YEP as Ambassadors for

the Business Hub

Peter Bervoets, Euphresia Luseka, Lawrence Kimaru, Reinilde Eppinga and
Sandra van Soelen
12 May 2015
Intro idea

Imagine, you have the opportunity to work in a wonderful country named

Kenya. You are based outside Nairobi and/or have the opportunity to
travel through different parts of the country. You see your work is very much
needed, but at the same time you are open to see new ideas and
opportunities. However, you dont have the resources, time, expertise to do
something with it. Should these ideas go to waste or can we think of a
platform were these Young Experts can share their ideas?

Opportunity: the Dutcht Embassy in Kenya is opening a business hub

The Idea

The idea is to let YEPpers present during business HUB meetings on what
kind of business cases they have found in the field.
The YEP Ambassador platform will be a linking platform to link to ideas of
Young Expert to potential business partners or investors
After the presentation, there will be a brainstorm sessions were the Young
Experts will have time to discuss further with business partners.
Young experts work often closely in the field, have fresh eyes, have
knowledge of the Dutch and Kenyan context and therefore can develop
innovative business cases. However, they might miss support from the
organisations they are working for, network or resources to make the
business case work.
Goal

Providing a platform for young people to share their business ideas

Tighten bonds between the YEP programme and the Embassy in Kenya
Increased business for Dutch Partners in Kenya

Business model canvas: https://canvanizer.com/canvas/J3uHiKtNuWo#

Comparable platforms

Sustainable motion: SustainableMotions primary goal is to bridge a gap in the

labour market between sustainability students & graduates and organizations
integrating sustainability in their business activities.
Start-up bootcamp: Startupbootcamp is a global network of industry focused
startup accelerators.
We take startups global by giving them direct access to an international
network of the most relevant partners, investors and mentors in their sector.
Partnership verkiezing: awarding promising partnerships
Orange groove
Orange Grove offers state of the art flexible workspaces equipped with a
conference room, workspaces on sofas and at desks, wifi and good coffee.
Participants in Orange Grove will have the opportunity to attend master classes,
seminars and lectures that will be organized in accordance with their needs.
Participants get assigned a mentor who will be their advisor in the early stages
of starting their business. Also, they will have the chance to be coached and
mentored by experienced professionals (including services from our pools of
lawyers and accountants). These professionals will share their entrepreneurial
know-how and will occasionally provide mentoring on how to deal with the
various issues that young entrepreneurs may be confronted with.
The educational programme will be conducted in cooperation with the
University of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology and Athens University of
Economics and Business.
Finally, Orange Grove offers access to a valuable network: the network of the
participants, of the sponsors and that of the Embassy. Orange Grove wants to
help young entrepreneurs to bring their start-ups a step closer to success.
What makes this idea unique?

YEPpers know the Dutch market and the Kenyan market, rather than only one of
the two.
Young Experts work often in the field and watch with fresh eyes in Kenya
To promote (Dutch) business in Kenya
Link ideas with resource/knowledge networks

What if we make it a competition? Best idea wins some money for the business?
Cost structure

Option 1: Embassy pays the organisation of the YEPper for the time the YEPper
has spent in the business HUB (1 day), transportation and accomodation.
Option 2: Embassy "pays" YEP programme bureau for the time the YEPpers has
spent in the business HUB (1 day) and the rest of the costs is paid out of the YEP
budget

Option 1: will cost approximately 800,- per YEPper per time he visits.
So the embassy can invite: 25.000 / 8 = +/- 30 YEPpers per ??. We have to ask
further for the details on the 12th of May

Option 2: Will cost the Embassy less and we can use the money the YEPper costs
to make a budget for a boost for promising start-ups, which emerge from the
business hub meetings
Partners

The Dutch Embassy in Nairobi

NWP/YEP bureau
Business hub (including the network of Dutch businesses active in Kenya)
Organisations YEPpers are working for (potentially)

In future, make it bigger than only Young Experts, also young experts from other
organisations.
Our role as YEPpers

We can present our business ideas on the first business hub meeting
Can mobilise other YEPpers in Kenya to develop business cases
Assist in organising the first business hub YEP session, including developing a
communication platform.
Way forward

Organising a first seminar with the opening of the business hub (June or July
2015)
Decide on what platforms to use

Expanding the platform to other Dutch Embassies in countries were YEPpers are
active
Make it a mandatory part of the YEP programme