Creating and Configuring a Program

Creating a new program in MentorNeko takes you through a series of configuration steps, each one shaping how members experience the program and how matching is performed. Programs start as drafts and are only visible to members once you publish them, so you have time to get everything right before launch.

Step 1: Name, Type, and Description

Navigate to Admin > Programs and click New Program. You will be prompted to provide:

• Program name: A clear, descriptive name members will see in the directory.
• Program type: Choose Mentorship for structured mentor-mentee pairs, or Networking for rotating peer introductions.
• Program model: Choose Always-On for continuous matching, or Fixed Cohort if your program has a defined start and end date. Fixed cohort programs require you to set those dates.
• Description: A short paragraph that helps members understand what the program offers and who it is for. This appears on the program detail page in the member directory.

Step 2: Add Session Guides

Before configuring anything else, you will build out the session guides. MentorNeko uses a sessions-first creation model: your session structure anchors everything from cadence to session-specific emails.

For each session, you can add:

• Session title: A short label for that meeting (for example, "Session 1: Getting Acquainted").
• Discussion questions: Prompts both participants will see when they open the session guide during their meeting.
• Preparation materials: Optional notes or reading to complete before the session.

You can add as many sessions as your program needs. The number of sessions you define, combined with the cadence you set, determines the expected program duration.

Step 3: Set the Session Cadence

Choose how frequently participants are expected to meet:

• Weekly
• Biweekly (every two weeks)
• Monthly

The cadence controls session reminder timing and check-in email scheduling. It does not prevent pairs from meeting more often; it simply defines the platform's expected rhythm.

Step 4: Configure Matching Settings

The matching configuration tells the AI how to evaluate and rank potential pairings.

AI Prompt Template

You can customize the prompt template the AI uses when generating match recommendations and rationales for your program. The default template works well for most programs. If your program has a specific focus (for example, pairing on technical skills in a particular domain), you can add context to guide the AI's reasoning.

Dimension Weights

Your organization's profile has a set of dimensions: skills, goals, seniority, department, and any custom dimensions configured by your admin. You can adjust how much weight each dimension carries for this specific program. A leadership program might weight seniority and goals heavily; a skills-exchange program might weight skills tags more.

Step 5: Configure the Partnership Agreement Template

Each active match comes with a partnership agreement, a shared document that sets ground rules for the relationship. You can configure which template is used for this program:

• Program-specific template: Write a custom agreement template tailored to this program's goals and expectations.
• Org default: Use the agreement template your organization has set as its default.
• System default: Fall back to MentorNeko's built-in template if no custom templates are defined.

You can also toggle whether signing the agreement is required before participants can mark sessions complete.

Step 6: Customize the Exit Survey

At the end of a match, participants complete an exit survey to share feedback. MentorNeko includes a default 11-question survey, but you can customize the questions for your program, remove questions that are not relevant, or add ones specific to your program's goals.

Step 7: Publish the Program

When you are satisfied with the configuration, click Publish Program. This makes the program visible in the member directory and opens enrollment. Members with completed profiles will be able to browse the program and join.

You can return to any setting after publishing. Changes to matching configuration take effect on the next matching cycle. Changes to session guides appear to members immediately.

A program remains in Draft status until you explicitly publish it. You can build out the full configuration at your own pace without members seeing an incomplete program.