Proof of Concept:
Mentor Network
In a world where young adults aging out of foster care can lose their support network all at once, this concept explores a safer path to building relationships with verified mentors.
Overview
Youth aging out of foster care often lose access to stable adult relationships and are left to navigate life alone. Existing support systems can be fragmented, transactional, or difficult to access. Attempts to “match” youth with adults can introduce serious safety risks, power imbalances, and a lack of accountability.
As the product lead, I defined the platform strategy, designed the safety-first interaction model, and structured the MVP across product, operational, and risk constraints. I translated a high-risk concept into a controlled, network-based system.
This idea is a proof of concept designed to be tested on a small scale to prove viability.
Business Importance
There is no traditional business benefit to this platform. The value is social: reducing the instability, unemployment, housing crises, and emergency-service dependence that often follow a loss of consistent adult support.
Discovery
Research showed a difficult tension: young adults need consistent, voluntary adult relationships, but they are also highly vulnerable to exploitation and abandonment. Existing models often trade flexibility for safety, or safety for autonomy.
The core problem became less about “matching” people and more about building the conditions where relationships could form safely over time.
Product Thinking
Instead of building a matching app, the concept reframed the problem as trust infrastructure. Young adults request support from a vetted network, while relationships form inside structured, observable containers.
Key tradeoff: prioritize safety and control over speed and scale. That meant removing features such as profile browsing, instant matching, and open messaging.
Key Decisions
- Replaced profile browsing with request-based interaction.
- Introduced support circles to reduce dependency on a single adult.
- Designed phased relationship escalation to slow trust-building.
- Built independent reporting and one-tap exit to protect youth autonomy.
- Enforced strict guardrails around housing, payments, and early off-platform contact.
Outcomes
The MVP created a controlled environment where relationships could form intentionally. The model reduces key risks while preserving youth choice and dignity. More importantly, it establishes a concrete foundation for usability testing, trust testing, engagement measurement, and long-term outcome research.
