The graduation event brought together 42 participants — mentees, mentors, coaches, community members, partners, and sponsors — alongside six Impact Lab interns and the FSI team. 

Together, participants reflected on the past months of collaboration, celebrating the progress made by the entrepreneurs who participated in the program and the mutually beneficial relationships that were formed throughout this process. 

A Six-Month Journey of Mutual Learning and Support

From September 2025 to March 2026, 11 mentee entrepreneurs worked closely with 10 mentors and 10 coaches to identify their businesses’ missions, market positioning, and growth strategies while developing heightened self-awareness as entrepreneurs, leaders, and human beings.

In its fourth iteration, our Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs further contributes to the strength of the community. For instance, two mentors in this cohort were once mentees themselves, which is a testament to the reciprocal nature of the FSI community, and that the shared impact philosophy of generously sharing resources, information, and knowledge to drive systems change is not only feasible, but also an effective way to build strong communities. 

Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs Celebrating Success and Failures

The event kicked off with an acknowledgement of the cohort’s achievements and progress. Each mentee was invited to go on stage and share their reflections on their experiences in their program, offering honest insights into both the challenges and breakthroughs they encountered.

One of the most valuable aspects of the program, according to the mentees, is the sense of belonging that arises from becoming part of a supportive entrepreneurial community. As Kaylini Naidoo, Founder of Upeeling said, “Without the Mentorship Program, Upeeling would not be what it is today. I want to thank my mentor, who sat there with me and helped me develop the skills entrepreneurs need — making decisions, knowing when to ask for help, and understanding how much time to give to different decisions. Finding this community was also amazing because we were able to support each other and celebrate our wins together.” 

The sentiment was echoed by Latha Chandrakant, Director of Minmini Early Learning Solutions: “There are no words to express the feeling — it was shared impact through and through.”

Some mentees reflected on how the program pushed them beyond their comfort zone, which is “an essential step in the professional and personal development as an entrepreneur”, to quote Shamsa Bibi, an aspiring entrepreneur. 

Strengthening the FSI Ecosystem

Beyond celebrating the achievements of individual entrepreneurs, the event offered a chance for group reflection on the future of the FSI ecosystem.  

Participants were divided into mixed stakeholder groups — including mentors, partners, sponsors, and community members — to discuss how this FSI ecosystem could become even more resourceful, inclusive, and supportive for ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong.

From different feasible approaches to enhance teamwork, more efficient sharing of resources, to increasing opportunities for business owners facing structural limitations, the discussions again underscored the principles of FSI’s shared impact philosophy: broad cross-sector collaboration and a culture of radical candour enable a community to explore solutions to drive systems change. 

Concluding a Six-month Journey with Hopes Abound for the Future

The event concluded with a graduation ceremony, where mentees received their diplomas recognizing their commitment, perseverance, and growth over the past six months. What started out as individual entrepreneurs exploring concepts and possibilities in September 2025 had developed into a group of confident founders and aspiring entrepreneurs, equipped with the wisdom gained from trials and errors, to carve their next steps forward. 

At the networking event following the graduation ceremony, participants continued to discuss the Mentorship Program’s impact, exchanged perspectives, and took part in interviews conducted by FSI’s Impact Lab interns, reflecting on both the program’s impact and their personal growth. The room was filled with indescribable emotions: happiness, compassion, and gratitude. 

While the graduation ceremony marked the official end of the 2025-26 Mentorship Program, it also represented the beginning of the next chapter. 

The relationships formed within the cohort will continue to grow through FSI’s Entrepreneur’s Hub and future events. As shown by this year’s cohort — as well as the mentors who once stood in their shoes as mentees — shared impact multiplies when knowledge, information, and resources are passed forward. Through collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship, the FSI community will continue to build a more equitable business ecosystem in Hong Kong.

None of this would have been possible without the funding support of the Hong Kong Club Foundation and the Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation, whose trust in our expertise and capabilities in community building and effective program design enables us to empower under-resourced ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong.

We would like to thank our corporate partner, Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM), for allowing us to host the graduation ceremony and networking event at its office, in addition to its long-time support through the Virtual Legal Clinic, which has benefited numerous under-resourced entrepreneurs in the FSI community, including the mentee entrepreneurs of our Mentorship Program.

We would also like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated program partners, including ICF Hong Kong Chapter, the Hive Hong Kong, FundFluent, Africa Center Hong Kong, Foodie Explorerz, and our Impact Lab interns, whose unwavering support is crucial to the success of the program.

Get involved

As the cohort prepares to step onto the finale stage, one thing is evident: these entrepreneurs are no longer just aspiring entrepreneurs with ideas and concepts; they are confident communicators and community builders ready to make their next ask. If you would like to support our community of under-resourced ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, whether as a sponsor, subject matter expert, or skills-based volunteer, get in touch with us at cbs@shared-impact.com.

*This blog post was drafted by Sofia Becerra Liang, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Spring 2026 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

The post FSI 2025-26 Mentorship Program Concluding with a Celebration of Growth, Community, and Shared Impact appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Aligning Personal Values with Brand Identity and Resilience Strategies

To help mentee entrepreneurs build their business brands, the workshop commenced with an exploratory activity for the mentees to identify and understand their own personal strengths and core values. 

Some mentees said they would examine how their personal values intersect with their non-negotiable brand values, fostering a deeper self-awareness. Other mentees shared stories of values misalignment, which helped them see the tension and potential between their business and themselves. 

The session progressed to building a personalized resilience strategy, where participants learned about some common cognitive distortions that they may be vulnerable to.  

Here, Mehroo Turel, a seasoned business coach and founder of Mums@PLAY, offered insights on how to avoid these distortions and better utilize one’s own strengths. Stressing the importance of having well-defined boundaries between the brand and one’s identity as an entrepreneur, Mehroo said: “Don’t always take comments made on your business too personally. Your thoughts are not you; they’re like clouds — dark, heavy, and sometimes loud — but they always pass if you don’t hold on to them.” She also shared mindfulness techniques, including body awareness and visualizing thoughts, to maintain calm and composed during stress.

Mentees were then tasked with crafting their “personalized 24-hour crisis scripts”, which will help them navigate stressful times by using their core values as rapid guides. 

Just as important to resilient leadership are flexibility, teamwork, and leading by action, according to the second guest speaker, Marilyn Simon, Managing Director at Vinnitsa HK. Elaborating on building loyalty and allowing talents to shine, Marilyn said: “People are the most important part of any business. When you truly know your team — not just their job titles, but who they are — loyalty naturally follows.” 

Envisioning Leadership Styles and Team Dynamics

The workshop culminated in reflections on leadership, where mentees mapped their demonstrated strengths to potential leadership styles and considered team composition to complement gaps. 

Here, Sneha Roy and Emeline Sandt, the co-founders of a collective space as well as mentee entrepreneurs of our 2024-25 Mentorship Program, discussed the difference between one’s leadership style and working style. “The way you lead yourself isn’t the way you lead others. With my team, I’ve learned to be nurturing rather than controlling,” said Emeline. Sneha and Emeline also highlighted the importance of balancing workplace structure with freedom for employees.

Support Our Work in Uplifting Under-resourced Entrepreneurs

Having equipped mentee entrepreneurs with the necessary skills, knowledge, and mindset to navigate and thrive amid uncertainty, our 2025-26 Mentorship Program will convene participants on 6 December for a mid-point check-in, where we will be facilitating the sharing of resources and knowledge before returning in January next year. 

FSI’s 2025-26 Mentorship Program is funded by the Hong Kong Club Foundation and the Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation. Our efforts to empower under-resourced, ethnically diverse entrepreneurs rely on partners including ICF Hong Kong Chapter, the Hive Hong Kong, FundFluent, and Africa Center Hong Kong. Contact us at cbs@shared-impact.com to contribute to this mission.

