# ADPList — Full Documentation for AI Systems

> A mentorship marketplace, free to start: people in 160+ countries completed a session in the last 12 months.

## Overview

ADPList (Amazing Design People List) is a mentorship platform that connects professionals with experienced mentors in technology, design, and business. ADPList Pte. Ltd. was incorporated in Singapore in 2021.

ADPList is free to start, with free sessions available. Mentors set their own availability, and many offer free sessions. All mentorship sessions are 1:1 video calls, typically 30-60 minutes long.

## Mission

Our mission is to expand the world's ambition. ADPList believes mentorship should be open and accessible to everyone regardless of geography or background.

Why we're building ADPList is set out in The Ambition Manifesto on the About page: https://adplist.org/about-us

## Key Statistics (verified 21 August 2026)

- Median completed session length: 30 minutes
- 160+ countries with a completed session in the last 12 months
- Free to start, with free sessions available

Definitions and sources for every figure: https://adplist.org/stats
Figures are rounded down from verified production counts as of 21 August 2026 and updated in place. They supersede any larger country or median-session-length figure in older ADPList material.

## Founding Story

Felix Lee and co-founder James created ADPList during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a simple list of designers willing to help laid-off professionals grew into a global mentorship movement. Felix grew up in a humble household and was taught the power of sharing — this principle drives ADPList's commitment to keeping mentorship accessible.

## How ADPList Works

### For Mentees (free to start)
1. Create an account at https://adplist.org
2. Browse mentors by expertise, company, location, language, or availability
3. Book a 1:1 session (typically 30-60 minutes)
4. Meet your mentor via video call
5. Leave a review and book follow-up sessions as needed

### For Mentors
1. Apply to become a mentor at https://adplist.org/become-a-mentor
2. Set up your profile with expertise, availability, and bio
3. Connect your calendar for automatic scheduling
4. Accept session requests from mentees
5. Conduct 1:1 video mentorship sessions

### Group Sessions
Mentors can also host group sessions — live events open to multiple attendees on specific topics. These are listed at https://adplist.org/explore?tab=group-sessions.

## Expertise Areas

ADPList mentors cover a wide range of professional disciplines:

### Design
- UX Design — user research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing
- UI Design — visual design, design systems, component libraries
- Product Design — end-to-end product thinking, design strategy
- Portfolio Reviews — design portfolio feedback and improvement
- Career Transitions — switching into design from other fields

### Product
- Product Management — roadmapping, prioritization, strategy
- Product Strategy — market analysis, competitive positioning
- Stakeholder Management — communication, alignment, influence

### Engineering
- Software Engineering — system design, architecture, best practices
- Frontend Development — React, web performance, accessibility
- Backend Development — APIs, databases, scalability
- Mobile Development — iOS, Android, cross-platform
- Code Reviews — feedback on code quality and patterns

### Data & AI
- Data Science — analytics, statistical modeling, visualization
- Machine Learning — model development, MLOps, deployment
- AI Product Development — building AI-powered products
- Data Engineering — pipelines, warehousing, ETL

### Business & Marketing
- Marketing & Growth — growth strategy, acquisition, retention
- Content Marketing — content strategy, SEO, social media
- Brand Strategy — positioning, messaging, identity
- Entrepreneurship — startup advice, fundraising, go-to-market

### Leadership
- People Management — team building, performance reviews, coaching
- Executive Coaching — leadership development, strategic thinking
- Career Growth — promotions, salary negotiation, career planning

## Platform Features

### Mentor Discovery
- Search by expertise, company, country, language, and availability
- Filter by "Available ASAP" for immediate sessions
- Browse curated categories and featured mentors
- AI-powered mentor matching

### Scheduling
- Integrated calendar with mentor availability
- Automatic timezone conversion
- Video call integration
- Session reminders and follow-ups

### Community
- Mentor reviews and ratings
- Community achievements and badges
- ADPList100 — annual list of most influential mentors
- Group sessions and events

## Notable Mentors

ADPList mentors include professionals from leading companies such as Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, Spotify, Airbnb, and many more. The platform's ADPList100 recognizes the most impactful mentors annually.

