Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) anchor local livelihoods in Western Visayas but continue to face persistent constraints in finance, digitalization, and market access. To strengthen MSME capabilities, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program provides module-based mentoring and Business Improvement Plan (BIP) coaching. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how KMME mentee graduates made sense of their post-mentorship journeys, their triumphs and tribulations after completing the program. Guided by social constructivism and interpretivism, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven mentee graduates representing diverse sectors (food manufacturing, shell crafts, real estate, events, mushroom farming, bakery/cafe, and integrated farming) across Region VI. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Four major themes were developed. Two reflected triumphs:(1) Organizational and Strategic Transformation – movement from improvised to systematic operations, quality assurance, branding, and people-centered leadership; and (2) Success in Entrepreneurial Confidence and Identity Formation – growth in self-efficacy, professional identity, and decision-making. On the other hand, two captured tribulations: (3) Structural and Institutional Barriers to Growth – risk-averse lending, limited capitalization, and uneven post-program support; and (4) Operational, Technological, and Crisis-Driven Challenges – market volatility, multigenerational workforce tensions, uneven digital adoption, and shocks like pandemics and supply disruptions. To synthesize these findings, the study introduces the GRIT model (GrowthResilience-Innovation-Transformation), which conceptualizes how mentorship fosters entrepreneurial progression despite limitations. It further proposes a Transformative Sustainability Theory (TST), asserting that sustained entrepreneurial growth arises not from linear advancement but from adaptive learning, innovation, and resilience in responses to contextual challenges. Findings suggest that KMME’s early impacts can be strengthened through continuous post-mentorship monitoring, accessible financing mechanisms, digital capability development, and stronger ecosystem collaboration among DTI, LGUs, TESDA, DOST, financial institutions, and academic partners.

Keywords: KMME program, MSMEs, qualitative phenomenology, reflexive thematic analysis, Western Visayas, mentorship, sustainability