Startups and Mentors – Experience Never Gets Old
A large proportion of startups globally are founded by young men and women in their twenties and early thirties. Their ideas are often innovative and their energy levels enviable. However, many startups begin to falter within a few years due to weak control systems, over-aggressive scaling, inadequate financial planning, insufficient attention to people management, and poor governance practices.
At the same time, thousands of senior managers retire from the corporate world between the ages of 60 and 65 after spending nearly four decades in specialised and general management roles across large and mid-sized organisations. Despite retirement, many of them have at least another decade of productive work in them. This demographic shift is visible across the world. These individuals understand how businesses are built and sustained. They bring deep expertise in finance, budgeting, branding, sales, human resources, governance, legal matters, and general management.
There is a significant opportunity to bring together the vision of the startup entrepreneur and the experience of the older manager in a supportive and non-threatening manner. Not every senior manager has the appetite to start a venture independently, but many are keen to stay engaged, earn an income or equity, and give back their life’s learnings. Importantly, such individuals tend to be stable contributors. They are less likely to walk away impulsively and more inclined to support founders through difficult phases.
Beyond acting as a sounding board, experienced professionals add tangible value across several critical areas. Good governance is one such area. Startups that aspire to become institutions rather than short-term valuation plays must embed transparent and disciplined governance early. Experienced mentors ensure that board processes, compliance, and decision-making frameworks are taken seriously from the outset.
Fund raising is another area where senior experience matters. While startups often focus on angel and private equity funding, there is also scope for bank finance, structured debt, and working capital facilities. A seasoned finance professional brings credibility, contacts, and prudence to such engagements.
External relations form a third dimension. Businesses inevitably interact with regulators, local authorities, bureaucrats, and sometimes political stakeholders. Managing these relationships requires patience and maturity. Experienced professionals are often better equipped to handle such interfaces, including traditional media and public relations, while younger teams focus on digital outreach.
Legal processes and risk management are equally important. Startups face contractual, regulatory, and operational disputes. Knowing which battles to fight and which to avoid is a skill that comes only with experience. Senior mentors help founders conserve time, energy, and capital by making informed legal choices.
Finally, experienced managers bring rigour in building playbooks and standard operating procedures. In the rush to grow, startups often neglect documentation and repeatable processes. Early discipline in this area prevents costly mistakes and supports long-term scalability.
In India, this mentorship advantage is reinforced by the strong policy support extended by the Government. Through initiatives such as Startup India, the Government of India has created a favourable ecosystem for early-stage ventures. Recognised startups benefit from easier incorporation, tax exemptions, faster intellectual property filings, access to government-backed funds of funds, credit guarantee schemes, and simplified compliance norms. Incubators, accelerators, and public-private partnerships further strengthen the support framework. When combined with experienced mentorship, these policies significantly reduce early-stage risk and improve the odds of sustainable growth.
Having mentored several startup entrepreneurs, I have seen first-hand the value that someone who has “been there and done that” can bring. Entrepreneurship is often a lonely journey, and founders need trusted advisors with no hidden agenda. The combination of young, energetic legs and grey hair is a powerful one. To borrow from sport, the entrepreneur is the striker focused on scoring goals, while the experienced mentor is the goalkeeper ensuring that costly self-goals are avoided.
The key for both parties lies in careful selection, mutual respect, and trust. When aligned well, this partnership becomes a true win-win and significantly enhances the chances of long-term success.
Writer : Shri Ashutosh Garg, Founder, The Brand Called You.
