Everything you need to know
Answers to common questions about MentorNeko, from AI matching and security to pricing and implementation.
Platform & Product
What is MentorNeko?
MentorNeko is AI-powered mentoring software built for organizations: enterprises, professional associations, and non-profits. The platform pairs mentors and mentees using AI matching across configurable profile dimensions, and every match comes with a written rationale that admins review before it goes live. Each customer runs on its own branded subdomain with full multi-tenant data isolation and white-label branding, so members see your organization's brand throughout. Programs run always-on, accepting new members at any time, or as fixed cohorts with defined start and end dates. Beyond matching, the platform includes goal tracking with milestones, structured session guides, partnership agreements, exit surveys, achievements, engagement analytics, and a community directory, plus automated networking introduction rounds that connect people across the organization. MentorNeko is sales-led with no self-service signup: every engagement starts with a free 20-minute demo followed by a guided implementation.
How does AI matching work?
MentorNeko's AI matching runs in two modes. Structured scoring evaluates members across configurable profile dimensions such as skills, goals, seniority, communication style, and any other dimensions your organization defines, each with its own weight. Natural language mode lets admins describe ideal pairings in plain English, and the AI interprets that intent. Every AI-generated match includes a written rationale explaining why the pairing works, and admins review and approve matches before they go live (auto-matching can be enabled for hands-off programs). Privacy guardrails are built in: profiles are anonymized before processing, names are replaced with role placeholders, emails and phone numbers are stripped, matching is designed not to consider protected characteristics, and Zero Data Retention is enforced on every LLM call. Match quality is protected upstream too: a profile readiness gate requires a photo, a bio of 30 or more words, and all org-required dimensions before anyone enters the matching pool.
What types of programs can I run?
You can run always-on programs that accept new members at any time, or fixed cohort programs with defined start and end dates. Use cases include traditional mentoring, reverse mentoring, leadership development, DEI initiatives, and networking rounds. You can run multiple programs simultaneously, each with its own configuration, matching criteria, and session structure.
What is a networking introduction round?
A networking introduction round (sometimes called a coffee round) is an automated, recurring program that pairs or groups people across your organization who would not normally meet. Members opt in once, and the platform handles the rest: on each scheduled round, the matching engine creates new pairs or small groups, considering interests, departments, and seniority level to make every connection meaningful. Each introduction goes out by email and includes shared context about what the participants have in common, plus conversation starters to break the ice. Because rounds repeat on a schedule you control, members steadily build their internal network without any manual coordination from admins. After each round, the platform collects feedback from participants so admins can see what is working and tune future rounds. Introduction rounds run alongside structured mentoring programs, making them a lightweight way to build community across the whole organization.
How do participants track progress?
Participants set goals with milestones, complete session check-ins at each meeting, and maintain shared session notes with full revision history. Action items keep accountability between sessions, and momentum dots provide a visual indicator of engagement consistency over time. Admins see all of this in aggregate through the analytics dashboard.
Getting Started
How do we get started?
MentorNeko is sales-led. Book a demo and our team will walk you through the platform. From there, we configure your programs, train your admins, and handle the full implementation so you can launch with confidence.
How long does implementation take?
Typical implementation takes 2 to 4 weeks depending on program complexity. This includes program configuration, dimension setup, admin training, and onboarding support. Most organizations launch their first program within 3 weeks.
Can we start with a pilot?
Yes. Many organizations start with the Growth plan on a smaller team or single department, then expand as they see results. Pilots are a great way to demonstrate ROI before a broader rollout.
How do members join the platform?
Three enrollment modes give you full control. Automatic domain verification provisions members instantly when they sign up from an approved email domain. Invite-only restricts access to a pre-approved roster. Domain-gated waitlist lets people from approved domains request access, with admin review before approval. Admins can also bulk import members via CSV roster sync.
Is there a self-service signup?
No. MentorNeko is sales-led by design. Every customer gets a dedicated implementation with program configuration, admin training, and onboarding support tailored to their organization. This ensures programs launch successfully and deliver measurable results.
Security & Privacy
How is our data protected?
MentorNeko protects customer data with multiple independent layers. The platform runs on SOC 2 Type II certified infrastructure (Vercel and Neon Serverless Postgres), with all data encrypted at rest using 256-bit AES and in transit using TLS 1.3. Every organization is a fully isolated tenant: scoped database queries run on every single call, so no cross-organization access is possible even in error conditions. Authentication is passwordless, using secure magic links sent by email, which means no passwords are stored anywhere on the platform. AI processing follows a zero data retention policy: member profiles are anonymized before they reach the matching engine and are never stored by the model provider or used to train models. The architecture is GDPR compliant by design, a Data Processing Agreement is available, and automated daily backups with point-in-time recovery protect against data loss.
