SUPPORT AT The Commons
Become a Mentor or Facilitator
Support innovators and entrepreneurs by sharing mentorship, insights and expertise.
What to Expect
Mentors help entrepreneurs navigate their path. Volunteers interested in giving back to Denver’s diverse entrepreneurial community through mentorship can get involved in a variety of ways.
Mentorship Opportunites
Champions
Champions is a mentoring program at The Commons designed to guide, inspire and support entrepreneurs that have been in business for 2-5 years and are looking to expand/scale.
Cohorts meet once a month for 4 months to cover:
- Mastering Mentorship Relationships & Local Resources
- Advancing Marketing & Branding Goals
- Building Sales & Business Development Confidence
- Meeting the Challenges of Growth & Scale
Mentor Criteria:
- Startup consultant who can provide expertise on one of the four session topics
- Can provide a 2-hour informal presentation/activity for the cohort
- Passionate about helping startups grow
CO.STARTERS
This ten-week national accelerator program equips entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn an idea or passion into a sustainable and thriving business.
Cohorts meet Wednesday nights to discuss the following topics:
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Knowing Your Customer (Customer, Problem, Alternatives, Idea Testing
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Finding The Right Solution (Solution, Benefit, Advantage, Starting Small, Brand Identity)
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Getting the Relationship Right (Marketing & Message; Getting, Keeping & Growing Customers)
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Building Blocks (Distribution, Revenue, Typical Offering, Price)
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Structures & Systems (Legal & Accounting Considerations)
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Discovering the Bottom Line (Startup & Ongoing Needs, Fixed & Variable Costs, Break-Even Point)
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Financial Modeling (Break-Even Point, Sales Projections, Cash Flow, Raising Capital
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Planning for Growth (Growth Plans, Goal Setting, Celebration Prep).
Mentor Criteria:
- Entrepreneurs who can share advice on their business journeys specific to the session topic
- Can answer questions, provide advice and feedback
- Passionate about helping startups grow
Power hours
Regular group mentorship sessions connecting entrepreneurs, subject matter and industry experts, investors and professionals providing feedback on startups, products and services, industries and fledgling ideas.
Occurs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays in 90min time frames. Mentors volunteer for a one-off session, monthly sessions or quarterly based on their time and capacity. Example topics include:
- 2021 Business Strategy
- Hiring Tips For Startups
- Vision and Mindfulness in Entrepreneurship
- Grassroots Marketing
- Etc.
Mentor Criteria:
- Subject matter and industry experts
- Can answer questions, provide advice and feedback
- Passionate about helping startups grow
Startup Space
Connect with entrepreneurs and innovators, share real-time advice, and find all the latest news and events.
Click here – Android or iOS – to download the Startup Space app and follow these steps:
- Join The Commons on Champa’s private network
- Create your profile and set your persona
- Share any relevant news, events, webinars, etc!
- Follow your areas of interest and ask/answer questions to join the conversation
Who Becomes a Mentor
Experienced Entrepreneurs
Subject Matter Experts
Business Leaders
Facilitator Opportunites
CO.STARTERS Facilitator
The Facilitator’s role is to guide participants through CO.STARTERS programs by asking the right questions, drawing on the knowledge in the room, and using available resources and connections in the community to point participants in the right direction. The Facilitator works closely with The Commons on Champa’s Program Coordinator to ensure a quality program that meets the needs of local entrepreneurs.
Facilitator Responsibilities:
- Facilitate, rather than teach, the group through the CO.STARTERS workbook content for three hours every week for ten weeks
- Provide weekly feedback to cohort participants regarding their pitches and business ideas in a manner that is critical and challenges their ideas but is well-received
- Co-promote recruitment efforts encouraging Denver’s entrepreneurial community to apply via social media and personal email outreach
- Spend a minimum of an hour per week during the cohort reviewing the content and preparing for the session
Mentor Criteria:
- Available as needed or approximately 5 hours a week during ten-week program. Sessions occur every Wednesday night from 5:45pm-9pm
- Available to host weekly 10-30min check-ins with Program Coordinator regarding updates on session details
- 1-hour each week for you to prepare for sessions – this may include biweekly support meetings with an outgoing facilitator
- Passionate about helping startups grow
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Who Becomes a Mentor
Experienced Entrepreneurs
Subject Matter Experts
Business Leaders
Recent Mentors
Rob McColgan
Co-Founder & CEO, Modern Market Eatery
Karen Bartlett
Director, Kite + Dart Group
Ryan Cobbins
Owner, Coffee at The Point
LJ Suzuki
Fractional CFO, CFOShare
Denise Burgess
President and CEO, Burgess Services
Jay Mays
Managing Partner, Pitch Lab
Susan Frew
President, Sunshine Plumbing Heating Air LLC
Colin McIntosh
CEO, Sheets & Giggles
Suzy Schultz
President, Apis Business Solutions
Sean Springman
Founder & Partner, 3 Bridges Consulting
Recent Facilitators
Candice Kingston
Founder, Kingston Coaching
Beth Birchfield
Chief Sustainaility Officer and Co-Founder, Remark.eco
Ira Coleman
Founder, Button & Zipper
Julianna Nelson
Founder & CEO, Phillinnova
Leontyne Ashmore
Founder, Lisbeth Joe
Get Involved at The Commons
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