International Certificate In Entrepreneurship

Accelerate Prosperity and E4Impact Foundation offer the International Certificate in Entrepreneurship (ICE) to aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs who desire to build/ grow their enterprises.

The goals of ICE are

  • To equip the entrepreneurs with the required skills and knowledge for launching and growing a business
  • To improve investment readiness of a business by adopting sustainable business models, using tools such as Business Model Canvas, Financial Model, Information Memorandum and Pitch Decks and meeting all legal and compliance requirements
  • To secure the required financing to launch their business

ICE consists of two main components

Investment Readiness Training and Advisory

A blended learning approach that provides remote training and advisory, business coaching and mentoring.

Financing

Towards the end of the process select entrepreneurs will pitch their business/ idea to Accelerate Prosperity, financial institutions, impact investment funds from Pakistan and overseas for securing financing/ investments.

Training and Advisory:

It’s a unique approach where a pool of trainers, mentors, subject-matter experts and business coaches whose capacities are relevant to types of businesses selected for incubation services, design and lead the entire process. The process is specifically designed for new ideas and early stage businesses which have significant potential for growth and impact.

The modules covered in this component include

  • Business modelling
  • Market Analysis and Marketing
  • Financial Management and Financial Modelling
  • Developing Information Memorandum
  • Pitch making

AP’s Financing Information:

  • Instrument: Patient debt
  • Interest rate: Equivalent to inflation
  • Term: up to 10 years
  • Ticket size: PKR 1 million – PKR 15 million
  • Other Requirements: Mortgage land or building

What’s in it for an Entrepreneur?

  • Financing: AP provides patient debt up to 15 million for businesses with a significant potential to grow.
  • Investment Readiness Training and advisory: Tailored investment readiness training including remote advisory to help businesses improve their business model and execution plan and present a case for potential financing.
  • International Certificate: Entrepreneurs completing all the assessment requirements will be given a certificate in entrepreneurship by Accelerate Prosperity and E4Impact Foundation of Altis School of Business, Universita Cattolica, Milan (Italy).
  • Business Forum: Select entrepreneurs will get a chance to participate in the AP business forum to pitch their business/ idea to AP and other national and international institutional and individual investors.
  • Personal Business Coaches, Mentors, and Subject Matter Experts: These include successful entrepreneurs, investors and subject matter experts and AP’s investment team to help guide the entrepreneur throughout the process.

The Complete ICE Journey of an Entrepreneur

Step 1:

Submission of Application: Submit your business idea for initial screening by Accelerate Prosperity.

Step 2:

Interviews of Shortlisted Applications: Appear in a face to face interview with a panel of judges for further evaluation.

Step 3:

Receive initial preparatory material form AP to prepare for the upcoming live lectures and assignments.

Step 4:

Business Training & Advisory: Attend all the training sessions, one on one and group advisory sessions and work with your personal business coach to submit all the assignments to prepare to kickstart your business.

Step 5:

Pitch for Financing/ Investment: Pitch your business to Accelerate Prosperity and its partner institutions and network of investors for financing.

Step 6:

Award of International Certificate on Entrepreneurship: Upon successful completion, receive an internationally accredited certificate by E4Impact Foundation and AP.

Step 7:

Due Diligence: Facilitate AP’s investment team in conducting the due diligence of your business to analyze its fitness for financing and the risks and returns.

Step 8:

Financing/ Investment: Finally based on the results of the due diligence report, receive financing from AP to launch or grow your business.

WHO CAN APPLY?

  • Entrepreneurs from Pakistan who aim to launch a business anywhere in Pakistan, are eligible to apply.
  • New, innovative and unique ideas offering highly value adding, scalable and technological solutions and demonstrating potential for causing positive economic and social transformation will be preferred.
  • Business ideas from ALL sectors can apply.

WHO CANNOT APPLY?

  • Businesses involved in practices that are illegal, unethical and/or cause substantial damage to the environment.
  • Not-For-Profit business ideas or institutions.

What is our Selection Criteria?

Business Criteria

  • A unique and innovative business idea with potential for causing or contributing to positive economic and social transformation.
  • A clear market niche, sound target market and customer base.
  • Realistic competitive advantage in terms of price, quality and easy/ large access.
  • Strong revenue and profit models, potential for scalability and growth.
  • Strong value chain effect.
  • Impact potential.

Personal Criteria

  • Strong entrepreneurial traits, including (but not limited to) leadership qualities, risk taking, street smartness, ability to do more with less etc.
  • Coachable team, including (but not limited to) openness to advisory, learn, ability and openness to constantly iterate, adapt and evolve based on changing conditions, realities or assumptions etc.
  • Past experience in doing business, or as an employee in a similar industry, or subject matter expertise relevant to the product/ service.

Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative and transformational business idea or startup?

To learn more about ICE:

Download our brochure
Apply now

Partner Institutions

E4impact Foundation

(E4Impact) is an initiative launched in 2010 by ALTIS (Graduate School of Business and Society of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), with the objective of training impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets in order to support the start-up and growth of their businesses. In 2015, E4Impact became a Foundation with the support of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Securfin, Mapei, Salini-Impregilo, Bracco, ENI and other Individual Participants. The work of the Foundation contributes to the accomplishment of many of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Goals, including access to quality education, decent work, economic growth and poverty and hunger reduction.

Karakorum International
University

The Karakoram International University (KIU) is a leading institution of higher learning committed to social development and evolution of peaceful and pluralistic societies in the mountainous areas of Pakistan and geographically similar regions elsewhere. The mission of KIU is to promote human development at all stages of life; through growth, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination and application of knowledge, and provide a service that values sustainable, humanitarian, and economic development of the environment.

E4impact Foundation

(E4Impact) is an initiative launched in 2010 by ALTIS (Graduate School of Business and Society of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), with the objective of training impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets in order to support the start-up and growth of their businesses. In 2015, E4Impact became a Foundation with the support of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Securfin, Mapei, Salini-Impregilo, Bracco, ENI and other Individual Participants. The work of the Foundation contributes to the accomplishment of many of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Goals, including access to quality education, decent work, economic growth and poverty and hunger reduction.