Coaching

Get a coach to help you grow your startup

‪Ye!‬ coaches are experienced professionals from various sectors with various backgrounds. They are chartered accountants, strategy consultants, marketing experts, HR specialists, lawyers, bankers, senior executives, experienced investors or successful entrepreneurs from around the world. They take time out of their busy schedules to help young entrepreneurs with some of their toughest challenges. And the best thing is: They do it for free for ‪Ye!‬ Community members! 

A coach can help you take your enterprise to the next level. For example, a coach can help you:

  • Improve your business plan
  • Gain in-depth industry specific knowledge
  • Develop a sound business strategy
  • Advice you on topics such as marketing, sales, legal, accounting, IT, and management
  • Get investment ready!

How to get coaching?

‪Ye!‬ member can request for coaching directly through the ‪Ye!‬ Community website:

  1. Find a coach in our coach database
  2. Send a message to the coach, specifying your coaching request or your question concretely
    *Currently, a member can send a maximum of 3 messages to coaches per month through the website.
  3. You will receive the coach’s reply in your email. You can then take it from there to arrange your first call or meeting and begin the coaching

Alternatively, you can send a coaching application to the ‪Ye!‬ team.

  1. Submit an online application
  2. ‪Ye!‬ reviews your application and notifies you when there’s a coach that matches your coaching need   
  3. ‪Ye!‬ connects you to the coach. Coaching begins!

FAQ

  1. Am I guaranteed a coach when I apply?
    ​Unfortunately no. As much as we would like to help everyone, our coaching resources are limited. You are unlikely to get a coach if 1) the coach is already occupied; 2) your coaching request does not match the expertise and skills of the coach; 3) there’s no matching coach available (when you apply indirectly through the ‪Ye!‬ team)
  2. How long does it take to receive a reply?
    This depends on the coach’s availability and if the coach is able to support you. If you submit the application to the ‪Ye!‬ team, it will take about one week to receive a feedback from us.
  3. How does the coaching work?
    Most coaches and entrepreneurs communicate via phone calls, Skype, Google Hangout, or FaceTime. You can also set up physical meetings if you and your coach are located in the same city. 
  4. How long does the coaching last?
    This is up to you and the coach to decide. In practice, we see that most coaches and entrepreneurs speak weekly or bi-weekly and stay in active contact for about three months. We encourage you to set up some milestones with the coach and agree on the coaching duration before you start the coaching relationship.

Don't take our word for it

“My name is Ondieki. I am a young entrepreneur in Kenya. I am the Founder and CEO of Wallenje, a mobile application that helps consumers to make mobile payments and manage their loyalty programmes. To scale up Wallenje, I am looking to gain some knowledge on strategic planning and to learn how to better manage my team.”

“I am Marc. I am a retired banker at Citi. I have long experience in banking, financial services and management, as well as expertise in mobile banking. I'm glad to help Ondieki sharpen his business strategy and improve his management techniques.”

Submit a coaching application to ‪Ye!‬

Before you apply, check if you meet the criteria:

  • You are under 35 years’ old
  • You are a founder or co-founder of a startup
  • Your startup has grown beyond the ideation stage
You need to become a full member before you can apply for coaching.