Accelerate Prosperity is an initiative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Central and South Asia, with a mandate to create sustainable enterprises by investing in companies that can enable social, environmental and economic growth while delivering good capital returns.
Women In Business is a customized financing readiness program that prepares an entrepreneur and her business for growth.
The goals of Women In Business are to enable the entrepreneurs to:
- Develop and/or improve their business model, execution plan and existing processes
- Present a strong case for potential financing and/or investment
- Secure patient financing from Accelerate Prosperity or other financial institutions
Women In Business consists of two main components
Investment Readiness Training and Advisory
Relevant business training and advisory program that allows an entrepreneur to develop and/or improve their business model and execution plan and present a case for potential financing and/or investments. It also helps the entrepreneurs to document their business and meet all legal and compliance requirements to be able make their business ready for external financing and investment.
Financing
Patient financing, investments and/ or investor linkages to help businesses achieve their growth milestones.
Training and Advisory:
It’s a unique approach where a pool of trainers, mentors (successful entrepreneurs), subject-matter experts and business coaches design and lead the entire process. The process is specifically designed for existing businesses which have significant potential for growth and impact.
The training modules include
The training modules include
- Business Modeling
- Market Analysis and Marketing
- Financial Modeling & Company Valuation
- Pitch Making
Financing Information:
- Instrument: Patient debt
- Interest rate: Net 8%
- Term: up to 10 years
- Ticket size: Upto PKR 30 Million
- Other Requirements: Mortgage land or building
What is in it for an Entrepreneur?
- Financing: Patient debt up to 30 million for businesses with a significant potential to grow.
- Investment Readiness Training and advisory: A tailored investment readiness training including remote advisory to help businesses improve their business model, develop tools of investment and present a case for potential financing.
- Business Forum: A platform for businesses to pitch their businesses to AP and other national and international institutional and individual investors.
- Mentors, Business Coaches and Subject Matter Experts: These include successful entrepreneurs, investors, subject matter experts and AP’s Investment team to help guide the entrepreneur.
The Complete Journey of an Entrepreneur
Step 1:
Submission of Application.
Step 2:
Interviews of Shortlisted Applications.
Step 3:
Business Training & Advisory.
Step 4:
Pitch for Financing/ Investment.
Step 5:
Due Diligence (Business Diagnosis) for AP’s Financing.
Step 6:
Financing/ Investments.
Who do we work for?
We work with women owned existing businesses from across Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral from all industries, sectors and value chains relevant and applicable in Pakistan.
Who can apply?
- Existing Businesses with Revenue Streams.
- Businesses with new, innovative and unique business models offering highly value adding, scalable and technological solutions and demonstrating potential for causing positive economic and social transformation will be preferred.
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 do we look for in a business?
- A unique and innovative business model 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.
What do we look for in an entrepreneur?
- 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, ability and openness to constantly iterate, adapt and evolve based on changing conditions, realities, or assumptions etc.
- Experience in doing business, or as an employee in a similar industry, or subject matter expertise relevant to the product/ service.
