Become a Mentor, Join the Coffee Shop!

What is the Coffee Shop

The Coffee Shop is an online community where CIE clients connect with other entrepreneurs, learn from volunteer mentors, and build professional networks. At the Coffee Shop, mentors can join a community of courageous and empowered individuals working toward economic self-sufficiency through small business ownership and contributing to a vibrant local economy and thriving communities.

The Role

Your role as a Business Mentor is vital in guiding emerging entrepreneurs through one-on-one consultations, offering essential advice, and fostering valuable connections to help them start or expand their small businesses. Whether you're fluent in Spanish or connecting remotely, your expertise can impact small businesses' growth and success. Time commitment is flexible, with a minimum of at least one hour a month and at least one mentee. 

Coffee Shop Features

  • Mentorship Program: This structured program consists of monthly meetings with the same mentee(s) where mentors help mentees launch and navigate the next stage of their business. There will be a guide for the four total sessions spanning four months with a curated curriculum.

  • Office Hours provide the opportunity for mentors to host interactive sessions on topics of their choice and expertise to lead and facilitate discussions among emerging social entrepreneurs in the community through the preferred virtual method of their choice or in-person.

  • Introductions are monthly matchups where mentors and emerging entrepreneurs connect for an informal conversation on shared interests or goals. Mentors will receive Introductions in their inboxes with conversation starters to keep ideas and conversations flowing. The email is used to set up a time to meet matches virtually or in person. After every interaction, mentors receive a feedback survey to report on their interaction.

Mentor Responsibilities

  • Participate in CIE’s volunteer orientation.

  • Participate in CIE’s Start Simple Business Course.

  • Help keep the person you are mentoring stay focused on their business goals. 

  • Introduce the person you are mentoring to your personal network.

  • Attend quarterly mentor meetings/trainings and provide feedback on how to improve CIE’s mentor program.

  • Report on mentor duties once per quarter.

Qualifications

  • Business Mentors must have experience in starting or growing their own business or have basic knowledge of at least two areas of small business development. Special consideration will be given to former CIE clients who have successfully launched their own businesses. 

  • Business mentors must be passionate about contributing to the mission of CIE and supporting small business owners and must believe in the abilities and potential of the people we serve.

  • Business Mentors must be able to suspend judgment and listen deeply. They must be patient and understand the many personal obstacles to business ownership our clients encounter. An interest in developing “poverty competency” by learning about the structural causes of poverty and poverty realities is a plus. 

Please contact melissa.suwuh@cie-nw.org with additional questions.