Latest news with #BusinessModelCanvas
Mid East Info
01-08-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
MAKE and Khalifa Fund launch the 5th Cohort of Athath Fellowship 2025 to empower the new generation - Middle East Business News and Information
Abu Dhabi – MAKE has launched its 5th cohort of the Athath Fellowship 2025 , in partnership with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, inviting all next-gen aspiring furniture entrepreneurs to reimagine the world of furniture design. The application call, launched last month, welcomed those who view furniture as a functional design, and the selected applicants are interviewed in June 2025. Every phase of the programme is dedicated to unraveling unique skills and visionary ideas. Hosted by MAKE at their facility in Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, from July to 11 October 2025, the programme is structured in three distinct phases and will combine 8 training -sessions to equip aspiring creatives in furniture design with the tools to launch and grow their businesses. From shifting the mindset to entrepreneurial thinking, to mastering the Business Model Canvas, operational planning, pricing, branding, and digital marketing, each session offers practical insights led by industry experts. The programme also covers growth strategies and the essentials of setting up a business legally in the year's edition is supported by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, whose mission aligns with the fellowship's goal of empowering emerging entrepreneurs and building a dynamic, innovation-driven ecosystem. This edition will bring together a new generation of talents committed to shaping the regional dialogue on aesthetics, functionality, and innovation in modern furniture design. Khalifa Fund's support also emphasises the fellowship's commitment to nurturing local talent and fostering commercially sustainable design practices in the UAE. Her Excellency Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, CEO of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: 'We are proud to support Athath Fellowship 2025 as part of our commitment to fostering entrepreneurial talent in the creative industries. This programme not only empowers young designers with the tools and knowledge to thrive, but also aligns with our broader vision of enabling sustainable, design-led enterprises that contribute to enhancing Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. Talal AlAnsari, General Manager of MAKE, added: 'This version of the programme, developed in partnership with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, is rooted in cultural relevance, functional design, and commercial appeal, focusing on creating furniture pieces that are market-ready and meaningful. It welcomes all participants with the skills and mindset to become entrepreneurs in the world of furniture design, providing a launchpad for their careers in furniture making and design innovation. We aim to build a future where design enhances our lives, and each piece of furniture becomes a living example of creativity and practicality.'At the conclusion of the cohort, participants will present their completed prototypes at Dubai Design Week in November 2025. This showcase will celebrate their creative achievements and offer invaluable exposure, connecting emerging designers directly with decision-makers, private clients and the community of interiors, architecture, and product innovation. By backing programmes that blend creativity with business acumen, Khalifa Fund and MAKE continue to nurture a new generation of talent, contributing to the 'UAE's vision of a diversified and innovative-driven economy. About Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development: The Khalifa Fund is an independent, non-profit organisation affiliated with the Abu Dhabi Government. Its mission is to nurture a culture of entrepreneurship, promote innovation, and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the UAE through a balanced ecosystem. Founded in 2007, the Fund was established to align with the vision of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. About MAKE: MAKE is a part workshop, lab, studio, and garage, with a diverse range of offerings focused on building creative skills and process learning in making, design, engineering, and art, supported by a wide range of professional-grade machinery, tools and setup. We are a community of entrepreneurs and experimenters, designers and artists, DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists, learners, and doers. MAKE's mission is to create and support a new culture of making in Abu Dhabi and provide a growing community of makers with the resources and knowledge required to turn their ideas into reality. At MAKE, our mission is built on two core pillars: enabling the makers' community through our makerspace and its services, and building community capabilities through educational offerings. We welcome makers of all ages and capabilities, from absolute beginners to professional designers. It's a place for young minds and old hands, where people with different levels of creative ability and knowledge come together to make their ideas real.
