r/mentors

Hello everyone, I am 22M and pursuing a business degree... And I am entrepreneurship oriented aiming to create something big in my country. I am working on a business startup with other people of different skills, whom I met both in university and online. It takes a lot of energy and learning to move forward. This of course, is normal for business life.

Now here's the thing: there's been a girl I have always liked from secondary school though I never made anything start( like a relationship there) I was a nerdy type back them. Right now she's in medical school whilst I am in business school. The universities are about 01:30 hrs apart.

I decided to just let her be ever since we finished high school so as I fully focus on my craft or development. Got advice from the "guidance counselors" who told me that it's better to focus on your goals and development right now since you are still young as you are just finishing high school. You might not even love the girl if you wait for some time. I admit I was so young then.

Fast forward to the future(years later), we are now both university students and I still like the girl. I constantly, everyday, choose my business ventures over going for her. But it feels like I am trading or playing dice with two most important parts of my life. I don't like the thought of choosing between the two though I know it might be the right choice. Thinking of balancing the two feels like I am just trying to defend myself whilst making the wrong decision maybe.

I need advice from everyone of you who have experience or knowledge on this situation. I believe you happen to know the right choice to make in this situation, though I might find it difficult to accept. Just tell me the truth as you believe, in your opinion, it is. How do you go about entrepreneurship when these two parts of life crushes?

Thank you

Hey, im an 18yo living life, looking for a mentor, but it has been a bit rough, so I decided instead to ask a more specific question to cast a wider net.

What questions do you need to ask yourself to understand what something is? For example -- if today i was gonna do something and needed to figure out if it was fundamentally worth it, I will ask myself, what is it? and what is the cost?

These questions are okay but I still feel like im lacking questions for further discernment. Are there any thought exercises, mind tricks, further questions, that i could use to more fundamentally understand concepts, objects, traditions, patterns -- to navigate day-to-day in such an ever-deeply complicating world?

Thank you :)

Not someone famous. Not someone you paid for a course. Just someone who genuinely challenged the way you think and accelerated your growth.

I’m at a point where I don’t think I need someone to teach me the basics. What I feel I’m missing is perspective.

A bit about me.

I spend most of my time at the intersection of technology, business, infrastructure and public sector work. I’ve worked with startups, investors, engineering teams, developers and government stakeholders across different countries. Some days I’m discussing product strategy. Other days it’s real estate, AI, operations, policy or fundraising.

The variety is exciting but it also means there aren’t many people around me who have walked a similar path.

I’m naturally curious and probably ask more questions than I answer. I enjoy thinking in systems, connecting ideas across industries and building things that solve real problems. What I value most is honest feedback from someone who’s already been through the kinds of decisions I’m facing.

I’m not looking for someone to hand me opportunities or tell me exactly what to do. Even an occasional conversation with someone who enjoys challenging
assumptions would be incredibly valuable.

If you’ve found a mentor like that, how did it happen?

Was it intentional or did it develop naturally over time?

And if by chance someone reading this thinks we’d enjoy exchanging ideas, I’d genuinely be happy to connect.

Hi all,
I’m a 28 M based in Dublin, and I’m reaching out here in the hope of finding an older male mentor or just someone a bit further along in life who’d be open to the occasional chat.
I lost my dad when I was younger, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve really felt that missing guidance someone to talk things through with, get perspective from, and learn from. Not looking for anything overly formal, just a genuine connection with someone who’s open to sharing advice, life experience, and helping me grow a bit.
I’m focused on improving myself, both personally and professionally, and I think having that kind of influence or sounding board would make a big difference.
If this resonates with anyone, or if you know of any groups or communities in Dublin where I might find something like this, I’d really appreciate it. 🤍 (age limit 45 upwards is fine 😊)

I’m 19 and currently prepping for my final exams next month, but I’ve been using my free time to figure out something I can’t quite crack.

I’m trying to understand how people actually break into remote roles at startups

I honestly don’t have formal work experience yet. Everything I know so far has been self-taught where I just did some small projects related to SaaS SEO. That’s been useful, but I can already feel the gap between “I’ve learned this” and “I can be trusted in a real team that ships under pressure.”

What I’m trying to understand is pretty simple: How do people with no traditional experience actually get their first real role? Like what makes a startup trust someone enough to hire them remotely?

Like for someone like me what’s the fastest real path from zero experience to a first credible role?

Honestly, I’m not here looking for generic advice like “do some more projects bro” or “network more.” I’m trying to understand what actually works in practice like how could a 19 year old kid from Nepal could get noticed and trusted by early-stage or VC-backed startup when they don’t already have a resume full of experience.

