September 4, 2026
The Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has partnered with the Venture Mentoring Team (VMT) to broaden and strengthen its ability to foster the principled entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Students and alumni can work with VMT by joining The Guild, the Flemming Center’s alumni mentorship network.
Established in 2017, the VMT operates a highly vetted global network of more than 300 experts spanning technology, healthcare, finance, AI, law, and executive leadership. Its model uses a team-based approach pairing entrepreneurs with a collaborative panel of mentors rather than a single mentor.
The initiative is guided by the idea that mastery is built through care and nature, shaped by those who have invested time and dedication to their craft.
“Every entrepreneur benefits from someone who has already traveled the road ahead. Ideas are important, but relationships often determine how far those ideas go,” says Flemming Center Director Michele King. “Through this partnership, our students gain access to accomplished founders, executives, investors, and innovators who are willing to share not only their successes but also the lessons learned through challenges, failures, and perseverance.
The Guild is designed to foster ongoing relationships that can evolve as students explore ideas, launch ventures, pursue internships, or seek career guidance. This structured approach gives Hampden-Sydney students access to a depth of entrepreneurial experience that would otherwise be difficult to replicate on a single campus.
VMT mentors are held to the highest standards. Participants are evaluated and certified after background reviews, 20 hours of foundational training, three mandatory workshops, and a six-stage interview process.
“This partnership strengthens entrepreneurship at Hampden-Sydney by connecting students to a diverse network of practitioners across industries, expanding experiential learning opportunities, and creating lasting relationships that benefit not only current students but also alumni, community entrepreneurs, and future founders,” says King. “It transforms mentoring from an occasional activity into a core component of the Flemming Center's entrepreneurial ecosystem, where experienced professionals help students think critically, test ideas, build confidence, and navigate the challenges of innovation.”
Students will be able to join The Guild beginning this fall. Interested students and alumni may contact Michele King at FlemmingCenter@hsc.edu.