IgniteAI

General · Platform User Guides

Coaching & Mentorship

Published 24 March 2026By Jordan Morris

IgniteAI connects Founders with the people who can help them grow — Coaches, Domain Experts, Volunteers, and Investors. The coaching system is direct and intentional: a Founder reaches out with a specific request, the recipient decides whether to accept, and a coaching relationship begins.

The Helper Directory

The helper directory lists all members who are available to support founders.

  1. Go to Helpers or Coaching in the navigation.
  2. Browse the directory filtered by role type: Coach, Domain Expert, Volunteer, or Investor.
  3. Click on any person card to view their profile.

Sending a Coaching Request (Founders Only)

Only Founders can initiate coaching requests.

  1. Go to the person profile page.
  2. Click Request Coaching or Request Support.
  3. Select the request type: Coach, Expert, Volunteer, or Investor.
  4. Select which of your startups the request is for.
  5. Write a message explaining what you need and why you are reaching out.
  6. Click Send Request.

Write a specific message. Vague requests get ignored.

Receiving Requests (Coaches, Experts, Volunteers, Investors)

  1. Go to your Coaching page.
  2. Click Incoming Requests.
  3. Find the request. Click through to view the Founder message and startup details.
  4. Click Accept to start a coaching relationship, or Decline to pass.

Active Coaching Relationships

When a request is accepted, a coaching relationship is created showing:

  • The Founder name and startup
  • The type of relationship (Coach, Expert, Volunteer, or Investor)
  • The relationship status: Active, Paused, or Ended
  • Growth Targets — goals set collaboratively within this relationship

Growth Targets

Inside an active coaching relationship, a Coach can set growth targets with a Founder. Each target includes:

  • Metric name — what you are measuring (e.g., Weekly Active Users, Monthly Revenue)
  • Target type — percentage growth or absolute value
  • Baseline value — where you are now
  • Target value — where you want to be
  • Period — the start and end dates for achieving this target
  • Achieved — marked when the target is hit
  • Notes — context, assumptions, or coaching guidance

Tips

  • Be selective with requests. Send requests to people whose background genuinely fits your problem.
  • Respond promptly to incoming requests. Even a quick decline is better than silence.
  • Set specific growth targets early. Nail down the metric, the baseline, and the deadline in your first coaching session.
  • Keep the relationship active with regular check-ins. Coaching works best as an ongoing conversation, not a single session.

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