Unlocking the growth potential of businesses

Support programme for businesses and start-ups led by young entrepreneurs

Investment Readiness Programme – YBI

Microfinanza, in collaboration with YBI – Youth Business International, is launching a pilot phase of the Investment Readiness Programme in the countries where it operates. The programme is designed to support up to 10 high-growth-potential businesses through a structured pathway aimed at strengthening their business and increasing their readiness for a potential financing strategy.

The goal is to help businesses better understand their business model and financial needs, improve their ability to plan and communicate with funders, and identify solutions that are consistent with the venture’s stage of development and risk profile.

Programme objectives

The Investment Readiness Project aims to support businesses and start-ups in:

  • strengthening an investable strategy and the business narrative;
  • navigating the most suitable funding opportunities (public and private);
  • reducing risks and improving the quality of information for different types of capital;
  • preparing for engagement with funders: communication, negotiation, and tools.

Particular attention is given to youth-led businesses with a climate mission (climate entrepreneurs), contributing to climate mitigation, adaptation, or resilience through innovative products, services, or processes.

What the programme offers

Targeted support integrating strategic, financial, and fundraising readiness elements, including:

  • analysis of the business model and key financial and economic drivers;
  • identification of financing needs and their intended use;
  • mapping of the most appropriate financing instruments and channels (debt, equity, grants, blended finance);
  • preparation and validation of financial projections and underlying assumptions;
  • development of fundraising materials and organisation of essential documentation;
  • negotiation preparation: term sheet logic, investor expectations, due diligence;
  • templates for analysing and projecting the funding gap and cash flow.

The programme includes 2 to 4 online sessions.

Who the programme is for

  • businesses and start-ups led by young entrepreneurs;
  • activities with growth potential and a need for financial resources in the short or medium term;
  • businesses that want to become stronger and better prepared to approach banks, investors, or funding institutions with a growth strategy;
  • businesses with a clear environmental/climate impact.

There are no geographic limits.

CONTACT: Matteo SOLIVO
matteo.solivo@microfinanza.com

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, entrepreneurs should be able to:

  1. Assess the types of capital available for their business and explore the implications of different instruments (debt, equity, grants, hybrids) on the business.
  2. Produce financial projections based on reasonable assumptions and be prepared to defend them by responding to questions and objections from funders/investors.
  3. Develop a clear investment ask, specifying how much capital is needed, what it will be used for, and what results it will enable.
  4. Develop and refine fundraising materials such as an investment memorandum and pitch deck, and set up a data room with essential corporate documents and records.
  5. Distinguish the motivations and expectations of different capital providers and tailor the ask and presentation to different investor/funder targets.
  6. Build a list of potential funders and investors to approach, aligned with the sector, stage, and financing needs.
  7. Understand the steps required to assess a term sheet and complete due diligence processes.
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