Investment Readiness Programme
Empowering LGBTIQ+ owned small businesses from Eastern Europe and the Balkans with tailored guidance to boost investment readiness and unlock financial opportunities.
Businesses
Europe Businesses
The BØWIE Investment Readiness Programme is a pioneer initiative aimed at supporting and empowering small businesses in Eastern Europe led by LGBTIQ+ founders. Over a span of 5 months, each participating business will receive personalized guidance, culminating in the development of a robust business plan, financial plan, and pitch deck. At the end of the programme, participants will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to our esteemed partners, Dreilinden and J.P. Morgan, with the potential to secure an investment of up to 30,000 euros.
Why Join the BØWIE Investment Readiness Programme?
Online courses focused on developing your business acumen and investment readiness.
1. Foundations of Business Acumen
- Introduction to business strategies and decision-making.
- Understanding market dynamics and customer needs.
- Financial literacy: budgeting, forecasting, and financial statement analysis.
2. Investment Readiness Essentials:
- Crafting a compelling business plan.
- Financial planning for small businesses: capital requirements, cash flow management, break-even analysis, and funding strategies.
- Pitching essentials: how to present your business to potential investors.
3. Real-world Case Studies:
- Analyzing successful LGBTIQ+-led businesses and their journey to securing investments.
- Identifying challenges and solutions in diverse business scenarios.
Through 1:1 mentorship, you will receive hands-on support to navigate the complexities of business development, ensuring you are primed and ready for investment opportunities.
Dedicated Mentorship: You will be paired with a dedicated mentor who will provide consistent guidance throughout the 5-month period. Your mentor will bring a wealth of experience and insights tailored to the specific needs of LGBTIQ+ founders.
Access to External Experts: Beyond your personal mentor, you will have the opportunity to consult with a pool of external experts. Depending on the specific needs and challenges of your business, you will be able to tap into expertise in areas such as finance, operations, product development, marketing, and more.
Practical Business Development: The mentorship programme goes beyond theoretical advice. You will work closely with your mentor and external experts to implement concrete strategies, set actionable goals, and monitor progress in real-time. This hands-on approach ensures that you will not only learn but also apply the newly acquired knowledge to achieve tangible results.
Feedback & Iteration: Regular check-ins and feedback sessions will allow you to iterate and refine your business strategies, ensuring that you remain agile and responsive to market dynamics.
June 2024, Geneva, Switzerland
- Welcome to Geneva to celebrate your achievements and connect with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs
- Hop on stage to give your final pitch in front of Dreilinden and J.P. Morgan, receive their invaluable feedback and potentially proceed to the next phase: an investment in your company.
If our investment partner is impressed with your pitch, you might be presented with an opportunity to receive an investment of up to EUR 30,000.
Most investments will be structured as a revenue based loan. This means that the repayment of the loan is tied to the revenue of your business, providing flexibility and aligning the interests of both the investor and you. Repayment is typically calculated as a pre-agreed percentage of revenues.
Unlike debt financing, there is no fixed monthly payment, and unlike equity financing, you don't need to give up any ownership of your business.
The primary objective of our investment partner is not to seek high returns. Instead, their focus is on nurturing the growth of small businesses, aiming to promote the economic empowerment of the LGBTIQ+ community in Eastern Europe and the Balkan region.
Such an investment can be a significant boost, allowing you to scale your operations, hire additional staff, or invest in necessary resources to grow your business.
Unlocking Access To Capital For LGBTIQ+ Owned Small Businesses
The 5-Month Process
Eligibility Criteria
Businesses interested in participating should meet the following criteria:
Type of venture:
Small business
Legal status:
The company must be registered as LLC or similar legal form
Revenue model:
For profit
Foundation:
Ideally at least 2 years of operations
Stage:
Development
Business requirements:
Revenue generation
Team requirements:
Founder(s) identify as LGBTIQ+
Countries:
Company is registered in Eastern Europe or the Balkans. Priority will be given to our 4 focus countries: Poland, Romania, Czechia and Hungary.
Need requirement:
Must have a specific financing need which you can work on during the programme
Impact requirement:
Must be willing to implement measures to ensure the business has a positive impact on the local LGBTIQ+ community, even if it is not the primary objective of the business (e.g. through job creation within the community)
Participation cost:
EUR 100
(due only if selected)
Types of venture
Small business
Legal status
The company must be registered as LLC or similar legal form
Revenue model
For profit
Foundation
Ideally at least 2 years of operations
Stage
Development
Business requirements
Revenue generation
Team requirements
Countries
Need requirement
Must have a specific financing need which you can work on during the programme
Impact requirement
Must be willing to implement measures to ensure the business has a positive impact on the local LGBTIQ+ community, even if it is not the primary objective of the business (e.g. through job creation within the community)
Online Academy from January to May 2024
Personalized Mentoring from January to May 2024
Travel & accommodation to attend the Investor Pitch session in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2024
Online Academy from January to May 2024
Personalized Mentoring from January to May 2024
Travel & accommodation to attend the Investor Pitch session in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2024
Download The application guidebook
- Our application process
- The recommended structure for your pitch deck
- Technical tips for your video pitch recording