The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Empowering young adults to believe
PROFILE: Tim Mart, from Kelty, of social enterprise DotCoach
What does your business do?
We’re a social enterprise that is revolutionising the way young adults think about themselves and what they can achieve. We deliver affordable and accessible online coaching programmes to 18 to 25-year-olds through https://knowyoumore.co/ and by partnering with youth development groups.
How and why did you start in business?
I fell into a career within financial services in my twenties. It wasn’t until over a decade later, after enrolling in a coaching qualification, that I found what I really loved doing. On having children of my own, it became clear that I wanted to build something that would help young people identify what they wanted out of life much earlier.
How did you get to where you are today?
Through continually developing and learning about myself. Through learning you really start to paint a picture of how you’d like to live your life. This applies to my business journey too. Getting real clarity on why I wanted to start a business has provided the road map and resilience to make it happen.
Who has helped you along the way?
Business Gateway Fife signposted and connected me to a number of resources and contacts around Fife. This was how I heard about Acorn Enterprise Business Accelerator in Rosyth which helped me develop an entrepreneurial mindset. We’ve also developed a strong relationship with Firstport and BRAG enterprises. Through a Fife Investment Fund award, secured with the help of Business Gateway Fife, and a Start It Award, administered by Firstport, we were able to launch.
What was your biggest mistake?
I remember having all these concepts and business models that would be the next best thing, so I started building when I should really have been understanding what our target audience really wanted and would pay for. It wasn’t until we brought in an expert and applied design thinking to our model that we started to truly understand who our customer was, what they felt, and how we could achieve the biggest impact.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
After a pilot in February, we received endorsement from the International Coaching Federation and started our membership service to professional coaches. In less than a month of launching, we had a community of 150 coaches who all connected and shared in our vision.
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Our mission is to empower young adults to think differently about themselves, their opportunity, and what they can achieve. I hope that we will continue to be innovative in how we support young adults realise their potential.