Faith Atabo
A mentor is simply a skilled individual or an expert who’s willing to support and guide a less experienced individual to help achieve professional and personal goals.
Mentors help you navigate the way to evolve and develop, whilst delivering the feedback needed to help you ultimately change your mindset.
Should Mentorship Be Paid For?
There are different schools of thought regarding how mentorship should be done.
While some believe that mentoring should be free and easily accessible for all.
Others believe that Mentorship should be paid for.
Whichever school of thought you agree with, it's fine.
The most important thing is that you or your organization take advantage of the numerous benefits of Mentoring.
Throughout this article, we will be exploring a number of free mentorship platforms in Africa for businesses and a paid mentorship platform I think you should take a look at. Stick with me!
8 Free Mentorship Platforms In Africa For Businesses- Number 1 Will Shock You
- LinkedIn: Linkedin is a social media platform that is career and business oriented. It is a great platform to access free Mentorship because you can connect with professionals in your field and enjoy tons of guidance and insights shared regularly on their feed.
There are over 500 million users on LinkedIn and that’s an extensive range of professionals at your fingertips.
Using the search functionality, you can find mentoring groups or people in your industry.
Reaching out to someone may seem daunting at first, the worst thing they can say is no. This should not discourage you in any way.
However, I don’t suggest reaching out as soon as you connect with them on LinkedIn, asking them to be your mentor, instead take the time to connect with them and understand more about their expertise before popping the question.
In addition, take out time to always make meaningful comments in line with what your intended mentor posts/publishes on LinkedIn. This regular interaction with their page will give you serious leverage when you approach them for mentorship
- PushFar: PushFar is a global, free mentoring platform. This means that it can be accessed by any one from any part of the world, including Africa.
With over 70,000+ members across the globe and professionals in every industry, you’ll be able to find a mentor with ease.
PushFar, uses smart algorithm technology to match you with proposed mentors. The search functionality gives you the freedom to manually find a Mentor. It is accessible and very easy to use.
Lastly, it is available on both desktop and mobile, meaning that mentoring can take place from anywhere in the world.
Finding a mentor on PushFar helps reduce the awkwardness of introductions because you know that the users are there ready to help others grow both personally and professionally.
You can begin your journey with PushFar by searching for them on Google. Don't forget to click signup as a user and get started
- MicroMentor: Although this is an international social platform based in Portland, Oregon, USA. Its activities extend to Africa.
This platform enables goal-oriented entrepreneurs and experienced volunteer business mentors to create powerful connections, solve problems, and build successful businesses together at no cost.
Below are few steps you can take to get started on MicroMentor
- Create a profile: Set up your profile as an entrepreneur. Introduce yourself and your business. Include your vision, your passion, and what you need help with. Ensure you complete your profile as it gives you a better chance of connecting with the best mentor.
- Explore MicroMentor’s Mentor/ Entrepreneur Profiles:search for mentors with the experience you are looking for and learn how these particular mentors like to work with entrepreneurs.
MicroMentor will also recommend mentors that are a good fit for you.
- Reach Out and Connect: After finding a suitable mentor, reachout to them and introduce yourself.
Tell them who you are and what your needs are. They will read your message, take a look at your profile, and let you know if they are available to help.
Once a mentor is available, ensure you plan your mentoring relationship around your needs and your availability.
The average mentoring pair on MicroMentor meets one hour per week over 3 months.
- GrowthAfrica:GrowthAfrica is Africa’s leading impact startup accelerator and business and market consulting company founded in 2002.
With it's headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and offices in Ethiopia, Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, and Uganda, GrowthAfrica aims at growing African entrepreneurs and businesses into exceptional impact enterprises through acceleration activities, strategic advice, and access to investments.
Through its mentorship platform, GrowthAfrica attracts exciting, upcoming enterprises and ambitious entrepreneurs.
As a result, successful entrepreneurs and seasoned investment professionals volunteer their time, experience, and expertise to guide entrepreneurs in their business development.
GrowthAfrica also offers Business Planing Développement, Financial modeling, Business Networking and Leadership Coaching to business owners or startups. Check their website to get started!
- Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A): Founded in 2007 at the Annual Congress of the African Venture Capital Association in Dakar, Senegal, This platform connects startup entrepreneurs with the knowledge, support programs, investors, and mentors they need to succeed.
Upon registration, entrepreneurs have access to the VC4A Startup Academy, mentorship opportunities, VC4A programmes, and the ability to raise capital at no cost.
- Make-IT in Africa: Make-IT in Africa provides mentor boot camps for business mentors and mentees. In joint sessions, mentors and mentees learn about startup financing, strategic planning, and capital raising activities. They also learn different possibilities to get connected with investors.
- StartUp Africa: Through it's mentorship programs and funding opportunities, this platform aims at creating opportunities for young African entrepreneurs.It has empowered unemployed and underemployed African youth to build and sustain businesses, create jobs, and add value to the economy.
Mentoring sessions are carried out on a technological platform with strict monitoring and evaluation
- The Tony Elumelu Foundation(TEF): TEF offers a mentorship platform where mentors and entrepreneurs first need to sign up for the programme.
Upon acceptance for mentorship, access to the mentorship and learning platform is given.
Upon requests from mentees, administrative matching is carried out to match mentors with mentees.
A mentor can be matched with up to four mentees.
Conclusion
Mentoring is key when it comes to the success of a business. Finding the right mentor can prove very valuable for your startup in the long-run. You can choose to take advantage of any of the above free platforms listed or go for a paid mentorship platform like Zedintro. To find out more about Zedintro click here