Organization Mission

Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) supports the private sector and foundations to become transformative partners in development through research, advocacy for inclusive business, facilitation of public-private dialogue and brokering partnerships. IICPSD, established in 2011 in partnership with the Government of Turkey, is one of UNDP”s six Global Policy Centres. It leads UNDP’s global work on private sector and foundations and supports UNDP’s offices all over the world. The Center focuses on four thematic areas:

1. Inclusive Business;

2. Private Sector Engagement in Skills Development;

3. Impact investing;

4. Resilience and Crisis Response.

The Center also hosts four global initiatives: Business Call to Action, SDG Philanthropy Platform, Global Islamic Finance and Impact Investing Platform and Connecting Business Initiative.

Context

VDBI Mentors act as partners in participants’ entrepreneurial journey, providing actionable advice, constructive feedback, and strategic insights. They will be also sound boards for participants” ideas, helping them evaluate potential risks and opportunities.

The areas of support of the mentors and the relevant tasks are explained as follows:
1- Goal Setting and Strategic Planning: Share personal experiences with goal setting, provide long-term vision insights on digital entrepreneurship.
2- Business Model and Market Fit: Offer advice based on their own market experiences, share business model insights from their field.
3- Financial Management: Share financial lessons from personal entrepreneurial experiences, offer insights into engagement with investors and available funding resources in the ecosystem.
4- Sales and Marketing Strategy: Share insights into what worked in their marketing journey, connect the entrepreneur with industry contacts.
5- Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Provide perspective on challenges faced, share how they approached similar situations.
6- Networking and Partnership Development: Leverage their network to open doors, share introductions, provide personal insights on building relationships.

Mentorship Sessions
Frequency: Bi-weekly, ensuring consistent guidance and support throughout the program. Beyond scheduled sessions, mentors are accessible for ad-hoc consultations, ensuring participants receive timely guidance for unexpected challenges or new opportunities.

Format: Flexible formats, including one-on-one and group sessions, provide personalized insights and collaborative learning opportunities.

Duration: 60–90 minutes, offering ample time for in-depth discussions, feedback, and actionable planning.

** VDBI will work on a cohort basis. Each cohort will be comprised of 20 participants and take around 12 weeks. Mentors are expected to provide mentorship to each cohort bi-weekly.
More detailed information will be provided to the mentors at the onboarding session at the beginning of cohort.

Key Responsibilities

Virtual Digital Business Pre-incubation Initiative (VDBI) is designed to leverage the transformative power of digital businesses for SDGs, extending access to resources and fostering inclusivity in the ecosystem. The core objective of the Initiative is to bridge the gap between ideation and incubation, helping entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into viable business models and prepare for leading incubation programmes.

The initiative, leveraging the virtual format, allows for global accessibility, ensuring that entrepreneurs from diverse regions and backgrounds can participate remotely. The Initiative emphasizes hands-on learning. It offers workshops, master classes, feedback sessions, and networking opportunities to help participants gain real-world insights into their market and operational strategies. This Initiative will be managed through an online community platform, ensuring accessibility and fostering collaboration among participants.

Mentorship support is the lifeblood of the VDBI. This component is more than just a knowledge-sharing initiative; it’s a hands-on, guided journey designed to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application. Through personalized support from seasoned professionals, participants gain invaluable insights into navigating the entrepreneurial landscape. Whether tackling tough decisions or refining strategies, VDBI mentors will be with the participants every step of the way.

Required Skills and Experience

The mentor selection process is designed to ensure the involvement of highly qualified individuals who can guide participants across diverse areas relevant to their personal and professional growth, project ideas, and objectives of the pre-incubation. The following criteria define the qualifications and attributes of selected mentors:

a. Broad Expertise Across Key Areas & Diverse Industry Experience

Proven track record in guiding at least 5 startups or scaling businesses, particularly in digital or technology-driven sectors.

A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in business development, entrepreneurship, or related fields such as digital innovation, marketing, or financial management. Preference will be given to mentors with the experience in having

Worked in multidisciplinary environments or on large-scale projects especially in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), cybersecurity, blockchain etc.

Led or mentored digital businesses, startups, SMEs, or social enterprises to develop Minimum viable product and business model canvas development

Prior involvement in supporting tech start-ups under incubation and/or acceleration programmes.

Experience in innovation-driven industries, such as fintech, edtech, or greentech.

International exposure or experience working with diverse communities.

b. Alignment with Pre-Incubation Objectives and Participant Needs

Ability to adapt expertise to address a variety of participant needs, such as:

Business idea validation and scalability.

Addressing market-specific challenges and opportunities.

Supporting participants with limited resources or market access.

Proficiency in tailoring advice and resources for diverse project ideas, from tech-driven solutions to community-focused initiatives.

Availability to participate actively throughout the pre-incubation duration, including scheduled sessions and additional support when needed.

c. Leadership and Communication Skills

Effective communication skills to explain complex concepts clearly and succinctly to a varied audience.

Experience in conducting one-on-one mentoring, group coaching, or interactive workshops.

Patience, empathy, and the ability to nurture participants” confidence and resilience.

d. Network and Resources

Access to industry contacts, knowledge hubs, global incubation and acceleration programs or other resources that can support participants in achieving their project goals.

Expertise Matching: Mentors are carefully selected based on their expertise, ensuring alignment with your industry focus, business challenges, and objectives.