Start-ups Consultant

Background

The Palestine Information and Communication Technology Incubator (PICTI) is implementing the ‘From Innovation to Creation’ project, Funded by the European Union in collaboration with the PICTI and SPARK.

The specific objective of the project is to initiate a programme that unlocks the potential of ICT related innovators, entrepreneurs and start-ups, with the aim of contributing to the growth and development of ICT across the various Palestinian sectors. This is planned to be achieved in order to provide a support network and nurture a national innovation ecosystem in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, bringing together all innovators, entrepreneurs and start-ups under one roof.

Under this project, PICTI aims to support 9 Palestinian entrepreneurs and innovators in the information & communication technology sector from the West Bank & Gaza Strip. By providing them with the needed guidance, mentoring and training in the areas of innovation & entrepreneurship before and during the incubation phase.

As such, PICTI is to select a highly qualified Start-up Consultant, where he/she will create the overall action plan to be followed throughout the entrepreneurship programme. More specifically, the consultant is expected to do the following:

1. Conduct individual initial meetings with each of the 9 start-ups, in order to understand their vision and goals, assess their capacity strengths and weaknesses, and identify their needs, main challenges, and future plan.
2. Develop an intervention plan to be followed by PICTI, to help the start-ups optimize their current business practices while developing new and improved management methods. Said plan is to include the following:

• The specific training topics needed for each start-up (Marketing, pitching skills, Business strategy, etc.)
• The specific consultations/ advisory needed for each start-up (financial, legal, branding, etc.).

3. Follow-up on assigned trainers, and consultants’ implementation over the incubation program.
4. As PICTI will be providing seed funding to each of the start-ups, in the shape of purchasing the needed equipment/ devices directly. The consultant is expected to do the following:

• Provide a detailed report on the specification on the equipment/ devices needed by each start-up.
• Assist the project team in forming the TORs for the equipment/ devices, and in the selection process of suitable suppliers for the tender.

The consultant must ensure delivering the following:

• Initial intervention plan of trainings and consultations to be provided to the entrepreneurship program’s beneficiaries.
• Follow-up report on the implementation of trainings and consultations at the end of each month.
• Final report at the end of the incubation program, showcasing how the initial intervention plan was implemented, any changes that occurred, and the final outcome for each of the 9 start-ups.
• Record of benefits template, including seed funding.
• Testimonies of success and empowerment stories: including interviewing the 9 startups in the incubation program.
• Any other documents, required by the beneficiary, delivered and/ or filled as requested.

Important Notes:

• The above activities for the Consultant are estimated to be 4
• The 9 selected entrepreneurs are divided as such; 3 reside in the Gaza Strip, and 6 in the West Bank.

The consultant will be expected to have the following competencies:

• Good knowledge of the entrepreneurial echo system including Venture Capital and fund raising and teaching.
• Good knowledge and expertise in business, finance, and investments.
• Excellent analytical and strategic abilities.
• Proficient in problem identification and business process analysis.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proven project management skills.
• Experience within a startup or entrepreneurial environment preferred.

Guidelines and Selection Criteria:

In undertaking this assignment, the service provider should consider submitting:

Technical proposal (70%) covering the following items:

1. CVs and portfolio. (25%)

This must showcase examples of previous relevant experience in the support and guidance to ICT SMEs and entrepreneurs.

2. Methodology/Approach used to achieve the final report (include appropriate data collection instruments and procedures such as questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups). (25%)
3. Action Plan to achieve the final report (Including all working days for conducting interviews and focus groups with all aforementioned parties). (20%)

Financial proposal (30%). The price quotation for the training delivery should be in USD.

Note: Offers that do not comply with these requirements, will be automatically disqualified.

Please note that the price quotation should be submitted in:

1. English language.
2. The Price must be in USD INCLUDING VAT – and PICTI is not responsible for any currency differences.
3. The price offer must be valid for a period of 6 months.
4. The company bears all responsibility in the case that it submits a price offer and is unable to provide a valid source of deduction or any official certificates that require the payment process.
5. PICTI has the right to withdraw or cancel the solicitation, without incurring any costs and without any justifications.
6. The supplier to whom the quotation is awarded bears all responsibility in the case that they submit a quotation and is unable to issue invoices or bring a valid source of deduction or clearance from the Added Tax Department or any of the reinforcements necessary for the payment.
7. The payment with the selected agency will be made after signing the contract, completing the required service by submitting the work completion report, and providing the financial payment request. If the service provider is an individual, 10% of the total amount will be deducted as income tax to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
8. PICTI reserves the right to reject any offer without stating the reasons and to solicit offers from abroad in the case of rejection of the submitted offers and in case of violation and non-compliance with the required specifications.
9. The amount due to the supplier shall be paid by Checks or bank transfer from the bank account of the project, after submitting the necessary.
10. PICTI is not obligated to the lowest prices without giving reasons, and it is also entitled to split or cancel without giving reasons, Therefore, the offers will be evaluated from a technical and financial point.
11. The company must provide a copy of its registration certificate and a valid deduction at source certificate.
12. Any clause or any of the general conditions relating to PICTI that have been inadvertently omitted and is not mentioned within these Terms of Reference, is subject to PICTI internal standard procedures or the Palestinian Procurement and Supplies Law or any financial procedures related to that.
13. Please stamp and sign all pages of the quotation.

Please take into consideration that the budget is highly limited, therefore provide us with the lowest price offers as possible.

Application Submission and Deadline

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their applications in envelopes to the following address: Ougarit Bldg. – 4th Fl., Al-Irsal, Ramallah, or to Al-Shohdaa' St., Hassania Building 6th Fl, Gaza.

Indicating on the cover page “Start-up Consultant” no later than 16 May 2023, at 4.00 pm.