Options for Private, NDA-Protected Discussions

Are there options for private, NDA-protected discussions with mentors or Sramana Mitra?

No, for the standard 1Mby1M Premium program and its group roundtables, you cannot expect NDA-protected discussions.

• Group Sessions (Roundtables): As previously discussed, 1Mby1M’s group mentoring sessions do not operate under NDAs. This is a common industry practice for accelerators and mentorship programs. The expectation is that you share enough to get strategic feedback without disclosing highly sensitive, unpatented “secret sauce.”

Yes, for dedicated private consulting with Sramana Mitra, there’s a possibility, but it’s not a given for the initial session and would be subject to custom terms.

• 1-on-1 Consulting: Sramana Mitra offers specific “1-on-1 Consulting” services, starting with a paid 1-hour working session ($1000). This is the pathway for confidential discussions.
• Confidentiality in Private Consulting: While the initial 1-hour session is for assessing fit and providing initial insights, the very nature of a private, paid consulting engagement implies a higher level of discretion than a group setting.
• Custom Engagement and NDAs: If you decide to work more closely with Sramana Mitra after the initial session (e.g., ongoing engagement involving your teams), the terms would be “worked out on a case-by-case basis.” This is the point where you would negotiate an NDA specifically for the extended engagement.
  • It’s not automatic for the initial 1-hour session: While you’d expect a higher degree of confidentiality for a paid private session, a formal NDA might not be signed for that first hour. You’d need to request and discuss it if it’s critical even for the initial meeting.
  • Likely for deeper, ongoing work: If your confidential technology requires a deep dive over an extended period, that’s when a mutual NDA would become much more feasible and standard as part of a custom consulting agreement.

What this means for you:

• For general strategic advice in group sessions: Do not disclose information that would compromise your core IP if it became public. Focus on high-level problems, solutions, and business models.
• For sensitive, unpatented ideas or trade secrets that require in-depth discussion:
  1. Prioritize formal IP protection: File provisional patents or establish strong trade secret protection measures before any discussion, if possible.
  2. Start with the 1-hour private consulting session with Sramana Mitra. Use this session to explain your general business and the sensitive nature of your technology.
  3. Inquire about an NDA if you feel it’s necessary for further, more detailed discussions beyond that initial hour. Be prepared for it to be part of a larger, custom consulting engagement.
  4. Be realistic: Understand that for most investors and high-volume mentors, blanket NDAs are rare. The value is often in the execution, not just the idea itself.

In essence, while group sessions are not NDA-protected, the option for more private, and potentially NDA-governed, discussions exists through Sramana Mitra’s separate 1-on-1 consulting services, particularly for more extensive engagements.