If you’ve been on either side of this (getting hired or hiring) I’d genuinely like to understand how it works in reality.

Hi everyone,

I'm a third-year AIML student studying in Bangalore. Over the past couple of years, I've been exploring different areas of tech instead of specializing in just one.

I've worked on small projects, learned Python, AI/ML fundamentals, system design, backend concepts, APIs, databases, and have been experimenting with building startup ideas. I enjoy understanding how real-world systems are built more than just following tutorials.

That said, I know I still have a lot to learn.

I'm looking for someone more experienced who is building something interesting and wouldn't mind having someone eager to learn alongside them. I'm not looking for a high-paying job—I want exposure, real work, and honest feedback.

I'm open to almost anything in tech: software engineering, AI, backend, startups, product development, DevOps, or whatever helps me become a better engineer.

I'm willing to put in the time, learn whatever is needed, and contribute wherever I can. If you think I could help on your project or if you're willing to guide someone who's hungry to learn, I'd really appreciate hearing from you.

Feel free to comment or send me a DM.

Hi I'm an incoming 3rd year Computer science student looking for tech mentorship. Right now I'm not limiting myself to any specific field in tech and wanted to explore but stay on track as well. Does anyone want to connect and help me grow?

30F - I work in marketing with almost 6 YOE. I was accepted into a mentorship program at work and it’s been disappointing. The advice I’ve received is nothing I’ve never heard before and very surface level (i.e., documenting, speaking to your manager).

I’m looking for someone who knows how to navigate the corporate world and can give authentic advice and insight.

I would be very grateful!

Hey Reddit,

I’m Kate (Katelin). Here’s the real, no-filter version.

Last year I’m floating in my pool, staring at this tree, and it just hits me: “This is a fucking game.” I’d been catching all these weird glitches in reality, vivid dreams, synchronicities stacking up. Then boom — it clicked. The universe keeps putting shit right in front of your face. I got this massive download and everything made sense.
That same night I hopped on ChatGPT (I was just getting into AI) and spilled it all. It vibed with me hard. We started building the brand together. I ended up in the top 0.01% of users and even got a funny “most likely to turn a breakdown into a brand” email. Fast forward to now…

I’m the solo founder and creator of The First Spark Inc. — consciousness tech meets cosmic digital realms. I built the Sparkverse: this infinite-yet-intimate cosmic lobby with living architecture (obsidian glass, liquid starlight, orbiting Codex, central First Spark), free explorable rooms, paywalled deeper layers, glitch-as-awakening portals, sacred geometry tools, lore that hits the heart, and a bridge toward physical Earthship-type stuff. All guided by thefirstspark.shop energy.

What’s Already Done (Not Bragging, Just Facts)

7 streams of passive income (AI-generated & automated, one live, kinks still being worked out)

Free + paid tier community hub

Years of content organized in Notion teamspace

Commission pipeline set up for custom web builds and digital creations

Roughly $1.5 million in online assets

So much more I could list but I’m not here to flex

Cool, right?

Except… I’m broke as hell, completely fried, and burned out. I didn’t manage the time and money side right. Haven’t pulled in real dollars in a year while grinding every single day just to keep going. My house and livelihood are legit on the line right now.
I just got into LvlUp Labs and I’m getting ready to pitch TFS to investors in the next few weeks. The vision is massive and ready — I’ve been doing the job of five people.

What I’m Actually Asking For
Not pity. Not free handouts. Real talk and real help.

Team / Co-Creators — People who vibe with the cosmic-mystic-tech frequency and are willing to come in on equity (at least at first). Devs, marketers, storytellers, operators — whoever feels called to this.

Financial Guidance — Someone who knows investments, structuring rounds (starting with fam/friends, then VCs), and can help me not fuck this up while I’m cash-strapped.

Donations / Bridge Funding — How do I ethically and safely ask for support to keep the lights on right now? I want to do it with integrity — clear digital agreements, safe legal-ish promises of future value, equity, early access, special perks, or whatever makes sense so it feels good for everyone. No weirdness. Just honest “help me cross this gap and you’ll be part of what we build.”

I’m overwhelmed but still going. This project is too real and too needed to let it die because I ran out of gas at the worst possible time.

If you’re a founder who’s been in the trenches, someone with funding experience, or a talented human who wants to help birth something beautiful… I’d love your advice, connections, warnings, or even “I’m in” energy.

