We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new IW Community CRM platform, Babele. This milestone is pivotal in our commitment to fostering seamless communication and collaboration within the IW family. This comprehensive system unites entrepreneurs, volunteer Executive Mentors, community resource partners, and our dedicated staff on a unified platform, enhancing the support and resources available to each member.
We chose the Babele platform because of its user-friendly interface. It enables network members to streamline interactions, facilitate meaningful connections, and empower everyone to navigate their entrepreneurial journeys more efficiently.
Babele has many unique features that can be useful to you immediately or as you grow your enterprise long-term. Below are some examples and features to address them:
| Opportunity | Using Babele |
| I recently landed a new contract with a new client and need assistance reviewing it before I sign it. | Create a ‘Request’ with a short description of the challenge, and upload a contract copy. Our team can do a quick review and assign the appropriate mentor or resource for review. |
| I was recently paired with a mentor to address a challenge; I loved the mentor and want to share my appreciation publicly. | When we close a ‘Request’ once addressed, the entrepreneur and the mentor receive short forms to complete to provide feedback on the engagement. |
| I have a big goal I want to pursue over the next year, but I don’t have enough time for the accelerator or want to keep working with my current mentors (or new mentors). | Work with the IW/IC team to develop an action plan to be loaded into the system. The appropriate mentors, peer entrepreneurs, and staff can be assigned to the plan to support you and track your milestones. |
| I would like to collaborate with other entrepreneurs on a project based on similar sectors or challenges. | Work with the IW/IC team to scope out the opportunity. An invitation can be shared with the entire pipeline. Once a group has been formed, the team can assist you with creating a peer-advisory group with assigned resources to support you on the journey and milestones. |
| I often beat myself up about long-term goals and don’t take enough time to celebrate small wins. I could use some motivation. | With the KPIs and Milestones trackers, you can create customized goals for yourself and your enterprise on the platform. We can support you as an accountability partner, cheer/celebrate you when you accomplish those milestones, and help you pull dashboards you can share with your stakeholders. |
Are You Ready to Jump In? Getting Started Guide:
There are three stages to jumping right in (our best recommendation) and gaining the full experience of the platform. The instructions below and the included visual User Guide will guide you step by step through this process in less than 45 minutes.
- Entering the Platform (Part 1): First, you must register to join the platform and complete your full user profile. This will be done in three steps: 1) completing your community profile, 2) applying for the General Pipeline (where all of our resources are housed), and 3) creating a detailed social enterprise profile for us to serve you better and you to serve each other. In the attached User Guide, these steps are in slides 3 – 7.
| The link to the application can be found here |
As you complete Part 1, please be mindful of the following:
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- Exploring the Community Platform (Part 2): Once in the system, follow the instructions and complete the tasks detailed in the attached CRM User Guide, slides 9 – 15.
- Exploring Your Enterprise Page and Resources (Part 3): Once you are in the community platform, have completed your enterprise page, and explored the general community resources, you will go into your team section restricted to you and your team members. Follow the instructions and complete the tasks detailed in the attached CRM User Guide, slides 17 – 24.
Download our step-by-step guide here
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I invite a team member to join me on the platform?
A: Yes! We encourage it—because leadership is not a solo journey. Share these instructions with your team member. Once they join the broader IW community on the platform, invite them to join your Enterprise team. (We’re happy to assist if needed.)
Q: The instructions mention a multistep application process, but that wasn’t my experience. Why?
A: Some initial bugs have been cleaned up, so the experience may vary slightly. It’s important to read every line in the instruction manual and check the ‘Notifications’ tab on the platform for the most up-to-date next steps, as email notifications may be delayed.
Q: I’m not sure who to contact for technical support—what should I do?
A: We’ve created a technical support request form to help streamline your needs. Once submitted, our internal team will determine the right person to assist or escalate to the Babele team. This helps us respond and close out issues more quickly.
Q: I find the platform confusing. How can I learn to use it better?
A: Everyone has different comfort levels with new platforms. We’re creating a library of how-to videos that will live on the platform. In the meantime, feel free to submit a ticket—someone from our team can hop on a quick call to walk you through it.
Q: I already use LinkedIn and Instagram. Why should I use this platform too?
A: Great question. Babele is not just another social platform—it’s a mission-oriented network focused on Baltimore and reducing the racial wealth gap. You can manage how often you receive email notifications so you’re not overwhelmed. It’s also a space to build meaningful relationships with mentors and team members without losing sight of our shared goals.
Q&A: Data-Informed Support
Q: How can I be fully supported with full understanding of my enterprise model and optimize resource matching?
A: It’s our goal to provide you with customized support, which requires effective resource matching. To improve efficiency, we need you to complete the Intake Form. This form gives us a holistic view of your enterprise. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1:
Log in to Babele: Visit https://iwbmore.babele.co and log in using your email and password — or sign in using your Google or Microsoft account.
Step 2:
Go to the Home Screen and Select “Explore Modules.” Once logged in, look on the right-hand side of your Home Screen for your company profile. Click “Explore Modules” to view your current activities and locate the intake form.
Step 3:
Select the Intake Form under “General Pipeline.” Use the dropdown at the top right of the page to select “General Pipeline.” Under the INNOVATION WORKS INITIAL INTAKE FORM section, click on “Intake Form.”
Step 4:
Begin the Intake Form. Click “Start Activity” to begin entering your responses.
What We Have Heard From You (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Find answers to common queries about our CRM platform.
- If you have a question not listed here, please contact us at babelecrm-team@iwbmore.org
Technical Assistance:
- If you have any issues or questions, let us know, and our staff will respond within 24 to 48 business hours. Completing this form here makes it much easier to determine the best staff member to support you with the issue and track response time.
- If you want someone to spend 30 minutes with you on a call while you complete the process, email babelecrm-team@iwbmore.org to request a meeting.
Call to Action: Ready to Get Started?
- Begin the application process, here
- If you have questions or issues, complete this form
- Review additional resources, here