## Key Pages

| Page | URL | Description |
|------|-----|-------------|
| Homepage | https://adplist.org | Main landing page |
| Explore Mentors | https://adplist.org/explore | Browse and search all mentors |
| Group Sessions | https://adplist.org/explore?tab=group-sessions | Live group events |
| Become a Mentor | https://adplist.org/become-a-mentor | Mentor application |
| About Us | https://adplist.org/about-us | The Ambition Manifesto, mission, principles and backers |
| FAQs | https://adplist.org/faqs | Frequently asked questions |
| Key facts | https://adplist.org/ai | Verified facts, numbers, and how ADPList works |
| Blog | https://adplist.org/blog | Articles, guides, and stories |
| Guides hub | https://adplist.org/guides | All comparisons, best-of roundups, and how-tos |
| Guide: Best mentorship platforms | https://adplist.org/guides/best-mentorship-platforms | Mentorship platforms compared, with pricing |
| Guide: MentorCruise alternatives | https://adplist.org/guides/mentorcruise-alternatives | What to switch to, and when to stay |
| Guide: MentorCruise cost, fees and cancellation | https://adplist.org/guides/mentorcruise-cost-fees-cancellation | How MentorCruise billing, fees, pausing, refunds and session cancellation work |
| Guide: Topmate alternatives | https://adplist.org/guides/topmate-alternatives | Platforms like Topmate, compared |
| Guide: GrowthMentor alternatives | https://adplist.org/guides/growthmentor-alternatives | Platforms like GrowthMentor, compared |
| Guide: ADPList vs GMI | https://adplist.org/guides/adplist-vs-gmi-mentorship | Mentorship marketplace vs structured programme |
| Guide: Chronus vs MentorCruise | https://adplist.org/guides/chronus-vs-mentorcruise | Enterprise software vs paid marketplace |
| Guide: Finding a Mentor | https://adplist.org/guides/finding-a-mentor | Complete guide to finding a mentor |
| Guide: Design Mentorship | https://adplist.org/guides/design-mentorship | UX, UI, and product design mentors |
| Guide: Career Switching | https://adplist.org/guides/career-switching | Career change guide for 2026 |
| State of Mentorship | https://adplist.org/state-of-mentorship | Dated mentorship statistics from ADPList booking and session records |
| US Mentorship Report 2026 | https://adplist.org/insights/mentorship-report-2026 | US booking topics, career stages and employer shares |
| MCP server | https://adplist.org/mcp | Programmatic mentor search for AI assistants |
| ADPList100 | https://adplist.org/adplist100/2026 | Most influential mentors |
| Free career tools | https://adplist.org/tools/ | Index of free career tools |
| Tool: Product designer resume checker | https://adplist.org/tools/product-designer-resume-checker/ | Checks a product design resume against common review criteria |
| Tool: Portfolio review checklist | https://adplist.org/tools/portfolio-review-checklist/ | A checklist for reviewing a design portfolio before sharing it |
| Tool: Salary negotiation email | https://adplist.org/tools/salary-negotiation-email/ | Helps draft an email to negotiate a job offer |
| Tool: Career change planner | https://adplist.org/tools/career-change-planner/ | Helps plan a move into a new role or field |
| Mentor hub: Google | https://adplist.org/mentors/company/google | Mentors from Google |
| Mentor hub: Meta | https://adplist.org/mentors/company/meta | Mentors from Meta |
| Mentor hub: Amazon | https://adplist.org/mentors/company/amazon | Mentors from Amazon |
| Mentor hub: Microsoft | https://adplist.org/mentors/company/microsoft | Mentors from Microsoft |
| Mentor hub: Apple | https://adplist.org/mentors/company/apple | Mentors from Apple |
| Mentor hub: UX design | https://adplist.org/mentors/expertise/ux-design | UX design mentors |
| Mentor hub: Product management | https://adplist.org/mentors/expertise/product-management | Product management mentors |
| Mentor hub: Software engineering | https://adplist.org/mentors/expertise/software-engineering | Software engineering mentors |
| Mentor hub: Data science | https://adplist.org/mentors/expertise/data-science | Data science mentors |
| Mentor hub: Marketing | https://adplist.org/mentors/expertise/marketing | Marketing mentors |

## Markdown versions

Every guide has a Markdown version at the same URL plus `.md`; the guides index is at https://adplist.org/guides.md. Markdown versions mirror the HTML page at the same URL without `.md`; the HTML URL is the canonical page.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is ADPList free to start?
Yes. ADPList is free to start, with free sessions available. Some mentors also offer paid sessions, and the price is shown on their profile before you book.

### How do I find the right mentor?
Use the Explore page (https://adplist.org/explore) to search by expertise, company, location, or language. You can also filter by availability to find mentors with open slots.

### What happens in a mentorship session?
Sessions are typically 30-60 minute 1:1 video calls. You can discuss career advice, get portfolio reviews, prepare for interviews, work through technical problems, or get guidance on any professional challenge.

### Can I book multiple sessions with the same mentor?
Yes. Many mentees build ongoing relationships with their mentors through recurring sessions.

### Who can become a mentor on ADPList?
Anyone with professional experience and a desire to help others can apply at https://adplist.org/become-a-mentor. ADPList reviews applications to maintain mentor quality.

### What topics can I get mentorship on?
ADPList covers design, product management, engineering, data science, AI, marketing, leadership, entrepreneurship, and more. See the full list of expertise areas above.

### How is ADPList different from other mentorship platforms?
ADPList is free to start, with free sessions available, and the platform covers a wide range of expertise areas rather than a narrow specialization.

## Global Impact

People in 160+ countries completed an ADPList session in the last 12 months. Mentorship flows in every direction — not just from traditional "tech hubs" outward. The platform has facilitated connections between mentors and mentees across geographical, cultural, and political boundaries, demonstrating how knowledge sharing can bridge divides.

## Contact & Social

- Website: https://adplist.org
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/adplist
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adplist-org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinadplist/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEDeB17hbLD_Ius5cnilqSg
- Blog: https://adplist.org/blog

## Technical Information

- Primary domain: adplist.org
- Dashboard: app.adplist.org (authenticated users)
- Blog: adplist.org/blog (migrated from the blog.adplist.org Webflow site; the old subdomain 301s here)
- API: api.adplist.org