Lumma Ventures Accelerator Program
About Lumma Ventures
Lumma Ventures is a founder-first, network-led accelerator platform built to help ambitious European startups scale into the U.S. market with more speed, structure, and real execution support. We work with early-stage founders who have strong potential but need the right operating system, mentorship, and strategic guidance to move from momentum to repeatable growth.
Our accelerator is not built around “startup theater.” We focus on the work that truly moves companies forward: business fundamentals, go-to-market execution, commercial traction, investor readiness, and long-term company building. Through Lumma, founders gain access to a practical support layer that combines mentors, operators, investors, and trusted partners—activated at the right stage and in the right context.
We are now expanding our mentor network and looking for experienced experts who want to work with founders in a meaningful, long-term way.
About the Accelerator Program
The Lumma accelerator is designed to support founders through a structured growth journey—from early clarity and market validation to execution discipline, business development, and investment readiness.
Our program supports founders with:
- Strategic guidance
- Practical operating support
- Market-entry thinking (including U.S. readiness)
- Commercial execution
- Founder accountability
- Investor and fundraising preparation
Mentors are a core part of this experience. At Lumma, mentors are not brought in just for one-off inspiration sessions. We are building a long-term mentor network of trusted experts who can support founders with real experience, practical frameworks, and clear advice that helps them make better decisions faster.
About the Role: Startup Mentor
We are looking for experienced
**Startup Mentors**
to support founders in the Lumma accelerator through structured sessions, tactical guidance, and stage-relevant expertise.
This role is ideal for operators, functional experts, consultants, founders, investors, and specialists who understand the realities of building companies and can translate experience into practical guidance. We are looking for mentors who can challenge founders constructively, support them with clarity, and help them focus on what matters most.
This is a
**paid engagement (hourly compensation)**
, and we are specifically looking to build
**long-term relationships**
with mentors who can become part of the Lumma ecosystem over time.
What the Mentor Role Looks Like
As a Startup Mentor at Lumma Ventures, you may support founders through:
- 1:1 mentoring sessions (strategy, execution, problem-solving)
- Small group office hours
- Topic-specific workshops or expert sessions
- Startup reviews / progress check-ins
- Pitch and fundraising feedback sessions
- Founder accountability and milestone guidance
- Strategic introductions (when relevant and appropriate)
Mentors are matched based on expertise, startup stage, and current founder needs.
Areas of Expertise We Are Looking For
We are currently looking for mentors with experience in the following areas (including your requested focus areas):
1. **Finance / Startup Finance**
2. (financial planning, runway management, unit economics, budgeting, cash flow)
3. **Go-to-Market (GTM)**
4. (market entry strategy, customer segmentation, positioning, launch planning)
5. **Business Development**
6. (partnerships, deal-making, pipeline building, strategic growth opportunities)
7. **Sales (B2B / B2C)**
8. (sales process design, outbound, conversion optimization, pipeline management)
9. **Marketing & Growth**
10. (growth strategy, demand generation, acquisition channels, performance marketing)
11. **Product Strategy**
12. (product roadmap, prioritization, user value, product-market fit thinking)
13. **Customer Discovery & Validation**
14. (interviews, feedback loops, early validation, market signals)
15. **Fundraising & Investor Readiness**
16. (pitch narrative, data room readiness, investor communication, fundraising process)
17. **Operations & Execution**
18. (operating cadence, KPI tracking, process design, founder accountability systems)
19. **Pricing & Revenue Model Design**
20. (pricing strategy, packaging, monetization, revenue structure)
21. **International Expansion / U.S. Market Readiness**
22. (market-entry planning, localization, U.S.-readiness strategy, cross-border execution)
23. **Legal / Compliance for Startups (advisory-level)**
24. (startup legal basics, governance readiness, entity setup considerations, risk awareness)
25. *Note: formal legal advice should be provided only by licensed professionals.*
26. **People, Hiring & Team Building**
27. (early hiring, role design, team structure, leadership support for founders)
28. **Founder Communication & Storytelling**
29. (pitching, messaging, narrative clarity, stakeholder communication)
30. **Partnerships & Ecosystem Strategy**
31. (channel partnerships, ecosystem leverage, strategic relationship development)
You do not need to cover all areas. We are building a
**multi-disciplinary mentor network**
, and mentors may contribute in one or several domains.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide practical, founder-first guidance based on your area(s) of expertise
- Support startups through structured mentoring sessions and/or office hours
- Help founders identify risks, bottlenecks, and highest-priority next steps
- Share relevant frameworks, tools, and working methods (not just theory)
- Offer constructive feedback on strategy, execution, and decision-making
- Support founders in building better discipline, clarity, and accountability
- Participate in selected program activities (expert talks, reviews, pitch feedback) when relevant
- Collaborate with the Lumma team on founder support needs and mentor-fit alignment
- Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and a high standard of communication
Ideal Profile
- Experienced founder, startup operator, investor, advisor, or functional expert
- Strong domain expertise in one or more of the listed focus areas
- Experience working with early-stage startups (pre-seed / seed / early growth) is a strong plus
- Ability to give clear, actionable, and stage-appropriate guidance
- Strong communication and coaching skills
- Comfortable working with founders from different industries and geographies
- Founder-first mindset: supportive, honest, practical, and outcome-focused
- High integrity and respect for confidentiality
Strong Plus If You Have
- Experience in accelerators, incubators, venture studios, or startup programs
- Cross-border startup experience (especially Europe ↔ U.S.)
- Experience mentoring founders through fundraising or commercial scaling
- A strong ecosystem network that can occasionally benefit founders (when appropriate)
Compensation & Engagement Model
This is a
**paid mentor role**
and engagement is compensated
**hourly**
.
Engagement Terms (Mentor Network Model)
- **Paid by the hour**
(rate based on expertise, session type, and level of involvement)
- Flexible engagement structure (1:1 sessions, office hours, workshops, review panels)
- Opportunity for recurring assignments across multiple startup
**Batches**
- Designed for
**long-term collaboration**
with mentors who align with Lumma’s founder-first approach
We are not only looking for one-time guest speakers. We want to build an ongoing network of mentors who become trusted contributors to the Lumma ecosystem.
Why Join Lumma as a Mentor
- Work directly with ambitious founders building real companies
- Contribute to a structured accelerator focused on execution, not noise
- Join a growing international network of founders, operators, and investors
- Be part of a long-term mentor platform—not just one-off sessions
- Apply your expertise in a practical, high-impact environment
- Help shape startups that are preparing for cross-border growth and U.S. expansion
Time Commitment
Engagement is flexible and depends on your availability and expertise area. Typical involvement may include:
- A few hours per month (specialist mentor)
- Recurring office hours (monthly / biweekly)
- Batch-based support during active program cycles
- Occasional workshops or review sessions
We aim to build a mentor network that works for both founders and mentors with clear expectations, efficient scheduling, and high-quality interactions.
How to Apply / Express Interest
If you are interested in joining the Lumma Ventures mentor network, please share:
- Short bio / LinkedIn profile
- Your expertise area(s)
- Startup stages you are best suited to mentor
- Relevant experience (founder, operator, advisor, investor, specialist)
- Availability (hours/month or preferred format)
- Hourly rate (or rate range)
- Any prior mentoring / accelerator experience (if applicable)
At Lumma Ventures, we believe great mentors do more than “advise.” They help founders think clearer, move faster, and avoid costly mistakes. If you are an expert who enjoys helping startups build with discipline and ambition, we’d love to explore a long-term collaboration.
