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 Techpreneurs aims to enable the growth and creation of high growth potential tech-oriented business ideas and existing early-stage businesses through tailored training and mentorship, creative financial solutions, access to market linkages, and subject matter expertise.
The goals of Women Techpreneurs comprise the following:
- Equip women entrepreneurs with the required skills and knowledge for launching and growing a business.
- Improve investment readiness of women-led businesses by adopting sustainable business models, using tools such as Business Model Canvas, Financial Model and Pitch Deck and meeting all legal and compliance requirements other partner institutions
- Secure financing from AP and other investment institutions
Women Techpreneurs consists of two main components
Investment Readiness Training and Advisory
Relevant business training and advisory program that allows an entrepreneur to make their business ready for external financing and investment.
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
- Pitch making
AP’s Financing Information:
- Instrument: Patient debt
- Interest rate: Net 8%
- Term: Up to 10 years
- Ticket size: Up to PKR 30 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.
- 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 Women Techpreneurs 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 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:
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 7:
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?
- Aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs in the Gilgit-Baltistan & Chitral region with innovative technology-based business ideas or startups who are looking for a platform to start or grow a successful business.
- 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.
