Works
The FAST Agreement
Structure
How FAST works:
• Fixed equity amount: 0.25%-1% per startup
• Vesting schedule: Typically vests over the 14-week program
• Cliff structure: Often with 4-week cliff (after Week 4, you’re locked in)
• Early termination: If either party ends arrangement early, equity prorated
Why FAST is fair:
• Transparent and standardized across all mentors
• Protects both mentors (you earn equity for work completed) and startups (they don’t give equity without value)
• Widely recognized and accepted in startup ecosystem
Simple documentation, no lengthy negotiations
Portfolio Math:
Building Value Over Time
Scenario 1: Conservative Mentor (2 startups/year)
• Year 1: Mentor 2 startups ~ 1% portfolio
• Year 2: Mentor 2 more ~ 2% total portfolio
• Year 3: Mentor 2 more ~ 3% total portfolio
6 startups × 0.25%-1% equity ~ 3% diversified portfolio built over 3 years
Even if only 1 of 6 succeeds with a $20M exit:
• Your 0.25%-1% = $100K return
• Time invested: ~84 hours total (14 hours × 6 startups)
• Effective rate: ~$1,200/hour + equity in 5 other companies
Scenario 2: Active Mentor (6 startups/year)
• Multiple cohorts per year across different cities
• Year 1: 6 startups = 3% portfolio
• Year 2: 6 more = 6% total portfolio
If you’re experienced and have bandwidth, this accelerates portfolio building significantly.
Who Thrives as a Speed2Seed Mentor
Startup Operators
with Exits
You’ve founded or operated startups through early stages and ideally to exit. You understand the emotional rollercoaster and practical challenges of building something from nothing.
What you bring:
• Real-world experience with customer discovery
• Pattern recognition from multiple pivots
• Understanding of startup psychology and resilience
• Credibility from having “been there”
Current Startup
Leaders
You’re actively building a company now and want to stay connected to other founders whilst diversifying your equity exposure beyond your own venture.
What you bring:
• Current market insights and fresh perspectives
• Active network you can introduce founders to
• Empathy for what founders are experiencing right now
• Energy and enthusiasm for the startup journey
Investors with Operating Experience
You’re an angel investor or VC who’s also operated companies. You understand startups from both capital and execution perspectives.
What you bring:
• Investor lens on what metrics matter
• Operating experience to guide execution
• Network of other investors and potential customers
• Ability to help founders think through fundraising strategy
Corporate Executives from HealthTech/
FinTech
You’ve built or led teams in healthcare or financial services companies. You understand the regulatory environment, buyer personas, and market dynamics.
What you bring:
• Domain expertise in target sectors
• Understanding of compliance requirements (HIPAA, PCI-DSS)
• Corporate partnership opportunities
• Credibility when guiding sector-specific decisions
Methodology
Experts
You’re deeply familiar with systematic validation approaches—Steve Blank’s Customer Development, Lean Startup, Jobs to Be Done, or similar frameworks.
What you bring:
• Structured approach to validation
• Ability to guide experiment design
• Experience interpreting customer interview data
• Understanding of when to pivot vs. persevere
Generalist Problem
Solvers
You may not fit the above categories perfectly, but you’re an experienced professional who loves helping founders think through challenges systematically.
What you bring:
• Fresh perspectives from different industries
• General business acumen and strategic thinking
• Willingness to learn alongside founders
• Enthusiasm for the mentorship role
Why Mentors Choose Speed2Seed Over Other Programs
Speed2Seed
Mentorship
Structured & Time-Bound
• 14 weeks with clear milestones
• 1 hour/week commitment
• Defined expectations and deliverables
• You know when you’re “done”
Equity-Based Compensation
• 0.25%-1% per startup (standardized)
• FAST agreement (simple, fair)
• Build portfolio without capital
• Equity vests over program
Systematic Validation Focus
• Teach proven methodologies
• Evidence-based progression
• Real customer validation
• Metrics-driven decisions
High Founder Quality
• Rigorous application process
• Domain expertise (HealthTech/FinTech)
• Committed to 14-week intensive programme
• Proven willingness to execute systematically
Technical Execution Support
• Xamun platform ensures technical delivery
• 100% completion rate on Version 1
• Mentors focus on validation, not tech troubleshooting
• Founders build fast (4-day prototypes, 4-week Version 1)
Global Opportunities
• Mentor from anywhere (timezone-flexible)
• Multiple cities and cohorts
• Choose sectors and stages that interest you
• Build geographically diversified portfolio
Traditional Startup
Advising
Open-Ended Commitment
• “Can I pick your brain?” forever
• Unclear expectations
• No defined endpoint
• Drains time indefinitely
Vague or No Compensation
• Equity amounts negotiated case-by-case
• Often promised but never formalized
• Or purely volunteer basis
• No standardization
Ad-Hoc Guidance
• Whatever founders ask about
• Reactive problem-solving
• No framework or structure
• Hard to measure impact
Variable Founder Quality
• Anyone can ask for advice
• Founders often unprepared
• May not be serious or committed
• Difficult to assess quality upfront
Founder Often Stuck Building
• “Still building, not ready to launch”
• Technical delays prevent validation
• Mentors can’t help until product exists
• Months of waiting for progress
Local/Network-Dependent
• Limited to founders you know
• Geographic constraints
• Serendipitous connections
• Small opportunity set
Mentor Opportunities Across Global Cohorts
Most mentors are timezone-flexible and can mentor remotely. You don’t need to be in the cohort city, though some mentors enjoy attending bi-monthly in-person sessions if they are local or travelling.