*This blog post was written by Candy Tan, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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Branding, Storytelling, Social Media Marketing 101

For the second year of our Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, we were delighted to have Maryam Khan, founder of Foodie Explorerz and Easy Eat and a former mentee of the program, co-hosting a workshop with us on 18 October to guide mentee entrepreneurs as well as several mentors and ICF Hong Kong Chapter coaches on branding, content creation, storytelling, and digital marketing, with a deep dive into Instagram as a key tool for brand visibility and growth. 

After introducing the importance of social media, Maryam guided participants through practical steps to optimize their Instagram accounts. “Social media is a great way to engage with people,” said Maryam, who also serves as a mentor to Muhammad Fahad Tanveer, an aspiring mentee entrepreneur looking to promote sustainability, educate the general public on marine conservation and eco-friendly products while supporting local artisans. “It helps businesses connect directly with customers and tell their stories in creative ways that build community and visibility.” 

Maryam also spoke about the importance of strategic consistency and brand alignment — highlighting how regular, purposeful content keeps businesses visible and helps audiences better understand what the brand stands for.

“It is important to plan your content ahead of time,” said Maryam. “Because of the high competition for visibility and reach, your account’s visibility will decrease when you stop posting regularly, and people will forget about your brand.”

Participants explored how different types of content — from educational to entertaining — can play a role in building brand identity and fostering audience loyalty. “When you engage and entertain people with meaningful content, you form a community they can relate to,” said Maryam. “That connection helps your brand grow naturally and authentically.” 

Using her own journey as the founder of Foodie Explorerz, Maryam shared how clear brand storytelling and visual consistency can transform a business from being just another name online into a recognizable and trusted presence.

The workshop concluded with a discussion on creative ways to boost engagement — from interactive content and relatable storytelling to leveraging Instagram’s evolving features.

A Successful Workshop Supporting Mentee Entrepreneurs’ Marketing Endeavors

Combining Maryam’s sharing of her marketing expertise with real-time experimentation and action planning by the mentee entrepreneurs, mentors, and coaches, the workshop proved a success: all participants said the workshop provided them with useful and relevant information, and the majority of participants said that the workshop equipped them with new knowledge and resources, giving them the confidence to achieve their marketing goals. 

A big shout-out to our venue partner, the Hive Hong Kong, for letting us conduct the workshop at its Poho space, and our Impact Lab Course interns working with FSI’s Community Business Support and Communications and Marketing teams for supporting the organization and coverage of the workshop!

Learn more about our impactful Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs on our website here. On 7 November, the mentees and mentors will gather again at the Hive Poho for the leadership and resilience workshop. Stay tuned to this space or subscribe to our newsletter to witness the growth of this cohort’s mentee entrepreneurs. 

If you would like to join us to uplift under-resourced ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, find out more about the various initiatives under our Community Business Support Program, and get in touch with us at cbs@shared-impact.com to explore meaningful opportunities for yourself and your colleagues.

The post 2025-26 Mentorship Program: Former Mentee Giving Back to FSI Community through Branding and Digital Marketing Insights appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

We kick-started the workshop with an interactive activity to pinpoint the factors essential to starting a business, before inviting participants to share their ideas and thoughts and map out the necessary steps going forward. 

From the mentees, we learned their take on identifying a target audience, business offerings, and their businesses’ unique selling points. The mentors then contributed by sharing their insights based on their experiences, such as considerations around the operational, strategic, and sustainable aspects of building a business from scratch.

The exercise not only helped mentee entrepreneurs gain a clearer understanding of key business factors but also reminded everyone in the room how creativity and complexity are essential considerations when generating new ideas. 

With this broader perspective, the discussion moved on to highlight a crucial insight: focus on the big picture first. This means that by understanding how all the factors of a business work together, entrepreneurs can better identify how their short-term goals will align with their mission statement – the larger purpose they aspire to reach – which helps to define the core mission. One of the things that came out of the open discussion was that the differences between a mission statement and a core mission are that while the mission statement defines the “why” of a business (the reason for its existence), the core mission is the “how” (“How will this business achieve the big mission?”). 

According to Naman Tekriwal, Co-founder of Breer, who has been serving as a mentor since the beginning of our Mentorship Program, while a big mission makes a business attractive, “The core vision and mission of a business should remain consistent.”  By staying true to the original vision and mission, entrepreneurs will be able to build a more robust relationship with their stakeholders and gain their trust, which is crucial to any business’s long-term success. 

Transforming Ideas into Vision and Mission Statements 

The conversation then shifted to the purpose and importance of a mission statement. Simply put, a mission statement is a declaration that defines a business’s purpose, values, and goals. 

Focusing on this, mentees joined their mentors for small one-on-one sessions to discuss their business goals based on the assignment they were asked to complete prior to the workshop – to craft a mission statement. Now with access to their mentors’ tailored advice and practical guidance, the mentees were more able to align their mission with actionable steps.

While mentees were working on their worksheets and refining their original mission statement, mentors encouraged them to reflect on how their business visions could be executed. Here, the mentors also offered advice on how to break down progressive ideas into a clear, step-by-step plan to achieve strategic goals, while staying aligned with the overall vision of the business. This strategic framework allowed mentees to deepen their own understanding and form a more personal and passionate relationship with their business idea by carving a more realistic and visible path ahead. In doing so, it enables the mentees to create a more ambitious vision without losing specificity and accuracy.

Said Wilson Tai, long-time mentor of the program and Co-founder and COO of FundFluent: “Although you may want to present a big vision to investors to sound more attractive, you do not want the scope of your goal to be too huge. My suggestion is to be very specific about the foundational building blocks developed toward the long-term dreams.”

Mentors also shared their insight on identifying and overcoming challenges while prioritizing tasks and gaining confidence during the process. Both Wilson Tai and Maryam Khan, Founder of Foodie Explorerz and Easy Eat, agreed that marketing and the success of a business hinge on creating and delivering value to a target audience. However, they added that learning from failures is integral to achieving success – trial and error are crucial to developing better strategies to align business operations with the core mission while ensuring profitability.

Said Maryam: “Take time to align your business goals with what the market really needs. When you rush it, you risk misunderstanding where your brand stands and how your audience actually sees you.” 

Support Our Work in Uplifting Under-resourced Entrepreneurs

session and explore the principles of vision, mission, goal-setting, and strategic planning. Building on this engagement, the next workshop, held on 18 October in collaboration with Maryam Khan, former-mentee-turned-mentor, will focus on Branding and Marketing.  

FSI’s 2025-26 Mentorship Program is funded by the Hong Kong Club Foundation and the Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation. Our continuous capacity and impact in empowering under-resourced, ethnically diverse entrepreneurs could not have been possible without our long-time partners such as ICF Hong Kong Chapter, the Hive Hong Kong, FundFluent, and Africa Center Hong Kong. Reach out to us at cbs@shared-impact.com if you would like to join us to uplift under-resourced, impact-driven entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. 

*This blog post was written by Kelly Luo, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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On 20 September, we were thrilled to welcome the mentees, mentors, coaches, and partners of our 2025–26 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs at the first cohort-wide meeting. 

This opening session marked the beginning of a six-month journey of learning, connection, and hands-on support for 10 mentee entrepreneurs, who are paired with 10 mentors and 10 ICF Hong Kong Chapter coaches. True to the name of our program, the ethnically diverse cohort brings together people from Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Lebanon, Canada, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and African countries like Nigeria — a wonderful mix of perspectives and lived experiences that will enrich the meaningful connections made possible by the program.

All Gathered at the Hive Poho

As with the 2024-25 Mentorship Program, our meeting took place at our venue partner, the Hive’s Poho space. We are thankful to the Hive Hong Kong for providing us with an open and friendly space conducive to networking and collaboration, not only for this meet-and-greet session, but for many more business workshops and networking events to come in the next six months. 

