Email Correspondence and Photos Only as Evidence

Stage 1
1

Is it mandatory to have reference letters for OCs or can one do just fine with email correspondence and photos as evidence?

I have different email correspondence that show:

  • Request to be a mentor in a selection process (a structured program that selects participants to intern at startups in other countries).
  • Request to be a mentor to startup founders who go on to investor funding rounds (not same program as above).
  • Selection to be a reviewer of pioneering national occupational standards for digital sector of Nigeria
  • Visa/invitation letters to speak at an international software conference (have for 2 separate years of same conference where I gave different talks).

All the above have additional evidence such as photos, documents reviewed, schedules/programs etc.

Would the above serve or is it mandatory to get reference letters as well? If reference letters are mandatory, how many? @Shreeniwas_Iyer @Francisca_Chiedu

Thanks for your response/advice in advance.

2

Actually anyone that can provide an answer for this is welcome to do so. Thanks.

3

The updated guide states you have to. It is possible to get an invitation to participate as a mentor or speaker, that doesn’t confirm your participation. If you have video evidence and invitation, then it could fly. For mentorship, it has to be a top-tier accelerator. “Mentoring at a university or a single startup is not sufficient. When mentoring alongside other mentors (for example at a top-tier accelerator) you must have been a senior mentor that may be evidenced through a letter of reference from the programme. Note that simply training a colleague, providing general support or advice, or advising at a company of someone you know is not considered to meet the definition of mentorship”.

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4

Thanks for the response and insights @Francisca_Chiedu. I do have video evidences for the talks and thank you emails for the mentorships. One of the mentorships had the successful mentees go for a year long internship with software companies in a European country (based on agreements between this country and Nigeria - there online media posts that carry this relationship). The other mentorship was for a program to mentor startup founders and this was organized by Japan and Nigeria.

I have the invitations, photos of the events (one was virtual) and thank you/event close-out emails.

I am gathering that getting reference letters will strengthen the application. Thanks.

5

Add a reference letter. Does the online media specifically make reference to your contribution as a mentor.

6

Ok noted, will seek reference letters for these. No it doesn’t, the online news articles basically show that the two governments have an MOU to execute the programs for which I was involved as a mentor. Doesn’t mention me directly.

7

Well the article is not useful for your application.

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