Call for Mentors: Cardano Acceleration Program (CAP)
Mentor a new generation of Cardano Ventures
The Cardano Foundation Venture Hub invites Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to deliver dedicated mentorship to the new cohort of Cardano startups in the Cardano Acceleration Program (CAP). The program selects startup entities and strengthens their growth through targeted support and access to in-house blockchain expertise.
Our objective is to bring proven experts together with the next generation of teams building on Cardano, offering practical, actionable guidance. The Fall 2026 cohort focuses on Real-World Trust: Verifying Origins and Data on Cardano. We want to work with startups building solutions to identify, trace, and prove the truth of real-world data.
Whether you are building any of the following categories or around them, we want to hear from you:
• Digital Product Passports (Tracking the life of a product)
• Verified Identity (Proving who is who)
• Traceability (Knowing where things come from)
• Responsible AI & Oracles (Connecting honest data to the world)
• or if a verified real-world data is at your core
Program Details
- Program Start Date: End of September
- Program Duration: 10 weeks
- Delivery Format: In-person kick-off week followed by an online program.
- Startup Focus: Startups focused on Real-World Trust: Verifying Origins and Data on Cardano.
- Cohort Size: Up to 5 startups
- Services Required: Delivering on-demand mentorship hours in the area of expertise.
What Is Expected From Mentors
Mentors provide on-demand, one-to-one guidance to participating startups within their area of expertise, supporting both technical and non-technical founders.
Mentor responsibilities
Deliver practical, experience-driven mentorship tailored to early-stage startup needs
Translate deep domain expertise into clear, actionable guidance
Support founders through focused one-to-one sessions based on real-time challenges
Engagement model
Mentors join a curated pool of subject matter experts
One-to-one sessions occur on demand, matched to startup requirements and mentor expertise.
Key Topics of Expertise
We welcome mentors covering the following thematic areas:
- Go-to-market strategy and validation
- Pivoting and business model optimization
- Marketing, communications, and growth
- Sales, partnership strategy, and investor relations
- Legal and compliance, particularly for DeFi and RWA
- International expansion and market entry
- Fundraising
- Additional Web3-relevant disciplines (e.g., tokenomics, fundraising, community development)
Submission Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate a proven history of delivering measurable outcomes in their field and submit the following:
- Clear outline of areas of expertise relevant to the program
- CV or résumé of the key individual delivering the mentorship
- Linkedin profile
- Evidence of a strong track record in the relevant domain
- Demonstrated experience working with startups or supporting early-stage ventures
Next steps:
- Submissions close on 10 July 2026 at 23:59 CET
- Selected mentors will be invited to an exploratory call for further discussion
- Final evaluation and selection will be completed by 21 August 2026
Submitting an application does not guarantee selection. However, all applicants will be added to the Cardano Accelerator Program directory for future opportunities.
We look forward to reviewing your application and strengthening the Cardano ecosystem with your expertise.