CONSULTING TEAM/ COMPANY

ACCELERATE PROSPERITY

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a part of new global initiative of the AKDN in Central and South Asia, which follows guidance from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Board to develop more formal structures to catalyze enterprises within AKDN’s main area development programs, where economic opportunities remain insufficient. Through patient capital and tailored business advisory to startups and businesses, AP complements broader employment-related programs of AKF and draws significantly on technical expertise from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s (AKFED) Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), and coordinates efforts with the AKDN’s financial institutions, the University of Central Asia and many other national partners.

AP’s approach combines financial and non-financial support, recognising that standalone business development services and traditional bank financing are inadequate to catalyse start-ups, grow small firms, and deliver job creation in fragile and emerging markets, particularly for marginalized groups in rural areas. The overall theory of change is that with improved business models, investment readiness along with tailored financing bundled with commercial and B2B linkages driven by the private sector, the supported businesses will be equipped to unlock private sector investments, sales, and growth, leading to increased incomes and job creation.

 

PURPOSE

As a part of AP’s pre and post financing acceleration services to startups and existing businesses (small-sized), it aims to enable businesses to develop and/or improve their strategy for growth, and maximizing return on investments and impact through understanding business elements as well as technical industry specific elements.

The purpose of the service is to

a)     Provide technical advisory to businesses i.e. legal, industry expertise, business advisory and mentoring on demand for select-startups and SGBs to enable them to understand, outline, design and apply specific actions that they can maximize growth in their value and avoid common risks of failure and pitfalls.

b)    Provide Due Diligence support to AP in technical aspects of businesses i.e. legalities, sector viabilities, industry analysis, understanding industry specific processes etc.

 

SCOPE OF SERVICES

1. Advisory services for up to 40 startup/SGBs on need basis.

Both pipeline and portfolio will be expected to gain improved knowledge/ understanding about business-specific growth strategies and their application. This may include hourly sessions with each startup with an expert in the requested field/topic. The areas to be covered may include:

• Support business in understanding legalities related to their industry/ growth plans
• Support in developing industry specific marketing strategies and  implementation plan
• Industry expertise in upcoming sectors within Pakistan i.e. green building, clean tech, tourism, health-tech, ed-tech, agri-tech, green economy, energy efficient solutions etc.

 

 

1. Due Diligence (DD) support for up to 20 businesses moving to financing.

Support AP’s Investment team in understanding key technical elements of select businesses and their application on AP’s investment. This may involve field visits, calls/ meetings with relevant stakeholders and final vetted report for case development. Areas to be covered may include:

 

• Research on technical processes in specific upcoming sectors within Pakistan i.e. green building, clean tech, tourism, health-tech, ed-tech, agri-tech, green economy, energy efficient solutions etc.
• Legal vetting of technical elements of an investment case i.e. patent approvals, certifications etc.
• Evaluation of technical elements of an investment i.e. structural design, technology plans, industry specific market penetration, market adoption strategies etc.
• Market evaluation and ROIs of certain untapped opportunities in uncovered geographies.

 

 

METHODOLOGY

The service provider is required to identify a pool of advisors/ technical experts to provide requested services to selected businesses and AP’s investment team on need basis. The following steps would be considered for each assignment:

1)    A request for an advisor/ expert would be generated by AP and shared with the services provider.

2)    The service provider would be required to share details of the most relevant individuals from their pool.

3)    The advisor/expert would be connected with the relevant business or the AP team and briefed on the specific requirements.

4)      The advisor/ expert would complete the assignment and submit their deliverable.

 

 

DELIVERABLES

Advisory services

• Minutes of each advisory session for each recommended business

 

Due Diligence Support

• Expert report on identified subject for each recommended business

 

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Startups: new, disruptive solutions which have a scalable business model i.e. incorporates technology or innovative systems to grow exponentially with limited resources
• Existing Small and Growing Businesses: commercially viable businesses with 5-250 employees that have significant potential, and ambition for growth

 

NATURE OF CONSULTANCY

 

Retainership contract with payments based on deliverables

 

PROPOSED TIMEPERIOD

12 Months

 

PROPOSED DATE(S)

Between 15^th May 2023 to 14^th May 2024

 

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment will be made for Business Technical Support and Due diligence based on units consumed and agreed rate per unit.

 

KEY CAPACITIES REQUIRED

A firm with the following capacities:

• In-depth training and advisory expertise and experience with startups and small and growing businesses
• Pool of subject matter experts from various fields including and not limited to, legal, healthcare, environmental, agriculture, tourism, IT, Logistics and Operations, Supply Chain, Education, Marine Sciences and Horticulture etc.
• Strong network linkages with experienced entrepreneurs, mentors or corporate practitioners with a vast experience in developing business growth and sustainability strategies

 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Please submit the following to apply:

• Technical proposal with detailed company profile, relevant past experience and methodology
• Detailed profiles of implementing team (CVs of industry/sector experts and advisors to be onboarded)
• Financial bid against the stated deliverables with detailed cost breakdown by each item (inclusive of all applicable taxes as per law)

 

DEADLINE:

May 9, 2023