days to apply
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES ON THEIR PATHWAY TO GROWTH
Join our community of mentors in the mLab StartUps Incubator and make a lasting impact on early-stage tech start-ups. Share your expertise, guide aspiring entrepreneurs, and help shape the future of innovation by providing essential guidance and support.
Free program
Apply before:
Applications open until August 4th
Online
South Africa
5 months
Certificate of participation available
MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Support a project that
excites you
Meet entrepreneurs and their projects, then support the project that sparks your interest.
Learn on the go, alongside entrepreneurs
We believe in active learning! We'll provide you with a clear mentoring structure and resources explained in a simple way.
Get the latest business tools
As a mentor, we will equip you with the same top-notch entrepreneurship tools we offer to participants.
Professional growth
Enhance your leadership and coaching skills through active listening and effective communication.
A POWERFUL AND STRUCTURED MENTORING PROGRAM
Guidance and flexibility
You will be able to mentor from anywhere in the world thanks to the Bridge for Billions digital platform. Our goal is to make mentoring flexible and impactful, breaking down barriers of distance and schedules.
Make a real impact
Entrepreneurship can be lonely. Support and guide entrepreneurs as they turn their business ideas into reality, driving positive change in your local community.
Build connections
You'll meet passionate tech entrepreneurs and fellow mentors - create lasting connections and discover new ones.
ABOUT THE MLABS STARTUPS INCUBTOR
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Incubator (EEI), in partnership with Filene Research Institute and Bridge for Billions, is dedicated to empowering small businesses and fortifying the ecosystems and communities that sustain them. Collaborating with 8 credit unions across multiple regions in the US, we aim to foster cooperation and strengthen the entrepreneurial landscape.
As a mentor in our program, you’ll gain access to high-quality entrepreneurship methodologies and provide invaluable guidance to help refine and grow emerging small businesses. As a mentor in the program, you will connect with fellow entrepreneurs and credit unions, fostering meaningful relationships that drive growth and innovation. You’ll also be equipped with the best entrepreneurship tools to effectively support the foundational growth of the businesses you mentor.
INTERESTED IN MENTORING? YOU ARE THE RIGHT FIT IF YOU...
- Feel enthusiastic about the idea of supporting entrepreneurs on their path to success.
- Have at least 5 years of post-academic work experience.
- Are willing to dedicate at least 1.5 hours a week for to have follow-up meetings with your entrepreneur.
- Have a computer and stable internet access.
HOW TO APPLY THE PROGRAM?
🖊️
Create your profile
1
Start by clicking on the «Apply now» button.
Fill in your personal information to set up an account on our platform.
Remember your email and password for future access.
📝
2
Complete all sections
Work at your own pace through all sections of the application.
Once completed, all the checkmarks at the top will turn blue, indicating that you’re ready to submit.
Note: An asterisk “*” next to the question indicates that the field is required.
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Submit your application and await further news
3
We recommend that you review your application in detail one last time. If you’re good to go, click «Submit» in the lower right corner.
Make sure to submit your application by 28 February 2025.
Our team will be in touch with a notification about the status of your application.
APPLY BEFORE:
Submit your application before February 28th
IMPORTANT DATES:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM OUR MENTORS
During the 5 months of the program, you will have to meet once a week with your entrepreneur for 1-hour to check-in on their progress, validate their work, and discuss next steps. On top of that, we estimate that these meetings take at least 30 minutes of for prep work and reviewing their progress on the platform.
Although we do not offer monetary compensation, you will receive something invaluable: the satisfaction of making a real difference in the lives of entrepreneurs and their communities. Additionally, in recognition of your dedication and contribution, we will award you a Mentoring Certificate upon completion of the program. This certificate symbolizes not only your generosity and commitment, but also the positive impact you have made as a mentor and the skills you’ve gained through this process.
For the program, we recommend you use a computer with Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. But you can also use your phone.
Make sure your internet is stable for weekly activities and video calls with your entrepreneur.
Absolutely. But we encourage you to thoughtfully consider your availability and commitments. It’s important not to overextend yourself or commit to more than you can handle time-wise and energy-wise.
To facilitate the process of connecting mentors and entrepreneurs, we have created the “matching” process.
During this time, you will have the opportunity to learn about the different projects and invite them to a «Virtual Coffee» to learn about their ideas in detail, and then both parties can decide if they want to work together. Thus, we ensure that we create solid, lasting mentoring relationships based on mutual interest.
CONTACT US
Meet Ngata, Program Manager at Bridge for Billions.
You can send her an email with any questions you have about the program.
She’ll be happy to hear from you!
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