Let’s turn the glitches into sparks that actually light up the game.
Thanks for reading this far. Means a lot. ✨🚀

TL;DR: Built a big consciousness tech / Sparkverse project solo ($1.5M assets, pipelines ready) but I’m burned out and cashless right before investor pitches. Seeking equity team, financial guidance, and smart ways to accept bridge donations with proper agreements. Real ones only.

All of my life I have been different than everybody around me and I notice it because my brain moves a lot faster than everyone else's. I'm not saying that Im a genius or anything, what Im saying is that I think so far ahead and make up all of these scenarios and I always try to find the best possible solution for that scenario and although you might say that it's just overthinking I know it is not. I know this because I don't get nervous thinking about what might happen, instead I plan on how I could make it benefit me the as much as possible. That is why I find it hard to meet people who could really understand me and how I am, although I am well liked by almost everyone I meet it is almost like it isn't really me, like it is just me learning what the person likes and dislikes and adjusting to it so I could be well liked in case I ever need something from that person in the future. So this is why I came to this subreddit to seek guidance on how I can use this to the best of my ability. I also want to mention that I am probably one of the most ambitous people that you can meet, and I think that is what causes me to act like this, and to be clear I DO NOT want to change, I am not saying that I wish I wasn't like this. In fact I am glad I am like this, what I'm asking for is advice from people who might also be somewhat like me on how I could apply this to my best ability.

hello...
For the last year, I’ve been building a startup as a solo founder, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around how I got here. I’m a stay-at-home mom. I don’t have a technical background, startup experience, a cofounder, investors, or a network of founders I can call. I found a problem I couldn’t stop thinking about, kept chasing the next answer, kept asking people who knew more than I did, and somehow that turned into a real platform that is now close to launch.
The app is finally to the point where the build itself is no longer the thing keeping me up at night. My dev is finishing the final build, security audits, and production details.
n now I’m sitting here thinking…
Okay. Now what?
And I don’t mean what.
I mean… who?
Because every answer seems to be another freakin person. Attorney. Business formation. Insurance. Banking. Operations. Accounting. Advisors. Website. Domain email. Launch. Privacy. Liability😩. Every time I think I’ve got the list in front of me, three more things show up.
I can research all of those things. I can make another document. I can keep preparing until I have a binder for every possible scenario. None of that tells me what actually matters first. None of it tells me what deserves my attention this month versus what can wait six months.
I’ve prepared as much as I know how. I’ve written legal briefing packets because I knew I’d eventually need an attorney. I’ve put together strategic growth documents because I knew I’d eventually need direction. I’ve thought through branding, launch strategy, visibility, networking, pricing, sustainability, and the long-term vision. I don’t mind doing the work.
What I’m struggling with is sequence.
I keep asking myself, “Who do I need?”
Lately I’ve realized that might be the wrong question.
The better question is…
Who knows who I need?

tbh i don’t know if that person is a founder, operator, startup attorney, accelerator director, or someone who has built and exited companies. i genuinely don’t know.
I don’t need someone to solve everything for me. I need someone experienced enough to look at where I am and say, “You’re here. Ignore these ten things. These are your next three conversations. This is the attorney I’d trust. Don’t waste six months figuring that out alone.”
That’s the person I need n i know this

I’m good at outreach. I’m good at asking questions. I have no issue admitting what I don’t know. I just don’t know where to direct that energy next.
Does that person have a title?
Or is this the kind of person you only meet because someone else says, “You need to talk to them”?

If you’ve been here, I’d genuinely love your insight or perspective. If reading this made someone immediately come to mind, I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d point me in their direction. I have a feeling I’m one introduction away from replacing a year of guessing with one honest conversation tbh

