No products in the cart.
Soho House Mentorship
A Next Talent Incubator Program
Applications for Mumbai are extended until September 25, 2022
A PROJECT-BASED MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Take your passion and purpose to new heights
What is the Next Talent Incubator (NTI)?
NTI is a free, self-paced, 12-week mentorship program. You will be able to develop a project idea you’re passionate about and be matched with a world-class mentor who will support you throughout the process.
Who is eligible to join?
If you are a creative, 18 – 30 years old, based in Mumbai or Hong Kong, apply now and take your idea to the next level! You must be of legal drinking age in these cities at the time of application.
What do you need to join?
You will need to pitch a creative project idea. You can check out what past mentees did here. Mentors who will be matched with you are from diverse industries such as advertising, architecture, event management, entrepreneurship, fashion, film, interior design, marketing, photography, TV production, writing, and technology.
How many slots are available?
We are looking for only 12-high potential talents for each house! Apply now! Applications for Mumbai are extended until September 25, 2022.
OUR MENTORS
Hong Kong
Vincent Leung
Global Head of Digital Brand Marketing, Lenzing Group
Vincent leads all digital marketing initiatives of a sustainable fashion company, collaborating with more than 300 brands including Calvin Klein, Levi’s, and Esprit. He wants to empower young talent by sharing his passion for ethical fashion, sustainability, and marketing.
Antony Dapiran
Writer and Photographer
As a Hong-Kong based writer, Antony’s work has appeared in various media publications such as The Atlantic, The Guardian, SCMP, CNN International, and Nikkei Asia Review. He brings his vast writing experience and knowledge to support aspiring writers in the program.
Victoria Cheung
General Manager, Altfield Group
Victoria oversees marketing and sales initiatives for Hong Kong’s trusted and leading resource for home furnishings and antiques, Altfield Interiors and Artfield Gallery. She aims to educate and inspire young talent who want to pursue a career in the interior design industry.
James JJ Acuña
Creative Director, JJA/Bespoke Architecture
With hundreds of interior design projects in his portfolio, James started his own studio, specializing in restaurant and residential spaces from a lifestyle perspective. He wants to give back to the next generation by mentoring aspiring architects and interior designers.
Kristina Tanso
Author and Filmmaker
Kristina is a published fiction author, a writer for numerous international publications, and a documentary filmmaker. She would love to work with aspiring authors who don’t know where to start and help transform their ideas into something they can sell and market.
Hina Wainwright
Chief Marketing Officer, adm Group
Hina leads marketing for adm Group. The World Marketing Congress listed her as one of the 50 Most Influential Global Marketing Leaders in 2015 & 2018. She believes that mentoring is two way, so aside from taking someone under her wing, she too has room to learn from her mentee.
Gary Liu
Founder, Artifact Labs
Gary is the former CEO of South China Morning Post and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2019. He has mentored for the Soho House program in the past and is continuing to share his extensive experience in new media, strategy, and technology.
Arnault Castel
Owner, Kapok
Arnault owns lifestyle select store kapok, which focuses on designers and brands that combine quality craftsmanship and innovative design. Kapok has grown from a shop in Hong Kong to an internationally renowned brand. He brings his eye for design and vast retail experience to the program.
Raymond Yeung
Film Director
A renowned film director and pioneer in the LGBTQ+ film scene with his own work, Raymond sits as chairman of the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Society and has been running the oldest LGBT film fest in Asia. He will be mentoring aspiring filmmakers in the program.
Jacopo Pesavento
CEO, Branding Records
Jacopo launched creative global agency Branding Records and has worked with many iconic, ground-breaking brands, including Salvatore Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, and the Coca Cola Company. He is a lecturer and a frequent speaker at entrepreneurial conferences.
Mumbai
S. Sashikanth
Founder of Y NOT Studios, Film Producer & Architect
S. Sashikanth established design firm Space Scape which was involved in major residential and corporate building designs such as the British Council. As a film producer, he established YNOT Studios and has produced the most creative Indian films in recent times such as Thamizh Padam.
Sameer Makani
Co-Founder and Director, Makani Creatives
Sameer co-founded award-winning creative agency Makani Creatives, working with brands from fashion, furniture, to technology. He is also a subject matter expert on advertising, being the go-to author of various publications for the latest trends in the space.
Srijan Bhandari
Associate Director, Artist Management, Zee Live
As Associate Director of Zee Live, Srijan brings his expertise and extensive experience in the broadcast media industry. He is skilled in celebrity negotiations, event management, media relations and market research.
Harini Rana
Multimedia Journalist, Content Creator, Sports Broadcaster
Harini is an award winning journalist, management professional, media strategist, and a mindset coach. Being only the second female Sports Editor for a national TV channel, she encourages more women to take up sports believing in the change it can bring to society.
Payal Tekchandani
Co-Founder and CEO, The Wedding Clinic (TWC)
Aside from being a business and law graduate, Payal is also an ISB Goldman Sachs Women Entrepreneurs scholar. She co-founded multispecialty skin care clinic TWC, and believes that skincare is an inner journey that requires dedication and investment.
