Mentorship Is More Than Advice, It’s a Catalyst of Change for Social Entrepreneurs

Mentorship isn’t just about giving advice or consulting. For social entrepreneurs, it’s intellectual capital — a powerful tool that helps transform vague ideas or uncertain questions into strategic, financially sustainable, and socially impactful business models.

Most of our educational programs are built around three core pillars: training, mentorship, and financial support. Among these, mentorship plays a central role — not as an add-on, but as the heart of our learning model. One-on-one work with experienced mentors gives participants more than just knowledge. It helps them gain strategic perspective, develop resilience in uncertainty, and map out realistic pathways for growing their social enterprises.

Turning Theory into Practice

Recently, participants from the latest enrolment of our Accelerator of Social Entrepreneurship completed the mentorship stage of the program. Before that, they had gone through four training modules covering business strategy and management, financial planning and fundraising, legal aspects of entrepreneurship, branding, and HR.

In the mentorship phase, 13 entrepreneurs took part in several weeks of personalized online sessions with four expert mentors, working across areas like business modeling, marketing and branding, financial strategy, and sales management.

This was the stage where ideas and knowledge from training began to take shape as tangible business solutions. In one-on-one sessions, entrepreneurs received tailored feedback, identified and addressed weaknesses in their projects, and discovered new opportunities for growth. Mentors didn’t hand out ready-made solutions, they created space for honest dialogue, tough questions, doubts, and creative approaches. On average, each project received 2–3 hours of deep individual mentoring. But beyond those numbers was something much bigger: a shift in mindset, focus on real-world challenges, and the drive to find actionable solutions.

What Did Participants Gain from the Mentorship?

The mentorship program became both a logical continuation of the learning process and a powerful catalyst for change. With individual support, participants were able to:

• Develop a clear understanding of the market they operate in;
• Define their unique value propositions;
• Build hybrid models that combine social impact with financial sustainability;
• Prepare their businesses for potential scaling;
• Create strategies to attract both philanthropic and investment capital.

“The mentorship program combined theory, practical tools, and personalized support, and helped me see my social business idea in a whole new light. I was able to define my social mission, create a financially sound and socially impactful business model, and take part in workshops that taught me how to pitch, engage partners, and work with my target audience. I got valuable advice on scaling and attracting investment. And I met like-minded people I plan to collaborate with in the future. This program wasn’t just a learning experience, it was a turning point. I walked away with stronger knowledge and the confidence to move forward.”
— Liudmyla Naumets, founder of inclusive café Sunny Coffee

These changes didn’t just strengthen business models, they laid the groundwork for lasting social impact in communities: more jobs, greater trust, and local economic stability. Mentorship proved to be a high-return social investment. Every hour of interaction amplified the training, every piece of advice became a decision, and every session turned into action.

By the Numbers:

• 13 entrepreneurs received one-on-one mentorship;
• That’s 70% of all participants in the educational phase of the program;
• 4 mentors worked with the teams — experts in business, marketing, and sales;
• More than 20 hours of sessions were delivered, with 2–3 hours on average per project.

“Being a mentor in an accelerator for entrepreneurs with a social mission is incredibly inspiring. The participants came in with a deep understanding of the societal issues they want to solve — and a real drive to build businesses that create value beyond just profit. Helping them stay focused on their mission while fine-tuning operations is not just professionally fulfilling — it’s a true privilege. The biggest reward is knowing our experience brings them closer to the positive change the world so urgently needs.”
— Mykhaylo Melnyk, PhD, MBA, Co-founder of the Platform for Social Change

Trust as Infrastructure for Change

One of the mentorship program’s most important values was the environment of mutual respect and cooperation. At the Platform for Social Change, we focus not only on sharing knowledge but also on creating a safe, open space where people can be honest about their challenges, explore unconventional ideas, and learn through experience without fear of failure. Mentors didn’t preach “the right way”; they helped participants discover what works for them. This approach led to deep personal and professional growth.

“Small businesses are always about courage — taking risks, adapting fast. Being a mentor for SMEs is both a responsibility and a source of inspiration. I always say I love working with people who really want it all. I feel that energy in every lecture or mentoring session of the Accelerator. Unusual questions, bold thinking, openness — that’s the kind of people I’ve been lucky to meet through this program. I’m happy to be of help, and I’m thankful to be so inspired by them.”
— Elza Sagura, Co-founder and Creative Director at Bloom Büro

These words are more than emotional reflections — they’re proof of the power of a format built on trust. This kind of interaction helps participants feel truly supported and unlock their potential, even when their ideas are still raw or unpolished.

“Being a mentor in this program isn’t just about business. It’s about a mission. It’s about supporting those who are changing the world around them through socially responsible projects. I’m grateful to the Platform for Social Change for the trust, and to the participants for their openness, drive, and inspiration. Together, we weren’t just boosting sales, we were building the foundation for meaningful change.”
— Oleksandra Baiur, Sales Expert

Big Challenges Call for Systemic Solutions

Many of the participants work with local issues, but mentorship helped them develop a systemic mindset. Their ideas became sharper, their business models stronger, and their approaches more strategic. Mentors guided them in embedding value-based principles, social impact, and financial sustainability into each project — the three pillars that help social enterprises compete in today’s world.

After completing this round of the mentorship program, one thing became crystal clear: mentorship must be an essential part of recovery programs. Because beyond financial support, communities and social entrepreneurs need experience, partnerships, vision, and encouragement. That’s what mentorship provides — and that’s what can shift the system.

“During the mentorship stage of the Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator, I shared my business idea and received a detailed action plan in return. It helped clarify my thinking, answer key questions, and dissolve the doubts I had. Mykhailo Sorokin helped me understand exactly how my project should be described. With Mykhailo Melnyk, we talked about core business activities, and he showed me how to use my knowledge to generate additional income — a key insight that helped me understand how to build a turnkey product.”
— Oleksandr Dudko, founder of AgroKvity, a greenhouse-based enterprise.

Mentorship isn’t just a journey from “Can I do this?” to “Here’s how I will.” It’s a culture of collaboration that shapes a new generation of social enterprise leaders — confident, strategic, and impact-driven. We believe local ideas can become systemic solutions, and meaningful support can lead to lasting development.