The Mentor Capital Network (MCN) launched our first cohort in the spring 2004. In the 20 years since then, we have worked with more than 1,000 companies based in over 100 countries. While it is difficult to quantify the value of mentoring conversations, we know that our alumni are 32% more likely to be in business companies to other applicants from the same years that made it as far as our interview round.
And we're still going strong. We connect social entrepreneurs to mentors who have addressed similar challenges but are not competing for the same customers. Our partners at Unlock Capital add to this by helping companies raise the funds they are looking for.
Spring 2024 Cohort (In partnership with the CDVCA Unlock Capital Program) is open to companies creating jobs in low-income regions of the United States. Apply by May 31st at www.unlockcapital.org.
MCN Alum Rowan Alawi has put together group to help displaced Palestinians find remote tech work. These are high-skill individuals. If you are looking for tech help at all levels, check out: https://pali-tech.com/.
03/07/2024
We are, for the first time in our 20 year history, turning over (some of) our application process to our partner. We've been working with the Unlock Capital for a few years in a partnership that combines our expert mentors with their wide network of funders. If you are an early-stage USA-based for-profit social enterprise that is (a) operating in a CDFI Investment area (most low- to moderate- income locations) and (b) currently raising money (of any kind) I strongly encourage you to apply at https://www.unlockcapital.org/. If accepted, you get MCN support as well. If you are outside of the USA, apply directly to the MCN via mentorcapitalnet.org. Feel free to share.
09/29/2022
Maternova, company empowering global health through innovative solutions, have signed an agreement with BirthTech, to distribute its Preemie-Test in around the world. This is the first medical device clinically proven to accurately assess the gestational age of a newborn, which is the major marker of neonatal survival.
Maternova has signed a distribution agreement with BirthTech for Preemie-Test, a noninvasive medical device that uses light to spot preterm newborns.
09/28/2022
Husk Power Systems, microgrid energy company, launches Sunshot Initiative a multiyear effort to benefit at least 2 million Nigerians with reliable, renewable energy by 2026. The initiative consists of a three-part strategy: demonstrating accelerated microgrid deployment at scale; improving livelihoods by providing financing for the purchase of energy efficiency appliances and catalyzing greater local socio-economic development by rolling out productive use activities.
“Husk Power will do its utmost to support federal, state and local governments to deliver on Nigeria’s goal of universal electrification by
09/28/2022
Wecyclers, a recycling processing company has partnered Nestle Nigeria, PLC, Lagos Business School to reduce plastic waste. The alliance will allow Wecyclers to expand its plastic waste recovery systems in the country, and which will also facilitate the creation of 40 first-hand jobs in the country and the registration of at least 15,000 new subscribers in their circuit.
Nestlé's Nigerian subsidiary entered into a partnership agreement with Wecyclers on the 20th of September 2019 to accelerate the process of collecting and recycling plastic waste in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
09/27/2022
Soupergirl announced that it had become the first consumer packaged goods company to obtain Fair Food certification in an effort to protect farm workers’ rights. Soupergirl’s tomato gazpacho line now carries the Fair Food label. The Fair Food Program is a national effort to ensure just wages and humane working conditions for migrant workers who pick America’s fruits and vegetables.
Plant-based brand Soupergirl announces it has become the first consumer packaged goods company to obtain Fair Food certification in an effort to protect farm
09/27/2022
CleanChoice Energy, a cleantech company that empowers people and businesses to access climate solutions, announced a new partnership with SmartAC.com, an HVAC monitoring service, to provide greater energy efficiency in users' homes. Resulting from this partnership, clients will have the means to monitor the effectiveness of their HVAC systems, receive warnings when repairs are required, and reduce their carbon footprint by avoiding frequent inefficiencies. https://tinyurl.com/vvwc5bhz
/PRNewswire/ -- CleanChoice Energy, a cleantech company that empowers people and businesses to access climate solutions, announced a new partnership with...
09/26/2022
Sanergy, a company specializing in valorization of organic waste in Nairobi, Kenya, have got deal on investment to enable them in increasing its capacity to recycle organic waste into agricultural and energy products such as insect-based proteins for animal feed, organic fertilizer for regenerative agriculture and biomass fuel for cooking.
