Grow With Guidance.
Mentor. Connect. Thrive.
The 1909 Mentor Program connects experienced mentors with entrepreneurs to help start, scale, and thrive in Palm Beach County. Whether you're a founder seeking guidance or a mentor ready to give back — there's a place for you here.
What Is the 1909 Mentor Program?
1909 is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to the holistic growth of entrepreneurs, small business owners, creative freelancers, and innovators. Our Mentor Program gives you access to experienced professionals who can help you navigate your biggest business challenges — for free.
Specialty Mentorship
Get targeted guidance based on a mentor's specific expertise. Perfect for one-off tactical sessions when you need help with a specific challenge — like pricing, marketing, legal, or fundraising.
Ongoing Mentorship
Build a deeper relationship with a mentor through regular one-on-one or group sessions. Great for founders working through larger strategic questions over time.
Everything You Need to Know
This guide covers your responsibilities, core beliefs, and how the program works. Please read through each section — you'll confirm your understanding below.
📖 1909 Mentee Program Guide
- Identify Your Needs & Schedule: Determine your mentorship needs and coordinate meetings directly with your mentor.
- Prepare an Agenda: Submit a meeting agenda to your mentor beforehand so the session is focused and aligned with your priorities.
- Provide Feedback: Complete a feedback form after each session. This is crucial for tracking mentor hours and improving the program.
- Report Issues: If any concerns arise, contact The 1909 Team at members@weare1909.org.
- Assertiveness: Take charge of your own growth and be open to honest feedback.
- Gratitude & Engagement: Show appreciation for your mentor's time and follow through on action items discussed during sessions.
- Diversity & Learning: Value diverse perspectives and remain willing to learn, even when it challenges your assumptions.
Our mentors commit to the following beliefs:
- Interest & Fit: Mentors choose mentees that genuinely interest them, ensuring the relationship is meaningful for both sides.
- Focus on Development: Mentors nurture you as an entrepreneur, not just your idea.
- Selflessness & Reciprocity: Mentors offer guidance without selling services. This is a give-first community.
- Respect & Challenge: Mentors will challenge you respectfully and celebrate your progress along the way.
Step 1 — Empower: Arrive with a prepared agenda. This ensures the session is focused on your priorities.
Step 2 — Share Expertise: Your mentor shares insights from their own experience — what has worked, what hasn't, and how it relates to your specific challenges.
Step 3 — Open-Ended Questions: Expect questions like "What's holding you back?" or "What options have you considered?" These deepen the conversation and encourage critical thinking.
Step 4 — Ground: End by sharing your biggest takeaway. Set clear action steps to maintain accountability before the next meeting.
- Community Engagement through networking events and mixers.
- Access to Resources via the #mentoring Slack channel.
- Workshops & Facilitator Sessions led by subject matter experts on topics chosen by the community.
- Recommended Reading: The Coaching Habit (recommended by Jeremy Pelley) and Steve Blank's free online course.
✅ Confirm Your Understanding
Please review the guide above and check each item to confirm you understand your responsibilities as a mentee.
How to Get a Mentor
Follow these steps to connect with the right mentor for your needs.
Identify Your Needs
Before browsing, get clear on what you need help with. Is it a specific tactical challenge (pricing, marketing, legal) or ongoing strategic guidance? This will help you pick the right mentor and session type.
Browse the Mentor Directory
Log into the 1909 member portal and access the Mentor Directory. Filter by specialty, read bios, and find someone whose experience aligns with your needs.
Reach Out & Schedule
Contact your chosen mentor through the directory or the #mentoring Slack channel. Coordinate a meeting time that works for both of you.
Prepare Your Agenda
Before each session, send your mentor a brief agenda with the topics or questions you want to cover. This ensures productive, focused sessions.
Meet, Learn & Report
Have your session, take notes, and complete the feedback form afterwards. This is required and helps us track mentor hours and improve the program.
💡 Tips & Best Practices for Getting the Most from Mentorship
- Be specific. Vague questions get vague answers. Come prepared with concrete challenges or decisions you're working through.
- Listen more than you talk. You're here to learn from someone with experience — give them room to share.
- Follow through. Nothing erodes a mentor relationship faster than not acting on their advice. Even if you decide to go a different direction, communicate that.
- Try multiple mentors. Different mentors bring different perspectives. You don't have to commit to one person for everything.
- Respect their time. Show up on time, stay on agenda, and keep sessions focused. Your mentors are volunteering — value that gift.
- Use the Slack channel. The #mentoring channel is a great place to ask quick questions, get recommendations, and connect with the broader community.
Give Back. Shape the Future.
As a 1909 Mentor, you'll share your expertise with driven entrepreneurs in Palm Beach County. Whether you offer one-off tactical sessions or commit to ongoing mentorship, your experience can make a real difference in someone's entrepreneurial journey.
Specialty Mentorship
Share guidance based on your specific expertise through one-off tactical sessions. Founders come to you with focused questions in your area — finance, marketing, operations, design, tech, and more.
Ongoing Mentorship
Build deeper relationships with mentees through regular one-on-one or group sessions. Guide founders through strategic decisions, growth challenges, and long-term planning.
🧭 Mentor Core Beliefs
Choose mentees that genuinely interest you. The best mentorship happens when there's authentic curiosity and mutual respect between mentor and mentee.
Nurture the person, not just the idea. Help founders develop as leaders, decision-makers, and resilient business owners — skills that last regardless of what venture they pursue.
Offer guidance without selling your services. This is a give-first community. The reward is in helping someone grow — and the unexpected connections that come from being generous with your time.
Challenge mentees respectfully and celebrate their progress. Your role is to ask the hard questions, push thinking, and encourage action — while always maintaining a supportive environment.
What You Get as a 1909 Mentor
Monthly Office Hours
30-minute sessions for tactical feedback and peer support with other mentors. A space to share insights and best practices.
Quarterly Training
60-minute sessions to hone your mentorship skills, get 1909 programming updates, and share founder success stories.
Community & Networking
Access to mentor mixers, networking events, the #mentoring Slack channel, and a community of like-minded professionals.
Mentor Training & Support Sessions
All sessions are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 4:00 PM.
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
| Thursday, February 13 | Office Hours |
| Thursday, March 13 | Office Hours |
| Thursday, April 10 | Quarterly Training |
| Thursday, May 8 | Office Hours |
| Wednesday, June 25 | Mentor Mixer |
| Thursday, July 10 | Quarterly Training |
| Thursday, August 14 | Office Hours |
| Thursday, September 11 | Office Hours |
| Thursday, October 9 | Quarterly Training |
| Thursday, November 13 | Office Hours |
| Thursday, December 11 | Office Hours |
How to Become a 1909 Mentor
Apply Online
Fill out the mentor application form. Tell us about your background, expertise, and what you'd like to offer the 1909 community.
Attend Quarterly Training
New mentors attend a 60-minute onboarding training held in January, April, July, or October. You'll learn the program structure, best practices, and meet fellow mentors.
Set Up Your Profile
Complete your mentor profile with your expertise, availability, and interests. This is shared in the member portal so founders can find and connect with you.
Start Mentoring
Get added to the #mentoring Slack channel, start accepting sessions, and begin making an impact in the Palm Beach County entrepreneurial ecosystem.