IDEALAB- Call for Mentor: Agrytech Support Clinics

Park Innovation is a mission-driven organization focused on innovation, combining a community project, coworking space, tech hub, and business accelerator to promote community development. With over six years of active engagement, Park Innovation offers unique programs and resources to empower youth and women with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and employability programs. The initiatives at Park Innovation align with its two core pillars:

1- Entrepreneurship, focusing on fostering innovation and empowering startups through tailored support, mentorship, and access to resources that enable sustainable business growth.

2- Employability and Employment, aiming to bridge the gap between education and employment by equipping youth with essential, market-relevant skills and practical experiences to thrive in a competitive workforce.

For the fourth batch in a row, Park Innovation is implementing Idea Lab in South Mount Lebanon, a 10-week entrepreneurship support program being implemented across Lebanon with the aim of providing the proper technical, financial, and business support needed for entrepreneurs to validate their solutions and turn their ideas into businesses. It allows entrepreneurs with Cleantech and Agrifoodtech solutions to learn how to identify their problem, validate their solution in the market, use the 1500 USD to build their first prototype, and create a strong team that has the capacity to take on challenges and scale their startup.

We are seeking an experienced and skilled mentor to guide Agrytech startups through the Prototype Development Clinics, providing expert advice and hands-on support as they build and refine their agri-tech prototypes. The mentor will work closely with startups to help them translate their ideas into functional prototypes, offering guidance on design, testing, and iteration. Through practical, feedback-driven sessions, the mentor will help startups address technical challenges, validate their assumptions, and align their prototypes with market needs. The goal is to empower startups with the skills and insights needed to create prototypes that are not only technically sound but also have a strong potential for impact and scalability in the agri-tech industry.

Scope of Services

The expert will be leading a series of VIRTUAL (online) Agrytech Support Clinics, with one hour dedicated to each startup in the agriculture, agrifood, or agritech sectors. There will be a total of 5-7 clinic sessions, followed by a follow-up meeting with each startup for further support.

Key areas to be covered:

• Prototype design and development, focusing on design principles, material/lab equipment selection, and technical feasibility.

• Testing and iteration, analyzing results and refining designs based on feedback and performance.

• Identifying and addressing technical challenges in the prototype development process.

• Ensuring prototypes meet market needs and aligning them with industry demands and customer expectations.

• Evaluating sustainability, scalability, and long-term viability of the prototype.

• Tips on production processes, cost optimization, and collaborating with manufacturers for prototype scaling.

• Advice on incorporating feedback from stakeholders, users, and testing phases to improve the prototype.

Qualifications and Requirements

This call welcomes applications from independent trainers/consultants or legal entities based in Lebanon.

• Strong background in agri-tech, product development, or related industries, with practical experience in designing, developing, and scaling prototypes.

• Proven experience in guiding startups or companies through the prototyping process, including design, testing, and iteration.

• Deep understanding of relevant technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes used in the agri-tech sector.

• Prior experience mentoring or advising early-stage startups, particularly in the agri-tech field.

• Strong ability to identify and address technical challenges, troubleshoot issues, and offer practical, actionable solutions.

• Knowledge of market trends and consumer demands within the agri-tech industry, with a focus on sustainable, scalable solutions.

• Degree or equivalent experience in engineering, design, agriculture, or a related field.

• Willingness to work directly with startups on their prototypes, providing constructive feedback, practical support, and guidance.

• Comfortable working with diverse teams and providing mentorship in a collaborative, feedback-driven environment.

• Ability to evaluate prototype performance, analyze data, and help startups refine their designs based on testing and feedback.

Expected Deliverables

• The selected expert will be responsible for the delivery of the 5-7 clinics, and providing a clear and actionable roadmap for each startup, outlining key steps, milestones, and timelines for developing and refining their prototypes.
• Assistance with addressing technical challenges and providing practical solutions to overcome prototyping hurdles.
• The mentor must complete a feedback form for each startup, after the clinics, detailing their observations and assessments on prototype designs, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, with actionable recommendations for iteration.
• The expert shall be ready for an oral briefing about the startups right after the sprint to highlight all strengths and areas of improvement to the IdeaLab program manager.
• Furthermore, the mentor is required to adhere to the relevant procurement procedures (quotation, signature of a service agreement, invoice, receipt, MOF certificate and/or ID/Passport, programmatic deliverables)