‘225’ blogger stresses the importance of mentors after going global

Wendy Overton of Baton Rouge returned last month from global entrepreneurship events in Rio de Janeiro even more convinced of the value of mentors, wherever they might be. “Mentors give not only advice, but valuable connections,” she says. “And the best mentors aren’t always local.” She says countries around the world are developing programs to attract the best entrepreneurs to launch businesses. While Overton is wary of programs led by support organizations, rather than the entrepreneurs themselves, “the point is top talent will move around the globe to where there is opportunity, support, and resources,” she says. She attended an investor pitch event held by a Brazilian startup accelerator, similar to pitch nights held recently in Baton Rouge, except that it was attended by investors from different countries throughout the world. The concepts weren’t especially new, she says; instead, the companies, which had already raised some seed capital, were taking proven ideas that could be adapted to the Brazilian market. The takeaway point is that quality startups run by talented entrepreneurs with great mentors are creating investment opportunities. “The idea was secondary to the solid business fundamentals,” she says. Overton attended both the Global Entrepreneurship Congress and a conference targeted at Startup Weekend organizers like herself, including an Iranian who had been threatened with arrest for putting together an event in his home country. Overton works for LSU and is involved in local entrepreneurial organizations, in addition to writing a blog for 225. —David Jacobs