Benefits and Impact of Mentoring for Entrepreneurs:the entrepreneur’s perspective

Abstract

The benefits and longer term impact in the relationship of a starting entrepreneur and his/her mentor are the subject of research from the perspective of the entrepreneur. Most research study the effects of mentoring on the benefits, during or shortly after ending the mentorship relation; this study focuses on the redefinition of the relationship. Results show that the benefits are determined by the experienced psychosocial support the entrepreneur experiences, the amount of trust and the intensity. Longer term impact is determined by the experienced benefits, not by the mentoring activities; the specific situation of an entrepreneur compared to a mentee in an organization could explain this finding.