business incubator for newcomers impact report 2019
TRANSCRIPT
IMPACT REPORT
2019
BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR NEWCOMERS
July 19
Business
Started: 26
As per now,
26 business
have started
through the
Forward
Incubator
programs,
resulting in a
58% business
starting rate!
People
getting a job
or
continuing
studies: 11
For those that
did not start a
business, 8
have a job and
3 are doing
studies,
meaning 76% of
participants
successfully
graduate!
15
businesses
have paying
customers
Of the started
businesses, 15
have started
making revenue
after the initial
start-up period
Jobs created by
Forward
businesses: 14
The impact of
our programs is
not limited to
the economic
empowerment
of participants,
also 10 other
newcomers
have been
employed!
Cities
active: 2
Our expansion
to Rotterdam
has been
successful. We
have quickly
built a strong
network and
had over 100
people
attending our
pitch finale!
People
involved in
Forward
Incubator:
500+
Our community is
growing
exponentially, as
the word of our
mission is
spreading quick.
We have more
than 500 people
active in the
empowerment of
newcomers!
ACHIEVEMENTS SNAPSHOT
“I had a very pleasant and productive experience with
RF. Most of the workshops were an eye opener. The RF
team has spared no effort in supporting our projects
whether on a technical, emotional or physical level. I
can strongly say that RF has been the back bone and
the main ignitor to all the entrepreneurs and their
projects. My deepest gratitude goes to the team for their
wonderful support.”
TESTIMONIALS
“My experience with RF is unique. Since I joined, I felt there is
genuine desire from the RF team, coaches and students to help. I
consider the team working with me a very sincere one, I don't feel
that I would do the same without them. The team and myself
have one goal which is to achieve a sustainable business that will
allow me to be self dependent for the coming future. The
workshops offer a variety of topics that are much needed for us to
understand the Dutch work culture, know the differences between
our cultures, get an overview about financial matters as well as
how to write a proper business plan.”
TESTIMONIALS
“In my modest opinion the program was
successful by being the perfect cross
point for refugees to be integrated. With
young people in charge they show a good
example to the entrepreneurs by being
flexible and a good ability to communicate
with us and offer exactly the right
workshops needed for entrepreneurs”
TESTIMONIALS
“I truly consider the incubation program of RF as a
comprehensive and complete program that takes an
entrepreneur to a whole new level of professionalism
in terms of personal development and adds a huge
deal of knowledge to the professional side.”
TESTIMONIALS
Incubator Program
• Mission & Vision
• Why our programs
are needed
• Formula for
success
• Team structure
• RF Community
• Selection
• Program structure
• Key learnings 2019
1.
Economic Impact
• 2019 Overview
• Business Achievements
• Government Yearly
Savings
• Economic Improvement
Of Participants
• Generated Revenue
• People Employed
• Incubated Companies
2.
• 2019 Overview
• Quality Feedback
• Community
Social & Community
3.
Organisation
4.
• Team
• Advisory Board
• Partners
CONTENT
INCUBATOR
PROGRAM
1.
The community of Forward Incubator believes
in the incredible talent and potential of
newcomers.
We strive to maximize their chances of
professional success by offering incubator
programs with high quality training and
individualized coaching to support
entrepreneurs to launch, fund and grow their
businesses.
By 2020, we want to support 200 refugee
entrepreneurs in Western Europe in starting
their business.
MISSION & VISION
More than 150.000 refugees
between 2008-2016 granted
‘residence status’
3/4 newcomers from Syria
between 2013 - 2015
currently still on social support
Whereas 1/3newcomers received
higher education
And there is a 30%increase in companies
started by newcomers!
Challenges with
new legal and
bureaucratic system
Limited understanding of
Dutch business culture,
language and market
No network in the
relevant fields of
business idea
Lack of starting
capital to test
product in the market
CHALLENGES
WHY OUR PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED
OUR FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
Expert
Support
Network
Professional
Individual
Coaching
10h Student
Support
Every Week
Accredited
Training
Facilitating
Relationship With
Municipalities
Entrepreneurs
30RF Team
4 FTEs
Business
Coaches30Student
Consultants60
This is the outlook of all 500+ people who
are part of the RF community. At varying
levels of involvement, everyone brings
value to the table.
RF COMMUNITY
DUTCH
GOVERNM ENT
TAX
AUTHORITIES
KvK GEMEENTEN
BUSINESS
UNIVERSITIES
OTHER
NGO’SRF
NETWORK
RF
TEAM
CORPORATE
PARTNERSRF
STUDENTS
COACHES &
SPECIALISTS
TEAM
FACILITATOR
BUSINESS
COACH
STUDENT
CONSULTANTS
ENTRE-
PRENEUR
We take in business ideas
from all different industries.
We do however look at the
feasibility, viability,
desirability and scalability
of the idea. If the idea fits
those criteria we inquire
what research has already
been done, which also
shows Motivation.
Business Idea
In our first interview we ask
people what the main
driver is for their business
plans. The intensity of our
programs requires that
people are intrinsically
motivated to set up a
business, so they can
overcome setbacks with us
and their teams.
Motivation
Because people come from
various experiences, we
always try to see how the
entrepreneur fits the idea.
We therefore ask people
about past education or
work experience that will
make them execute their
business idea better than
the next person.
Relevant Experience
Because the road of entrepreneurship is challenging, we want to make sure we select people who are the right fit. This way, their
experience matches their expectation and our resources are channeled towards the right need. Our selection criteria are as follows.
ENTREPRENEUR SELECTION
Selection Process
Based on entrepreneurial
drive, experience and
business idea.
