Catalyst Community Accelerator

A Catalyst community entrepreneurship program developing entrepreneurial skills and building networks between entrepreneurs and mentors.

Entreprenerdy has 10 years of experience assisting customers in delivering successful entrepreneurship programs for thousands of projects

Entreprenerdy has for the last 10 years assisted organizations that help entrepreneurs (our partners) design, implement, and evaluate entrepreneurship-support programs. Our Proposal is based on the experiences made during the first cohorts of the current Catalyst Boost Camp program and aims to further develop this into an ongoing version – a "Catalyst Community Accelerator" program.

The program will combine the initial 4-week program developing entrepreneurial skills based on S-E-A-M with follow-up focusing on strengthening the peer2peer networks between entrepreneurs and building the network between entrepreneurs and business mentors. In addition, the program will focus on utilizing the strength of the alumni network to assist more ventures to reach their objectives.

Our proposal consists of the following elements to be delivered during Q1 through Q3 2022:

1. S-E-A-M – the entrepreneurship method developed at Norwegian University of Technology and Science NTNU
2. Catalyst EMS - a unique Entrepreneurship Management System, based on S-E-A-M,
3. Four cohorts of the Catalyst Community Accelerator over 4 weeks with 12 digital sessions and individual follow-up / mentoring
4. One Certification Program in S-E-A-M and EMS for up to 10 Advisors / Business Mentors selected by the Catalyst community – to enable the community to be self-sufficient with mentors skilled in a common entrepreneurship method
5. Program management services including participation in a platform for recruitment to coordinated entrepreneurial programs, contributions to recruitment, application management and selection of participants, as well as evaluation, reporting and collaboration to implement continuous improvements.

1. S-E-A-M - the Systemic Entrepreneurship Activity Method.

Entreprenerdy's standard method is called SEAM, or Systemic Entrepreneurship Activity Method. This method was developed at the Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU.no) in collaboration with several researchers in entrepreneurship and innovation from several European universities. The method is based on a comprehensive literature study and incorporates the leading modern theoretical directions in entrepreneurship. A particular focus is placed on the «six pillars of entrepreneurship theory» (see attachment 1 S-E-A-M)

The method has been tested and improved since 2010 in collaboration with dozens of support programs and over 35,000 entrepreneurship projects worldwide. The method consists of 7 steps containing a total of 29 elements that entrepreneurs will (and should) work through while establishing, developing, and improving their project. The 7 steps are 1) Purpose 2) Resources 3) Business Idea 4) Business Model 5) Objectives 6) Tasks 7) Forecasting. The content of these steps are further described in section 3 Program content and in detail in "Attachment 1 – S-E-A-M"

Typically, entrepreneurs will work their way step by step through the steps of the method in several rounds. If they meet resistance, they will typically return to an earlier step and try to leverage the insights they have gained to make changes and improvements. Of course, following these steps to the tee is not the only way to succeed in an entrepreneurship project. At the same time, working methodically in this way will increase the probability of success. Then, of course, there is significant variation in the content of the seven steps over time and from project to project.

2. Catalyst EMS - a unique Entrepreneurship Management System, based on S-E-A-M

A common element in our deliveries to enable entrepreneurial support programs is the setup and adaptation of an Entrepreneurship Management System (EMS). The seven steps and 29 elements of S-E-A-M are distributed to the entrepreneurs via an online solution that is adapted and set up for the program. The EMS is made available to the participants from admission to the program, and for as long as they wish.

Catalyst EMS will contain the following modules: 1) The program builder - for setting up the online session and their content, and for setting up a landing page, 2) The program finder (entyhub.com) – that will contribute to recruitment to the program, 3) Cohort management - where implementation of the sessions in the program is handled, 4) Business development - where the entrepreneurs are presented with the tools for e-learning and business development, 5) Collaboration - where all communication between the entrepreneurs in a cohort/in the program and between an entrepreneur and advisor is handled, and 6) Analysis and learning - with support for ongoing learning and improvement. 

