Deadline: 25-Nov-22
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is seeking applications for its Star Venture programme with an aim to identify high potential start-ups and to mobilise globally sourced expertise to help these nascent firms to scale up rapidly.
The Star Venture leverages a dedicated network of mentors and advisers to channel a whole range of bespoke advisory services and industry best practices to start-ups, while also supporting accelerators in order to benefit the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem
Currently, the programme is operating in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED), the Western Balkans region and Turkey, supporting over 350 early-stage companies with the plan to expand to other regions within the EBRD’s geographies over the coming years. In the Q4 2022, Star Venture will launch in Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
What they offer?
The programme will be delivered on a competitive basis and enterprises selected will join the cohort of dynamic venture teams in an intensive and tailored 18-month experiencebased support programme. The programme includes systematic business diagnostics workshops, customised consulting projects, online/in-person mentoring sessions, global networks of business partners, access to finance/market as well as advice on financing mechanisms, extended international networks of customers and channel partners, entrepreneurs, high level business executives, and international soft landings. The areas of support and intervention will depend on the competencies and needs of the individual enterprises and could include:
- Support Area Support Input Examples
- Strategy and Planning
- Engineering and Technical Solutions
- Fundraising and Financial Management
- Accounting and Financial Reporting
- ICT and Digitalisation
- Innovation, IPR and Licencing
- Internationalisation and Scaling
- Lean and Agile Processes
- Legal, Governance and Compliance
- Marketing, Communications and Sales
- Operations and Quality Management
- Organisation, Leadership and HR
- Pitching, Equity and Investor Relations
- Sourcing, Procurement and Logistics
- Support Input Examples
- Access to all commercial consulting & technical skills as required
- Introductions to investors, funders and credit sources
- Negotiating, Valuations, Term Sheets & Investment
- Cash-flow Management & Operational Planning
- Identification, evaluation, introduction & negotiation with potential customers, suppliers and channel partners
- Entering international markets and establishing international business entities
- Developing & Implementing Marketing & Sales Plans
Eligibility Criteria
They are looking to engage with high potential start-ups with less than five years of revenue generation and turnover less than €1m, with a strong differentiated competitive advantage, recurring revenue streams and the belief that, with the right support, you have the potential to scale, rapidly and internationally.
- They encourage you to apply if you:
- Have an innovative, technology-based solution or business model
- Demonstrate a high potential to scale
- Demonstrate a strong, addressable market opportunity
- Have a defensible competitive advantage
- Are an ambitious, innovation-oriented, motivated and committed management team
- Have the ability and desire to create value for shareholders
- Are committed to continuous engagement throughout the entire duration of the 18- month programme
For more information, visit https://www.ebrd.com/starventure/start-ups