River Guide, co-founded by Kela Ivonye, has made notable strides in supporting aspiring entrepreneurs in the ever-changing field of mentorship and entrepreneurship. The concept for River Guide emerged from Kela's personal experiences as a student entrepreneur and mentor, where they saw firsthand the importance of having reliable guidance.
With a deep commitment to helping others, Kela has developed mentorship programs across Kentucky, collaborating with state and local governments and universities like the University of Louisville. By blending traditional mentorship with modern technology, River Guide aims to enhance how students and new entrepreneurs receive the support they need.
We sat down with Kela to explore the inspiration behind River Guide, its effects on Kentucky universities, and their vision for the future of mentorship and entrepreneurship nationwide.
How did you become interested in Mentorship Matching?
KI: When I started my first company, we didn’t really see any success. When I launched a new company, I surrounded myself with mentors, which made all the difference in helping me go far. I became interested in mentorship because I saw its value in my own life. That experience—starting a company as a student without access to guidance—really stuck with me.
Starting a company is hard. But it’s even harder if you’re a first-time founder and a student who has never done it before. You need a lot of guidance. That’s what led me to create River Guide.
Another key moment was during the Black Lives Matter protests. At the time, everyone was trying to figure out how to contribute, and I met with a few VCs and founders, asking them to mentor Black founders who didn’t have access to that kind of support. They agreed and not only mentored but also wrote checks. That pilot was a success, inspiring me to take the next step and start a company around it.
What challenges did you identify that drove you to co-found a company to address them?
KI: After I sold my last company, I started working with state and local governments, as well as the University of Louisville. What I noticed was that all of them wanted mentorship programs. So, I spent my time helping them design these programs or helping them launch entrepreneurial programs that included mentorship as a key component.
I realized that there was a clear need for mentorship, and I saw the demand firsthand. That’s how I ended up fulfilling that demand.
Tell us about your team: Who’s on it, and how did you meet?
KI: Gautam and I met when I was the Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Louisville. Someone introduced us, saying we should connect. When we did, he showed me a demo of something cool he was working on, and I thought it was pretty neat. Later, he applied to an accelerator, and I gave him a recommendation, but unfortunately, that didn’t work out.
Around that time, one of my students was building a company and needed some help with a technical issue. I asked Gautam if he could advise the student, and not only did he agree, but he also volunteered to help the student build it. That kind of can-do attitude and initiative is exactly what I look for in people, and that’s how our partnership began.
When I launched a new company, I surrounded myself with mentors, which made all the difference in helping me go far. I became interested in mentorship because I saw its value in my own life.
Where do you see mentorship services headed in the future?
KI: In a post-COVID world, as conferences are just starting to come back, they're still not the same as they were before. There aren't as many opportunities to meet people organically. However, with the rise of video platforms like Zoom, we’re seeing mentorship become more accessible. Technology is making it easier to connect, and with AI, I believe mentorship is evolving.
You can now learn so much from someone you might never meet in person, just through a phone call. AI can also help by reviewing everything you've learned, organizing notes, and enhancing the learning process. This is why I think we’re going to see a lot more AI integration in mentoring and coaching services in the future.
What does success look like to River Guide in the short term and long term?
KI: In the short term, our goal is to immediately see the impact of River Guide on local Kentucky universities, as we’re starting in Kentucky and then expanding to other states. Success, in the short term, would be seeing most of our public universities using the platform and witnessing students achieve real results. For example, a student from Kentucky State using River Guide, and then going on to raise a million-dollar round—that’s what motivates us.
For long-term success, we envision bringing River Guide to every college student in America who’s trying to build a company. We want to scale it nationwide. Ultimately, we want River Guide to become a household name, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, when it comes to coaching, mentoring, and life skills development.
Are you a startup based in or looking to relocate to Kentucky? Keyhorse’s current quarterly investment cycle is open! Apply now.
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