🚀 EntreSkill Hub – Skill-to-Startup Enablement Platform

Transform Your Skills Into a Thriving Business

🌟 Overview

EntreSkill Hub is a comprehensive skill-to-startup enablement platform designed to bridge the gap between skilled individuals and entrepreneurship. Many people possess valuable practical skills (tailoring, handicrafts, food preparation, digital skills, etc.) but lack structured guidance to convert those skills into sustainable micro-businesses.

What We Provide:

Business Idea Discovery based on your skills
Step-by-Step Roadmaps for launching businesses
Curated Learning Resources (videos, articles, checklists, guides)
Expert Mentorship through 1-on-1 sessions and Q&A
Progress Tracking with gamification elements

🎯 Mission

Empower aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and mentorship needed to confidently start and grow micro-enterprises, fostering self-employment and economic independence.

🔥 Problem Statement

Challenges Faced by Aspiring Micro-Entrepreneurs:

Lack of Awareness – Don't know which business opportunities align with their skills
No Structured Roadmap – Confused about where to start and what steps to follow
Limited Access to Training – Scattered learning resources across the internet
Absence of Mentorship – No guidance from experienced entrepreneurs
Operational Confusion – Unclear about legal, financial, and marketing aspects

Our Solution:

EntreSkill Hub provides a unified platform that consolidates:

Business idea recommendations
Structured roadmaps with actionable steps
Expert-curated learning content
Access to verified mentors
Progress tracking and accountability

✨ Key Features

🧑‍💼 For Users (Aspiring Entrepreneurs)

Feature	Description
🎯 Skill Assessment	Complete onboarding to identify skills, interests, and goals
💡 Business Discovery	Explore 500+ business ideas with filters (category, investment, difficulty)
🗺️ Step-by-Step Roadmaps	Detailed roadmaps covering idea validation, legal steps, cost estimation, marketing
📚 Learning Resources	Access curated videos, articles, checklists, and guides
👨‍🏫 Mentor Directory	Find and connect with 200+ verified mentors
📅 Session Booking	Book Q&A sessions or video calls with mentors
📊 Progress Tracking	Dashboard with stats, streak counter, and completion rates
🔖 Bookmarks	Save favorite businesses and resources
🔔 Notifications	Real-time updates on sessions, approvals, and milestones
🌙 Dark Mode	Eye-friendly dark theme with persistent preference

🎓 For Mentors

Feature	Description
✍️ Profile Creation	Build professional mentor profile with expertise and credentials
📆 Availability Management	Set available slots for mentoring sessions
💬 Q&A Sessions	Conduct text-based Q&A sessions with mentees
🎥 Video Sessions	Host live video calls via integrated Jitsi Meet
📤 Resource Upload	Upload training materials (pending admin approval)
📈 Dashboard Analytics	Track mentees, sessions, and performance metrics
⭐ Reputation System	Build credibility through ratings and reviews

🛡️ For Admins

Feature	Description
👥 User Management	View, activate, or deactivate user accounts
🎓 Mentor Verification	Approve/reject mentor applications with reasons
📝 Content Moderation	Review and approve mentor-uploaded resources
💼 Business Management	Curate and manage business ideas catalog
📊 Analytics Dashboard	Monitor platform engagement, users, sessions, and growth
🔐 Secure Admin Portal	Separate admin authentication and authorization

🛠️ Tech Stack

Frontend

Technology	Version	Purpose
React.js	18.x	UI library for building interactive interfaces
Vite	5.x	Fast build tool and dev server
React Router DOM	6.x	Client-side routing
Tailwind CSS	3.x	Utility-first CSS framework
Framer Motion	10.x	Animation library
Axios	1.x	HTTP client for API requests
React Hot Toast	2.x	Toast notifications
Canvas Confetti	1.x	Celebration animations
Lucide React	Latest	Icon library
React Markdown	8.x	Markdown rendering

Backend

Technology	Version	Purpose
Node.js	18.x	JavaScript runtime
Express.js	4.x	Web application framework
MongoDB	6.x	NoSQL database
Mongoose	8.x	MongoDB ODM
bcryptjs	2.x	Password hashing
jsonwebtoken	9.x	JWT authentication
dotenv	16.x	Environment variable management
cors	2.x	Cross-origin resource sharing
uuid	9.x	Unique ID generation (for Jitsi rooms)

Additional Services

Jitsi Meet – Video conferencing integration
YouTube API – Video resource embedding
LocalStorage – Client-side data persistence

