Al Fikra, Qatar's National Business Plan Competition

2014

Overview

January 2014

Objectives

• Raise awareness about entrepreneurship and promote community interest on starting new enterprises.

• Provide project flow to the different incubators and thus reinforce the Entrepreneurial eco-system.

• Convert business plans into a real businesses.

• Foster creativity and introduction of new products and services, which in turn would lead to emergence of new businesses and hence diversification in the local market.

Al Fikra 2013 – Background OverviewTimeline

Launch Date: January 23rd 2013End Date: May 9th 2013

Applicants 2013

127 Business Ideas were submitted (Registered Applications) 80 Business Plans were submitted 69 Business Plans were Eligible for Judging Panel Evaluation 6 Winners

54% of total submissions were eligible

Workshops

Six awareness sessionsFive Financial Statement AnalysisFive Business Plan Writing Two “A to Z of Entrepreneurship” Workshops

290 people attended the workshops

Al Fikra 2013 – Workshops

 Business Planning

Workshops

Financial Planning Workshop

Presentation workshops and One to One

coachingCollege of

North Atlantic Qatar

21-Jan 13-Feb 8-Apr

Virginia Commonwealth

University19-Jan 18-Feb 10-Apr

Qatar University

22-Jan / 6-Feb 24-Feb / 25-Mar 14-Apr / 22-Apr

Carnegie Mellon

University26-Jan 20-Mar 17-Apr

Georgetown University

4-Feb 11-Mar 13-Apr

Stenden University

Qatar9-Feb 12-Mar 24-Apr

If you wish to conduct more workshops, please contact us: halmisnad@eq.gov.qa+974 40125021

Al Fikra 2013 – Background Overview

Health4%

Technonolgy39%

Training & Development2%Arts & Entertainment

8%

Education5%

Manufacturing7%

Services23%

Food & Beverage8%

Retail3%

Total Applications Breakdown by Sector

Lessons Learnt – Al Fikra 2013

• Integrate Arabic language completely into Al Fikra

• Provide Greater Prizes, both cash and support

• Streamline Application Process (Business Idea, Business Plan, Presentation)

• Engage stakeholders and academic partners in the planning stage

• Provide a call center

• Expand our marketing campaign to reach a larger audience

Al Fikra 2014Timeline

Announcement: November 17th -19th 2014Launch Date: January 12th 2014End Date: TBD with Academic Partners

Applicants 2014 (Forecasted)

130 Submissions6 Winners

Workshops (Forecasted)

Six Financial Statement AnalysisSix Business Plan WritingThree Workshops led by SponsorsOne to One Coaching Sessions

*All Arabic Workshops will be held at Qatar University

University Students ProfessionalsAttends University Employed Professional

Unemployed Professional

Qatari Resident Qatari Resident

Target Audience

Eligibility Criteria

• Qatari college students and new graduates from Qatar

• Qatari professionals, entrepreneurs and postgraduates with business plans for Qatar

• For teams of residents living in Qatar, a Qatari partner per team is required in order to set a business with a legal structure that could be operated and registered in the State of Qatar

Proposed AwardsCash Prize 2013 2014

1st Place 50,000 QAR 140,000 QAR

2nd Place 30,000 QAR 70,000 QAR

3rd Place 20,000 QAR 40,000 QAR

Incubation

1st Place -2 Years - (QAR

1,460000)

2nd Place - 1 Year - (QAR 730,000)

3rd Place - 1 Year - (QAR 730,000)

ISTESHARA Coupons

1st Place - 100,000 QAR

2nd Place - 50,000 QAR

3rd Place - 25,000 QAR

Best University Award

- 50,000 QAR*This applies to both categories

One University will receive a cash prize of 50,000 QAR for participating and being the most involved

This will be measured through the following:• Amount of applications from that particular university• Amount of attendees to workshops from that particular

university

Best University Awards

Marketing Brief

Al Fikra 2014

Social Media

Website

Word of Mouth

Academic Partners

Sponsors

Newspapers

Marketing Deliverables

• Posters• Web Banners• E-mail Shot• Backdrop• Roll Ups• Welcome Pack & Notepad• Brochure & Notepad• Bag• USB

• Envelope & Invitation• E-Invite• Awards & Plaques• Certificates & Cheques• Film• Print Ads• Gift Item

KPIs

• Reach/Exceed Forecasted Applicant Target

• No. of People attending workshops

• Social Media Reach (compared to last year)

• Number of eligible applicants

• Higher involvement of Qatari participants

Milestones

Milestone Estimated Date

Press Conference/ Launch of Al Fikra Jan 13th

Online Application Opens Jan 14th

Online Application Closes (Deadline) March 31st

Business Plan Writing Workshops Jan 14th – Feb 9th

Financial Statement Analysis Workshops Feb 13th - Mar12th

Evaluation sessions by judging panel & Short listing Apr 1st – Apr 7th

Presentation Skills Workshop & One on One Mentoring Apr 8th – 24th

Final presentations to judges & winners selection Apr 27th – May 1st

Gala Dinner to Announce Final Winners and best University Award

May 9th

Platinum Sponsors

Start Up Development Partner

Economic Development Partner

Academic Partners

ENTERPRISE QATARWWW.EQ.GOV.QA

WWW.ALFIKRA.QA

TEL: 40125000FAX: 40125001