Filene-Mentors

days to apply

Support small businesses on their pathway to growth

Join our community of mentors in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE) Incubator and make a lasting impact on emerging businesses. Share your expertise, guide aspiring entrepreneurs, and help shape the future of innovation by providing essential guidance and support.

Free program

Apply before:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Applications open until August 4th

Online

United States*

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 entrepreneurs, fellow mentors and committed Credit Unions, and create lasting connections and discover new..

About the Filene Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Incubator

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.

Your expertise could catalyze the next success story!

Interested in Mentoring? You are the right fit if you...

How to apply to 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.

🚀

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 10 of July.

Our team will be in touch with a notification about the status of your application.

Apply before:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Submit your application before August 4th

Important dates

Applications

Until August 4th

Start by making a profile on our platform and telling us more about you and your project. After you send in your application, we'll look through all the applicants who are interested in joining program.

Participant announcement

August 5th

We'll carefully review all applications to choose 60 participants for this edition. If selected, your next step will be to accept your spot in the program!

Welcome session

August 5th

Join us for a welcome session to dive into the details program! We'll introduce you to the program's schedule, your role, and the tools you'll use to develop your business. Don't miss out on this chance to learn more about what lies ahead.

Incubation program

From August to December

You will have 4 months to support your team and complete all the program. They will close the experience with a business plan ready to go!

Frequently asked questions from our mentors

How much time should I dedicate to the program as a mentor?

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.

Is there financial compensation for mentoring?

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.

What gadgets do I need for the program?

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.

Can I mentor more than one project?

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.

How are mentors and entrepreneurs matched?

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.

What is the Filene Research Institute?

Filene Research Institute is a non-profit, independent think tank devoted to empowering credit unions. It serves as a catalyst for innovative solutions, research, and actionable insights tailored to enhance credit unions’ effectiveness, sustainability, and member impact.

Contact Us

Meet Stephanie, 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!

This program has been built by

For more information, please visit our website

days to apply

Support small businesses on their pathway to growth

Join our community of mentors in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE) Incubator and make a lasting impact on emerging businesses. 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

United States*

5 months

Certificate of participation available

Make an impact on the small business community

Support a project that excites you

Learn on the go, alongside entrepreneurs

Get the latest business tools

Professional growth

A powerful and structured mentoring program

Guidance and flexibility

Make a real impact

Build connections

About the Filene Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Incubator

Interested in Mentoring? You are the right fit if you...

How to apply to the program?

🖊️

Create your profile

1

📝

2

Complete all sections

🚀

Submit your application and await further news

3

Apply before:

Submit your application before August 4th

Important dates

Frequently asked questions from our mentors

Contact Us

Learn more about the program!

Support a project that
excites you