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The YGL-Marketplace

background

The YGL-Marketplace is a web-based platform within WELCOM that will allow the YGL and WEF community to provide resources, connect social entrepreneurs and bring “trade not aid” to underdeveloped regions of the world. This platform will systematize the meeting of needs, services, goods, references, contacts and other information to facilitate and promote the various social and GRI initiatives that YGLs are leading. This is a unique opportunity to be “execution focused” and deliver results to much needed communities across the globe.

Leaders

Seraina Maag – President – Zurich
Patrick McWhinney – CEO – Insight Partners
Ashish Gadnis – CEO – Forward Hindsight Inc. & Koozala LLC.

What is the real issue this idea solves?
The YGL-Marketplace enables the creation of sustainable business models and resource allocation while driving 360 degree accountability. Traditional micro-finance, aid-based programs have failed as they don’t integrate the “bottom-of-the-pyramid” with rest of the global economy. The YGL-Marketplace solves this problem over the long-term

What is the real impact this idea will make? What are the criteria for impact that you will use to evaluate this idea?
The real impact of this portal will be on the day-to-day folks living in under-developed economies as it will give them the ability to have a sustained (we expect most trades on the marketplace to be 3 years or longer) business model and participate in trade agreements that are thousands of miles away.

What are the challenges that need to be overcome?

The top two challenges are:
Getting funding for the completion of the software development effort. While the WEF has been very kind and generous in allocation funding and resource on the WELCOM side we need YGLs to step up and provide the other half of funding. We are looking to raise $250,000.00 in the next 60 days.
Gaining commitment and action from YGLs and WEF leaders in promoting “trade not aid” by using this platform. We need to have at least 10 trades a month starting Feb 2010.

What agencies / organizations / individuals are you collaborating with?

Target Corporation
Barclays (Jitesh Gadhia)
Ecolab (Christophe Beck)
Women for Women (Zainab Salbi)
Equal World Coffee (Ward Brehm)
Zurich (Seraina Maag)
Habib Haddad (Yamli)
Yael McGuire (ThingMagic)

Contact Person:  Ashish Gadnis  

Yalla Startup

Background

Economic development in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) faces a critical challenge in the 21st century: its youth. With 65% under the age 30, the MENA region has one the youngest populations in the world while having one of the highest youth unemployment rates of over 25%. The long term prosperity and stability of the region hinges on the opportunities afforded to this generation. This is a dire situation that requires action.

The most effective way of dealing with this challenge is to empower more youth to take control of their own destinies through entrepreneurship. However, as things stand today the MENA region lacks several key components critical for a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem. These gaps range from the lack of awareness at both the educational and professional levels, to the scarcity of mentors and early stage investors.

YallaStartup is a project that aims to foster early stage and youth entrepreneurship in the MENA region. Our goal is to address the gaps in the early stage entrepreneurial ecosystem through a variety of programs both online and offline.

Our programs will focus on the following areas:

  • Building an online network of entrepreneurs, investors and service providers.
  • Facilitating startup creation through pre-seed investments.
  • Knowledge exchange through community building and mentorship.
  • Education through classes and online content
  • Awareness of startup activity through press coverage

Yalla in Arabic slang means “come on, do it” and the name YallaStartup was chosen to convey a call to action for all young innovators to become entrepreneurial and transform their ideas into businesses. Once established we hope to replicate the model in other emerging markets.

    To learn more about our programs and activities please visit www.yallastartup.org

    Leaders

    Habib Haddad YGL, Founder & CEO Yamli
    Sami Shalabi, MTS, Google.
    Elie El-Khoury, Founder, Woopra

    YGL Task force members:
    Mina AlOraibi, Abdulsalam Haykal, Emile Cubeisy, Khaldoon Tabaza, Soraya Salti

    Looking for

    • Domain experts to act as hands on mentors for young entrepreneurs and startups.
    • Domain experts to develop legal templates necessary for entrepreneurship in the specific countries
    • Commitments from investors/funds to take part of our pre-seed investment program.
    • Professionals and educators in the region to support entrepreneur development
    • Media contacts to help raise the profile of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs.

    Contact 

Habib Haddad

    The Missing Middle

    Background

    A YGL GRI initiative aimed at enhancing public and private sector initiatives to develop emerging market economies. The task force realize the need to stimulate enterprise and create an entrepreneurial eco system and a thriving market place. By harnessing the Forum’s convening power the YGLs have embarked on this ambitious enterprise development initiative to unlock the potential of the “missing middle” that primary supports SME’s in emerging markets; Africa as the case study.

    The “Missing Middle” is the segment of capital which is too large for microfinance groups and too small for mainstream finance firms. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are a critical underserved group in emerging markets and especially so in Africa.

    Microfinance serves a segment that requires small loans and enables families to generate an income, from small projects to local family businesses. Typically these efforts do not scale beyond local markets and are not aimed at job creation beyond an immediate group.

    Banks and large financial firms serve mature companies that have traditionally had access to capital. In addition to bank-based credit, large businesses in some markets have had access to private equity and public markets

    Leaders

    Euvin Naidoo – Director of Portfolio Management PBB Credit Africa; Standard Bank, James Wanjohi – Managing Director; The Branson School of Entrepreneurship, J. Skyler Fernandes – COO; The South African Chamber of Commerce in America

    What is the real issue this idea solves?
    The “Missing Middle” addresses some of the most significant income and wealth gaps faced by developing countries and communities around the world.

    This supports the move to focus on “trade versus aid”, the true sustainable means to create jobs in Africa and other emerging markets.

    In the new world economic order, India and China have emerged as economic super powers and South Africa and Brazil as regional powers. This new structure requires a re-thinking for how we can better represent all nations and holders of economic power

    Why it matters:

    • Job creation potential
    • Develops entrepreneurial spirit and optimism
    • Poverty elevation, builds a middle class
    • A large SME base grows a robust GDP
    • Creates stability – politically, economically, socially
    • Priming for large investments

    Looking For

    • Contribute information to the Information Center of the Missing Middle (provide ideas on challenges/solutions to funding gap) from emerging markets
    • Make introductions to SME Venture Funds, Intermediaries, and Institutions to Missing Middle Initiative team (Help build directory)
    • Commitments to contribute capital to SME Venture funds (current funds, new funds, fund of funds)

    Next Steps

    • Expand list of the players in the space – funds, intermediaries, and institutions
    • Establish a “Missing Middle” central resource document – aggregate information and share with community
    • Continue to reach out to more champions in the space and network the industry
    • Market the industry as an evolving asset class – provide legitimacy to the sector
    • Accelerate flow of capital to current SME venture funds, new SME Venture Funds and SME fund of funds

    Contact Person:  James Wanjohi