Get to Know Our Story
and How We Made It
We both believed in the power of mentoring and wanted to see it scale and help companies see the impact and ROI.
“Technology is a powerful enabler.
At StellarUp, our mission is to empower our customers to build thriving, connected communities where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow. We believe in transforming isolation into collaboration, turning every user into a valued member of a vibrant learning network. Together, we can build bridges, spark innovation, and lift each other to new heights. Let’s not simply respond to change; let’s lead it. Your success is our shared achievement. Let’s change the world, one community at a time.”
Estelle Roux-Stevens
StellarUp Co-Founder and CEO
Our Journey
It All Began
Estelle, with a background in HR, had built highly successful and diverse teams throughout her career, while Julian, a talented technical product builder, was known for turning ideas into practical, scalable solutions. In 2017, Estelle was running a large mentoring programme for an international IT consultancy, and Julian was mentoring at StartupBootCamp Amsterdam. Both observed the same inefficiency: slow, manual mentor matching using cumbersome spreadsheets. Their shared belief in the power of mentoring and its potential to transform organisations sparked a vision to scale mentoring in a meaningful, impactful way.
The Why
Mentoring is one of the most powerful tools for learning and growth, yet it is often devalued or deprioritised when organisations design learning programmes. It is frequently seen as something that happens organically and spontaneously, rather than as a strategic driver of culture and capability. Frustrated by the lack of data-driven insights to prove mentoring ROI, Estelle and Julian could not find a product on the market to address this need. Combining their skill sets, they set out to build a mentor-matching tool themselves, recognising the global demand for scalable, impactful mentoring solutions. Mentorjam was born.
MVP and Early Growth
The Founding team launched their MVP within the Dutch startup ecosystem, testing the product with several three-month cohorts at StartupBootCamp Amsterdam. A trip to Web Summit with a nimble demo attracted over 70 leads, confirming strong market interest. Six months later, the company was incorporated, quickly gaining the support of the Dutch Government through the first Digital Mission to the USA. StellarUp soon partnered with the United Nations Foundation on its female mentoring programme, alongside other organisations committed to growing thriving learning communities.
A New Name, A Broader Mission
In 2021, Mentorjam rebranded to StellarUp, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. What began as a platform focused solely on mentoring evolved into something far more powerful. By learning from customers and listening to the market, the team recognised that the most successful mentoring programmes are those built around vibrant communities. Essential community functionalities and a library of extensions were added, allowing customers to build unique, purpose-driven learning communities. StellarUp embodies the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to evolve and shine bright.
Post-Pandemic Realities
The pandemic fundamentally changed how people connect, creating an urgent need to address disconnection within organisations and communities. As hybrid working became the norm, StellarUp positioned itself to transform isolation into collaboration, helping organisations and learning communities remain connected, supported, and engaged during a time of significant change.
Supporting Connected Communities
Today, StellarUp supports universities, innovation hubs, and learning communities globally, helping them transform isolation into collaboration and bring a sense of belonging back into their ecosystems. The platform’s connection-enhancing features for mentoring, learning, and growth have led to:
- 50% increase in productivity
- 70% improvement in retention
- 80% boost in engagement
At the heart of StellarUp is a commitment to inclusive lifelong learning and purposeful connections, helping individuals and communities evolve and thrive.
2017 — 2018
It All began
Estelle, with a background in HR, had built highly successful and diverse teams throughout her career, while Julian, a talented technical product builder, was known for turning ideas into practical, scalable solutions. In 2017, Estelle was running a large mentoring programme for an international IT consultancy, and Julian was mentoring at StartupBootCamp Amsterdam. Both observed the same inefficiency: slow, manual mentor matching using cumbersome spreadsheets. Their shared belief in the power of mentoring and its potential to transform organisations sparked a vision to scale mentoring in a meaningful, impactful way.
2019
The Why
Mentoring is one of the most powerful tools for learning and growth, yet it is often devalued or deprioritised when organisations design learning programmes. It is frequently seen as something that happens organically and spontaneously, rather than as a strategic driver of culture and capability. Frustrated by the lack of data-driven insights to prove mentoring ROI, Estelle and Julian could not find a product on the market to address this need. Combining their skill sets, they set out to build a mentor-matching tool themselves, recognising the global demand for scalable, impactful mentoring solutions. Mentorjam was born.
2020
MVP and Early Growth
The Founding team launched their MVP within the Dutch startup ecosystem, testing the product with several three-month cohorts at StartupBootCamp Amsterdam. A trip to Web Summit with a nimble demo attracted over 70 leads, confirming strong market interest. Six months later, the company was incorporated, quickly gaining the support of the Dutch Government through the first Digital Mission to the USA. StellarUp soon partnered with the United Nations Foundation on its female mentoring programme, alongside other organisations committed to growing thriving learning communities.
2021
A New Name, a Broader Mission
In 2021, Mentorjam rebranded to StellarUp, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. What began as a platform focused solely on mentoring evolved into something far more powerful. By learning from customers and listening to the market, the team recognised that the most successful mentoring programmes are those built around vibrant communities. Essential community functionalities and a library of extensions were added, allowing customers to build unique, purpose-driven learning communities. StellarUp embodies the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to evolve and shine bright.
2022
Post-Pandemic Realities
The pandemic fundamentally changed how people connect, creating an urgent need to address disconnection within organisations and communities. As hybrid working became the norm, StellarUp positioned itself to transform isolation into collaboration, helping organisations and learning communities remain connected, supported, and engaged during a time of significant change.
2025
Supporting Connected Communities
Today, StellarUp supports universities, innovation hubs, and learning communities globally, helping them transform isolation into collaboration and bring a sense of belonging back into their ecosystems. The platform’s connection-enhancing features for mentoring, learning, and growth have led to:
- 50% increase in productivity
- 70% improvement in retention
- 80% boost in engagement
At the heart of StellarUp is a commitment to inclusive lifelong learning and purposeful connections, helping individuals and communities evolve and thrive.
Meet the Founders
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