3. Program content – 12 sessions over 4 weeks, individual mentoring and monthly peer2peer network meetings

We propose a program that starts with a 4-week period of 12 online sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. In addition, there will be 3 individual mentoring session per participants, delivered by seasoned business advisors certified in the S-E-A-M and EMS. During the program cardano / catalyst community advisors will be trained in S-E-A-M to enable them to take on these individual mentoring sessions. Following the first 4 weeks we suggest monthly peer2peer network meetings where the full alumni network can join to help and assist each other in to reach their objectives.

The 12 proposed sessions will be

1. Introduction – introduction to the program, to S-E-A-M and the EMS, and get to know each other
2. Purpose – what are the reasons for becoming an entrepreneur?
3. Resources – What skills and assets will define the project?
4. Business Idea – What problems are to be solved and for which target group?
5. Sustainability – understanding UN 17 SDGs and what sustainability means for your project.
6. Business Model – how will the problems be solved, and how will revenue be generated?
7. Design Thinking, Minimum Viable Product and solution interview
8. Objectives – What goals and milestones must be met to solve the problem?
9. Tasks – The activities that are to be completed to achieve the objectives.
10. Forecasting – What are the estimated revenues and expenses of the project
11. Presentations - everyone get to present their entire project, feedback and discussions on what´s next?
12. Blockchain funding opportunities, investment landscape and high level tokenomics – a program specific session delivered by a Cardano community expert

To make the programs as valuable as possible for the individual entrepreneurs, we try to limit each cohort to 12 participating projects. The sessions are conducted over 90-120 minutes according to reverse classroom and project-based learning principles to ensure continuity and overview.

Each session is divided into three parts: First, a "roundtable" is conducted (approx. 30 minutes) where each entrepreneur gets to share what has happened since the last session and specific learning points and challenges, they have experienced working with the literature, video support and EMS. A facilitator then carries out a theory presentation that reviews and deepens the current topic (approx. 30 minutes). Here, great emphasis is placed on interaction and discussion. Finally, two of the participating projects are being presented (approx. 30 minutes), where the entrepreneurs get to present their projects and receive input and criticism from their co- entrepreneurs. The last few minutes inform the participants what to prepare for the next session.

Project outcomes

The participants get:

• to develop their projects step by step based on S-E-A-M
• to present their project to advisors and the other participants
• input, motivation, and inspiration from the other participants
• to build a network that will help you reach your goals.
• to define a roadmap for the further development of their project

4. Certification in S-E-A-M and EMS of up to 10 community Advisors / Business Mentors

Our proposal includes a certification program for up to 10 advisors selected by the Cardano community. The goal of the certification is to give the advisors a thorough insight into S-E-A-M (Systemic Entrepreneurship Activity Method) and how you as an advisor / mentor can use S-E-A-M together with related tools and educational methods to help deliver fantastic programs for entrepreneurs. During the full project we aim to enable the community to be self-sufficient with mentors skilled in S-E-A-M as a common method for developing entrepreneurship projects.

During the certification, the consultants gain in-depth knowledge of modern entrepreneurship theories, S-E-A-M and the Entrepreneurship Management System. The advisers get to discuss between themselves about how they can use the knowledge when providing mentoring sessions and guiding the entrepreneurs. The main goal is for the advisors to be even better equipped to enable the entrepreneurs to develop their projects and thereby create sustainable businesses/organizations. In addition, the certification will contribute to the establishment of a common method and entrepreneurship terminology across the Cardano community. From experience, this again provides a basis for further development of cooperation.

How is the certification carried out?

The theoretical part of a certification is done online with 9 sessions of 90 minutes over 3 weeks. Like the Entrepreneurship Programs, the program is based on reverse classroom pedagogy and case-based learning. Between the sessions, the advisers get to work on their own "project" to get a first-hand experience of how this is for the contractors, and that you get to present and discuss the projects - and not least how they themselves can best help the contractors.