Time Business News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Rethinking innovation: How Business Model Hacking enhances the Business Model Canvas
The Business Model Canvas (BMC) has long been a go-to framework for entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and strategists looking to map and analyze their business models. With its clear structure of nine essential building blocks, it provides a powerful visual tool to describe how value is created, delivered, and captured. But while the BMC excels at outlining and refining existing models, it often falls short when it comes to creating truly innovative ideas—especially when the goal is to think beyond conventional industry norms. That's where Business Model Hacking enters the picture—and why it's proving to be a gamechanger. What is Business Model Hacking? Business Model Hacking is a creative strategy method that helps individuals and teams break out of traditional thinking patterns by using proven business model patterns—so-called 'hacks'—as inspiration. Instead of inventing entirely new concepts from scratch, it encourages the recombination of existing ideas from other industries to spark fresh, high-potential innovations. This approach is not only creative, but also deeply evidence-based. Research from the University of St. Gallen reveals that 90% of the most successful innovative business models of the past 50 years weren't truly 'new'—they were based on patterns already seen in other sectors. From subscription models in software being applied to razor blades, to platform models in retail influencing healthcare services, history shows that lateral thinking across industries breeds breakthrough success. Why Business Model Hacking Ccmplements the BMC The Business Model Canvas gives structure—but Business Model Hacking gives spark . When combined, the two tools offer a powerful synergy: the BMC anchors ideas in strategic clarity, while hacking injects creativity and divergence. Business Model Hacking is also highly accessible. Whether you're a startup founder, a corporate innovator, or a student, you can apply the method. With over 200 Business Model Hacks and countless examples drawn from diverse sectors, it offers the most complete resource for business model innovation available today. The sheer range of examples makes it easy to draw parallels and trigger unexpected, valuable insights. Breaking free from industry norms One of the biggest obstacles to true innovation is something surprisingly mundane: our own thinking habits. In almost every industry, we unconsciously accept 'the way things are done' as fixed. Whether you're running a traditional business or launching a startup, it's easy to get trapped in the conventions of your sector—pricing models, customer relationships, delivery methods—all shaped by decades of legacy thinking. Business Model Hacking helps you break out of that mental box. Instead of tweaking the margins of what already exists, it pushes you to look outside your industry , to borrow and adapt proven concepts from completely different sectors. It invites bold, often uncomfortable questions that lead to fresh, disruptive insights. Imagine you're an auto dealer in the Netherlands. Your business is solid: you sell new and used cars, offer maintenance services, maybe even lease agreements. But margins are shrinking. EVs are shaking up the market. Consumers are shifting toward mobility-as-a-service. So… now what? Now imagine applying a subscription model, like the one used by streaming services. Instead of selling a car, you offer a 'Car-as-a-Service' package: a fixed monthly fee that covers use, maintenance, insurance, and upgrades—swappable every year. It's Netflix meets Volkswagen. Or think even further: What if your dealership ran like a dating app? Customers fill out a lifestyle profile and are matched with vehicles that fit their driving habits, family size, weekend activities, and environmental values. Swipe right on your next car? Why not? Or go bolder still—what if your revenue didn't come from car sales at all, but from data monetization, like Google or Meta? Your connected vehicles collect insights (with consent) that help optimize urban planning or traffic flow, which you sell to municipalities. These ideas might sound wild, but they're not science fiction. They're inspired by real, working business models—just from other industries . This is the power of Business Model Hacking. By using proven patterns—freemium, pay-per-use, crowdsourcing, long-tail, platform-as-a-service, and 200+ others—you can generate radically new concepts grounded in real-world success. It's not guessing. It's pattern-based innovation. And it's accessible to anyone: no MBA required, just a willingness to experiment, explore, and remix what already works elsewhere . So the next time you're planning your strategy, ask yourself: What if we did the opposite of what's normal in our industry? That's where innovation lives. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Why StartupCoE.com is Becoming a Powerhouse for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in India
