Title: Parenting Entrepreneurial Startups: The Role of Mentorship in Driving Innovation and Success in Iringa Municipal.
Authors: Yohana Tweve.
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
Pages: 147-161
Publication Date: 2025/11/28
Abstract:
This study investigates the under-explored role of mentorship in driving innovation and success for entrepreneurial startups in Iringa Municipal, Tanzania. It conceptualizes mentorship as a "parenting" process, crucial for venture development beyond financial support. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research gathered data from a sample of startup founders. Analysis shows a strong correlation between mentorship and improved entrepreneurial outcomes. Startups receiving structured guidance demonstrated superior financial performance, greater job creation capabilities, and more frequent implementation of formal operational systems. Mentored ventures also showed a stronger propensity for innovation, launching new products and improving internal processes. A key finding was a profound cognitive shift among these entrepreneurs, who reported substantially increased confidence in strategic risk-taking and problem-solving. The social implications highlight mentorship as an engine for local economic development and community resilience. Practical applications provide a blueprint for ecosystem builders to create structured programs connecting novices with seasoned practitioners while leveraging informal networks. A study limitation is its focus on a single urban center, potentially affecting generalizability. The research contributes original insights through its specific focus on a non-metropolitan Tanzanian ecosystem, empirically demonstrating how mentorship catalyzes both tangible performance and the innovative mindset essential for startup success, offering a replicable model for similar developing contexts.