Concept Development and Business Validation – REAF Program – Pre-Incubation

Berytech is a leading organization in the Entrepreneurial Eco-system in Lebanon, that aims to provide a conducive environment for the creation and development of startups, through incubation, business support, counseling, funding, networking, and company hosting, hence taking part in the economic revival of the country, participating in wealth and job creation, and retaining graduates and high-level skills in Lebanon.

The Rural Entrepreneurs in Agri-Food (REAF) program aims at strengthening the business and product viability of innovative startups tackling sustainable rural economic development operating in South Mount Lebanon, Central and West Bekaa, Southern Baalbeck and Hasbaya. The program will provide the startups with the tools to transform their ideas into sustainable and profitable businesses. REAF’s youth training will enhance their entrepreneurship mentality and entry into the job market.

The Accelerator Program's mission is to nurture and grow disruptive ideas, proof of concepts, and prototypes that share three common characteristics:

1. A disruptive scientific or technological focus in agri-food, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, waste management and valorization.
2. The possibility to scale in the local market and beyond that.
3. The potential to create sustainable job opportunities locally.

The REAF Program seeks a Concept Development and Business Validation Trainer to deliver the following requirements:

• Providing the 20 startups with a workshop and 40 mentoring sessions (60 minutes each); this workshop supports startups in translating their business ideas into viable concepts by refining their value propositions and designing MVPs. The focus is on equipping entrepreneurs with tools to develop, test, and validate their solutions in a structured and iterative manner.
• Help the Startups refine their value proposition by using the Value Proposition Canvas to align product offerings with customer needs and pain points by developing a clear statement that communicates the unique benefits of the product or service.
• Teach the startups on how to define and prioritize an MVP by focusing on essential features and the priority matrix.
• Assist the startups in the planning for Concept Validation by creating a validation roadmap, including metrics for success and feedback loops for continuous improvement and exploring techniques like A/B testing and small-scale pilot programs to gather data.
• Advise the startups on how to craft a strong one-sentence Business Pitch that summarizes the value proposition and market impact.

Trainer’s Deliverables

• Conduct preparatory meetings with the Berytech Team to align the content of the workshop as well as the approaches and responsibilities under this agreement.
• Deliver a full-day or a half-day workshop on Concept Development and Business Validation to 20 REAF startups on a date agreed upon with the Berytech team.
• The workshop approach must include Step-by-step walkthroughs of the Value Proposition Canvas and groups exercises to brainstorm and prioritize MVP features.
• Provide comprehensive content and materials that will be used by the entrepreneurs after attending the workshop team along with templates for the Value Proposition Canvas. These materials will include detailed information presented during the workshop, additional readings for the startup to research and understand the topic more, suggested links and sources on the topic...etc. All these materials should be uploaded in coordination with the Berytech team to make them accessible for the startups. 
• Deliver a total of 40 1-on-1 clinics (60 minutes each) to 20 startups with the distribution of the hours to be determined.
• Submit a detailed written report on every startup’s progress throughout the training and conduct meetings with the Berytech team for verbal feedback. 

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the service, the participants must have completed the following components: 

• Develop a tailored Value Proposition Canvas that clearly communicates their solution’s value.
• Draft an MVP plan with specific features prioritized for development.
• Deliver a one-sentence business pitch articulating the startup’s concept.
• Have a roadmap for validating their concept, including metrics and actionable next steps.

• No less than 5 years of experience in the field of business development, market studies, startup support, and economic development or any related field and associated academic background.
• Certification in “Lean Startup Methodology” would be good to have, in addition to having industry knowledge. 
• Ability to lead workshops with multidisciplinary teams and support each individuals’ style and growth.
• Rigorous business acumen across many of the following areas: Product Development, Product Management, Start-ups, Marketing (Product or Brand), Organizational Behavior, Operations, Finance, and Design 
• Experience working with early-stage startups 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Strategic in thinking and analytical in execution.