In the vast digital landscape brimming with entrepreneurial content, it's rare to come across a platform that genuinely supports and educates startups with actionable knowledge, consistent support, and community-led engagement. (Center of Excellence for Startups) is emerging as that rare breed — a hub that not only educates aspiring founders but also provides them with tools, confidence, and real-world understanding to navigate the complex startup ecosystem. This post isn't sponsored. It's not written by an in-house team. It's not even by someone looking for publicity. This is simply a reflection of what is doing right — and why many believe it could play a pivotal role in transforming India's startup landscape. India is buzzing with startup energy. Every year, thousands of students, jobholders, freelancers, and small business owners want to start something of their own. The problem? There's too much noise. Too many YouTube videos promising quick hacks. Too many startup books filled with jargon. Too many mentorships that never move beyond theory. And that's where steps in with a simple mission: Make startup knowledge clear, actionable, and accessible. Unlike many platforms that are driven by buzzwords and trend-chasing, focuses on ground realities. The platform covers: Startup basics : How to come up with an idea, validate it, form a team, and build an MVP. : How to come up with an idea, validate it, form a team, and build an MVP. Business model design : Using frameworks like the Business Model Canvas to understand the 'how' behind making money. : Using frameworks like the Business Model Canvas to understand the 'how' behind making money. Funding insights : From bootstrapping to angel investors and VCs, what funding means and when it's right. : From bootstrapping to angel investors and VCs, what funding means and when it's right. Financial literacy : Understanding unit economics, CAC vs LTV, breakeven, and profitability — topics often ignored by rookie founders. : Understanding unit economics, CAC vs LTV, breakeven, and profitability — topics often ignored by rookie founders. Failure case studies : Learning from failed startups like AskMeBazaar and WeWork with insights and honest takeaways. : Learning from failed startups like AskMeBazaar and WeWork with insights and honest takeaways. Local opportunities: Tailoring advice to Indian founders — Tier 2 & 3 cities, regulatory hurdles, government schemes, and sector-specific trends. This is not another 'Top 10 Unicorn Startups' blog. It's a learning platform made by someone who has seen both sides of the coin. StartupCoE doesn't stop at written content. Their YouTube channel — Startup CoE Telugu — is where they take the conversation further, especially for the Telugu-speaking audience. Three videos a week — Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays — offer: Deep-dives into startup journeys Weekly recaps of startup news Case studies of brands, founders, failures, and rising stars Personal startup journey vlogs Breakdowns of complex ideas in regional language This effort to go regional is critical. While English content is abundant, there is a knowledge gap in local languages, and StartupCoE is bridging it with dedication and consistency. Another underrated strength of is its focus on real engagement. It's not just a blog you read and forget. Through free and paid consultations, direct founder engagement, and giveaways of startup checklists, templates, and startup courses, it tries to build an ecosystem. They've already started: Offering free consultations for early-stage founders for early-stage founders Giving away documentation templates Running Q&A sessions to help solve beginner doubts to help solve beginner doubts Building a Startup Knowledge Course that's beginner-friendly and relevant to Indian founders This human approach makes StartupCoE stand out in a space often ruled by transactional content. The platform is not just for techies or MBA grads. StartupCoE is creating content for: College students ( MBA, Degree) Housewives with home business ideas Mid-career professionals looking to pivot Failed entrepreneurs seeking a fresh start Small and medium business owners wanting to modernize Even influencers looking to build something scalable They break down startup thinking in a way anyone can understand, regardless of background. Some recent content formats and experiments that have caught attention include: Case studies on trending failures and success stories (like PocketFM, Aha OTT, and MapmyIndia) (like PocketFM, Aha OTT, and MapmyIndia) Voiceover-ready scripts with storyboards for creators with storyboards for creators Pet care, rare earth metals, and IoT as future business sectors Cultural topics like corporate ego, GenZ startups, and women-led initiatives In short, they're not afraid to try new formats, speak hard truths, or ask important questions. Perhaps the most interesting part? The brand isn't pushing a face or personality. Unlike other knowledge influencers who make it all about them, StartupCoE keeps the focus on content and community. Their founder may remain in the background, but their vision is loud and clear — build a supportive startup learning community that helps people actually start up . If the current trajectory continues, StartupCoE could: Launch a full-fledged Startup Learning Platform for Indian audiences for Indian audiences Expand into other Indian languages Create a startup incubator or accelerator program Partner with colleges for entrepreneurship bootcamps Build a private community or app for founders The opportunities are endless — because the intent is clear. India doesn't need more unicorns. It needs more prepared founders who understand their business, market, customers, and finances. That preparation doesn't come from motivational reels or 60-second Instagram wisdom. It comes from consistent, honest, relatable, and contextual education — which is exactly what is trying to provide. If you're someone who has a startup idea but doesn't know where to begin… or someone who's failed before and wants to do it better this time… StartupCoE might just be the quiet mentor you've been looking for. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Business Recorder
