Celebrating Five Years of The North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service With Mentor Mark Caldwell
“There’s no entrepreneurial school. You have to go through the school of Hard Knocks…To be able to sit down and add value & experience with ventures – it’s powerful for me.”
The North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service (NAV) celebrated its five-year anniversary this July – and is still growing. Principled and trained by MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service, NAV is the first of its kind in Georgia. Based in Woodstock, NAV offers free team-based mentoring to startups looking to scale and grow in the North Atlanta area.
Since its inception, NAV has served 31 ventures, and seen many grow and scale by opening additional locations, providing job opportunities, and purchasing land, including Bethany Steel Supply, Alma Coffee, American Pillar Growers, Bizarre Coffee, Eden Smoothies and more.
“NAV helped motivate me to get focused, be strategic and be intentional in my business,” said NAV graduate Clint Ober of American Pillars Growers. “I don’t know how to say the gratitude and thanks for what my mentors and NAV have given in value.”
While NAV is seeking to keep growing its mentor team of 27, many mentors have been here since the beginning – including serial entrepreneur Mark Caldwell.
“I was one of those kids who had no idea what they wanted to do in high school, but I wanted to make money,” said Caldwell. “I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I was going to try everything in the world until I could figure it out.”
Mark attended the University of Michigan, studied computer science, and quickly entered the startup world. “One of my professors got me involved with a small software startup while I was in school. That’s how I got my first job,” said Caldwell.
His second job offered an entrepreneurial epiphany. “I always thought I was supposed to work for a big company, but I quickly realized I hated large companies,” said Caldwell. “I hated being lost in the sea of people. I hated not knowing everybody. I hated having my check have a long number on it instead of my name.”
Over the course of his career, Mark started several companies, spanning multiple unrelated industries. “I couldn’t walk you through all the companies I was with over the last 40 years, there were so many. I watched some fail, some thrive. I was in sales roles, marketing roles, executive leadership roles,” said Caldwell. “Then I started my own. Then I started another one of my own, and so on.”
Mentorship always played a big role for Mark. “There’s no entrepreneurial school. You have to go through the school of Hard Knocks,” said Caldwell. “One of my mentors, Jay Chaudry, was the hardest working person I’ve ever been around. He taught me the value of ownership – not a paycheck – to build your own future.”
Mark joined NAV when it launched in 2019. “I had experience working with small startups, and I was trying to give back. That’s what intrigued me about NAV,” said Caldwell. “To be able to sit down and hash out scenarios, to be able to add value and share experiences, it’s powerful to me and hopefully the ventures as well.” 
In the five years since joining, Mark has served with seven ventures. “When NAV was first pitched to me, I didn’t really buy into the team mentor approach, but that has turned out to be my favorite part,” said Caldwell. “I especially enjoy the back-and-forth dialogue between mentors when they disagree. I learn from that, maybe they learn from that, but the discussion between the mentors is potentially one of the most valuable things the mentee can get.”
NAV continues to seek qualified mentors. “Speaking to potential mentors, give it a try. It’s worth the time and effort,” said Caldwell. “I’m thrilled to see where NAV is going. I’m happy I got involved.”
If you have an entrepreneurial background or have grown and scaled companies, and you are interested in giving back to the business community, please visit northatlantavms.com to learn more and apply today. NAV is always seeking mentors willing to share their expertise and experience.
“We are very thankful for Mark and all our mentors for their time and expertise,” said Misti Martin, President & CEO of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED). “We created NAV to not only provide support to scaling businesses, but to foster servant leadership and provide a chance to give back.”
NAV is led by COED as part of its Fresh Start Cherokee initiative. The program was made possible through Cherokee By Choice, Inc.
Fresh Start Cherokee is a hub for trailblazing startups and bold entrepreneurs. Whether providing education opportunities, connecting founders through events and mentorship, or cultivating a community in their coworking space, their mission is simple – to make launching and scaling ventures less intimidating and more productive.
Start guiding new entrepreneurs today. Visit northatlantavms.com to learn more and apply.