Accelerate Prosperity Initiative (AP) is looking for Acceleration and Incubation Analyst for Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral.

Background

The overall objective of Accelerate Prosperity in South and Central Asia (AP Asia) is to contribute to the enhanced equitable economic well-being of women and men in rural Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The specific objective of this EU funded Action is to improve self-employment and employment of women and men in supported enterprises. The Action will achieve this through two intermediate outcomes:

• Increased growth of supported enterprises;
• Increased trade between supported enterprises, producers and clients in targeted areas.

The creation of new start-up enterprises, the growth of small businesses, and a focus on youth and women led ventures will be critical. The Action aims to contribute to positive trends in Gross National Income and Gender Development Index scores.

Accelerate Prosperity is designed to leverage the creative power and commercial instincts of private sector (including AKFED) to address the needs and challenges of budding entrepreneurs, startups and existing MSMEs. It is a part of new global initiative of the AKDN in Central and South Asia, which follows guidance from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Board to develop more formal structures to catalyze enterprises within AKDN’s main area development programs, where economic opportunities remain insufficient. Through patient capital and tailored business advisory to startups and businesses, AP complements broader employment-related programs of AKF and draws significantly on technical expertise from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s (AKFED) Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), and coordinates efforts with the AKDN’s financial institutions, the University of Central Asia and many other national partners.

Job Description:

The Acceleration and Incubation Analyst will work closely with the investment team and business development team and will help execute all of AP’s entrepreneurship programs. This includes AP’s Acceleration, Incubation and outreach programs in GBC, entrepreneurship training programs, AP’s fast track programs and startup community engagement initiatives including mentorships sessions, advisory clinics, meetups, bootcamps and digital innovation and ideation camps. The analyst will oversee the management and operations of the AP’s co-working spaces in Gilgit and Chitral as well.

The position will be responsible for building new partnerships and harnessing on the power of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region through meaningful partnerships and stakeholder management to support local business community, to address the needs and challenges of budding entrepreneurs, startups and existing SGBs.

Job Responsibilities

• Help execute all of AP’s entrepreneurship programs in the specified regions
• Help startups with their growth and business development needs by serving as catalyst for startups growth through mentorship programs, industry linkages, stakeholders’ engagement and conducting in-house events along with timely reporting as per program needs.
• Oversee program calendar, content, and delivery of AP’s fast track programs across the country
• Scout, potential businesses for AP’s financing and acceleration and incubation program
• Conduct quarterly field visits to AP’s portfolio businesses
• Host, organize, orchestrate community building & mobilization events at the co-working spaces and with ecosystem partners
• Document and generate reports as needed; including but not limited to pre and post evaluations, startups surveys, creation, and management of new and existing startups database
• Lead quarterly data collection form portfolio businesses and manage AP’s consolidated database
• Lead outreach sessions to help the investment team with identifying potential startups
• Design and Conduct Ideation and BMC sessions for aspiring and existing startups in different regions

• Develop a network of local mentors to help local budding startups meet their business needs and tackle any challenges

• Support the execution of AP’s flagship acceleration and incubation programs with project logistics, coordination, database management and entrepreneurs’ engagement
• Support in organizing grand pitch sessions, business roadshows and other national level events
• Work with the investment team to manage portfolio related activities and in executing post investment interventions

Educational Requirements

• Bachelors in entrepreneurship, innovation, business management or an equivalent recognized professional qualification.

Experience:

• Minimum 2-3 years of relevant work experience
• Experience of training and advisory of startups, financing, knowhow of Pakistan’s specifically GBC’s entrepreneurship landscape
• Experience of conducting ideation and business modeling workshops, and managing innovation/ co-working space
• Experience in stakeholder and partnership management, well networked in the startup community
• Experience in designing and conducting outreach sessions for businesses
• Prior experience in working with an incubator/ accelerator

NOTE: AKRSP offers competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are equal opportunity employer. Our recruitment and selection policy and procedures reflect our commitment to the safeguarding of children and adults in accordance with safeguarding policy. Only online applications submitted through this website before the deadline will be considered for further process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test/interview.