Start Small Grant Mentee Portal

Welcome to the Start Small Mentorship Program!

The Start Small mentorship program is designed to provide early-stage entrepreneurs with invaluable guidance and support to navigate the challenges of starting a new business. Engage with experts and join a vibrant and successful startup community.

How does it work?

Select a mentor of your choice to have a small group discussion about your business’s development. Try to prepare your questions ahead of time to ensure your mentor can provide the relevant support you need. If you need ideas on what to chat about, see our handy guide below.

All discussions and information exchanged with mentors remain confidential, so you can rest assured your ideas are safe.

Goals and Objectives
Start by discussing your short-term and long-term goals. Identify specific objectives you aim to achieve and set measurable targets. This helps both the mentor and mentee to track progress and adjust strategies accordingly.

Challenges and Obstacles
Understand the challenges and obstacles you face in your entrepreneurial journey. It could be related to funding, marketing, team management, or any other aspect of your business. Identifying these challenges helps the mentor provide relevant guidance and support.

Current Business Status
What is your current business status, including key performance indicators (KPIs) such as revenue, customer acquisition, customer retention, market reach, and profitability. Analyzing these metrics helps identify areas of improvement and potential growth opportunities.

Market Analysis
What’s your understanding of the target market, including customer demographics, competition, market trends, and potential opportunities? This data helps the mentor guide the mentee in refining their market strategy and positioning their product or service effectively.

Product or Service Offering
Evaluate your product or service offering, including its unique selling proposition (USP), features, pricing, and quality. Collect feedback from customers, if available, to gauge satisfaction levels and identify areas for improvement or innovation.

Marketing and Sales Strategy
Discuss your marketing and sales strategies, including channels used, customer acquisition methods, branding efforts, and promotional activities. Review conversion rates, customer feedback, and sales data to identify effective tactics and areas for optimization.

Team and Talent
What is your team composition, including key roles, strengths, and weaknesses. Collect feedback on team dynamics, collaboration, and skills gaps. Identify strategies for building a strong team and attracting top talent.

Financial Analysis
If you’re comfortable and where appropriate, review financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Analyze profitability, cost structure, and financial ratios to understand the financial health of the business. Identify opportunities for cost reduction, revenue growth, or financial optimizations.

Personal Development
Discuss your personal and professional development goals. Work on evaluating your skill set, leadership abilities, and areas for improvement. Identify further opportunities for mentorship, training, or networking.

Action Plans and Follow-up
Based on discussions with your mentor, set actionable goals and develop a roadmap for your progress. Define specific tasks, timelines, and responsibilities. Establish a follow-up mechanism to track progress and provide ongoing support and feedback.

Book a mentor meeting

Use the links below to book your Mentor Meetings throughout the period of July 17-Oct 23. Once you’ve booked your session, you should receive an automated email confirmation.

If you have any questions or concerns about your mentorship experience, you can contact Jordan Banyan at Jordan@TribeNetwork.ca. All mentors are bound by the rules of their agreement with Tribe Network, including a nondisclosure agreement developed in the best interest of the mentee.

Meet the Mentees

Check out your fellow entrepreneurs from across Atlantic Canada! To learn more about any of their businesses, click their card.