🏗️ Architecture

System Architecture Diagram

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     FRONTEND (React + Vite)                     │
│       ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐       │
│       │ User     │ │ Mentor   │ │ Admin    │ │ Common   │       │
│       │ Pages    │ │ Pages    │ │ Pages    │ │Components│       │
│       └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘       │
│             │            │            │             │           │
│             └────────────┴────────────┴─────────────┘           │
│                                │                                │
│                       API Service Layer                         │
│                                │                                │
└────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┘ 
                            HTTP/REST API
                                 │
                                 ▼ 
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   BACKEND (Node.js + Express)                   │
│       ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐       │
│       │ Auth     │ │Business  │ │ Mentor   │ │ Admin    │       │
│       │ Routes   │ │  Routes  │ │  Routes  │ │  Routes  │       │
│       └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘       │
│            │            │            │            │             │
│            └────────────┴────────────┴────────────┘             │
│                                │                                │
│                        Controllers Layer                        │
│                                │                                │
│                        Models Layer (Mongoose)                  │
│                                │                                │
└────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼ 
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        MongoDB Database                         │   
│      ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐      │
│      │Users │ │Busi- │ │Road- │ │Reso- │ │Book- │ │Noti- │      │
│      │      | | ness │ │ maps │ │urces │ │marks │ │fica- │      │
│      │      │ │      │ │      │ │      │ │      │ │tions │      │
│      └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

Node.js (v18.x or higher) - Download
MongoDB (v6.x or higher) - Download or use MongoDB Atlas
Git - Download

Installation

1️⃣ Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/Prakhar007Pathak/EntreSkill-Hub.git
cd entreskill-hub

2️⃣ Install Backend Dependencies

cd backend
npm install

3️⃣ Install Frontend Dependencies

cd ../frontend
npm install

Environment Variables

Backend Configuration

Create backend/.env:

# Server Configuration
NODE_ENV=development
PORT=5000

# Database
MONGO_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017/entreskill

# JWT Secret (generate a random string)
JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret-jwt-key-change-this-in-production

# Admin Credentials (for auto-creation)
ADMIN_NAME=EntreSkill Admin
ADMIN_EMAIL=admin@entreskill.com
ADMIN_PASSWORD=Admin@123456
ADMIN_PHONE=+919999999999

Frontend Configuration

Create frontend/.env:

# API Base URL
VITE_API_URL=http://localhost:5000/api

Database Setup

Option 1: Local MongoDB

Start MongoDB Service:

# macOS (Homebrew)
brew services start mongodb-community

# Windows
net start MongoDB

# Linux (systemd)
sudo systemctl start mongod

Verify Connection:

mongosh
# Should connect to mongodb://localhost:27017

Option 2: MongoDB Atlas (Cloud)

Create free account at MongoDB Atlas
Create a cluster
Whitelist your IP address
Create database user
Get connection string and update MONGO_URI in .env

Running the Application

Development Mode

Terminal 1 - Backend:

cd backend
npm run dev

Backend runs on http://localhost:5000

Terminal 2 - Frontend:

cd frontend
npm run dev

Frontend runs on http://localhost:5173

🎉 Access the Application

Role	URL	Credentials
Landing Page	http://localhost:5173	-
User	http://localhost:5173/register	Create new account
Mentor	http://localhost:5173/mentor/register	Create new account
Admin	http://localhost:5173/admin/login	admin@entreskill.com / Admin@123456

👥 User Roles & Workflows

🧑‍💼 User Journey

1. Register/Login → 2. Complete Onboarding (4 steps) → 
3. View Dashboard → 4. Explore Businesses → 
5. Start Roadmap → 6. Access Learning Resources → 
7. Connect with Mentors → 8. Book Sessions → 
9. Track Progress → 10. Complete Milestones

🎓 Mentor Journey

1. Register as Mentor → 2. Complete Mentor Onboarding (4 steps) → 
3. Pending Verification → 4. Admin Approves → 
5. Mentor Dashboard → 6. Set Availability → 
7. Respond to Sessions → 8. Conduct Mentoring → 
9. Upload Resources → 10. Build Reputation

🛡️ Admin Journey

1. Admin Login → 2. View Dashboard Stats → 
3. Manage Users → 4. Verify Mentors → 
5. Approve Resources → 6. Curate Businesses → 
7. Monitor Platform → 8. Handle Reports

📡 API Documentation

Base URL

http://localhost:5000/api

Authentication

All protected routes require JWT token in header:

Authorization: Bearer <token>

Main API Endpoints

🔐 Authentication

POST /api/auth/register - Register new user/mentor
POST /api/auth/login - Login
GET /api/auth/me - Get current user

💼 Businesses

GET /api/businesses - Get all businesses (with filters)
GET /api/businesses/:slug - Get business details
POST /api/businesses/:id/bookmark - Toggle bookmark

🗺️ Roadmaps

GET /api/roadmaps/:businessSlug - Get roadmap
POST /api/roadmaps/:businessSlug/start - Start roadmap
PUT /api/roadmaps/step/:stepId/complete - Mark step complete

📚 Resources

GET /api/resources - Get all resources
GET /api/resources/:slug - Get resource details
POST /api/resources/:id/complete - Mark complete

🎓 Mentors

GET /api/mentors - Get all mentors
GET /api/mentors/:mentorSlug - Get mentor profile
POST /api/mentors/:mentorId/connect - Connect with mentor
POST /api/mentors/slots/:slotId/book - Book session