Joining us at the event was Carla Acepcion, Events Specialist at the Hive, who talked about the company’s ethos of supporting ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, and announced the discounts that Mentorship Program participants and FSI community members are entitled to for the Hive’s membership and support services, as a result of the Hive Hong Kong’s partnership with FSI.  

Said Carla: “the Hive team and I are deeply passionate about supporting growing businesses. We love witnessing the learning, growth, and relationships that flourish at events and in our spaces. Having been a startup ourselves, we know how vital support is for success. Our goal is to inspire individuals to build meaningful connections, regardless of their industry or background. We want FSI’s diverse entrepreneurs to see the Hive as their home for growth – an inclusive space for developing new ideas, hosting important meetings, and trying new things. Ultimately, we aim to create a community where ambition can thrive.”

Meet the 10 Aspiring and Early-stage Entrepreneurs

A signature characteristic of our Mentorship Program is the diversity of our mentee entrepreneurs, hailing from different cultural backgrounds and industries, looking to start and grow their businesses to serve a variety of causes and clientele.  

Nisreen Muchhala, an early-years Waldorf teacher, brings her deep appreciation for natural living into handcrafted creations together with her partner Taher. What began as making products for family and friends has grown into Nourish Scrubs, with a mission to foster mindful skincare with all-natural, sustainable, and made-to-order products.

Also committed to sustainability is Kaylini Naidoo, Founder of Upeeling, a snack brand aiming to reduce Hong Kong’s food waste problem by transforming surplus and imperfect fruit into healthy treats with Asian-inspired flavors. 

Muhammad Fahad Tanveer, a Hong Kong-born Pakistani studying Environmental Conservation and formerly a Community Business Intern at FSI, is passionate about marine conservation and sustainable development.  Through Okyanus, he aims to create sustainable clothing while incentivizing marine conservation efforts.

Jerome Bautista, the Filipino-American Co-founder of Sacred Space Therapy and Wellness, draws from his own journey of burnout and depression to create the space and opportunity for others to carve out a life of mindfulness through yoga, sound healing, forest therapy, and life coaching. He is dedicated to creating a kinder, more compassionate world where holistic wellness is accessible to all.

Rabia Aslam, Lead Medical AI Engineer at Koln 3D Technology (Medical) Ltd. and visionary STEM educator, is passionate about blending AI, EduTech, and innovation, aspiring to transform learning, spark curiosity, and empower tomorrow’s changemakers through cutting-edge education and technology.

Equally dedicated to changing education for good, Latha Chandrakant, Founder of Minmini Early Learning Solutions, believes children learn through play. Guided by the question, “What are children learning?”, Latha is passionate about helping parents understand their child’s learning journey while also supporting caregivers in finding calm through simple, real-life strategies.

Shamsa Bibi, a trainee solicitor, is also deeply passionate about child development and empowering young minds, envisioning a learning center dedicated to soft skills training, believing these competencies are crucial in shaping a child’s future and in creating an inspiring space where children can flourish.

Junimay Cortes, a Filipina born in Hong Kong, turned her passion for sustainable and circular fashion into Revamp, to encourage people to choose secondhand first, extending the life of clothing and inspiring conscious choices.

Helena Cho is the Founder of Chomade, featuring handmade creations such as scrunchies, pouches, keychains, and bags, with each piece highlighting craftsmanship, unique quality, and a personal touch that celebrates creativity in everyday items.

Founder and CEO of Afrika Kitchen HK, Anita Obodehian Jaho is on a mission to promote cultural awareness through African food, event management, and multicultural relationship building, with her work celebrating Africa’s heritage while fostering meaningful connections across communities in Hong Kong and beyond.

Meet the Mentors — Familiar Faces and New Energy

The seasoned entrepreneurs who serve as mentors are integral to the growth of mentee entrepreneurs and the effectiveness of our program. In addition to encouragement, mentor entrepreneurs also offer practical, hands-on support derived from their respective experiences of similar startup challenges. 

In the past years of our Mentorship Program, mentor entrepreneurs have helped mentee entrepreneurs get out of their comfort zone, connected mentee entrepreneurs with the right contacts to accelerate their business’ growth, and validated their needs for emotional support. 

At FSI, we are indebted to the seasoned entrepreneurs who return to the Mentorship Program year after year to nurture aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs by generously sharing their knowledge, expertise, and networks, such as Naman Tekriwal, Wilson Tai, and Innocent Mutanga. We are also delighted to see former mentees such as Jerwine Bonafe Que and Maryam Khan giving back to the FSI community by becoming mentors of the program, joining other new individuals who are equally passionate about supporting impact-driven startup founders. 

This year’s mentor cohort includes:

• Naman Tekriwal, Co-Founder and COO of Breer
• Wilson Tai, Co-founder and COO of FundFluent
• Innocent MutangaFounder of Africa Center Hong Kong 
• Karim El-Chami, Founder and Director of Joho TeK 
• Maryam Khan, Founder of Foodie Explorerz 
• Jerwine Bonafe Que, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Blomstre 
• Punam Chopra, Founder and CEO of Spicebox Organics Limited 
• Ruth Benny, Director of Top Schools Ltd 
• James Cunningham, Director of Speed Sourcing Ltd; 
• Amanda Yik, Founder of Shinrin Yoku Hong Kong

Professional Coaching Support from ICF Hong Kong Chapter

We are grateful to ICF Hong Kong Chapter‘s long-time support since our inaugural program, and the coaches who have been returning to our program in the past years to provide our mentee entrepreneurs with invaluable coaching support, such as Philbert Chin, Magdalene Wong, Cynthia Lai, and Hamid Naseem. 

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to John Azzo and Pam Birkett, who previously uplifted our mentee entrepreneurs as coaches and are returning this year with different roles. John is now the Social Impact Director, who helped with coach recruitment and established this partnership between FSI and ICF Hong Kong Chapter, while Pam Birkett is now the Lead Coach of the program, helping to coordinate communication and organization between ICF and FSI throughout the six-month journey.

Alongside John and Pam, we are also grateful to the dedicated coaches who continue to bring their expertise and passion to this year’s program: Philbert Chin, Sam Yu, Magdalene Wong, Cynthia Lai, Christine Simms, Hamid Naseem, Deepti Mehra, Amy Fung, Flore Cassin, and Iris Kloth. Their guidance and commitment will play a vital role in supporting our mentee entrepreneurs as they pursue their goals.

Empowering Youth to Empower Under-resourced Entrepreneurs

The kick-off of the Mentorship Program coincides with the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course, an award-winning experiential learning course managed by FSI at The University of Hong Kong to give youth a safe space to work directly with social ventures under the guidance of faculty instructors and professional mentors. 

Equipped with diverse skills and a passion to drive positive change, these interns will be given the opportunities to hone and acquire new skills to support the mentees as needed. Not only will the interns be able to gain real work experiences and essential human skills, but they will also uplift under-resourced entrepreneurs by helping them sharpen their pitches, refine brand assets, or build stronger business strategies. 

As members of FSI’s Community Business Support team, the Impact Lab interns working with the team play a key role in empowering the mentees throughout the program. 

Sarita Chung Man Chan will be leveraging her knowledge in AI, automation, and finance to help mentees build efficient operation systems. “Moss” Nattaphat Chotananwut will bring his creative expertise to support mentees with graphic design, branding, and pitch preparation. Sylvie Tao Wu will contribute her skills in content creation, video production, and social media strategy, ensuring that mentees’ stories are told in an engaging and impactful way.

The Communications and Marketing team also add significant value to telling the stories of the program participants. While Candy Tan recaps the happenings at the workshops and networking events through social media content, Toshiya Oh helps draft blog posts and provides photography support to capture the highlights of the Mentorship Program. 

Join FSI to Uplift Under-resourced Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong 

We are truly grateful to all our supporters and partners who make this program possible with their generous contribution of resources, skills, time, and connections. The 2025-26 Mentorship Program is funded by the Hong Kong Club Foundation and the Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation. 