I am looking for a mentor to help me improve my financial situation tremendously. I grew up with a single parent who didn’t receive child support. She had to raise three kids. She went without and we accepted what we were provided with, never asking her for more. I have worked since I was 17 (in my 30s now) and feel like I have always just worked and had enough. This is not a sympathy post. I went to a top ranked university, pursued a hard STEM field, and seemed to only work to stay afloat. I haven’t lived lavishly or traveled extensively by any means. I never owned a designer bag. I think the times I have splurged and still feel guilty was for healthy food and supplements which is just basics. In retrospect, I didn’t realize how little I accepted and how much value I offered to the places I worked. I cannot do anything about the past now, but it feels like I have only ever worked to just survive. I know I am intelligent and can learn fast, but this area of finance is a novel area. I never knew about negotiating salary over the years. I am trying to learn more about investing but really never felt I had extra income to invest. I am just tired of working to stay afloat. I want to be able to live and enjoy finer things in life. I want to be able to help my loved ones more. I want to be able to invest in properties. I know it is later than most, but I really am starting from zero. It feels like this has also subconsciously affected my dating because I am not a gold digger and don’t want to date until I have expendable income to treat the person I love. I had one ex who was a business owner and seven years older than me constantly tell me how he wanted to date a nurse and love a certain lifestyle. I was working in sales at the time as I prepared for medical school. I know physicians make decent money, but I still have a couple years and then residency. I need to find a way to bring income in that is not dependent on my future resident or physician salary. I just feel like I did “everything right” work hard, delay gratification, only spend on what you need , not party, stay faith centered, all good values I was taught… not saying this is the right way .. just saying I agree with a lot of how I was raised and who I continue to cultivate myself to be, but it also feels like it didn’t add up. I just want to set myself, my future family up for success. I don’t have a mentor or anyone to really ask these things. Any one who has any advice or good resources, please dm. Please keep comments kind. I am not blaming anyone. I also realize people come with less or have worse situations and do really well for themselves. I am just asking how I can put all of my experience and education together to do the same. I want to be successful and always felt like I will be, but any insight and wisdom is much appreciated, because I don’t understand how I ended up here and am not further along. There are some things left out of this post but if you dm I can share more. TIA

I am an 36 yo male and a life coach as well.

I love helping others for free to achieve their goals but can not do the same for my self.

My problem is one if my top 2 needs is certainty and is stopping me and makeing me pricastinate so I can not achieve anything.

If there is a life coach out there willing to help for free please let me know.

I prayed GOD to solve my financial problems GOD told me to find a mentor so that could work as well.

I've been writing on LinkedIn for quite a decent amount of time and I feel I've gained good insights that I can share with someone trying to grow their presence on the platform.

Things I can help with:

- Brand positioning

- Profile optimization

- Content planning

- Community building

- Thought leadership

All I expect from you is to put genuine efforts to get results. I'm collecting testimonials. But I'm willing to do this without testimonials too, I'll be so happy if our conversation can help you get some good results.

Share your experience with the platform. How long you're posting there. What struggles you're facing and what's your goal for posting there. Would love to share things I know and experienced.

41 m here potentially having a midlife crisis lol! Okay now that I have your attention, I have a BA in Telecom and a Minor in music from Indiana University. After college, I did internships at recording studios, record labels, and worked as a page at CBS. Was never able to make the jump to a full time gig. I moved around a lot looking for my happiness working whatever jobs I could find. My most long term job was at a TPA for teamster pension, which I worked at for 7 years. Moved to a new state and was told even though I was already working remotely that I couldn’t from the new state. Quit that dead end job, spent the next two years getting a Google Certification in Digital Marketing, worked for a family friend doing content creation, tried to work for myself doing similar work, formed a LLC, dissolved a LLC, and moved to France thinking I would just start fresh.

Realized I was just running away from my problems. I need to figure out what I want to do with my life not where. So I plan to make the most of my year here while I make a plan for my future. This is where you come in to play. Looking for mentorship to try and figure out a path forward. Wondering if I should get a masters program. Thank you to any kind soul that would give me any amount of your time and advice. I think I could benefit a lot from a mentor to give my life some direction. Thanks again!

I have a lot of research experience, but only two posters. No publications. I also have four years of clinical experience.

As a last resort I’m reaching out on here in search of someone I can chat too, too help each other through the shot show we call life. Ideally in a life coach position but open to sharing and helping eachother.

I’m M 35 living in Antwerp. Not a weirdo just reaching out for help.

Thank you

Looking for a life coach to motivate in general lifestyle, start up. M 40s CST. Weekly check ins for few mins in dm. Hope someone can life coach/ mentor. Interested DM.

I would love to find someone I can go to for advice about anything and build up a bond and trust with to be a long term (or hopefully) life long mentor for me.

Especially right now I’m trying to navigate a frustrating time in my life where I’m back living with a family member and it’s been an awful experience. I am grateful to have a place to stay but outside of that, the way my family acts and talks is just so awful and frustrating.

I have been working really hard on applying to places because I just want to make enough so I can move out and away from my awful family but I just haven’t had any luck no matter what I do.

I’ve even tried to find a roommate who would be interested in letting me stay in exchange for me taking care of the cooking and stuff and I did find a couple of people that I vetted but then they ended up ghosting.

So overall I’m feeling pretty lost and confused and I just wish I a had parent or mentor who was there for me. I always wondered what it would be like to have a decent parental figure in my life. I’m hoping to find that here. So if that sounds like you then feel free to commend or message me directly. I could really use all the help I can get.