Helping SMEs Build Resilience Program
Berytech joins Youth Business International’s Rapid Response and Recovery programme – funded by Google.org, to support struggling businesses during the covid-19 crisis.
Berytech joins Youth Business International’s Rapid Response and Recovery programme – funded by Google.org, to support struggling businesses during the covid-19 crisis.
The Rapid Response and Recovery Programme is led by Youth Business International (YBI) and funded by Google.org as part of ‘Grow Stronger with Google’, a program to help accelerate the MENA region’s economic recovery by offering digital tools, training and financial grants to support local businesses and job seekers.
The initiative supports underserved micro, small and medium businesses to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
Berytech has been appointed as a delivery partner of YBI in Lebanon and will now work to develop and deliver an urgent package of support to struggling local businesses.For this project, Berytech has developed the Helping SMEs Build Resilience program that will be conducted over 12 months. It will be targeted at SMEs across Lebanon to support them in coping with the numerous crisis situations.
During the program, Berytech in collaboration with Google.org and YBI will provide immediate response and online training workshops and webinars for SMEs. A direct Helpline [Request Support] is available for entrepreneurs who wish to be supported further and receive personalized support. For selected applicants, coaching sessions, mentoring activities and business clinics will be offered by Berytech coaches and Google experts.
Youth Business International has been awarded a US$ 5 million grant by Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm to support underserved micro, small and medium sized businesses to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The program will be implemented throughout 2020-2021 across 32 countries. It will focus on the most affected businesses and ensure that those particularly vulnerable groups of business owners, including young people (aged 18-35 years), women, refugees and other migrants, receive the specific support they need.
A holistic package of emergency support will be provided to business owners through YBI’s global network of enterprise support organisations, like Berytech in Lebanon, both YBI members and non-profit delivery partners. This includes crisis helplines, targeted advice and signposting, online training through webinars and mentoring. Google employees will volunteer to share their knowledge and expertise, helping business owners to upskill and adapt to the challenges they are facing.
“We are committed to supporting business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic and are excited to be part of YBI’s Rapid Response Recovery and Programme funded by Google.org”
Joanna Abi Abdallah, head of Business Development and Support at Berytech.
During the program, Berytech in collaboration with Google.org and YBI will provide immediate response and online training workshops and webinars for SMEs. Subjects will revolve around Crisis Management, Financial Planning, Access to Market and Internationalization, Health and Safety, and Digitization.
Workshops on Crisis Management
Understanding the crisis, managing crisis related stress and uncertainties, reviewing your operations and processes, identifying new revenue streams and readdress your business model. The duration of this module is 25+ hours, presented in multiple sessions.
Mastering cash flow planning and forecasting, contract negotiation, digitizing your financial records and bank statements, managing your invoicing and identifying new funding opportunities. The duration of this module is 25+ hours, presented in multiple sessions.
Conducting market research, go-to market strategies and sales models, sales process and lead generation. The objective would be to connect and create partnerships for MSMEs with startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and corporate clients to stimulate economic growth. This module will be provided in 3 sessions of 3 hours each and followed by group coaching sessions on specific topics and as per the needs assessment of SMEs.
The objective would be to connect and create partnerships for SMEs with startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and corporate clients to stimulate economic growth.
Workshops on Health & Safety
Performing a risk assessment of the workplace, managing the workplace, business continuity plans and communication protocol, policies and procedures for flexible work, safe work practices and workplace control, work life balance and other human resources considerations, etc.
Workshops on Digitization
How technology is changing industries and businesses, what are the emerging trends and technologies, understanding the competitive life cycle, setting a strategy and plan and understanding the enablers of digital transformation.
Entrepreneurs who wish to receive further support to grow their businesses can apply directly to the program by filling the application form. After a screening and needs assessment by the support team, a roadmap of activities will be developed and selected applicants will be matched with Berytech coaches or Google mentors to address a specific need in their business during individual sessions. Applicants will have access to the GrowthWheel® Business Advisory tool and other interesting Google tools and frameworks.
Applicants who wish to participate in the Personalized Coaching & Mentoring program need to fit the following criteria:
Fill in this form to start your application to the Personalized Coaching & Mentoring Program. If you have any questions before applying, please contact us at support@berytech.org
Youth Business International (YBI) is a global network of expert organisations in over 50 countries supporting underserved young people to turn their ideas into successful businesses, creating jobs and strengthening communities. Our vision is a world where youth entrepreneurship is recognised for driving sustainable economic development and all young people who want to set up a business can fulfil their potential. We connect our members to share expertise and collaborate on solutions to common challenges. Learn more.
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, supports non-profits that address humanitarian issues and apply scalable, data-driven innovation to solving the world’s biggest challenges. We accelerate their progress by connecting them with a unique blend of support that includes funding, products, and technical expertise from Google volunteers. We engage with these believers-turned-doers who make a significant impact on the communities they represent, and whose work has the potential to produce meaningful change. We want a world that works for everyone—and we believe technology and innovation can move the needle in four key areas: education, economic opportunity, inclusion and crisis response. Learn more.
Meet the Berytech team members in charge of the program.
Berytech is the ecosystem for entrepreneurs, providing a dynamic environment for the creation and development of startups and SMEs, fostering innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in Lebanon.
Berytech Mathaf
Damascus Street, Museum District
Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
+961 (1) 61 25 00
Berytech Mar Roukoz
Saint Joseph University
Sciences & Technology Campus
Dekwaneh, Mount Lebanon
+961 (4) 53 30 40
Berytech BDD 1294
Bechara El Khoury Street
Beirut Digital District
Bachoura, Beirut, Lebanon
+961 (1) 64 95 55
P.O. Box
11-7503 Riad el Solh, 1107 2240 Beirut, Lebanon