Inspiration
We were inspired by the lack of structured, accessible mentorship for students and early-career professionals. Many learners struggle to find the right guidance at the right time. With AI advancing rapidly, we saw an opportunity to build a smarter mentorship platform that goes beyond human limitations and offers scalable, personalized support.
What it does
MentorSpace connects mentees with mentors through a smart platform that uses AI to match individuals based on skills, interests, and goals. It includes features like personalized learning plans, goal tracking, and asynchronous communication. Our long-term vision is to minimize dependency on in-person mentorship by leveraging AI-driven systems that can guide and support students autonomously.
How we built it
MentorSpace was built using React and Tailwind CSS for the frontend, with a backend powered by Node.js and Firebase for authentication, real-time data, and secure storage. The AI-based matching system and planning tracker are being developed using machine learning models that analyze user input to deliver meaningful mentor matches and customized learning journeys.
Challenges we ran into
Our biggest challenge was designing a truly effective AI-based mentoring experience. It required us to rethink traditional mentorship models and understand how AI can replicate or even improve parts of the human mentorship process. Integrating intelligent tracking tools and creating a smooth, supportive user experience also required constant iteration and feedback.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud of how far MentorSpace has come from a simple idea to a platform that’s aiming to reinvent mentorship using AI. We've built a working prototype with core functionality, and we’ve received positive feedback from early testers. Seeing the concept evolve and gain real traction has been incredibly rewarding.
What we learned
We learned how a project can evolve and reshape your thinking as you build it. Originally, we just wanted to help students find mentors — but as we explored possibilities, we realized that AI could play a much larger role. We didn’t have a detailed plan at first, but through research and testing, we discovered how AI could enable mentorship to scale in a meaningful way.
What's next for MentorSpace
Next, we’re focused on expanding MentorSpace by integrating online meeting capabilities, refining our AI matching algorithm, and improving the AI-based learning tracker. We want to ensure each student gets the most relevant mentor and consistent guidance throughout their journey. We also aim to expand into global markets and build partnerships with schools, universities, and professional communities to reach a wider audience.
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