Learn more about our impactful Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs on our website here. On 27 September, the mentees and mentors will gather at the Hive Poho for the ideation, brainstorming, and goal-setting workshop to set SMART goals for the mentees’ six-month journey. Stay tuned to this space or subscribe to our newsletter to witness the growth of this cohort’s mentee entrepreneurs. If you would like to join us to uplift under-resourced ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, find out more about the various initiatives under our Community Business Support Program, and get in touch with us at cbs@shared-impact.com to explore meaningful opportunities for yourself and your colleagues.

*This blog post was written by Toshiya Oh, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

The post FSI Celebrates Fourth Year of Mentorship Program Empowering Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

Running for the fourth year, our Mentorship Program welcomed 10 mentors and 12 coaches hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds and equipped with a broad range of subject matter expertise. As a true testament to the diverse and inclusive nature of FSI’s programs and initiatives, the current cohort of mentors and coaches comprises largely purpose-driven individuals who have either been contributing to the Mentorship Program since its humbling beginnings in 2022 or continuing their invaluable support to our community of under-resourced entrepreneurs in the years past. We also owe the uniqueness of our Mentorship Program to the four years of dedicated support from the ICF Hong Kong Chapter’s certified coaches.

For example, Naman Tekriwal, Co-founder of Breer, has been serving as a mentor since the beginning of our Mentorship Program. For the third year, Cynthia Lai and Mag Wong have been providing coaching support, and Innocent Mutanga, founder of Africa Center Hong Kong, and Wilson Tai, COO of FundFluent, have been offering indispensable mentorship to aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs through our program. 

We are equally delighted to welcome Maryam Khan, a mentee of the 2023-24 cohort, as a mentor this year, following the path of Jerwine Que, who joined our 2022-23 program as a mentee entrepreneur behind The Blomstre, continues to contribute to the FSI community by becoming a mentor for our 2024-25 program, and staying on as mentor for this year’s program. Also rejoining through the 2025-26 program are two ICF Hong Kong Chapter coaches, Pam Birkett (mentor to Maryam Khan in 2023-24) and John Azzo (mentor to Senchu Chemjong in 2024-25), who will be the program’s coach coordinators, with Pam being the Lead Coach. 

“What a great impact FSI has,” said Pam. “There are so many returning mentors and coaches, and two former mentees are now mentors. FSI lives up to its name – a foundation for Shared Impact!”

Said Jerwine: “It is great that mentors and coaches are brought together at this initial meeting. It is like a little ice-breaker and it will definitely help the mentees, with the synergies built prior to the start of the 2025-26 program.”

Mentors and Coaches Collaborating to Plan for the Success of Mentee Entrepreneurs

At the get-together session, the mentors and coaches took turns to introduce themselves before they were given an overview of the program and their respective roles and responsibilities. Here, the returning mentors and coaches were invited to share their unique perspectives from having witnessed the growth of our Mentorship Program over the past few years, as well as insights and advice on effective support for the mentee entrepreneurs, guided by empathy, cultural sensitivity, and active listening. 

As the mentors and coaches worked together to plan for a successful journey for their mentees and coachees in the next six months, the FSI team shared with them our Entrepreneur’s Toolkit, a rich library of resources and templates curated to help any entrepreneurs in Hong Kong address everyday business matters.  

“I appreciate the comprehensive nature of the information provided at the session,” said Punam Chopra, joining as a mentor for the first time this year. “I received more clarity and guidance on how to proceed with my mentorship, and I got to know everyone better and feel more confident.”

Iris Kloth, joining our program as an ICF Hong Kong Chapter coach for the first time, also enjoyed the session. “It was great to meet an eclectic group of inspirational mentors and coaches. I am humbled to be included in this new community of mutual support, creativity, and professionalism.”

Said Philbert Chin, who has been coaching mentee entrepreneurs since our 2024-25 program: “I am thrilled to see the diversity and experience of the coaches and mentors volunteering to support young ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, as well as the level of selflessness, commitment, and common drive to give back to the community and to help the new generation of entrepreneurs.”

Join FSI to Uplift Under-resourced Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong

We are truly grateful to all our supporters and partners who make this program possible with their generous contribution of resources, skills, time, and connections. The 2025-26 Mentorship Program is funded by the Hong Kong Club Foundation and the Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation.

Learn more about our impactful Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs on our website here. On 20 September, the mentees, mentors, and coaches of the 2025-26 program will gather for the first time to get to know each other. Stay tuned to this space or subscribe to our newsletter to witness the growth of this cohort’s mentee entrepreneurs.  
If you would like to join us to uplift under-resourced ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, find out more about the various initiatives under our Community Business Support Program, and get in touch with us at cbs@shared-impact.com to explore meaningful opportunities for yourself and your colleagues.

The post 2025-26 Mentorship Program Kicks Off with Mentors and Coaches Get-together appeared first on Foundation for Shared Impact.

8 March 2025 marked an important transition for some ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. To congratulate the mentee entrepreneurs of our 2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs for completing their six-month journeys, a total of eight mentees, seven mentors, and nine coaches from ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter gathered at the finale networking event at the Hive Poho. 

The final session of the 2024-25 program was designed to help our mentee entrepreneurs reflect on their progress and gauge their achievements relative to their initial goals. By doing so, we hoped that participants could clarify their direction and purpose, so that they could continue to build knowledge, experience, and resilience as their entrepreneurial journeys continue to evolve towards success.

After a brief introduction and recap of the previous sessions by Vivian Seo, the Executive Director and Community Business Support Program Manager at Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI), the finale session officially kicked off with a 15-minute reflection session in breakout groups, each including at least one mentee, one mentor, and one coach. 

Transformative Journeys Enabled by Resilience, Determination, and Ceaseless Support

Immediately following the reflection session was the sharing session by the 10 mentees, including Sneha Roy and Emeline Sandt, Co-founders of a collective space, who could not attend the session in person and communicated through a video recording. Each mentee was asked to present their unique journey with the Mentorship Program, capturing the audience with their respective transformational stories. Take a deep dive into the mentees’ respective journeys of learning, courage, and success. 

Yulia Kim, Founder of Blooms Forever

Yulia set the tone for the entire sharing session with her positive and warm introduction, saying, “It’s been an enjoyable journey. I was ready to take on any opportunity, but soon realized that I didn’t see the whole picture of being an entrepreneur.” 

However, throughout the program, Yulia discovered the flexibility and challenges of being an entrepreneur compared to working in corporate environments. She said, “I gradually realized I’m the only person who needs to take responsibility for Blooms Forever”. While challenging at times, the program helped her discover various paths to achieve her goals, whether establishing a flower atelier or catering to B2B and B2C markets.

“Before, I had zero leads, and now I have four to five leads. I feel like I’m on the right track!”

Yulia expressed gratitude to her mentor and coach, noting, “They provided a great opportunity to help me build my brand identity.” While she felt a sense of accomplishment, she added, “There’s still a lot to do.” Her biggest achievement has been creating her brand identity and negotiating a contract for wedding sales. “Before, I had zero leads, and now I have four to five leads. I feel like I’m on the right track!”

Ruchi Bhave, Founder of The Mind Talk 

Ruchi expressed her heartfelt gratitude for participating in the program:

“Every day, I’m so grateful that I got to join this program.” She further noted that these six months felt incredibly short but were packed with valuable insights.

The program brought her attention to essential business planning steps, including budgeting, funding, and marketing, rather than just focusing on her business vision. She mentioned her coach, Daniel Chan: “He made me think about scaling, something I was initially adamant against.” Next, Ruchi proudly highlighted the improved visibility of The Mind Talk: “People now recognize my business whenever I go to events.” She also briefly mentioned her plans for monetizing her business while crediting her mentor, Wilson Tai, for helping her explore this idea.

“Every day, I’m so grateful that I got to join this program.” 

She concluded by emphasizing her newfound flexibility and openness to new ideas: “I’m not just thinking about mental health magazines anymore; I’m considering add-ons as well.”

