Mentors provide volunteer support and guidance to Teams during the Start-Up Challenge. Mentors are optional, and Teams are not required to include a Mentor in their Team Profile to compete in the Start-Up Challenge. Teams may select their own Mentor(s). Mentors are registered at the time of Team registration. Mentors may not participate or be present in the Team presentations during the Finals (see E. Competition Rounds, Selection and Awarding of Winners). There is no restriction regarding the age, nationality, experience, or education of the Mentors.
The following individuals are ineligible to participate as mentors:

• YABT staff, Board members, and national chapters.
• JTIC Americas judges.
• Banreservas staff, contractors, Board members, and Advisory Council members.
• Organization of American States’ General Secretariat personnel.
• Immediate family or household members of anyone mentioned above.

Mentors participate on a voluntary basis and will not be paid by the team, by YABT, Banreservas, Sponsors, Start-Up Challenge, or other partners.