If there are community advisers who want to also be certified as facilitators, it is required that they a) participate in a full entrepreneurship program led by one of Entreprenerdy's facilitators, but then in a hosting role where they are phased into how we lead the sessions - and b) that they themselves lead an entire program of 12 sessions for entrepreneurs with one of Entreprenerdy's experts present as co-pilot / supervisor.

5. Program management services

Recruitment and application

When a program is defined, we assist our program partners in developing a communication plan. First, various links are distributed through advertising, direct mailings, the program finder and/or social media. These links lead to the program landing-page, where the Entrepreneur is shown to the EMS's application module. Here we have jointly set up the questions that the partner wants to be answered and all the possible cohorts for which there are vacancies. The Entrepreneur then goes through a simple chain of questions, where they define some metadata and their motivation and the core elements of the business idea they want to apply with. Finally, they apply for participation in a specific cohort in the program.

Program management

Now that we have a complete set-up of the cohort in the EMS that includes all the sessions with content, times, meeting places and eventual ZOOM/Teams links to each session, responsible facilitators and the accepted entrepreneurs, each Entrepreneur will receive a welcome pack. This package is distributed electronically and will contains all the slide sets for the program, the e-book, list of participants, agenda, and description of preparation for each session.

The facilitator will communicate to all participants through the EMS - and the Entrepreneur will be encouraged to post a presentation about himself in the collaboration room to start getting to know the other participants even before the program begins.

When the program starts, the project presentations in each session are run from the EMS - and the facilitator uses the EMS to open the steps before each session, as well as to monitor the progress of each Entrepreneur, and ensure that the advisors/mentors follow up as agreed.

Analysis and learning

The EMS comprises millions of 56-character cards, which makes it possible to store fragmented information from the EMS without it being possible to reverse engineer this back to each business plan. This provides a unique opportunity to aggregate data that has been used to publish several scientific reports and findings from several universities. In addition, it enables a significant opportunity for learning within each program and for each project. Insight into how one's model differs from other similar projects, how the relevant program activates the entrepreneurs, and how the consultants interact with the projects and the entrepreneurs will provide valuable reflection and learning for the individual. There will eventually be a lot of new functionality, which we develop based on the wishes of the entrepreneurs, program partners, advisors, and facilitators.

Proposed plan / schedule and budget break down

We propose the following schedule for this proposal

• February 2022: Program co-creation and refinement
• March 2022: Certification of community advisors
• April 2022: Cohort 1 is delivered
• May 2022: Cohort 2 is delivered, peer2peer network meetings start
• June 2022: Cohort 3 delivered jointly with community advisors, peer2peer network meetings are held
• July 2022: Cohort 4 delivered by community facilitator, peer2peer network meetings are held
• August 2022: Evaluation, reporting, proposed next steps – transfer of program to community..

NOTE – this is an initial schedule that can be adjusted
We are ready to run this project in shorter timeframe and the public launch date is expected can be in February - March 2022.

Budget break down:

The budget break down consist of 12 000 USD for the certification program and 4 times 12 000 USD for the cohort deliveries, including facilitation, 1:1 follow up and license to the EMS during the contract periode.

Impact on challenge metrics and definition of success

The project will impact the participating entrepreneurs´ access too network (peer2peer, business advisors and via these access to investment environments). The participants will gain knowledge and venture building skill and they will share a terminology and methodology for developing entrepreneurship projects.

The program aims to build capacity and skills within the Catalyst community by also training community advisors - finally to enable the community to be self-sustained within this area. Co-creation and sharing will be central elements 

Key metrics to measure

● Number of projects that can be accelerated in the scope of the funding: 4 * 12, total of 48

● Number of mentors and investors that can be onboarded into the ecosystem; Minimum 10 (can easily be extended)

● Distribution of programmes across the world to serve different audiences: This program is fully digital and can be distributed worldwide