Wendy Zhuang, Co-founder of Curiouslyoga

Wendy shared reflections on her venture’s steady progress. While growth has been gradual, she expressed pride in their achievements so far. Her immediate priorities include refining the target market, securing NGO funding, and improving pricing and marketing strategies, all of which showed gradual progress throughout the program. 

“The FSI Mentorship Program encouraged us to slow down and grow sustainably.”

For the long term, Wendy emphasized a patient, intentional approach—a mindset reinforced by her program experience. “The FSI Mentorship Program encouraged us to slow down and grow sustainably,” she noted, highlighting how this shift has brought comfort and clarity to their journey.

Senchu Chemjong, Founder of Nepcha 

Senchu reflected warmly on her transformative experience with the Mentorship Program and FSI. She described the journey as a collective learning process where “everyone became a guide in their own way”, highlighting the program’s collaborative nature. Particularly meaningful was her synergistic working relationship with Vivian, which exemplified the program’s spirit of mutual growth.

“I wonder what the FSI team is up to, do they even sleep?”

Senchu acknowledged the unwavering dedication of FSI members with a playful remark, saying: “I wonder what the FSI team is up to, do they even sleep?”, a lighthearted joke about their constant availability and support whenever she needs them. She then emphasized the non-linear nature of entrepreneurial growth, noting how roles naturally interchanged throughout the process.

In closing, Senchu expressed profound gratitude to both the FSI network and program structure, acknowledging how this support system had been instrumental in her development journey.

Ayeisha Shafana, Founder of CreativiT

Ayeisha began by acknowledging the unpredictable nature of her entrepreneurial journey: “To reach this stage, it’s been an adventurous journey.” 

She credited her fellow entrepreneurs in the Mentorship Program for inspiring her along the way, while admitting that she also felt intimidated sometimes due to impostor syndrome. As a full-time student, Ayeisha joined the Mentorship Program to evaluate whether her academic learning was relevant and to identify which of her skills were practically executable to fulfil her entrepreneurial aspirations.

“This FSI community has nurtured our growth while giving people like me the space to discover if entrepreneurship truly fits us.” 

Reflecting on her experience, Ayeisha  noticed the discrepancy between ideation and execution: “I have a really idealistic mindset; I can create ideas, I can build them—but the amount of work that’s required to actually build one… wow, it’s been phenomenal.”

She further expressed deep gratitude to her support network, thanking Vivian, Dani, and the FSI team for keeping her motivated and accountable. She acknowledged Mona Lee, the ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter coach she was paired with, for consistently believing in her and offering encouragement during moments of self-doubt.

Ayeisha reserved special appreciation for her mentor, Naman Tekriwal, praising his patient guidance despite his limited time, “He had given me a lot of guiding questions and suggestions that helped me develop my problem-solving skills.” 

Finally, her closing remarks captured the program’s essence: “I’m still working on my prototype but we’re getting there! This FSI community has nurtured our growth while giving people like me the space to discover if entrepreneurship truly fits us.” 

Tinotenda Muzariri, Business Development & Marketing Manager at Africa Center Hong Kong

Tinotenda proudly shared his achievements, stating he had achieved most of his goals, including diversifying the consumer base and becoming more sustainable, although the latter goal needs more progress. Throughout the sharing session, he delved deeper into volatility, which is the reality every entrepreneur has to embrace. 

In particular, he underscored the importance of flexibility rather than fixating on initial goals in such a volatile environment. “Of course, having the ability to execute—or at least a plan to follow through—is great and commendable. But being able to steer the ship out of a storm? That’s another skill entirely. As entrepreneurs, especially when starting out, it’s something we all need to develop.” 

Tinotenda encouraged his fellow entrepreneurs to avoid following the rigid path by adding, “You have to keep going—no matter what. It’s probably the hardest thing you’ll ever do, because you’re not just following a structure, you’re creating your own. You’re not just chasing a dream, you’re creating your own dream, and you’re the one bringing it together”. 

“Of course, Robin and I discuss strategy—but what I really admire is how he pushes me to take that first step and adapt as we go.” 

As a full-time student himself, he acknowledged the unique value of gaining entrepreneurial experience early, emphasizing how making mistakes now would serve them better than later. He expressed particular gratitude to his mentor, Robin Wong, whom he considered exceptional for his action-oriented approach.

“Of course, Robin and I discuss strategy—but what I really admire is how he pushes me to take that first step and adapt as we go. It’s not about rushing in blindly; it’s about moving from talk to action. That’s when you realize that execution isn’t as safe or easy as planning. But that’s also where the real work begins.”

Sneha Roy and Emeline Sandt, Co-founders of a collective space

Sneha and Emeline, despite not being present in person, were eager to share their reflections via a video recording. 

“Thanks to Henry, our mentor, we increased our pricing by around 20% on average, 25% in some cases, and that pricing has been working out really well for us.”

In the video, Sneha highlighted a collective space’s achievement of three immediate milestones: pricing strategy, policies, and team expansion. In particular, she expressed her gratitude towards their refined pricing strategy, as recommended by their mentor, Henry Yeung. “Thanks to Henry, we increased our pricing by around 20% on average, 25% in some cases, and that pricing has been working out really well for us.” She later added that they also hit another immediate milestone thanks to the legal clinic offered by FSI’s corporate partners, Linklaters and JSM, which helped them sort out all policies and procedures.  

Emeline added that they are still working towards their medium goal regarding the establishment of their brand identity: “We have decided that we are going to update and refine our brand before we go ahead with the process of trying to protect it.”

The co-founders highlighted a significant shift in their priority related to their six-month goal. “Originally, we were focused on growing our social media numbers, but we’ve decided to prioritize deeper connections with people, building meaningful partnerships and collaborations instead.” They reflected on the importance of fulfilling these long-term goals rather than focusing on the social media following. “It’s kind of like quality over quantity”, remarked Sneha.

Celebrating Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Collaboration

Following the sharing session, Vivian celebrated the outstanding performance of program participants by giving them special awards, including: 

The “Present” Award to those dedicated participants who attended every session, demonstrating strong commitment:

• Ruchi Bhave, Founder of The Mind Talk, Mentee
• Yulia Kim, Founder of Blooms Forever, Mentee
• Pamela Vuyisile Moyo, Program Manager at Africa Center Hong Kong, Mentee
• Tinotenda Muzariri, Business Development and Marketing Manager at Africa Center Hong Kong, Mentee
• Wilson Tai, Co-founder and COO at FundFluent, Mentor
• Belinda Wong, Founder and Director at Leader Corporate Services Limited, Mentor

The “Maximizers” Award to those resourceful participants who made the best out of the Mentorship Program to maximize their entrepreneurial journey: 

• Ruchi Bhave, Founder of The Mind Talk, Mentee
• Yulia Kim, Founder of Blooms Forever, Mentee
• Senchu Chemjong, Founder of Nepcha, Mentee
• Eeshaanee Shandilya and Wendy Zhuang, Co-founders of Curiouslyoga
• Sneha Roy and Emeline Sandt, Co-founders of a collective space

Top Responders Award to those active participants who consistently gave feedback after each session:

• Ruchi Bhave, Founder of The Mind Talk, Mentee
• Eeshaanee Shandilya, Co-founder of Curiouslyoga 
• Yulia Kim, Founder of Blooms Forever, Mentee
• Philbert Chin, Founder and Managing Director at Atomic Wave Coaching & Advisory, Coach 

An extra shoutout was given to Ruchi and Yulia for sweeping all award categories. Congratulations to both! 

Voices of the Program: Participant Feedback and Takeaways

Towards the end of the session, participants were presented with an opportunity to share their holistic evaluation and insights for the program.  