Active Programs
Manila (Healthtech)
Cohort 1: HealthTech
March 14 - June 20
Launching Soon
Seattle
March 2026
London
June 2026
Singapore
Q3 2026
Manila (Fintech)
Q3 2026
Planned Expansion
Toronto
Q3 2026
Dubai
Q4 2026
Los Angeles
Q4 2026
New York
Q4 2026
Speed2Seed Team
Arup Maity
Program Director
Neil Rowatt
Program Director
• Co-Founder & UK Lead - Xamun.AI
• Customer Success Lead - Be Informed
• Co-Founder - Adroit Professional Ltd.
Patrick Viernes
Program Director
• Advisor, North America - Xamun.AI
• Partner Alliance Management - Fujitsu
• WW Public Sector Lead - Microsoft
Looking for Something Else?
Join the Speed2Seed community as a different actor in the ecosystem
Startup
Founders
Turn your HealthTech/FinTech expertise into funded reality. Get technical validation, angel intros, development team, and structured path to seed round—all in 14 weeks.
Startup
Mentors
Turn your startup expertise into equity. Guide 1-2 HealthTech/FinTech founders through systematic validation for 14 weeks and earn 0.5% per startup.
Angel Investors
Higher-quality pipeline with real traction. Speed2Seed graduates arrive with working MVPs, early revenue, and proven execution—not just slide decks.
Venture Capital Firms
Access pre-vetted, technical-ready deal flow. Every founder has validated specs, committed capital, and locked-in build team. No more “looking for CTO” pitches.
Program
Partner
Infrastructure partner for the entire Speed2Seed network. Provide co-promotion, venue, and/or support and in turn get brand recognition and pipeline access.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Mentors
Do I need to be in the same city as my mentees?
No. Most mentorship happens via weekly video calls. You only need to be timezone-compatible (able to find a mutually convenient call time). Some mentors attend optional bi-monthly in-person sessions if they’re local to the cohort city.
Can I mentor startups in multiple cities?
Yes! Many mentors work with cohorts across different Speed2Seed locations. This helps you build a geographically diversified portfolio.
What if I don’t have HealthTech or FinTech experience?
That’s fine. Domain expertise is helpful but not required. Your core value is startup expertise—customer discovery, validation, product-market fit, early sales. Speed2Seed provides domain-specific resources and workshops to support both founders and mentors.
How are mentors and startups matched?
Startups select their mentors on Day 2 after meeting all available mentors. It’s founder’s choice, not assigned by Speed2Seed. This ensures good fit and mutual interest.
What if my startup and I aren’t a good fit?
We encourage open communication early. If it’s not working, both parties can end the arrangement (equity is prorated based on time completed per FAST agreement). However, this is rare—founder choice on Day 2 usually results in good matches.
Can I mentor more than 2 startups per cohort?
Generally we recommend 1-2 startups to ensure quality mentorship. However, if you have significant bandwidth and experience, we can discuss mentoring 3+ startups. More startups = more equity = larger portfolio.
What happens to my equity after the 14 weeks?
Your equity remains intact regardless of ongoing involvement. You own 0.25%-1% of each startup you mentored (subject to FAST vesting terms). If the startup exits or raises follow-on funding, your equity participates. You don’t need to continue advising to maintain your equity.
Do I need to invest capital in my mentees?
No. Mentorship is separate from investing. Some mentors choose to invest as angels at Angel Demo Day (Week 2) or Seed Demo Day (Week 14), but this is entirely optional. You can build equity purely through time contribution.
Can I mentor the same startup in future programs?
Speed2Seed is a 14-week program. After Week 14, if you and the founder want to continue working together, you can establish a separate advisory arrangement with additional equity, cash compensation, or continued equity vesting. But the Speed2Seed mentorship formally ends at Week 14.
What if I need to step away mid-program?
Life happens. If you must end your mentorship before Week 14, communicate early with both your mentee and the Speed2Seed team. Your equity will be prorated based on weeks completed (per FAST agreement). We’ll help the founder find alternate support if possible.
How many cohorts can I mentor per year?
This depends on your availability. Cohorts run multiple times per year in each city. If you’re available year-round, you could theoretically mentor 3-4 cohorts annually (each 14 weeks with some gap between). Most mentors do 1-2 cohorts per year.
What support does Speed2Seed provide mentors?
• Mentor playbook: Resources on effective mentorship, validation methodologies, common challenges
• Program structure: Clear milestones so you know what founders should be working on each week
• Mentor community: Slack channel to connect with other mentors, share insights, ask questions
• Program team support: Speed2Seed team available for any issues or questions
Is there any training before I start mentoring?
We provide a mentor onboarding session before each cohort starts covering:
• Program structure and milestones
• Effective mentorship practices
• FAST agreement details
• How to use program resources
📍Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines
👥 6 Going
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