BUILD is an innovative four-year business development program for under-resourced, under-represented high school students, which bridges the divide between youth and the business and intellectual resources of the Bay Area. Our mission is to provide real-world entrepreneurial experience that empowers youth from under-resourced communities to excel in education, lead in their communities, and succeed professionally. No business experience is required to mentor!
ENTREPRENEURS 1 (E1) MENTORS
E1 Mentors provide guidance and facilitate teams of 3-5 students (freshmen) in their efforts to define a business idea, write a business plan, and create an accompanying slide presentation. The year culminates in a business plan competition before a panel of judges drawn from leading Bay Area academic, business, and investment communities. Mentors work in conjunction with BUILD staff and teachers to round out the business learning and projects that the students undertake.
Time commitment: 1.5 hours per week from 5:30-7:00pm from October - May (Oakland also has a 3:30-5 option)
Evening of the week: Your choice, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
Location: Partner school campuses (we are partnered with schools on the Peninsula and in Oakland)
INCUBATOR MENTORS
Incubator Mentors work with a team of 3-5 students (sophomores or juniors) who have completed E1 and are eligible to receive funding to implement their business ideas. Mentors serve as active advisors in their company’s initiation and growth.
Time commitment: 1.5 hours per week from 5:30-7:00pm from October - May
Evening of the week: Your choice, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
Location: The BUILD offices, located in Oakland and on the Peninsula
SENIOR (E4) MENTORS
Senior Mentors work with our seniors to complete their college applications, including college selection, personal statement revision, as well as financial aid and scholarship applications.
Time commitment: 1.5 hours per week from 5:30 - 7:00pm from October - May
Evening of the week: Your choice, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
Location: The BUILD offices, either on the Peninsula or in Oakland
THE BUILD EXPERIENCE
Being a BUILD mentor is a chance to truly connect to your community. While mentoring a youth business team puts you in a position to make a real difference in the life of some very talented and entrepreneurial teenagers, you’ll also be joining a diverse team of highly motivated business professionals from all industries in the Bay Area.
“My mentors taught me to have hope and dreams, because if you work hard enough, they can become true.” -- Laura Monje, East Palo Alto High School
“What makes the BUILD experience stand out is the personal connection with the students. In past experiences, I felt like I participated, but did not make a significant difference. With the BUILD students, I really feel like I have the ability to affect change and to open their minds to new opportunities and experiences.” -- E1 Mentor
TO LEARN MORE
Please contact Hillary Fernandes,
hillary@build.org, (650) 353-4094, or visit www.build.org
