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Addresses the effectiveness of the matching process of third party managed entrepreneurial mentoring programs. The role of government in encouraging enterprise development has been the subject of much debate. Examines one frequently utilized component of development agency involvement in assisting entrepreneurs – matching mentors and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs, who were assigned mentors by Ireland’s industrial development agency, responded to a mail questionnaire. Evaluates their satisfaction with the mentoring relationship, and their perception of the effectiveness of their assigned mentors. The results suggest the entrepreneurs’ age and education are factors that impact on whether they benefited from the engagement. The initial findings also suggest that mentors need not have experience in the industry of their mentee for the entrepreneur to benefit from the interaction. Also discusses socio‐cultural issues in the mentoring process and how they might impact the selection of a formal versus an informal entrepreneurial mentoring program by an economic development agency.