For a long time, mentoring was an exclusive resource for large corporations, such as those listed on the U.S. Fortune 500, where 97.6% already have structured mentoring programs. However, this scenario has changed: today, more and more entrepreneurs and startups are turning to mentoring to accelerate growth, avoid strategic mistakes, and develop a high-performance mindset.
The numbers confirm this trend. According to the Brazilian Association of Business Mentors (ABMEN), the number of mentors in Brazil increased by 78% between 2019 and 2020, reaching 35,000 professionals—and continues to grow, with an average annual growth rate of 19.5%.
For Filipe Bento, founder and CEO of Atomic Group, the pursuit of mentorship reflects the need for continuous learning and a well-defined strategy. "Successful entrepreneurs do not grow alone. Access to a qualified network, strategic vision, and the right mindset make all the difference in scaling businesses in a solid and sustainable way," he/she states.
What sets high-impact mentoring apart?
Contrary to what many imagine, mentoring is not limited to occasional tips or exchanges of experiences. It is a strategic acceleration tool that combines access to qualified networks, evidence-based decision-making, and the development of essential leadership skills.
Filipe Bento, who leads companies such as Br24, Atomic Ventures and Atomic Growth, explains that top-level mentors focus on developing power skills—advanced skills that include leadership in uncertain scenarios, negotiation, influence and executing ideas efficiently.
“Startups are increasingly aware of the importance of mentoring. The market demands agile and informed decisions, and interaction with experienced mentors provides a valuable shortcut, offering validation, guidance and new opportunities for growth,” says Filipe.
The entrepreneurs seeking this type of support, according to him, are visionaries looking for exponential growth. However, they face challenges such as fundraising, process structuring, and defining scalable strategies.
Six Strategies for Solid, Scalable Growth
With experience in accelerating businesses and transforming companies into highly profitable operations, Filipe Bento highlights six fundamental pillars that he works on in his mentoring sessions for entrepreneurs:
Strategic alliances – Sustainable growth requires solid partnerships, whether with suppliers, partners or strategic investors.
Timing and speed – Structuring agile teams and creating well-defined operational processes are essential for scalability.
Operating systems – Efficient procurement, delivery and after-sales models are the backbone of a sustainable business.
Growth mindset – Breaking internal barriers and limiting beliefs is a differentiator for leading and innovating.
Impact and recurring revenue – Profitable companies do not depend on one-off revenues, but on predictable and sustainable models.
Scalable growth – The structuring of processes and products allows a business to grow in an orderly and exponential manner.
For Filipe, mentorship is not a ready-made formula, but a process of strategic personalization. "We adapt the approach according to each entrepreneur's reality and challenges, ensuring they have the necessary tools and support to achieve concrete and sustainable results," he concludes.
