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

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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.

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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
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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
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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.

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Cohorts meet Wednesday nights to discuss the following topics:

  • Knowing Your Customer (Customer, Problem, Alternatives, Idea Testing

  • Finding The Right Solution (Solution, Benefit, Advantage, Starting Small, Brand Identity)

  • Getting the Relationship Right (Marketing & Message; Getting, Keeping & Growing Customers)

  • Building Blocks (Distribution, Revenue, Typical Offering, Price)

  • Structures & Systems (Legal & Accounting Considerations)

  • Discovering the Bottom Line (Startup & Ongoing Needs, Fixed & Variable Costs, Break-Even Point)

  • Financial Modeling (Break-Even Point, Sales Projections, Cash Flow, Raising Capital

  • Planning for Growth (Growth Plans, Goal Setting, Celebration Prep).

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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
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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.

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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.
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    Mentor Criteria:

    • Subject matter and industry experts
    • Can answer questions, provide advice and feedback
    • Passionate about helping startups grow
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    Startup Space

    Connect with entrepreneurs and innovators, share real-time advice, and find all the latest news and events.

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    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

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        Experienced Entrepreneurs

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        Subject Matter Experts

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        Business Leaders

        Facilitator Opportunites

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        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.

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        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
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        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

          Who Becomes a Mentor

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          Experienced Entrepreneurs

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          Subject Matter Experts

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          Business Leaders

          Recent Mentors

          Rob McColgan

          Rob McColgan

          Co-Founder & CEO, Modern Market Eatery

          Karen Bartlett

          Karen Bartlett

          Director, Kite + Dart Group

          Ryan Cobbins

          Ryan Cobbins

          Owner, Coffee at The Point

          LJ Suzuki

          LJ Suzuki

          Fractional CFO, CFOShare

          Denise Burgess

          Denise Burgess

          President and CEO, Burgess Services

          Jay Mays

          Jay Mays

          Managing Partner, Pitch Lab

          Susan Frew

          Susan Frew

          President, Sunshine Plumbing Heating Air LLC

          Colin McIntosh

          Colin McIntosh

          CEO, Sheets & Giggles

          Suzy Schultz

          Suzy Schultz

          President, Apis Business Solutions

          Sean Springman

          Sean Springman

          Founder & Partner, 3 Bridges Consulting

          Recent Facilitators 

          Candice Kingston

          Candice Kingston

          Founder, Kingston Coaching

          Beth Birchfield

          Beth Birchfield

          Chief Sustainaility Officer and Co-Founder, Remark.eco

          Ira Coleman

          Ira Coleman

          Founder, Button & Zipper

          Julianna Nelson

          Julianna Nelson

          Founder & CEO, Phillinnova

          Leontyne Ashmore

          Leontyne Ashmore

          Founder, Lisbeth Joe

          Meet a Mentor

          Kathy Holmes | President and Founder of Holmes Consulting Group

          Kathy Holmes has dedicated her life to developing the potential of others. Kathy, a founding member of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Women’s Council, helped to launch Women on the Rise, a Commons program connecting women to role models, resources and support. Kathy also helped develop Champions and Power Hours at The Common to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to gain insights and feedback from the region’s leading entrepreneurs and experts as they look to build businesses with lasting value in our community.

          Get Involved at The Commons

          Facilitator

          Experienced entrepreneurs guide participants through mentorship and accelerator programs.

          Volunteer

          Lend time, energy or expertise to help The Commons community thrive.

          Sponsor

          Demonstrate your commitment to Denver’s entrepreneur community.

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          Visit The Commons

          1245 Champa Street
          Denver, CO 80204
          720-484-5400
          info@thecommons.co

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          The Commons on Champa is a 501(c)3 Managed & Operated by the Downtown Denver Partnership.