Global Mentors Club
The World Business Angels Investment Forum, as an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), explores how players in the startup ecosystem can foster innovation and deliver more business value through partnerships between angel investors, startups, scaleups, high-growth businesses and SMEs. In line with this goal, the WBAF 2019 Grand Assembly decided to create a new unit, the Global Mentors Club, to support startups and to accredit qualified entrepreneurs and investors as qualified mentors. Thanks to its extensive network, WBAF is now able to offer mentorship and also provide consultancy for expanding into international markets.
The purpose of the Global Mentors Club is to provide mentorship for startups, scaleups, and SMEs around the globe, including specific market expansion services, and to offer coaching and an active exchange of information and experience with regard to the formation, development and financial structuring of applying companies.
Code of Conduct and Rules for Becoming a Mentor
As a condition for becoming a mentor in the Global Mentors Club, each member must sign a Rules of Mentorship and Code of Conduct statement, which indicates the mentor’s agreement with and acceptance of the Global Mentors Club mentorship rules and code of conduct.
Accredited Qualified Mentors
Delivering mentoring to startups and scaleups as an accredited member of the Global Mentors Club is a privilege that is extended on a periodic basis to individual accredited mentors and is subject to periodic renewal, non-renewal, revocation, termination or suspension by its Board of Directors, which shall be elected from time to time by the members of the WBAF Global Mentors Club.
Global Mentors Club Guidelines
The Global Mentor Club Administration has developed two sets of guidelines:
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Guidelines for Mentors:
For individuals wishing to become an accredited mentor who will provide mentoring to entrepreneurs, startups, scaleups and SMEs.
- Guidelines for Startups:
For entrepreneurs, startups, scaleups and SMEs who want to receive mentoring from accredited mentors of the
Global Mentors Club
The Global Mentors Club
The World Business Angels Investment Forum, as an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), explores how players in the startup ecosystem can foster innovation and deliver more business value through partnerships between angel investors, start-ups, scale-ups, high-growth businesses and SMEs. In line with this goal, the
WBAF 2019 Grand Assembly decided to create a new unit, the Global Mentors Club, to support startups. Thanks to its extensive network, WBAF is now able to offer mentorship and provide consultancy for expanding into international markets.
Rules of Membership and Code of Conduct
As a condition of membership in the Global Mentors Club (hereinafter referred to as GMC), each member must sign a Rules of Membership and Code of Conduct statement, which indicates the member’s agreement with and acceptance of the GMC membership rules and code of conduct.
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Membership in GMC is a privilege that is extended on a periodic basis to individual accredited mentors (“Members”) and is subject to periodic renewal, non-renewal, revocation, termination or suspension by the Board of Directors of the GMC. (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”), which shall be elected from time to time by the members of the WBAF Global Mentors Club.
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As a condition precedent to renewal or continuation of Membership, it shall be conclusively presumed that a Member has expressly agreed to abide by the GMC Rules of Membership and Code of Conduct, as they may be modified from time to time by the Board, and to have expressly acknowledged that Membership may be revoked, terminated, suspended or not renewed by the Board upon the failure of the Member to do so. After any change in the Rules of Membership or the Code of Conduct, each Member must either accept the Rules of Membership and Code of Conduct or withdraw from the GMC.
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The purpose of Membership is to provide mentorship for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs doing business around the globe, including specific market expansion services for applicants, and to provide coaching and an active exchange of information and experience regarding the formation, development and financial structuring of applicant companies as much as necessary. It is important that GMC mentors not deliver more mentoring sessions than an applicant needs. The mentors must not engage in any direct financial transaction with applicants.
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Decisions regarding approval or denial of membership for any applicant shall be governed by the Board. All decisions are final and as such are not subject to appeal.
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Decisions regarding the revocation, termination, suspension or non-renewal of Membership by the Board are final and not subject to any appeal. The sole recourse any Member has over any disagreement with a Board decision, motion or action, regardless of its scope or nature, is to withdraw from Membership in GMC.
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The Board can suspend, revoke or terminate any Member who, in the sole judgment of the Board:
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Fails to disclose a material fact or makes a material misrepresentation in an application for Membership, regarding any relationship with a mentoring meeting or other information sharing which:
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Has or gives the appearance of having a material conflict of interest with GMC.
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Improperly discloses information presented in confidence to Mentors, or makes or allows to be made any material use of confidential information presented to Mentors for the benefit of any persons not Members, or any entity other than thediscloser, in a manner that is in conflict with any of the interest of other Members, GMC, or the discloser.
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Improperly solicits mentorships from GMC, or makes a material misrepresentation or omits a material fact in reporting mentorship sessions to GMC.
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Behaves in a manner that materially disrupts GMC activities or events or, in connection with any GMC-related activities,displays less than professional behavior toward other Members.
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Engages in conduct that reflects poorly on GMC, or which is deemed by the Board to be against the best interests of GMC.
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Solicits or accepts any compensation from any party or parties, for presenting a mentorship opportunity, or for raising capital from WBAF FUND, the Membership of GMC without the prior approval of the Board.
Conflict of Interest Policy for Global Mentors Club Members
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure
Applications for mentoring are to be treated as confidential. Documentation provided to the Global Mentors Club must be used only for the purpose of assessing an application. It must not be used for any other purpose or discussed with or disclosed to others. The use of ideas or unique methods obtained from an application or from the mentoring session is strictly prohibited.
While the mentoring applications documents are in the possession of the Global Mentors Club, the documents must be:
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stored in a secure manner so as to prevent unauthorized access.
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transmitted using secure platforms.
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destroyed in a secure manner when no longer needed (e.g. by shredding hard copies and deleting electronic data files).
Enforcement of this Policy
In the event it becomes apparent that any GMC mentor who has been assigned to a specific mentee has not declared a conflict of interest or has not declared a conflicting commitment, the administrative board, may do any or all of the following:
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investigate the matter and report it to the GMC board, along with documentation of their findings and their recommendations.
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request that the member refrain from participating in the GMC until the investigation has been completed and the outcome decided.
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request that the member resign from the GMC;
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take whatever legal or administrative steps are appropriate in order to remedy the conflict of interest.