INCUBATION

The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) has grown into a hybrid model providing a continuum of services to foster a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem in Nagaland, and the Northeast region. Having achieved deep-rooted impact and successfully scaled their programs to promote behavior change in Naga youth, tEA continues to respond to, and counter the root obstacles for entrepreneurship through self-awareness and education, knowledge, access to finance, among others. The work of tEA can be broadly classified into incubation, ecosystem building, and advocacy all working strategically to fulfill the mission and vision of tEA.

MENTORING

Mentoring is a vital component of tEA’s incubation process. In tEA’s pursuit to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, besides training and finance, mentoring has emerged as a necessary tool to sustain local entrepreneurs. tEA observed that, as entrepreneurs experienced the push and pull of market, requests for one-on-one mentoring sessions arose. This can be attributed to the lack of any formal training on entrepreneurship, and that FGEs are insufficiently equipped with fundamental and practical knowledge. Studies suggest that most enterprises fail due to the dearth of proper incubation support, especially during the first six months of operation. As a result, tEA has been carrying out informal, undocumented mentorship activities, including face-to-face discussions and site visits to fill gaps in domain knowledge, market intelligence, business numeracy, and other business advisory services.

TRAININGS

1. Basic Entrepreneurial Skills Training (BEST)

BEST is designed and implemented by The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA), and is perhaps one of its only kind. BEST is a rigorous program on entrepreneurship for start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs; and aspires to create Feast of Merit Entrepreneurs (FOME). FOME is a concept developed by tEA based on the Naga tradition of feast of merit, where an individual who acquires wealth shares it back with his community. Therefore, FOME are entrepreneurs who find innovative solutions and take the society forward as part of her/ his own success.

The whole module of BEST is an intensive theoretical and practical training spanning over 30 days and amounting to about 90 hours. BEST is also an incentive based training, allowing trainees to earn while they learn, making the training effectively low cost. In this way, it is an inclusive approach providing opportunity to interested individuals from lesser-privileged backgrounds. With the objective to immerse trainees into the practicality of business, BEST lets the trainees experiment business ideas; sell products; interact with successful entrepreneurs; visit sites; undergo apprenticeship through tEA’s vast entrepreneurial network; and eventually, develop their own business plan.

One of the most unique features of BEST is the FOME Award, created specifically to support local entrepreneurs. In partnership with tEA’s financial wings for credit linkage, FOME Award provides interest free loans up to Rs. 1 Lakh for a period of 2 years. This initiative has yielded positive results to foster entrepreneurial activities in deserving individuals.

2. Basic Business Skills Training (BBST)

Basic Business Skills Training (BBST) is a training program designed for entrepreneurs who have little, or no education.  tEA conducts BBST training with the primary focus to instill basic foundation of business and streamline entrepreneurial ventures. The training strives to integrate sustainability and survivability through concept, creativity, and innovation in an increasingly competitive market. BBST varies from 2-5 days, depending on the trainee target groups.

In the FY 2017-18, numerous BBST was conducted for various groups. The BBST module is followed by SVEP (Start up Village Entrepreneurship Program) to train potential entrepreneurs, mostly with minimal education. BBST module is also widely utilized in EA’s project to uplift women street vendors, where the main target group is dropouts.

3. Excellerate! The Business Growth Training (BGT)

Business Growth Training (Excellerate) is an advanced entrepreneurship development program designed and implemented by The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) aimed to maximize growth for existing entrepreneurs. BGT follows an interactive module, where a platform is created to discuss opportunity identification, innovation, strategizing, discovering routes to funding, investment, management, and scaling of enterprises. BGT is mainly targeted at First Generation Entrepreneurs (FGEs) who have been in business for a minimum of two years.