Concept initiation Trainer - IdeaLab Program

Michel Daher Social Foundation is a local NGO that aims to create an enabling environment where everyone can achieve their highest potential. MDSF is a community partner in the IdeaLab program. The program’s objective is to strengthen the business and product viability of start-ups in agrifoodtech, and cleantech sectors from the Bekaa area. The Program also focuses on the societal impact by providing business incubation and training to vulnerable youth.

We are seeking an experienced expert to deliver a Concept Initiation training aimed at empowering rural youth to develop innovative projects and ideas in the fields of agrifoodtech, and cleantech. The workshops will equip participants with the skills and mindset necessary to create sustainable and impactful solutions to local challenges.

Scope of work

The service provider will have to physically give a 6-hour session on the value proposition canvas for 12 startups simultaneously. Those startups were selected by Berytech & MDF based on defined selection criteria.

The service provider selected will be responsible for assisting 12 startups after the training session, in one-on-one offline clinics, with the customer persona.

The service provider will have to assist the startups online in their one-on-one clinics.

The service provider is asked to share with MDF a clear assessment of each startup post the online clinics. 

The service provider should be willing to coordinate with MDF, for the development of the proposed services.
Onboarding startups and training them on how to segment their customers, define what problem they are facing, and build their solutions. Startups will learn to develop their unique value propositions. 

A short introduction to the fundamentals of customer discovery theory: pain points, assumptions, jobs-to-be-done, pains, and gains.

What does a persona look like? How do we recognize their characteristics? And, most importantly, how do we segment them?

Teaching the startups that Customer Discovery and Experimentation are recursive process developed to understand the customers’ needs, before proceeding.

Define what they need to validate, and how to validate their riskiest assumptions (Qualitatively: customer validation, how to run interviews with the audience, tips on how to formulate questions, etc.)

Clinics: Customer Validation Clinic – Value proposition canvas, characteristics of their target customers, and the interview script.

expected deliverables

Sessions outlined activities and learning materials for each of the five main topics.

Engaging and interactive workshop sessions that cater to the learning needs of rural youth and encourage active participation.

Support materials, such as templates and resources, for participants to use during and after the workshops.

Guidance on selecting and utilizing appropriate tools and techniques for concept initiation in the specified domains (agrifoodtech, and cleantech).

Final report to be submitted to Michel Daher Social Foundation, including participant feedback and progress.

Qualifications

Extensive experience in facilitating similar workshops, preferably in rural or community settings.

Demonstrated expertise in agrifoodtech, and cleantech concepts, and a keen understanding of the associated challenges and opportunities.

Strong background in human-centered design methodologies, with a focus on empathetic problem-solving.

Excellent communication skills and the ability to connect with and inspire diverse groups of youth.

Proven track record of fostering innovation, ideally within rural or grassroots contexts.

Availability to conduct a series of workshops over one online workshop and 1 day of workshop at Michel Daher Foundation, Ferzol Bekaa