OUR STARTUP SUPPORT APPROACH

This is to assist the team to deepen their understanding of the entrepreneurs and their ventures and also design a comprehensive business development services tailored to meet their specific needs because we deem it critical that the project focus on activities that are targeted at achieving the desired levels of growth and scaling the 20 ventures.

It is important that the right foundation is laid to ensure the independence, growth and sustainability of these enterprises when the project eventually ends.

Our BDS services goes beyond market testing to focus on the execution of real sales, growth, and profitability.

Our consortium also provide support directed at helping SMEs to identify and access growing markets, large and including export markets where possible as well as helping SMEs to manage both legal and technical issues relating to negotiations, sales deals, cash flows requirements, etc.

During this stage beneficiaries are given the needed guidance and support towards the full development of their respective products, with a view to optimizing product quality, usability, packaging, etc.

Each enterprise is also provided with the required technical guidance and support to meet regulatory standard requirements and acquire the required certifications for their respective products in their respective country of operation such as FDA, Business registration certifications, etc.).

SMEs are supported to develop financial and investment strategies in sync with their specific needs and growth plans.

We also leverage on existing relationships with investor community and engage public sector institutions involved in the development of small businesses and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, link SMES to funding and and where possible other forms of support.

As part of our BDS services all SMEs receive both one-on-one coaching and group coaching. SMEs are allowed to bring their team members to the one-on-one coaching sessions if they desire.

During coaching and mentoring sessions, entrepreneurs and SMEs gain access to our pool of mentors and coaches where they are given the necessary skills to gain a clear understanding of running their respective companies and develops skills specific to their business.

As the program draws to a close and entrepreneurs prepare to exit, they need to have a clear plan to keep themselves focused on the right priorities and continuing to grow their business after the formal BDS training has ended.

Many startups make significant progress while in structured support programs and then begin to lose momentum once the support ends. The key reason is the lack of accountability, someone to hold them to reaching their targets.

During the Exit planning workshop entrepreneurs and SMES discuss and come up with strategies individually and as a group to avoid the post-support slump.