MentorPRO Selected to Participate in NSF I-Corps

Boston, MA — August 28, 2025 — MentorPRO is proud to announce its participation in the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps) program. This prestigious initiative supports innovative organizations in translating cutting-edge research into scalable, real-world solutions that drive educational success and transform young lives.

NSF I-Corps equips early-stage ventures with the tools to validate ideas, test assumptions, and meet the needs of the communities they serve. For MentorPRO, this means deepening its commitment to developing products and services that strengthen the mentoring field, ensuring young people receive the consistent, responsive support they need to thrive.

“Participating in I-Corps gave MentorPRO the chance to test our assumptions with real customers. We gained insight into what problems our clients want to solve and how best to build the product that will solve them!” said MentorPRO co-founder Nancy McNamara.

MentorPRO’s mission has always been rooted in science and evidence. Drawing from more than three decades of Dr. Jean Rhodes’ pioneering mentoring research, the platform integrates the essential elements of effective mentoring—strong working alliances, empathy, cultural responsiveness, and accountability—into a flexible, scalable digital tool. Beyond the platform, MentorPRO Academy (academy.mentorpro.com) extends training and professional development opportunities, ensuring that mentors, educators, and youth-serving professionals have access to the best practices and latest science to guide their work.

With NSF I-Corps’ support, MentorPRO will continue to advance its evidence-based technology, making mentoring more accessible, effective, and transformative across schools, nonprofits, and higher education institutions nationwide.

About NSF I-Corps
The National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps is a competitive program that empowers researchers and entrepreneurs to transform innovations into real-world solutions. Through funding, mentorship, and rigorous training, I-Corps accelerates the commercialization of discoveries that advance education, science, and economic growth.

About MentorPRO
MentorPRO is a leading evidence-based mentoring platform dedicated to improving youth success through research-driven technology and training. Co-founded by Dr. Jean Rhodes, a pioneer in mentoring science, MentorPRO provides scalable tools and professional development that strengthen mentoring relationships and help young people thrive academically and personally.