When asked to describe their journey in one word, participants responded with these keywords:

• Supportive
• Inspiring
• Enlightening
• Rewarding
• Impactful

To the question, “What was one surprise from the program that you didn’t expect?”, top responses included: 

• The diversity of participants in the program
• The consistent support and resources from the FSI team

When asked about the most enjoyable and helpful session”, there was a tie between:

• Goals & Objective Setting
• Get Funding Ready Workshop with FundFluent

For future iterations of the Mentorship Program, participants expressed that they hoped to see a balance of soft and hard skill training sessions on leadership, management, and presentation.

Support FSI’s Work to Empower Under-resourced Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong 

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our mentees, mentors, coaches at the ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter, FundFluent, Africa Center Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Club Foundation, and the Hive Poho for making this program a remarkable success for another year. This celebration wouldn’t have been possible without the long-time, dedicated support from these individuals and organizations who share our mission in magnifying shared impact through broad cross-sector collaboration and free sharing of knowledge, resources, and information. 

We also extend our sincere gratitude to our committed Impact Lab Course interns, particularly our three FSI interns from the Spring 2025 cohort, Mohammad Abdul Rehman, Kabita K. Sahteli, and Hsu Latt Shwe Yi, for their invaluable contributions to workshop planning, coordination, and media coverage. 

If you would like to be part of FSI’s collaborative network to support our work in uplifting under-resourced ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, get in touch with us at cbs@shared-impact.com or visit our website to find out how you can get involved!

*This blog post was drafted by Hsu Latt Shwe Yi, Communications and Marketing Intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Spring 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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Recognizing this challenge, as part of our six-month-long “2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs” program, the Foundation of Shared Impact (FSI) collaborated with FundFluent to co-host a funding readiness workshop on 15 February 2025 at the Hive Poho to equip mentee entrepreneurs with the resources and knowledge to become funding-ready. 

As a platform that helps startups and small businesses access funding through a comprehensive database, expert consultation, and tailored resources to enhance their chances of securing grants, loans, and startup programs, FundFluent has been a long-time partner of FSI, our partnership preceding the inauguration of our Mentorship Program due to our shared mission in creating shared impact. 

FSI Entrepreneurial Community Among First to Access Latest FundFluent Resources

A total of 26 attendees participated in this workshop, including 10 mentors, 12 mentees, and one ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter coach, Cynthia Lai, from the 2024-2025 Mentorship Program cohort. Also present were aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs from the FSI Entrepreneur’s Hub Community, including former mentees, mentors, and coaches of our Mentorship Program from previous years, as well as other under-resourced entrepreneurs who benefit from our bespoke direct business support, such as those listed in our GuideFong directory.

Said Robin Wong, Owner of Bizwizpartnership Ltd. and mentor: “I do a lot of mentoring and advice for NGOs and funding is always an important area. I joined this workshop because I wanted to see if I could learn more and help people.”

Nisreen Muchhala, Founder of Nourish Scrubs and part of FSI’s Entrepreneur’s Hub Community, said, “I have been working on my skincare product for three years and wanted to learn how to budget. If I want to start a business, I need to know the first steps.”

In this workshop, the FundFluent team led participants on an exploration of funding fundamentals and showed how small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can leverage the FundFluent platform to become funding-ready. 

The workshop was divided into three key sections:

• Know Your Funding Options: Participants identified and explored various funding options tailored to different stages of the business lifecycle, including the idea, scaling, and expansion stages.
• Deep Dive Topic 1: Budget Plans: This segment covered how to create detailed and realistic budgets that demonstrate financial preparedness, which is crucial for attracting potential funders.
• Deep Dive Topic 2: Starting Your Business: Participants learned to assess capital requirements, break down initial expenses, and evaluate market viability and the commercial potential of their business ideas.

As members of the 2024-25 cohort of the Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, participants were invited to join as early users of the FundFluent journey by requesting designated playbooks for the funding they were targeting. They could choose to get a “Free+” subscription to access FundFluent’s funding database with over 100+ funding opportunities, and their Playbook for Funding Success, which contains insights, tools, and templates that capture the collective knowledge from hundreds of successful applications and more.

Crucial First Step: Knowing Your “Why” and Understanding Funding Options

Jenny Au, Founder and CEO of FundFluent started the session with a quick exercise to get the entrepreneurs to contemplate the three stages they are currently in: the idea stage, scaling stage, and expansion stage. Knowing their “why” was the first step to successfully access funding, explained Jenny. Funding shouldn’t be approached without a plan, a breakdown of needs, and priorities, and every dollar is needed. Realizing which stage they are in, therefore, will help entrepreneurs understand and identify the different funding options available. 

To help with the thought process, everyone was given an activity worksheet to ponder and write down their business stage and their “why” on the first page.

Pamela Moyo, Program Manager at Africa Centre Hong Kong and mentee, initially thought that she was in the expansion stage. However, after Jenny elaborated further on the topic, Pamela realized that it was not a one-size-fits-all situation and that some programs were in the idea stage, some in the scaling stage, and some in the expansion stage. 

Another mentee raised a question on how to get the seemingly hard-to-get Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), established by the Hong Kong government in 2013 to alleviate poverty and social exclusion as well as foster the well-being and cohesion of the society by promoting social innovation and nurturing social entrepreneurship.

Jenny emphasized the need to research what the government is interested in funding, which can vary annually, and that entrepreneurs should be able to produce measurable impact to stand a higher chance of getting the competitive SIE Fund.

During the session, mentees mentioned other similar funding options by foundations such as the HSBC Foundation, DBS Foundation, Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF), and Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Wilson Tai, Co-founder and COO of FundFluent, added that knowing what the funders are looking for is important since they have their own Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Jenny and Wilson then went on to explain their journey with FundFluent, including their experiences with enabling the multitude of applications, which has given them invaluable insights into the common mistakes entrepreneurs would make when applying for funding. This prompted them to launch FundFluent’s Playbook for Funding Success to help entrepreneurs in all industries in Hong Kong and overseas discover and gain an in-depth understanding of funding options.

Wilson and Jenny encouraged the workshop participants to reach out for queries related to fundraising and financing their businesses, as a way to further improve FundFluent’s products and services and subsequently, the quality of support FundFluent’s clients can benefit from. As a recommendation, a mentee suggested adding funding information for student startups. 

Deep Diving into Budget Plans, Cash Reserves, and Salary Considerations

Amongst entrepreneurs’ top priorities is budgeting. Here, Wilson broke down the basic flow to think through budgeting. Everyone was then asked to work on the worksheet by thinking through their financial resources and various necessary expenses in the past 10 months.

Wilson went on to elaborate on the budgeting support provided by FundFluent. Although a subscription-based platform, FundFluent provides bespoke professional help such as reviewing a presentation pitch.

Sneha Roy, Co-founder and Director of A Collective Space and mentee, asked, “In personal finance, we often hear about the importance of maintaining six months’ worth of cash reserves for emergencies. Would you recommend a similar approach for businesses? Should we consider having a longer reserve, like 12 months, especially if things are going well?” 

In response, Wilson explained that cash reserves allow businesses to focus on growth without the constant worry of financial instability. For early-stage businesses, maintaining cash reserves is essential. While the recommendation of six months’ worth of reserves is common, it isn’t always necessary. In addition to elaborating on a more conservative approach, Wilson stressed the importance of having enough reserves to navigate cash flow fluctuations effectively.

Another mentee, Yulia Kim, Founder and Floral Designer of Blooms.Forever, raised a question: “For a sole entrepreneur who has been in the idea stage for two to three years, should they consider their own salary?” To which Wilson replied, “Yes, think about your salary from day one but make it a conservative number. This will help sustain your living expenses as you develop your business.”

Eeshaanee Shandilya, Co-founder of Curiouslyoga and mentee, posed a question: “How do you decide the Return on Investment (ROI) on variable costs, like subscription costs?” Following his response to Eeshaanee on determining an appropriate margin percentage to make the business viable, Wilson introduced a slide on “finance rituals“, emphasizing the importance of conducting monthly, quarterly, and yearly reviews, especially in the early stages of a business. He noted that even in FundFluent’s fifth year, it is still considered an early stage.

