# Mentor matching that starts with a question, not a form

> Most mentor matching software pairs people once, from forms filled in at the start of a programme. Milvao works the other way. A member sends a specific question to your community's WhatsApp number when it comes up, Milvao asks a mentor whose profile lists that topic, and numbers are shared only after the mentor accepts. Mentors get at most two requests in any seven days and can pause at any time.

Source: https://milvao.com/use-cases/mentor-matching · Updated 2026-11-05

## Key takeaways

- Mentors list topics they can advise on as skills, such as pricing, export markets or hiring a first sales team.
- Each request is one question and one introduction, not a long-term pairing.
- Mentor time is protected: two requests a week at most, 48 hours to reply, PAUSE and RESUME by message.
- There is no session booking or progress tracking. Use your calendar tool for scheduled office hours.

## Pairing programmes and request-led mentoring

There are two common ways to match mentors. A pairing programme collects forms, assigns each mentee a mentor for months, and checks in on progress. Request-led mentoring answers one question at a time: a member is stuck on GST for exports this week, and needs half an hour with someone who has done it. Many communities need the second far more often than the first.

How the two approaches differ

|  | Pairing programme | Request-led, as in Milvao |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starts with | A form at the start of the programme | A specific question when it comes up |
| Length | Months with one mentor | One introduction per request |
| How a mentor is chosen | Assigned once by organisers or a form | Ranked per request by topic, city, responsiveness and fairness |
| Mentor load | Fixed number of mentees | At most two requests in any seven days |
| Best for | Structured cohorts with goals | Communities where questions arrive any day |

## Where mentor matching software like Milvao fits

Milvao suits alumni groups where seniors offer advice to juniors, founder communities with experienced operators, industry bodies with a panel of experts, and programmes that keep mentors in a WhatsApp group. Accelerators have their own page on [cohorts, mentors and alumni](https://milvao.com/for/accelerators); the matching itself works the same in any community.

Sample requests, all made up: "Want 30 minutes with someone who has set up a franchise model for a food brand." "Need advice on pricing an annual maintenance contract for B2B clients." "Anyone who has moved from engineering into product management, for career advice?"

## How a mentoring request reaches a mentor

1. Pin a join link in your mentors group and ask mentors to list their topics as skills and turn on introduction requests.
2. A member sends their question to your community's number. Milvao writes a brief and the member confirms it.
3. Milvao asks the mentor who lists that topic and ranks highest, weighing topic fit, city where it matters, how often they accept and reply, and how recently they were asked.
4. The mentor reads the brief and accepts or declines within 48 hours. A decline is private and the next mentor is asked, up to three.
5. On Accept, both get each other's number and arrange the call or meeting themselves.

## Protecting mentor time

Mentors drop out when they feel used. Milvao caps how often anyone is asked at two requests in any seven days, sends only requests that match the topics on their profile, and gives 48 hours to answer. Mentors can send PAUSE while travelling or during a busy month and RESUME when they are back; anything waiting for their answer is withdrawn when they pause.

Organisers who want to pick the mentor for every request can switch the community to Approve each match. Nobody is asked until an operator chooses from up to five ranked suggestions. See [matching modes](https://milvao.com/help/requests/matching-modes).

## Limits of request-led mentor matching

- No calendar booking, session notes or mentee progress tracking.
- Matching runs across your whole community, so a request can go to any member who lists the topic, not only to people in the mentors group. Limiting a request to one group is planned.
- Three days after an introduction, each person may be asked once whether they connected. Milvao doesn't see the conversation itself.
- Requests and replies are text only.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can a member ask for a specific mentor by name?

Milvao matches on the topic in the brief, not on names. If a member wants one particular person, an organiser can choose that mentor from the suggestions on the request page, as long as the mentor fits and has turned on requests.

### Does a mentor learn who asked before deciding?

No. They see the brief without the member's name or exact words. The name and number come only after they accept.

### Can we report how much mentoring happened?

Yes. The Metrics page counts requests, offers, acceptances and completed introductions for any dates, with introduction rate and acceptance rate. It does not record what was discussed.

## Sources

- [Milvao Help Center: Automatic matching or approve each match](https://milvao.com/help/requests/matching-modes) (checked 2026-11-05)
- [Milvao Help Center: Messages you can send](https://milvao.com/help/members/commands) (checked 2026-11-05)

## Related pages

- [Milvao for accelerators](https://milvao.com/for/accelerators)
- [Milvao for founder communities](https://milvao.com/for/founder-communities)
- [Alumni networking](https://milvao.com/use-cases/alumni-networking)
- [Automatic member matching](https://milvao.com/features/automatic-matching)