SBA’s Mentor Protégé Joint Venture Program

The SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture Program is designed to foster partnerships between small businesses and more experienced, larger companies to enhance the capabilities of the smaller firms. Through this program, mentors provide their protégés with valuable guidance, including business development assistance, technical expertise, and access to resources. The joint venture aspect of the program allows the mentor and protégé to form a temporary partnership to bid on government contracts, giving the protégé access to opportunities it may not qualify for independently.

The program is particularly beneficial for small businesses in disadvantaged categories, such as 8(a) firms, woman-owned businesses, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. By collaborating with experienced mentors, these small businesses can develop the skills and capacity needed to compete for larger contracts in the future. At the same time, mentors gain access to set-aside contracts reserved for their protégés, making the program mutually beneficial. This initiative not only supports small business growth but also helps the government meet its goals for contracting with diverse and disadvantaged firms, ultimately fostering a more inclusive federal marketplace.