24-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
TDAP-SWCCI workshop aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs
LAHORE: In an effort to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women in Sialkot, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Women Entrepreneur Division, in collaboration with the Sialkot Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SWCCI), successfully organised a capacity-building workshop titled 'Investment Readiness Program' in Sialkot. The initiative was designed to support women-led startups and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) by equipping them with the strategic tools needed to attract investment and scale their ventures confidently. The workshop drew an enthusiastic group of approximately 30 women entrepreneurs who engaged in the interactive learning experience. It was led by Saad Ashraf Raja, Founder of Edlytica, who covered a comprehensive range of topics essential to early-stage business development. Key modules included strategic planning using the Business Model Canvas, financial literacy, investor engagement, and preparing investor-ready documentation such as data rooms. Saad Ashraf also introduced participants to various financing options, from traditional bank lending to angel investment and venture capital. Participants were encouraged to actively engage throughout the session, leading to rich discussions and tailored advice that addressed real-world business challenges. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Jordan Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Less Boss, More Impact: The Lean Leader's Edge
Photo courtesy of Family Flavours magazine By Dr Tareq Rasheed International Consultant & Trainer In today's fast paced era of digital transformation, rapid skill evolution, and accelerating knowledge, leadership must also evolve too. Traditional leadership — centred on rigid hierarchies, centralised command and limited team input — no longer serves the dynamic needs of modern organisations. Enter Lean Leadership: A smarter, faster and more collaborative approach designed to eliminate waste, streamline processes and improve performance. It's about cutting through the clutter and focusing on what truly adds value. The 3 Pillars of Lean Leadership To go lean, leaders must embrace these three key principles: 1. Strategic Clarity Rather than overcomplicating strategy, use the Business Model Canvas — a practical tool that helps leaders design, visualise, and communicate their strategies clearly. Once the strategy is in place, leaders should meet with their teams to explain it, gather feedback, and align efforts towards shared goals. 2. Customer-Centric Mindset Lean organisations treat customers as partners. Listen to them. Engage with them. Invite their input into strategic conversations. Their insights can help shape more effective and responsive business decisions. 3. Agile Development Agility is essential for eliminating time-wasting activities. By adopting Agile strategies, leaders can adapt quickly, reduce unnecessary steps and keep teams focused on high-impact tasks. Lean in Action: Practical Leadership Tools Lean leadership isn't a theory — it's a hands-on approach. Here are four proven strategies leaders can implement: 1. Management by Walking Around Step out from behind the desk. Engage directly with employees and customers. These informal interactions build trust, foster ownership and keep communication lines open. 2. Results-Based Management (RBM) Move beyond the outdated 'Management by Objectives' model. RBM focuses not just on planning, but on actual outcomes — keeping teams aligned with results that matter. 3. Good Governance Practices A well-governed organisation stands on five key pillars: 1. Participation: Leaders and employees collaborate, especially in critical situations. 2. Responsibility: Clear roles promote accountability. 3. Accountability: Everyone knows what they're responsible for — and to whom. 4. Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuous checks ensure progress and alignment. 5. Transparency: Honest communication builds lasting trust. 4. Teamwork Over Individualism Collaborative teams outperform isolated individuals. When people work together, they solve problems faster, minimise errors, and strengthen organisational loyal In a world filled with constant change and growing expectations, leadership must be agile, inclusive and strategic Lean Leadership is not just a trend — it's a necessary evolution. When implemented effectively, it helps organisations achieve their goals faster, with less effort and greater impact. Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine
