Startup mentoring as a catalyst for entrepreneurial success: Insights from a global trend analysis

Startup mentoring has become an essential pillar of entrepreneurial ecosystems, supporting founders in navigating challenges, accessing resources, and achieving sustainable growth. Despite its recognized value, the research landscape on startup mentoring remains fragmented and context-dependent. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic trend analysis of startup mentoring literature from 1986 to 2025, drawing on data from Scopus and Web of Science. The final dataset comprised 1081 peer-reviewed journal articles after screening 3470 initial records and removing 412 duplicates in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 protocol. Employing advanced bibliometric and co-word analysis techniques, the study maps the intellectual structure, identifies influential authors, institutions, and journals, and visualizes the evolution of key research themes. Results reveal a clear developmental trajectory spanning four decades. Longitudinal analysis delineates a thematic progression: from an early focus on education and mentor-mentee relationships (pre-2018), to a strategic emphasis on mentoring within accelerators and digital platforms (2018–2022), and toward emerging research on its role in fostering sustainability and inclusivity (2023–2025). Thematic mapping shows that entrepreneurship education, human-centered mentoring, and innovation are core “motor themes,” while digital mentoring, equity, and sustainability are promising but underdeveloped areas. Geographical analysis highlights the United States as the leading contributor, with growing research contributions from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The paper advances theoretical understanding by integrating perspectives from social capital, human capital, and entrepreneurial learning theories, and outlines practical implications for designing effective, inclusive, and adaptive mentoring programs. • Comprehensive bibliometric analysis of startup mentoring (1986-2025). • Identifies thematic evolution from education-focused to ecosystem-driven research. • Digital mentoring and equity emerge as critical but underdeveloped areas. • Provides strategic thematic map with motor, niche, and emerging themes. • Offers evidence-based roadmap for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.