Prior to the disbursement of the microloan, we offer FREE-of-charge support for the preparation of a 3-year profit & loss statement (P&L) and a cash-flow analysis. At the same time, we offer the following trainings, which are open to all, subject to availability:
Let’s get started! Basic information on how to open your business. A 2 to 3 hours workshop with other fellow new entrepreneurs with a view to highlight the most common pitfalls and mistakes made during the first entrepreneurial steps. This training also covers material on the different types of legal entities and their basic characteristics, as well as on basic marketing and finance tips.
Do you have a business idea, but do not know how to turn it into a viable business proposition? This gap can be bridged by the “Osterwalder Business Model Canvas”. By mapping all the elements of a business on a canvas, we organize them in 4 basic categories: Value Proposition, Client, Infrastructure and Profit Equation. This mapping makes it easier for an idea to become a plan.
Provision of the basic tools on how to approach your sales projections. Training on the preparation of the Profit & Loss statement and the Cash flow statement, two extremely useful tools for every entrepreneur.
Simple pieces of advice for better money management: how can you save money, what is a cash flow, how can you prepare a budget and how do I make sure I will meet my liquidity obligations? Along with advice on these questions, we also discuss how to maintain a good relationship with the bank, how to calculate your repayment capacity in order not to become overindebted.
Marketing specialists advise you on the best way to promote your product or service. We will bring you in contact with one of our mentors/volunteers who will help you develop a promotion plan of your products/services so that your effort can be a success.
After the microloan disbursement, AFI provides mentoring and customized support according to the needs of each entrepreneur up to the full repayment of the loan. Each beneficiary may have more than one mentor at some times, in varied specialties, depending on the training needs. The meetings take place in our offices at a frequency which depends on the individual needs of the entrepreneur.
AFI mentors come from various backgrounds and have experience in many different verticals and industries, in order to be able to cover a wide range of mentoring needs. Many of them are at a CxO level and have had international careers, others are current or ex-entrepreneurs, specialists in various areas, such as sales, online marketing, accounting, e-commerce, UX/UI, licensing, law and many others.