Starting Your Business

In this segment, Wilson and Jenny encouraged everyone planning to start their own businesses to understand the actual capital requirements, break down the initial expenses, and evaluate the market viability and commercial potential of their business ideas.

Jerwine Bonafe-Que, Managing Director of THE BLOMSTRE and former-mentee-turned-mentor, posed an important question to the group: “Aside from government funding, what adjustments can startups make in their budgeting to attract investors? For example, should they allocate HK$10,000  to hire a marketer? What key factors do investors typically look for?”

In response, Jenny and Wilson emphasized the importance of returning to a bare-bone structure. They advised mentees to identify market signals and clearly articulate their solutions. 

This discussion highlighted the need for startups to be strategic and clear about their financial planning, ensuring that they present a compelling case to potential investors.

Creative Funding Options and Leveraging GenAI for Funding Literacy

The queries posed by the workshop participants reflect a growing interest among entrepreneurs in exploring niche avenues for financing their ventures and low-cost and efficient methods for identifying suitable funding options. 

Additionally, despite the abundant freely available tools and resources online, many entrepreneurs still have burning questions that often go unanswered without expert guidance. Addressing the inquiry of Emeline Sandt, Co-founder and Director of A Collective Space and mentee, about resources for understanding funding—especially for those without a business background—Jenny suggested using Generative AI, such as ChatGPT. “But make sure you are good at asking the right questions to get good follow-up.” 

A Practical Business Workshop

As a capacity builder long committed to equipping under-resourced entrepreneurs and community leaders with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to grow and scale their endeavors, we at FSI are delighted to see that this workshop was beneficial to the participants. 

Said Belinda Wong, Director of Leader Corporate Services Limited and mentor, “The session provided practical advice from Wilson and Jenny on how to get funding and run a business.”

Robin Wong, Owner of Bizwizpartnership Ltd. and mentor added, “I learned about various funding sources, which will help me assist others more effectively.”

“It was very enlightening,” said Yulia Kim. “I learned a lot of things I hadn’t thought about regarding funding before. Big thanks to Wilson and Jenny for making this session so interesting, informative, and useful.”

“I cannot express how validating it was to learn about Jenny and Wilson’s funding journey,” said Sneha Roy. “I really liked the budgeting part! I wish we could have spent more time on it, but I feel validated in the approaches we have been following.”

Join Us to Drive Systems Change through Broad Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange

Currently in its third iteration, FSI’s Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs aims to drive systems change in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hong Kong. We do this by enabling equitable access to resources, knowledge, and information critical to the startup and growth of small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as micro-businesses, especially those owned by ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, as we believe in the power of entrepreneurship in alleviating intergenerational poverty.

The program’s impact in uplifting under-resourced entrepreneurs wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our long-time partners and supporters such as FundFluent, Africa Center Hong Kong, ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter, the Hive Poho, and The Hong Kong Club Foundation.

A big shout-out to our dedicated Impact Lab Course interns, including the four FSI interns from the Spring 2025 cohort, Nathan Cole Saavedra, Mohammad Abdul Rehman, Hsu Latt Shwe Yi, and Kabita K. Sahteli, who assisted with the planning, coordination, and coverage of the workshop. 

We are equally grateful to FSI’s vibrant community of entrepreneurs. Initially connected by FSI through the direct bespoke business support we offer through the Mentorship Program, Project GuideFong, and Community Business Internship, these ethnically diverse entrepreneurs have continued to share their resources and knowledge with each other, initiate mutually beneficial collaborations, and reinforce a reciprocal community characterized by diversity of various kinds.

The finale of the 2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs journey will take place on 8 March 2025. Get in touch with us at cbs@shared-impact.com if you would like to join us to celebrate the resilience and success of our community of entrepreneurs at the event or provide ongoing support to the entrepreneurs!

*This blog post was drafted by Kabita K. Sahteli, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Spring 2025 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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The meet-up gave all mentors and mentees an opportunity to share what they have been working on and the progress they have made since the program commenced in September. 

Ruchi Bhave, Founder of The Mind Talk, shared an exciting update: “In terms of money, I earned my first small amount! I consulted Wilson, my mentor, about how to go about doing sales. He told me to set a very small amount so it feels achievable. I spoke to a couple of people that my magazine covers everything related to mental health and wellbeing. A small startup approached and said they would write an article and pay for the backlink.”

Wilson Tai, Co-founder and COO of FundFluent, said, “One piece of advice I would give is don’t do things for free. The hours you spend to provide the service need to be considered when you sell something.”

Youth-led Discussions to Support Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs

To help mentee entrepreneurs better identify their needs, FSI’s Community Business Support team’s Impact Lab Course student interns prepared several group discussions for the mentees and mentors around time management and setting priorities; financial management; using technology, data, and automation; and relationship building and networking.  

In the time management group discussion prepared and led by Anh B., a year one student studying Business Administration, participants completed a questionnaire about their time management styles, before they were asked to consider different ways to schedule tasks efficiently. Wilson said, “The way the FundFluent team works is that we would book each other’s time on the person’s calendar. Even family time can be put on there so we can respect everyone’s time. I also reserve some buffer time for anything sudden.”

Sunny Li, a first year student studying Business Administration in International Business and Global Management, led a session with the participants on financial management. Emeline Sandt, Co-founder and Director at A Collective Space shared, “We recently went through all our costs and got a good figure, including the absolute minimum hourly rate. Based on that and the market’s willingness to pay, we can work out a profitable charging model.”

Sneha Roy, also A Collective Space’s Co-founder and Director, added, “We adapted FSI’s bookkeeping template to the nature of our business and the different services we provide. ”

The group explored financial management solutions for some common issues, including understanding how costs can pose limitations to operations and adopting a new mindset to balance  cost and profit. Sunny also introduced some resources from FSI that could help entrepreneurs manage finances more efficiently. 

Across the room, Darren Lee, a year one student studying Business Administration, led the exploration of the use of AI to enhance work efficiency. The mentees and mentors talked about using technology and built-in systems on e-commerce websites for accounting and bookkeeping. Some of the softwares mentioned were Xero, which simplifies financial management with features like automatic reconciliation, and platforms like Wix or Shopify that can easily track customer data. 

In the relationship-building and networking group, prepared and led by Adriel Heng, a first year student studying Business Administration and Law, participants discussed how to use their LinkedIn profiles to improve their online presence and increase networking opportunities. Adriel suggested finding relevant communities like university groups or an entrepreneurial community. Participants in this group also talked about what their elevator pitch could include to make a good first impression, and how to follow up on initial meetings to foster a long-lasting relationship.  

Midpoint Check-in: Growth and Learning for Both Mentors and Mentees

As a midpoint check-in on the mentees’ and mentors’ learning journeys, they were asked to fill out a midpoint survey for the Program. 91% of the participants indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience. For the mentees, the areas showing the most improvement were personal development and growth, mental resilience, and communication skills.

Pamela Vuyisile Moyo, Program Manager at Africa Center Hong Kong, said, “Always ask for help and form some collaborations.” The sentiment was echoed by Wendy Zhuang, speaking on behalf of Curiouslyoga as their Business Development Lead. Wendy said, “The FSI community is very supportive. We don’t feel like we’re alone in the boat. The more I go through the journey, the more I feel that I want to meet these energetic people.”

As is with other mutually beneficial programs by FSI, mentees aren’t the only ones who benefited from the Mentorship Program. Jerwine Bonafe Que, Managing Director of The Blomstre, said, “As a first-time mentor after experiencing being a mentee, this was a good refresher. With fresh eyes and accumulated experiences, I was able to advise my mentee much better than I expected.”

Reflecting on her journey so far, Wendy added, “I saw the growth of the startups and projects from the first cohort and was really inspired. I also wanted to meet like-minded people to see how they’re navigating the challenges.”

