The next chapter has started
The next chapter has started
Some updates for our community about our next chapter.
Dear Community ❤️
We hope this message finds you well. As a valued member of our mentoring community, we are excited to share some significant updates and insights about our platform. Over the past four years, we have been incredibly grateful for the support of our members, friends, and followers. We have grown to an incredible number of 12,000 members. More than 500,000 users visited the website last year. Overall, way more than 30,000 sessions were hosted on the platform. This is incredible - and it makes us very proud. However, running such a platform is not for free: Server costs, sending emails, lawyers, trust advisors, etc. The platform was not built by an expensive team of engineers but by our founders in their free time, taking away the time they have with their kids. We are very keen to continue this outstanding journey, but the challenges we have faced have prompted us to rethink and improve our approach to funding and sustaining the platform.
Reflecting on Our Journey
Since our inception in April 2020, we have relied on the generosity of our donors, mentors, and some lovely volunteers to keep our platform running. Despite our best efforts, only a small number of you (about 250 people and a few companies such as LinkedIn and Product People) have donated to support our platform over the past four years. Interestingly, the majority of individual donors have been younger mentees from countries such as Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, or Ukraine, who themselves should be receiving support.
This paradox highlighted an important issue: while many of our mentees could contribute a small amount to help sustain the platform, there is still a feeling that getting something for “free” is a good thing.
Introducing Flexible Payment Options
To address these challenges and ensure the sustainability of our platform, we are introducing a new approach that includes flexible payment options. Here’s how it works:
Payment Screens After Sessions:
After booking a session and once the session has happened, mentees will see a new payment screen. This screen will offer several options to contribute to the platform's maintenance, including getting the service for free.
Flexible Payment Options:
Skip Payment: We believe in and trust people, so we are still free! If a mentee chooses to skip payment, they are welcome to do so without any judgment. We understand that not everyone can afford to pay, and we remain committed to providing access to mentorship for all.
Community Support: If a mentee cannot afford to pay or if they work for a non-profit, they can opt to receive support from the community. We have always believed in the power of community, and we will ensure that you are covered. We will make sure to use donations, including those that have been received over the last years, to support the right people.
Voluntary Payment: Mentees can choose to pay any amount they feel comfortable with. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us maintain and improve the platform.
Employer Reimbursement: If a mentee's employer offers an education budget, they can select this option to get a reimbursement form for the sessions. This is a great way to leverage existing benefits and support the platform at no additional personal cost.
Why These Changes Matter
These changes are not just about financial sustainability; they are about fairness and inclusivity. We want to ensure that:
Everyone Can Contribute: Many mentees are in a position to contribute a small amount, which collectively makes a big difference.
Support Those in Need: By encouraging those who can pay to do so, we can continue to offer free or subsidized sessions to students, the elderly, the unemployed, and others who are struggling.
Expand Our Services: With a more sustainable funding model, we can introduce new features and services, such as professional mentoring sessions at defined price points, providing a broader spectrum of mentoring services.
Sharpening the non-profit Profile: We make sure that donations really support those in need! That’s extremely important for us. You can find our new non-profit arm's website here. Donations can be made here: https://www.mentoring-club.org/donate
New Organizational Structure
To better serve our community and streamline operations, we have created a new organization, "11 Mentors," which will take over the platform's operations and development. Our non-profit entity, "The Mentoring Club gUG," will continue to offer its services on this platform but will focus on those in need, such as students, the elderly, the unemployed, or those who are struggling. This dual structure allows us to balance sustainability with our commitment to social impact.
How You Can Support Us
In addition to financial contributions, there are several other ways you can support our community:
Spread the Word: Share your positive experiences with others. Word of mouth is a powerful tool in growing our community.
Volunteer: Offer your skills and time to help us with various tasks, from marketing to platform development.
Provide Feedback: Help us improve by providing feedback on your experiences and suggestions for new features.
Corporate Sponsorship: If you work for a company that supports educational initiatives, consider introducing us for potential sponsorships or partnerships. Find more info here: https://www.mentoring-club.com/partners
B2B Mentoring Platforms: If you own or work for a company that wants to host its own mentoring platform, contact us. We have created some B2B features that might be very interesting for you.
Looking Forward
We are excited about these changes and believe they will help us support our community more effectively. By introducing flexible payment options, we can create a fair and supportive environment for all our members. We believe that this new approach will not only ensure the platform's sustainability but also enable us to offer more diverse and impactful mentoring services.
We are looking forward to the next chapters and to growing together with your continued support. Thank you for being a part of our community and for your ongoing support. Together, we can make a difference and help each other grow.
Warm regards,
Bastian and Sebastian
11 Mentors UG - The Mentoring Club
Berlin, Germany