Meet Mia: An AI Mentor for Microentrepreneurs
Who is Mia?
Mia is a 24/7 AI mentor that lives on WhatsApp. She helps microentrepreneurs in the informal economy improve how they run their businesses—through friendly, simple, and practical guidance rooted in ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) curriculum.
Real Conversations: Mia Talks with Entrepreneurs
Sometimes, text isn’t enough. Mia also supports voice interactions — a powerful feature for entrepreneurs who prefer to speak or listen rather than type and read.
Below is an example from the field:
Entrepreneur's Voice Note
An entrepreneur asks Mia for help understanding how to price her handmade goods.
Mia's Audio Reply
Mia responds with tailored guidance on pricing strategies based on costs and competition.
What Can Mia Do?
Mia engages in interactive conversations with entrepreneurs about:
- Marketing
- Costing and pricing
- Financial management
- Business planning
- Inventory
- Human resource management
She doesn’t just tell entrepreneurs what to do, she works with them through questions, examples, and calculators.
“Carla, let’s calculate your break-even point together. Can you tell me your fixed costs for the month?”
Why It Matters
Most small businesses in the informal economy lack access to tailored training or mentorship. Mia fills that gap by offering:
- Continuous support (day and night)
- Personalized business logic
- Financial framing to build financial acumen at scale
Real Voices from the Field
“Gracias Mia. Ahora sí entiendo cuánto debo cobrar para no perder.”
(translation: Thanks, Mia. Now I finally understand how much I should charge without losing money) — Entrepreneur participant from Honduras
“Mia me ha ayudado muchísimo, no solo en el plan de negocios, sino también para tener nuevos clientes y sacar mis costos.”
(translation: Mia has helped me so much, not only with my business plan, but also with getting new clients and understanding my costs.) — Entrepreneur participant from Honduras
“Estoy feliz con Mia. ¡Se ha vuelto mi mejor amiga en mi negocio!”
(translation: I’m so happy with Mia. She’s become my best friend in my business!) — Entrepreneur participant from Honduras
Behind the Scenes
Stay tuned for our upcoming results on how Mia is transforming entrepreneurial learning!
If you’re curious about how she works, or want to collaborate, reach out!