How do you define the success of the Investment Readiness Programme? What are your KPIs?

We use seven criteria to measure the performance of the startups during the programme:

• Indicator 1: The managerial skills of the founding team are improved, and the sharing of roles and responsibilities within the management team is clearly defined.
• Indicator 2: The startup’s database is updated and all the documents necessary for adequate ‘due diligence’ by investors are available (e.g., pitch deck, annual balance sheet, accounting report, bank statements, forecasts, and strategy release).
• Indicator 3: A digital user base monitoring system is established and provides reliable data.
• Indicator 4: A market study and an analysis of the startup’s competitiveness are available for the national and possible expansion markets.
• Indicator 5: A strategy and a catalogue of measures for marketing and sales are available and guide the actions of the founding team to develop the startup.
• Indicator 6: The startup’s digital product is customer-focused and ready to market (e.g. product adaptation to the target market, data security guaranteed, adaptation to applicable national regulations).
• Indicator 7: The startup’s customer acquisition rate has improved.

These indicators are based on what investors look at and addressing them will help you to raise investment.

In addition to investment readiness, we measure the customer growth of the startups, their impact on the income of their customers, food security and climate adaptation, and of course the investments raised during the programme until one year after.