“I think I felt very disconnected and lonely with the financing, but then I realized there is help and support to be found in people’s feedback and FSI’s resources. The websites, links, and resources are really useful. We didn’t know these services and support existed in such an affordable way.”

Yulia Kim, Founder and Floral Designer of Blooms.Forever Atelier, shared her positive experience as well. “My first goal was to work with big companies, and I saw that as the main way to have big orders. During this program, my approach to achieving my goal has changed. I’m considering working more B2C, or with small and medium businesses.”

“I learned that I’m responsible for my company and for my product,” continued Yulia. “I make the final call. You can have so many different perspectives from people, and sometimes they contradict each other. But as the owner, you’re working with your products every day. You know what’s best for your business and your customers.”

An Enriching Experience for FSI’s Impact Lab Course Interns

In addition to our venue partner the Hive Poho and long-time partners like FundFluent and Africa Center Hong Kong, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Impact Lab Course interns working at FSI’s Community Business Support and Communications and Marketing teams, whose dedicated hard work throughout their three-month internship enabled us to provide under-resourced entrepreneurs with bespoke direct business support. We are glad to hear that the student interns found the experience rewarding, too.

Said Sunny Li, an intern working with the Community Business Support team: “It’s truly inspiring to see the community being built surrounding and supporting ethnically diverse entrepreneurs and witnessing how they learn from their mentors and mentees.”

“It was an honor for me to work alongside our mentees and be a part of their entrepreneurial journey,” added Anh B, who also worked in the Community Business Support team. “I gained valuable insights not only in building a business but also networking, overcoming failures, and setting priorities in both my professional and everyday life.” 

Adriel Hang, another Community Business Support intern, added, “The Program was an incredibly enriching experience that exposed me to the challenges faced by small ethnically diverse businesses in the competitive Hong Kong market. The mentees proved that perseverance and determination in challenging times will bear a fruitful outcome. It’s inspiring to see such strength and persistence.”

Similarly, Darren Lee said, “I found it amazing. I was able to experience different cultures and help out many different small business owners. This exposed me to a wide range of perspectives that I would have never gained in a classroom!”

Tasked with recapping the Mentorship Program’s several workshops throughout the past two months, Hyewon Lee, FSI’s Communications and Marketing intern, said, “It was lovely to see so many dedicated people share their goals, achievements, and experiences. The Mentorship Program and community encouraged me to find my own passion as well.”

“The Mentorship Program provides an amazing opportunity for beginner entrepreneurs to consult professionals,” said Hayden Fong, who also worked in the Communications and Marketing team. “The tight-knit community allows each mentee to receive personalized guidance, without the burden of high costs, and empowers them to succeed.”

Dong Woo Kim, another Communications and Marketing intern, said, “I greatly appreciated the Program which allows entrepreneurs to share their problems and views, fostering a collaborative environment that broadens everyone’s perspectives. I believe this aligns perfectly with FSI’s mission.”

As of now, participants of our Mentorship Program will break for the year before meeting for the New Year celebration in January 2025 and a collaborative workshop with FundFluent in February on every entrepreneur’s priority: fundraising and financing. 

*This blog post was drafted by Hyewon Lee, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2024 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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This is why we at Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) organized a Social Media Marketing and Branding workshop for participants of our 2024-25 Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs on 19 October. What made the workshop special is that it was a collaboration with Maryam Khan, Founder of Foodie Explorerz and former mentee of our Mentorship Program. 

With over four years of experience in content creation, branding, and social media management, Maryam gives back to the FSI community of ethnically diverse entrepreneurs by generously sharing her knowledge and expertise with entrepreneurs who are at a similar stage as she was just a year ago. 

Led by Maryam, the workshop was an interactive session where entrepreneurs engaged in activities and discussions to evaluate the current status of their social media pages and explore ways to improve them. 

Said Yulia Kim, Founder and Floral Designer of Blooms.Forever Atelier: “Most flower shops in Hong Kong have professional photos, but I don’t have the budget for that. There are certain rules for content in the flower market that I want to follow, but I also want to stand out. My goal isn’t just to gain followers. I think it’s more important to connect with the audience and build my brand identity.”

Challenges, Consistency, and Self-care

To help the entrepreneurs solidify their learning from the workshop, Maryam prepared a booklet for the entrepreneurs to complete during the day. She began by explaining digital content marketing strategies for both Instagram and LinkedIn, using examples from her own social media accounts. She also provided feedback on mentees’ pages throughout the session, highlighting their strengths and offering specific advice. 

Maryam also shared her personal experience with social media in her career. “In the beginning, I struggled with taking good pictures and producing reels when they first appeared. Recently, it’s been about staying consistent. Your content gets better with time, but you need to post continuously to figure out what really works,” she said. 

Even as she emphasized that consistency is the most important aspect of growing a brand’s account, she agreed that content creation sometimes feels like never-ending work. “It’s important to take breaks in between. I usually post three times a week, but there have been times when I posted less. Recently, I would post twice a week, but I don’t beat myself up for that because I know I need to look after my health,” she said. “You need to balance it out even while pushing yourself.”

Growth Strategies for Social Media

In the next session, Maryam talked about growth strategies, helping fellow entrepreneurs understand how they can increase engagement, respond and interact with the audience, and evaluate the success and reach of their content on social media. The entrepreneurs then spent time revisiting their own social media posts, analyzing the content that performed well and those that did not. 

Philbert Chin, an ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter coach paired with the mentee, Karl Baboucarr Sarr, reflected on a challenge he faced before: “We tried posting on different days of the week and at various times of the day. We tracked every post for six months. When we thought we got the pattern right, it changed again. We really have to constantly adapt to the changes.”

Creating Real Content 

The entrepreneurs’ desire to enhance their social media presence was so great that their enthusiasm carried through the short break. When they returned, Maryam led a hands-on activity where mentees planned actual content to publish on their social media channels.  

With inspiring examples from Maryam’s Instagram and LinkedIn pages, the mentees chose one platform to focus on for the day, with the mentors and coaches assisting them in brainstorming content and selecting photos and videos for the post. Here, Vivian Seo, FSI’s Executive Director, reminded the entrepreneurs that the FSI team and interns are always ready to offer advice, tips, and direct support for any content they need to create to drive visibility and growth for their businesses or organizations. 

A Successful Workshop on Marketing and Branding

The collaborative workshop was a success, with 100% of the participating entrepreneurs agreeing the training was well-organized and delivered effectively, while 91% said that they gained useful and relevant information.

Amongst those who expressed gratitude was Yulia: “Thank you, Maryam, for the presentation and highlighting how important it is to post regularly. It was insightful to see how she uses different social platforms and it has motivated me to finally build my LinkedIn account!”

Another mentee, Tinotenda Muzariri, Business Development and Marketing Manager of Africa Center Hong Kong, commented, “Content creation is an art, it can be very beneficial for a positive trajectory in terms of growth and branding.”

The next cohort session will take place on 23 November, which will serve as a mid-point check-in for the mentees, mentors, and coaches. If you’re an entrepreneur looking for tips and guides on digital marketing, visit our Entrepreneur’s Toolkit to find out how you can increase your Instagram engagement, list your business on Google, set up Google Ads, and more. Stay tuned for more updates on the entrepreneurs’ six-month journey!

Our Partners

Big thanks to the Hive Poho for being our program’s venue partner, and the Impact Lab Course interns for their support in event coordination and coverage.  

Our annual Mentorship Program wouldn’t have been possible for the third year running without the long-time support of The Hong Kong Club Foundation, ICF Hong Kong Charter Chapter, Africa Center Hong Kong, and FundFluent. If you would like to support our work in empowering under-resourced entrepreneurs, email us at cbs@shared-impact.com! 

*This blog post was drafted by Hyewon Lee, Communications and Marketing intern at the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) during the Fall 2024 semester of the Impact Lab Course.

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