Does AI see our members' personal information?
No. Before any profile reaches the AI matching engine, names are replaced with role placeholders like "the Mentee" and "Mentor A." Emails and phone numbers are stripped from bios. Zero Data Retention is enforced on all LLM API calls, meaning prompts and outputs are never stored or used for model training.
Can other organizations see our data?
Never. Every organization's data is fully isolated. Scoped database queries run on every single call to ensure no cross-organization access is possible, even in error conditions. This is enforced at the application layer with defense-in-depth architecture.
Do you have a Data Processing Agreement?
Yes. Our Data Processing Agreement is available at mentorneko.com/legal/dpa. It covers data handling, retention, deletion timelines, subprocessor disclosure, and GDPR compliance obligations.
Where is our data stored?
All infrastructure runs on Vercel (edge network and serverless functions) and Neon Serverless Postgres (database). Both providers maintain SOC 2 Type II certifications. Automated daily backups with point-in-time recovery protect against data loss.
Pricing & Plans
What counts as a user?
Users are members enrolled in at least one mentoring program or networking group during the billing period.
What plans do you offer?
MentorNeko offers three plans, all billed annually. Growth is $8 USD per user per month with a $20,000 annual minimum, designed for organizations launching their first mentoring program. Scale is $12 USD per user per month with a $35,000 annual minimum, and adds automated membership sync through the REST Sync API and priority support for organizations running multiple programs at once. Enterprise is custom-priced and includes roster sync from your HRIS or AMS, API access, and a dedicated account manager. Qualifying non-profits and professional associations receive 50% to 80% off published rates, structured as flat annual tiers based on organization size and program scope. There is no self-service signup: MentorNeko is sales-led, and every engagement starts with a free 20-minute demo where our team scopes your programs and recommends the right plan. Each plan includes guided implementation covering program configuration, admin training, and onboarding support.
Do you offer non-profit pricing?
Yes. Qualifying non-profits and professional associations receive 50% to 80% off published rates. Pricing is structured as flat annual tiers based on organization size and program scope. Contact our sales team for a custom quote.
What is included in implementation?
Implementation covers program configuration, admin training, and onboarding support. Growth includes a $3,000 USD implementation fee. Scale includes a $4,500 USD implementation fee. Enterprise implementation is included in the contract.
What happens to our data if we cancel?
Your data belongs to you. We provide a full data export before account closure, and all data is permanently deleted within 30 days of contract termination per our Data Processing Agreement.
Features & Functionality
Can we customize member profiles?
Yes. The dynamic dimension system lets you define exactly what profile data matters for your organization. Skills, goals, seniority level, communication preferences, industry experience, and more are all configurable. Multiple field types are available including multi-select, sliders, and dropdowns. Each dimension can be weighted differently for matching.
Does MentorNeko support custom branding?
Yes. Every organization gets its own branded subdomain, custom logo, accent colors, and branded email communications. Members see your brand throughout their entire experience, not ours.
How does the session structure work?
Admins define the session count and check-in spacing when creating a program. Each session comes with guides that include agendas and discussion prompts. Completion tracking with momentum dots gives both participants and admins a visual indicator of engagement consistency across the program.
Can mentors control their capacity?
Yes. A two-tier capacity system gives mentors control while keeping admins informed. Mentors set a global capacity (1 to 3 mentees total) plus per-program limits. Admins see capacity at a glance when reviewing and approving match proposals, so no one gets overloaded.
Do you support certificates?
Yes. Program completion certificates are automatically generated with your organization's branding. Mentor milestone tiers recognize sustained contribution across multiple programs, encouraging long-term participation.
Can we integrate with our HRIS or membership system?
Yes, through roster synchronization. MentorNeko provides a REST Sync API (included from the Scale plan) that accepts scheduled roster updates from any HRIS, association management system, or platform that can make HTTP calls, keeping your member list synchronized with your source of record. CSV import with an optional full-roster sync mode is available on every plan. Deeper integrations, such as a native connector to your specific HRIS or identity provider, are scoped and built as part of enterprise contracts, since they require working against your systems.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to walk you through the platform and answer anything specific to your organization.
Talk to Our Team