In Kenya, Sanergy, a company specialising in the valorisation of organic waste, has joined forces with the Anglo American mining group based in London, UK. The two companies want to promote sustainable agriculture through the valorisation of organic waste.
09/23/2022
Komaza, based in Kenya, is using micro-forestry to disrupt the forestry model in Africa. Komaza Forestry Ltd, opens second factory in Nyandarua in order to continue to empower smallholder farmers to make use of their previously unproductive land to produce timber for sale into industrial markets, use waste materials as a sustainable source of fuelwood, and to generate income.
https://nation.africaKomaza Forestry Ltd, a Coast-based forestry company dealing with planting of trees for timber, opens second factory in Nyandarua.
09/23/2022
Ingressive Capital, a $10 million venture capital fund started by Maya Horgan Famodu with its headquarters in Nigeria, celebrated in 2022 five years since it was started. The fund is focused on leveling the playing field for female entrepreneurs: About 40% of its portfolio companies are founded or co-founded by women.
On average, Ingressive Capital provides between $200,000 and $400,000 in equity funding, and often targets 10% ownership in its startups.
09/22/2022
CSRHub is company with data service that provides business intelligence and supports ESG decision making, covering 50,000 companies. This company has recently added data from GaiaLens—a fintech platform that integrates ESG information from both structured and unstructured sources. Its data complements and helps complete CSRHub’s consensus ESG performance signal—which is used by corporate managers, investors, consultants, and researchers.
CSRHub has recently added data from GaiaLens—a fintech platform that integrates ESG information from both structured and unstructured sources. GaiaLens produces real-time ESG signals on 17,000 publ...
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The Mentor Capital Network (MCN) identifies and supports entrepreneurs who are starting or growing businesses to solve the world’s biggest social, economic, and environmental problems at scale in a way that others will be inspired to follow their lead.
We provide this support by connecting entrepreneurs with peers and more senior advisers who are addressing similar challenges, but not competing for the same customers.
We do this in a way that takes as little of the entrepreneurs’ time as possible.
Since our founding in 2002, we have helped entrepreneurs create more than 10,000 jobs in companies that are deploying more than a billion dollars in combined annual revenue and follow-on funding.
Apply To Our Program Here.
MCN applicants must be starting or growing a for-profit company with a social, environmental, and/or cultural mission that makes your company stronger. (If your company is a non-profit, see our friends at The Unfunded List.) You can be working anywhere in the world, and your team can be of any age or educational level. We accept applications in English, Spanish, or French, although you must be able to communicate about logistical issues with our team in English. We support companies who are raising professional investment, as well as companies that whose only cash flow comes from sales.
As of June, 2019, we have a rolling admissions process, working with a small number of companies each month. Sponsors and partners who would like to create cohorts around your particular interests can learn more about that here.
How Our Program Works
The first step of our program involves provide constructive feedback on your business plan (both in writing and via conference calls), and using that feedback as a way for entrepreneurs and mentors to choose each other.
After you fill out our short application, we will contact you to let you know if we would like you to submit a full business plan. Once we receive that plan, three things will happen.
First, MCN staff will work with you to get a sense of who the best people in our network are to engage with you. This part of the program generally happens between 2 and 4 weeks after we accept your business plan. Your commitment for this portion is to write a business plan, and to participate in one or two calls with the MCN team.
Then, we will curate a team of 10-12 individuals to review your business plan from specific and diverse viewpoints. Most of our reviewers have had experience building multiple-bottom-line companies. This part of the program generally takes place over 4 to 6 weeks. Your commitment for this portion involves participating in one or two conference calls, reviewing the feedback documents (usually around 30 pages), and following up with potential mentors who you found to be particularly helpful.
Next, we will put together peer-to-peer calls among entrepreneurs and experts who are addressing the same challenges, but not competing for the same customers. This allows you to have high-level conversations right off the bat. These calls usually take place within a few months of the business plan review.
Finally, we are a network. Once you are part of our program, we are here to support you where we can. We have alumni from more than a decade ago who are still actively involved in our work.
