Mentoring helps founders think, not just react
We asked Lloyd to share a brief testimonial on his VMS experience, and why he volunteers in the program:
“My experience with the Venture Mentoring Service has been deeply meaningful because it allows me to serve entrepreneurs at a point where the right guidance, the right question, or the right connection can change the trajectory of a business. I have been a mentor in the VMS program since it began, and I have seen firsthand how powerful the team-mentoring model can be. Instead of one person trying to have all the answers, the founder gets access to a group of experienced mentors who bring different perspectives, different pattern recognition, and different life and business experiences.
I volunteer as a mentor because I believe entrepreneurs are one of the most important drivers of community growth, job creation, innovation, and wealth-building. My own background as an engineer, researcher, startup founder, ecosystem builder, and mentor has taught me that founders often do not fail simply because they lack talent or passion. They often struggle because they do not have access to the right knowledge, trusted advisors, disciplined thinking, or a network that can help them make better decisions. VMS helps close that gap.
For me, mentoring is not about telling founders what to do. It is about helping them think more clearly, identify assumptions, understand their customers, strengthen their business model, avoid preventable mistakes, and make decisions based on evidence rather than guesswork. That aligns closely with the work I do through the Kukua Institute and the Black Founders’ Program, where we help founders learn best practices, validate their ideas, and connect to resources in the startup ecosystem.
I also volunteer because I believe in Pensacola and the Gulf Coast. If we want a stronger regional economy, we have to help local entrepreneurs grow. Programs like VMS create a trusted environment where business owners can be vulnerable, ask hard questions, and benefit from the wisdom of people who genuinely want to see them succeed. That kind of mentorship strengthens not only individual ventures, but the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem.
What I value most about the VMS experience is the opportunity to help founders gain clarity, confidence, and momentum. I have learned as much from the entrepreneurs and my fellow mentors as I have contributed. It is one of the ways I can give back, use my experience for the benefit of others, and help build the kind of inclusive, high-trust innovation ecosystem our community needs.”