Tharshiga Pratheesh

I am interested in mentoring because I strongly believe that informed guidance at the right stage can significantly influence an entrepreneur’s ability to build resilient and sustainable businesses. Through my academic and professional journey in finance, entrepreneurship development, and SME advisory, I have seen many promising ventures struggle not due to lack of ideas, but due to gaps in financial literacy, strategic decision-making, and access to structured mentorship. My professional experience spans university teaching, research, policy-related consultancy, and hands-on engagement with micro, small, and medium enterprises, particularly in emerging and post-conflict economies. I have worked closely with entrepreneurs, women-led enterprises, and youth startups, supporting them in areas such as financial planning, cash-flow management, business modelling, investment readiness, and risk assessment. I also bring experience in designing and delivering entrepreneurship training programmes and capacity-building initiatives in collaboration with development agencies and public institutions. As a mentor, my focus is on helping founders strengthen their financial discipline, understand market dynamics, and align their business decisions with long-term sustainability. My key interest areas include financial management for startups, entrepreneurship education, women’s economic empowerment, SME growth strategies, and evidence-based decision-making. I am particularly motivated to support early-stage founders in emerging markets who face structural and institutional constraints but possess strong entrepreneurial potential. Through mentoring, I aim to provide practical, context-sensitive guidance, encourage confidence and resilience, and help entrepreneurs translate ideas into viable, scalable, and socially impactful ventures.

I mentor to contribute meaningfully to the startup ecosystem while continuously learning from emerging entrepreneurs and innovative business models. Mentoring allows me to share my experience in finance, entrepreneurship, and SME development, while also gaining exposure to diverse industries, markets, and early-stage innovations. Through mentoring, I aim to support founders in strengthening their strategic and financial decision-making, improving business sustainability, and preparing for growth and investment readiness. At the same time, I value the opportunity to build long-term professional relationships that may evolve into advisory roles, board engagements, research collaborations, or investment opportunities where there is a strong alignment of values and vision. Mentoring is therefore a two-way process for me: it is a way to give back by empowering entrepreneurs with practical guidance and also a platform to expand my professional network, stay connected to emerging trends, and engage with high-potential ventures in a meaningful and ethical manner.