🛡️ Admin

POST /api/admin/login - Admin login
GET /api/admin/stats - Dashboard stats
PUT /api/admin/mentors/:mentorId/approve - Approve mentor
PUT /api/admin/resources/:id/approve - Approve resource

📁 Project Structure

entreSkill/
├── backend/
│   ├── .env
│   ├── package.json
│   └── src/
│       ├── config/
│       │   └── db.js
│       ├── controllers/
│       │   ├── adminController.js
│       │   ├── authController.js
│       │   ├── businessController.js
│       │   ├── mentorController.js
│       │   └── ...
│       ├── middleware/
│       │   └── auth.js
│       ├── models/
│       │   ├── User.js
│       │   ├── Business.js
│       │   ├── Bookmark.js
│       │   └── ...
│       ├── routes/
│       │   ├── authRoutes.js
│       │   ├── businessRoutes.js
│       │   └── ...
│       ├── seeds/
│       │   ├── createAdmin.js
│       │   └── ...
│       ├── utils/
│       │   ├── autoCreateAdmin.js
│       │   ├── jwt.js
│       │   └── slug.js
│       └── server.js
│
└── frontend/
    ├── .env
    ├── package.json
    ├── index.html
    ├── tailwind.config.js
    ├── vite.config.js
    └── src/
        ├── App.jsx
        ├── main.jsx
        ├── index.css
        ├── components/
        │   ├── admin/
        │   ├── business/
        │   ├── common/
        │   ├── dashboard/
        │   └── mentor/
        ├── context/
        │   └── AuthContext.jsx
        ├── pages/
        │   ├── admin/
        │   ├── Dashboard.jsx
        │   ├── Login.jsx
        │   ├── Register.jsx
        │   └── ...
        └── services/
            ├── api.js
            ├── authService.js
            ├── businessService.js
            └── ...

🗄️ Database Schema

Users Collection

{
  _id: ObjectId,
  fullName: String,
  email: String (unique),
  password: String (hashed),
  role: String (user | mentor | admin),
  phone: String,
  
  // User Onboarding
  onboardingData: {
    status: String,
    education: String,
    skills: [String],
    tools: [String],
    industry: [String],
    budget: Number
  },
  
  // Mentor Profile
  mentorProfile: {
    headline: String,
    bio: String,
    expertise: [String],
    sessionTypes: { qa: Boolean, videoCall: Boolean }
  },
  
  createdAt: Date,
  updatedAt: Date
}

Business Collection

{
  _id: ObjectId,
  title: String,
  slug: String (unique),
  description: String,
  category: String,
  difficulty: String,
  investmentRange: { min: Number, max: Number },
  requiredSkills: [String],
  pros: [String],
  cons: [String],
  featured: Boolean
}

Bookmark Collection

{
  _id: ObjectId,
  userId: ObjectId (ref: User),
  type: String (business | resource),
  businessId: ObjectId (ref: Business),
  resourceId: ObjectId (ref: Resource),
  createdAt: Date
}

🎯 Features Deep Dive

1️⃣ Business Discovery Algorithm

// Personalized recommendations based on:
- User skills match
- Industry preference match
- Budget constraints
- Sorted by viability score & success rate

2️⃣ Roadmap System

5-Stage Framework:

Idea Validation
Skills & Tools
Legal & Registration
Cost Estimation
Marketing Basics

3️⃣ Mentor Matching

Filters:

Expertise area
Industry experience
Language
Session type
Availability

🌐 Live Deployment

The project is fully deployed and accessible online.

Service	URL
Frontend (Vercel)	https://entre-skill-hub.vercel.app/
Backend API (Render)	https://entreskill-hub-f7u4.onrender.com

You can explore the platform through the frontend application.
The backend API is connected to MongoDB Atlas and handles authentication, bookings, services, and real-time updates.

📈 Future Enhancements

Planned improvements include:

AI-Powered Skill Matching AI Business Recommendation Engine Personalized Startup Roadmaps Multi-Language Support Mobile Application Government Scheme Integration Funding & Investor Support Advanced Analytics Dashboard AI Entrepreneurship Assistant

🎯 Expected Impact

EntreSkill Hub aims to:

Promote self-employment Encourage entrepreneurship Support rural and local businesses Improve startup success rates Provide accessible business education Build sustainable micro-enterprises

🤝 Acknowledgements

This project was developed as part of an internship under:

Unified Mentor Pvt. Ltd.

Special thanks to the mentors, reviewers, and contributors who provided guidance throughout the development process.

👨‍💻 Developer

Prakhar Pathak

Full Stack Web Developer | AI & ML Student

Passionate about building scalable web applications, solving real-world problems, and creating impactful digital products.

⭐ If you found this project interesting, consider giving it a star and sharing your feedback.

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
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frontend		frontend
.gitignore		.gitignore
README.md		README.md

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