01 · Idea → Validation
Shaping the idea, problem/customer fit, early discovery, pivot or persevere
Trusted by 14+ Startup Programs
A 4x founder, in front of your cohort.
Workshops, mentoring, speaking, and judging. The full journey for your founders, from idea validation to fundraising and beyond.
4x
founder
14+
programs
worldwide
⚡ No sales pitch. I'll reply within 2 working days.
Working with leading startup programs
What I cover
One mentor across the whole founder journey, from first idea to closing a round and beyond.
02 · Building → Early Traction
Product scoping, MVP decisions, first 10 customers, co-founder dynamics, equity splits
03 · Traction → Scale
Growth patterns, team hires, operational rhythm, avoiding the classic scaling mistakes
04 · Fundraising and Beyond
Seed and later rounds, term sheets, board dynamics, operating post-raise, scaling leadership
How I show up
Workshops, mentoring, speaking, and judging. Pick one or combine them across a cohort.
COHORT SESSION
Workshops for Cohorts
Live sessions for your full cohort, shaped to where they are in the program.
Half-day, full-day, or multi-session. In-person or remote.
ONE-TO-ONE
1:1 Mentoring Hours
Office hours with founders in your cohort. Scheduled blocks, repeat cadence.
Virtual or hybrid. Hour allocations flex to how your program runs.
STAGE
Speaking & Presentations
Keynotes, panels, and fireside chats at demo days, kickoffs, graduations, or industry events.
Length: 20 to 90 minutes. Topic and format shaped to your audience.
FEEDBACK
Judging & Pitch Feedback
Selection panels, pitch practice, demo day judging, investor readiness reviews.
One-off judging or recurring feedback across a cohort. In-person or remote.
What program operators say
Feedback from one of the program operators I work with.
Charles Hope is, without question, one of the most practical and impactful startup mentors I’ve had the pleasure to work with. What I value most is his ability to give founders the kind of straight, honest, immediately useful advice that helps them avoid costly mistakes and move forward with much more clarity. He connects naturally with diverse founder audiences, challenges their thinking in exactly the right way, and leaves them feeling more focused, capable, and confident about what comes next. I would highly recommend Charles to any startup program looking for a mentor or speaker who brings real founder experience, authenticity, and genuine value to every session.
Jan Mrkous
Project Manager, BGI Sustainable Ventures
Common questions
What program operators usually ask before booking.
On average, 2 to 3 weeks works well, though I've run sessions with shorter and longer notice. Let me know your dates and we'll figure out what's workable.
Send a brief
Tell me about your program and what you need for your cohort. I reply within 2 working days.
What to include in your brief
- Your program and where your cohort is in the journey
- The session or series you have in mind
- Format: workshop, mentoring, speaking, or judging
- Dates, location, or any constraints I should know
What happens next
- I read your brief and will reply within 2 working days
- If there's a fit, we have a call to talk format, dates, and fees
- If the timing or scope is off, I'll tell you straight
Prefer email? Write to charles@yourstartupadvisor.com.