170 applicants ➔ 40 pre-
selected ➔ 25 selected
Aftercare Program
Where 8 out of 15 entrepreneurs
are selected based on progress
and potential, resulting in 6
months structural coaching for
last steps of starting business
Last month of business plan writing,
pitching for investors and company
registration, resulting in an investor
proposition and a registered
business
Business Plan2nd and 3rd month of business
model validation in the real
market, resulting in a financial
plan and a built network of
relevant stakeholders (Individual
coaching intensifies and corporate
network is strongly involved)
Validating
Business Concept
Intensive
Workshops
1st month of intensive
workshops revolves around
business methodology and
cross-cultural training,
resulting in a structured
business idea and defined
goals (professional coach,
student consultant and
team facilitator join the
team!)
1 month 1 month2 months1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Content: Content is translated by team facilitators more actively
into practice, ensuring multiple reminders of theory
Approach: Try to get entrepreneurs to achieve a first success through
pop-up or other simple version of product, to boost confidence
Process: More concrete deliverables that are actually
enforced
Program Structure: Implement a two week selection period
where we test motivation and teach soft skills
KEY LEARNINGS 2019
Selection: Testing of work delivered in the two weeks prior to
the actual program
ECONOMIC
IMPACT
2.
Refugees Forward aims first and foremost to nurture the talents, ambition and skills of newcomers to become
economically independent. As entrepreneurship is not the only way to economic empowerment, our economic
impact is reflected in the opportunities participants seized through the program, related to either their own
business or empowerment through paid employment and further education as a result of our programs.
These are the results we achieved per the first half of 2019:
Launched a
business
26/45Continued with
an academic
career
3/45Got a job through
the program
8/45Jobs were
created
by participants
14Successful
outflow overall
76%
2018 OVERVIEW
€300K+ Investment
received
26 Businesses
Launched
69%Started
generating
revenue
14 New jobs
created
€150K+Revenue
created
BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS
Current government savings is based on the
amount of people in scope that through our
programs came out of social support, multiplied by
the social support amount of €1400,- on a yearly
based projection.
Total amount:
€302.500
GOVERNMENT YEARLY SAVINGS
Not only do our businesses launch with investment
or approval by the municipality, but entrepreneurs
are actually generating revenue.
Total Number of businesses with paying customers:
15
REVENUE GENERATED
Business 100K+
in
annual revenue
One
Entrepreneurship is a driver for growth and benefits
society as a whole. Because entrepreneurs come
from a refugee background they are also inclined to
support other newcomers thus employing
newcomers as well as local people in their newly set
up companies
Total amount :
14 people
PEOPLE EMPLOYED
of which were
newcomers on
social support
8
EXAMPLES OF INCUBATED COMPANIES
✓ Elanza (2018)✓ Nzurimarket✓ Greenwheel
✓ Stonature(2018)
✓ Frilan (2018)✓ Gateway2EU
✓ Askpro (2018)✓ XO Keuken
✓ Mpowerment(2018)
✓ Talent Status
Startups International tradeLivelihood businesses
Social enterprises
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Our program is centered in
preparing newcomers to establish
their businesses independently in
the Netherlands. That would not
be possible without the support of
our partners, who in 2018
donated the equivalent of
€131.562 worth of their
services, including working
location, training, consulting
sessions, workshops and
operational support.
Team Academy [Location & Coaching]
Cambridge Innovation Centre [Location]
ACE [Location & Training]
Deloitte [Consulting]
McKinsey [Consulting]
Mazars [Workshops & Tax consulting]
DLA Piper [Legal advice & Workshops]
Linklaters [Legal Advice]
Coaches [Coaching]
Uber [Coaching]
Students [Operational Support]
€21.392
€2.229 +
€20.000 +
TBD
€4.880 +
€28.999
TBD
€28.000
€192.000
€24.000
€32.000
Achievements
2018
€21.392
€6.229
€20.000
€13.500
€2.440
€14.000
-
-
€48.000
€6.000
-
€131.562 €352.501
Prediction
2019
SOCIAL &
COMMUNITY IMPACT
3.
OUR SOCIAL IMPACT SO FAR
Entrepreneurs
supported
45Months of social
support saved
258
Newcomers out
of social support
18 Participants have
successful
outflow*
37
*Successful outflow defined as fulltime employed, fulltime entrepreneur or fulltime education
ENTREPRENEURS STUDENTS COACHES
On average, they rated the program:
8.7/10
On average, they rated the program:
8.9/10
80%felt they were better able
to work in a multicultural
team after the program
92%have a better
feeling of a
positive future
3/4felt like they have become
a more active member of
the community
100%improved their capabilities of
working in an intercultural and
international environment
90%changed their perspective on
newcomers from “they need
help” to “they have the potential
to help others”
92% Enjoy making
a meaningful
contribution
100% Find the
organisation
professional and
well-organized
On average, they rated the program
9/10
FEEDBACK ON PROGRAM
45 participants
from 15+ locations in the
Netherlands
Active student
consultants140
Corporate experts from
DLA Piper, Uber,
McKinsey, Mazars and
Deloitte
80+
Business
coaches60
COMMUNITY
30+ nationalities
Entrepreneurs
Student consultants
Coaches
RF team
500+
Showing a true belief in the potential of
newcomers and the willingness to put in
personal effort in order to achieve our shared
mission.
Active members in our
growing community
COMMUNITY
ORGANISATION
4.
TEAM
Diederick
Managing
Director
Laura
Program Director
Zara
Program
Manager RTD
Antonio Maria
Program
Manager AMSBusiness
developer
ADVISORY BOARD
THANK YOU
Get in touch:
Let’s collaborate!
www.refugeesforward.org
/refugeesforwardamsterdam
/refugeesforward