How Nudge runs its mentoring program for Caribbean entrepreneurs on Mentorly

About the organization

Nudge is a social enterprise founded in 2020 by Trinidadians Anya Ayoung-Chee and Julie Avey. It serves a community of approximately 200 entrepreneurs from three territories: Trinidad, St Lucia and Barbados. Nudge Up to Rise Up is open to Nudge entrepreneurs at any stage, whether they are starting a business, improving its performance or scaling it, and each receives one-on-one guidance that is tailored and culturally aligned.

The challenge

Entrepreneurs in the region often lack the contacts and the access to expertise that would help them grow. Nudge also saw a common problem with mentoring programs: once a mentor and a mentee are paired, nobody knows whether the guidance stays relevant, regular and effective.

How it uses Mentorly

On Mentorly, mentees choose their own mentor based on their needs or interests. Scheduling and communication between mentors and mentees happen on the platform, so sessions are spent on the business rather than on logistics. Mentors and mentees submit feedback, ratings and reviews, and Nudge uses the program data to improve its accessibility and inclusiveness.

Results

Nudge describes Mentorly as a cultural fit and says the platform helps it track and celebrate program wins. Entrepreneurs without business mentors close to home connect with industry leaders across the Caribbean and beyond, and the program has a structured way to find the right mentor and hold productive sessions.

What other programs can take from it

For a social enterprise serving entrepreneurs across several countries, the model is to let mentees pick their mentor, keep scheduling on the platform, and read the feedback data to adjust the program as it grows.

Questions