Gaurav Wadhwa
Co-Founder & CEO, Big Bang Music
Gaurav is building the soundscape of India by making subcultures blockbuster. He is a trailblazer in the Music, Entertainment & Marketing ecosystem in India with 18+ years of experience in building pop culture brands including Saavn, Pepsi, Redbull & MTV. Today, he is rewriting how hits are made with his venture, Big Bang Music.
Sidharth Jain
Books-to-Screen Expert and Founder, The Story Ink
With 18 years of experience as a TV producer, Sidharth founded India’s first story company, The Story Ink, finding good stories to translate into film or binge-worthy TV series for various producers. TSI is considered India’s leading books-to-screen company with over 140 adaptation deals.
Gautam Ganglani
CEO of Right Selection, Author of Breaking Bread
Gautam helps train entrepreneurs, leaders, and employees globally through professional development seminars. In his book, Breaking Bread, he lays down 3 steps whenever someone faces a challenge: surround yourself with the right people, learn continuously, and take action.
Sameer Pitalwalla
Head of Gaming, APAC, Google Cloud
Prior to Google, Sameer has led the media businesses of Disney, Epic Games and Culture Machine. He was awarded The British Council’s Entrepreneurial Award that recognized his pioneering approach to digital media and has been on the Forbes list of 30 under 30.
Nischay Gogia
TV / OTT Producer, Founder of NGF
With extensive experience in the television industry, Nischay has held various creative roles as a Producer, Content Creator, and Director of genres ranging from comedy to reality TV. He founded Nischay Gogia Films (NGF), a production company leveraging his expertise in all aspects of filmmaking.
What you get
1
Get a sought-after year-long membership at Soho House
2
Gain access to creative leaders of the Soho House network
3
Learn business tactics through professional development workshops from the industry’s best
4
Build genuine, lifelong friendships with other Next Talent Incubator mentees
How the program works
As a mentee, you must be present in Hong Kong or Mumbai from September 18 to December 11, 2022. We highly encourage mentees to enjoy Soho House by utilizing the space for their meetings, but the program is very flexible and self-paced. You are expected to attend workshops and to meet with your mentor every two weeks at your agreed schedule. The time investment is typically 50 – 70 hours for the whole program.
This is a sample of what the program schedule* looks like:
Week 0: Orientation (2 hours)
Week 1: Mentor meetup (1 – 2 hours); Project start
Week 2: Workshop (1 hour)
Week 3: Mentor meetup (1 hour)
Week 4: Workshop (1 hour)
Week 5: Mentor meetup (1 – 2 hours)
Week 6: Workshop (1 hour)
Week 7: Mentor meetup (1 – 2 hours)
Week 8: Workshop (1 hour)
Week 9: Mentor meetup (1 – 2 hours)
Week 10: Workshop (1 hour)
Week 11: Mentor meetup (1 – 2 hours); Project wrap up
Week 12: Soho House Exhibition (4 – 6 hours)
*Mentor meetups are subject to the availability of your mentor. The schedule is for illustration purposes only, actual schedule may vary.
MEET OUR PAST MENTEES
Stories that inspire
The world isn’t fair, but for others, the scales are tipped so unfavorably that they almost disappear. Terenia Puspita, a domestic helper in Hong Kong, knows the feeling all too well. In an effort to shine a light on her community, she created a short film called The Thin Line under the mentorship of Louise Wong, the founder and creative director of Creative City. With Louise’s guidance, Terenia captured the mental struggles of Hong Kong’s migrant workers in a profoundly poignant manner, delivering a message that doesn’t just hit home, but also resonates well beyond its intended audience. For one glorious moment, all of us were seen.
An Emerging Artist
In pursuit of art, one needs to face one’s own fears. For Natalie Ng, a Creative Media and Advertising student at the Open University of Hong Kong, said fears stemmed from feelings of self-doubt. With award-winning illustrator Jonathan Jay Lee guiding her, however, Natalie gained the confidence to draw a brighter future for herself.
Her first project: A comic book featuring Avonatie, an original character that mirrors her own curiosity about the world. In 12 weeks, Natalie didn’t just complete the challenge; she also made her formal debut as an artist in a mini exhibit at Soho House Hong Kong.
A Future Best-selling Novelist
Words have weight and Karina Lao is using that power to tell the story of an LGBTQ couple in traditional and conservative Hong Kong. Under the experienced tutelage of South China Morning Post CEO Gary Liu, Karina was able to bring to life characters she’s had inside her and a story she’s wanted to share for so long to a wider audience.
All throughout the 12 weeks, she felt constantly inspired to create and improve her storytelling skills. By the end of the program, she had a noteworthy excerpt in her hands, the pages of which might just be in tomorrow’s next best seller.
Apply for the 2022 cohort
Applications for Mumbai are extended until September 25, 2022.