Wanted: Technology entrepreneurs eager to learn from seasoned business executives.

A new program to provide founders of technology-based start-up companies with mentors will be launched in June by UC Davis CONNECT. Focusing on high-tech and life-science companies in their early stages of development, the program will help them develop their business plan and round out necessary business skills.

The new program, called Springboard, is modeled after one at UC San Diego. It will help address one of the major needs for young technology start-ups: mentoring services to help build management skills.

"We see the launch of Springboard as instrumental, providing an invaluable mentoring resource for regional start-ups," says Nora Moore Jimenez, director of UC Davis CONNECT. "Springboard will be the capstone of the program offerings from UC Davis CONNECT."

During a customized 10-week program, the start-up founders will meet six times with a designated mentor to develop a sound business plan and a 15-minute presentation for potential investors. Mentors will be mature entrepreneurs, "angel" or early-stage investors, and venture capitalists.

Start-ups with specific needs in a specialized field will be able to have three additional meetings with other experts -- from accountants to attorneys specializing in intellectual property law.

In the final week of the program, representatives of the start-up will make a 15-minute investment pitch to a panel of 10 to 15 people and engage in a question-and-answer period designed to prepare them for the questions of potential investors. The panel will usually include a venture capitalist, an accountant, a marketing professional, a corporate and patent attorney, and an experienced executive from a well-established company in the same industry as the start-up.

Springboard is free for members of UC Davis CONNECT, a university program that fosters the creation and success of technology-based companies in the Greater Sacramento area.