Are you a community-minded professional and seasoned entrepreneur who’s passionate about helping new venture founders? Us too!! Small business is the lifeblood of our community and we’re passionate about helping new entrepreneurs create amazing things and build strong businesses that create jobs. Connect with and impact the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems in the Bradenton / Sarasota area by volunteering at 26 West!

Mentor

Mentors at 26 West are matched with students and startups based on the type and stage of business, their industry and experience. Participants in the Student Incubator, Business Growth Lab and Entrepreneurship Academy come from all backgrounds and have different types of businesses. Typically, we see products, services, applications and SaaS (Software as a Service) companies at 26 West and they’re all at various stages of business. Some are conducting research or building a prototype while others are actively selling or raising capital. Our mentors share their personal business experiences with the entrepreneurs and help them navigate this new, unfamiliar startup landscape. Mentoring is done in person and on a recurring basis.

Workshops & Classes

We’re routinely adding new workshops and classes to our calendar and look for talented instructors to lead them. Attendees of our workshops and classes include SCF student entrepreneurs, community-based startups, members of the 26 West Business Growth Lab and Entrepreneurship Academy and residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties who are simply thinking about starting a business. We know you’re an expert in your field and have a ton of knowledge and experience to share so if you have an idea for a workshop or class let us know! Workshops and classes are taught both in person and virtually.