A blogpost from Greta Böske, Start-up Coach at REACH – EUREGIO Start-up Center
Launching a successful start-up is about more than just having a great idea. It requires guidance, feedback, and a strong support system to turn vision into reality. That’s exactly where the REACH Mentoring program at the REACH – EUREGIO Start-up Center (REACH), the university start-up centre of the NatAlli project partners University of Münster and FH Münster, comes into play. As an integral part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Münster and the surrounding region, REACH and its mentoring program REACH Mentoring has proven to be a game-changer for many early-stage teams.
At its core, REACH Mentoring connects aspiring founders with experienced mentors who bring not only deep industry knowledge but also the critical ability to ask the right questions. These conversations often go far beyond business models and pitch decks. They touch on personal leadership, team dynamics, market validation, and navigating uncertainty, which are all essential aspects of sustainable start-up growth.
In our experience, the mentoring process creates a unique space for reflection. It’s not about handing over solutions, but rather enabling founders to discover and sharpen their own thinking. This process is especially valuable in the early and volatile phases of a start-up, when clarity and focus can make or break the venture. The mentorship model at REACH is built on mutual trust, strategic challenge, and long-term perspective, making it much more than a one-time advisory session.
One of the most remarkable aspects of REACH Mentoring is the tailored fit between mentor and mentee. Start-up teams are matched with individuals who not only understand their field, but who also bring complementary perspectives to the table. This thoughtful pairing allows for targeted development – from fine-tuning product-market fit to scaling operations and navigating funding rounds.
The experiences gathered through the REACH Mentoring program have significantly supported the development of NatAlli – a project focused on helping well-educated Ukrainian women become successful entrepreneurs or innovators within existing organizations. Although NatAlli was developed independently, the tried and tested structures and lessons learned from the experience of the project partners, such as REACH Mentoring, have helped to shape and strengthen its approach.
In NatAlli, we are building a mentoring program that offers structured, relationship-driven support tailored to the needs of Ukrainian women navigating uncertainty and transition. Drawing on REACH’s best practices, such as regular, trust-based check-ins, reflective questioning, and the long-term value of consistent mentor relationships, NatAlli is creating a support system designed to empower women both professionally and personally.
Beyond one-on-one mentoring, NatAlli is also developing an online community platform to foster peer-to-peer learning and exchange. This space will enable women at different stages in their careers to share knowledge, experiences, and encouragement with peers and mentors. The goal is to create a dynamic worldwide ecosystem of mutual support, where individual growth contributes to broader societal resilience.
The REACH Mentoring experience has shown how powerful stable support systems can be, especially when they treat people as whole individuals. This fits well with NatAlli’s mission, helping to empower women not only as entrepreneurs, but also as leaders, innovators and community builders.
Mentorship, when grounded in trust and mutual growth, is a powerful force – and the lessons learned at REACH continue to support NatAlli in becoming just that.
