Deadline: 25-Sep-22
The Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) is inviting applications for it’s the Platforms for Tomorrow Acceleration Programme, an initiative under the GSMA Mobile Innovation Hub in collaboration with the GIZ, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Germany (BMZ).
The programme will support innovators, from different sectors in Tunisia, that champion the platform economy business model. By assisting platforms to thrive, GSMA aims to support users and operators of platform economy to reap the benefits by creating jobs, increase in productivity and generating economic opportunities.
Benefits
- Selected innovators under the programme will benefit from tailored support provided by a dedicated team and industry experts.
- Needs Assessment
- There is no one size fits all approach, and every need is different depending on each business. A needs assessment will help identify the “gaps” and prepare a plan to address your specific needs.
- Design Thinking
- Design Thinking can help put customers at the centre of your business, tailor new prototypes for testing, understand the business ecosystem and improve your internal processes.
- Workforce Development
- GMSA will support platforms in developing a thriving work environment for their workforce especially on the ground platform workers.
- Product Development
- Support the innovator in enhancing their product offering by supporting the deployment of new versions or iterations of existing digital solutions. GMSA’s support may encompass search engine optimization, user interface/user experience and/or technology advisory depending on the needs of the selected innovators.
- Partnership Building
- GMSA will offer selected innovators the opportunity to connect with Mobile Network operator’s ecosystem locally and internationally. GMSA’s workshops and industry expertise will help you identify synergies and create valuable business opportunities.
- Investor Readiness
- GMSA will support you to craft your pitch for various investors—from business angels to VCs, implement the right processes and methods from tailor-made pitch decks, create data rooms and connect you with active investors.
- Visibility
- The Association provides innovators with opportunities to showcase their innovations through world-class events such as GSMA Mobile World Congress. And also feature innovators and their solution in blogs, insights, case studies and other promotional pieces.
- Needs Assessment
Challenges
Based on the Tunisian market analysis, platform economy business models are facing many challenges such as:
- Work quality: Challenges in providing decent work conditions to workers and operators of platforms. High turnover and quality of skills.
- Traction and value proposition: Difficulties in onboarding different parties to use the platform
- User adoption: Challenges to guarantee the participation of producers and consumers
- Scaling potential: Hardship in diversifying products portfolios or markets
- Data management: Limited technical capabilities in data collection, management, governance, and analysis.
Sectors
This is an intense acceleration programme developed for advanced innovators active in the following sectors (but not limited to) can apply:
- Transport and Logistics
- Education
- Finance and Insurance
- Retail/Commerce
- Public Administration
- IT
Eligibility Criteria
Innovators that fit the definition of platform economy and the respective categories in addition to the criteria, are encouraged to apply:
- Solutions already demonstrating traction in the form of active users, early sales, product launched.
- Solutions with potential for high social and economic impact.
- Solutions matching supply and demand leveraging digital platforms.
- Solutions with a potential scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market.
- Innovators eager to improve the quality of their workforce performance and wellbeing by providing dedicated training.
- Potential for synergy with Mobile Network Operators (telecoms).
For more information, visit https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/platforms-for-tomorrow-call-for-applications/