| Network, Works, Wonders |
| Dear Ian, Two of my peers, who run well know social impact accelerators, recently told me that they think the MCN runs the best program in the space. While honored, I pointed out that different companies need different kinds of resources. I do think we’re the most efficient program in our space (you’ll get the most value for the least investment of time), and I’m particularly proud of our peer-to-peer work. Because it turns out that people who are *currently* addressing the same problems have a lot to tell each other, often more than people who addressed whatever those problems looked like 10 or 20 years ago. Here’s a small sample of the work our alumni companies are doing now: GogyUp is helping US employees learn the essential English they need for their jobs. SouperGirl is growing without or without the help of Shark Tank. Runa which is providing a healthy alternative to energy drinks. RUR Greenlife is playing a central role in recycling in one of the largest cities in the world. Change: Water Labs is solving one of the most important sanitation issues of our times. |
| Funding, Matters |
| Our alumni have gone on to raise or earn more than $1,000,000,000 and positively impact hundreds of thousands of lives. But we’re going to need your help to help the next generation double that. As our entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies, knowing *when* to connect them to the right mentors, investors, and peer networks is where we are most effective. It’s also our greatest bottleneck.We need additional staff to provide the best service to our amazing entrepreneurs. Right now we have the amazing opportunity to bring on an Atlas Corps Fellow for $15,000. Can you donate $250 so we can help the brightest social enterprise minds scale to their biggest impact? Any amount helps.Thank you for your consideration, and for the work that you do. Please contact me if you want to learn more about what we are doing and the impact we are having. The Mentor Capital Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit – your contributions are tax deductible. |
| Bethesda, Green Bethesda Green’s Innovation Lab is expanding its suite of programming to support eco-entrepreneurs at all stages of their business life cycle. At the moment, they are recruiting for our Spring 2020 Accelerator Cohort, and are inviting both entrepreneurs and potential mentors to get in touch. The Accelerator identifies and nurtures green, for-profit startups that have identified product-market fit and are preparing to scale. The Spring 2020 Cohort will run from mid-January through the end of June 2020, with all sessions held at the Bethesda green offices in Bethesda, MD. Eligible companies should either have environmental sustainability woven into the fabric of their business model, or otherwise contribute to a sustainable and responsible food supply chain. Applications are due November 10, 2019. |
| San Francisco, OpportunitiesI will be attending COCAP, Accelerating the Accelerators, SOCAP, and The Social Venture Circle (f.k.a. SVN). If you are at one of these gatherings, come say hello! Our partners at Conveners.org are looking to talk to women, minority, and/or employee owned companies that are 8-figure companies (or in a position to grow to that size) in the industries of laundry, grounds keeping, security, janitorial, or cafeteria management. Our partners at EcoTech Visions are looking for green / clean tech companies that are currently raising money for some investor events in late October or early November. In all three cases, email me (ian.fisk@mentorcapitalnet.org) for details. |