INVESTMENT SUPPORT

Technical Assistance

Network Development

Education & Training


EXAMPLES OF POST INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE

Tinex

TotalSoft

TeleTek

SEAF believes that the simple provision of capital to SMEs operating in previously non-commercial and difficult environments can oftentimes be insufficient. In many cases, the management of these enterprises needs training and assistance as much as the business needs capital. Through SEAF’s Post Investment Assistance, the emphasis placed on exiting is tempered by the benefits of the partnership with SEAF during the investment period. The entrepreneur can appreciate that, with SEAF’s help, his or her business will grow more rapidly, thereby ultimately benefiting the owner, SEAF, and SEAF’s investors.

Investment support can be provided by the Washington DC and Netherlands based Business Support Units, local investment officers, and outside specialists.

Investment Support is provided by the three channels:
I. Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance consists of advice that will help the investee company grow. This advice is sourced from three primary groups of people:

(1) Internal Assistance from the local SEAF Fund:

SEAF's internal assistance would be provided by the staff within the local SEAF office. This assistance might involve implementing budget and accounting management, cost controls, improvements in operational management, inventory management, or management accounting. Providing advice on an appropriate business strategy, new initiative plans, and marketing plan would be included within the scope of this work.

(2) Assistance through the Business Support Units (BSUs) based in      Washington DC and in the Netherlands:

The BSU provides more globally oriented support and perspective that reaches outside the fund's local marketplace. Support would include market research and global trend analyses, or supporting the development of a regional and/or global market strategy that requires insights that go well beyond the local market. Services could include help in identifying sources of new and used equipment.

Typically, the BSU offers strategy development services to all investees who require additional assistance. For certain investees who have demonstrated a readiness for export, either regionally or internationally, the BSU can provide ‘incubation services' through its export assistance program, which help investee companies gain access to western buyers. In isolated instances, the BSU will also execute the business strategy until an effective pass-off can be achieved. While basic strategy and research services are provided at no additional cost, incubation and execution of strategy are fee-based.

(3) Technical Assistance via experienced and specialized industry consultants:

SEAF organizes external technical assistance, utilizing the extensive experience of a range of volunteer consultancy organizations, to advise on technical aspects of a business. Consultants come from such organizations as the Citizens Democracy Corps (CGC), Fundes, the Netherlands Management Cooperation Programme (NMCP), the German Senioren Experten Service, the EBRD's Turn Around Management (TAM) program, the International Executive Services Corps (IESC), the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), the British Executive Service Organisation (BESO), and ECTI, the French senior volunteer consultant service.

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  II. Network Development
 

Designed to foster relationships between investees and other groups or organizations that can help them grow, customers, suppliers, etc

The Washington DC and Netherlands based BSU organizations are well placed to provide networking support for investee companies. These efforts could consist of organizing visits to Western companies in the appropriate industries, directing investees to appropriate brokerage services, or to help investee companies navigate the entry paths into corporate supply chains.
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III. Education and Training 
 

SEAF has always provided, either via its local office of investment officers or Business Support Unit, appropriate in-house and 'on-the-job' training required to strengthen local management. It has however become increasingly clear that company entrepreneurs - as well as their executive level management - are in need of a more robust training particularly in light of globalization and the increased demands of corporations' supply chains.

SEAF encourages all of its investee owners and managers to pursue executive management training where available. However, due to time constraints and the length of such programs, participation is oftentimes low. SEAF is thus driving the establishment of 'The Center for Entrepreneurial and Executive Development' which will be focused on short-term practical training within a peer learning environment. A pilot program is underway in Bulgaria (initiated September, 2005). Expansion to other countries in the region will be funding dependent.

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INVESTMENT SUPPORT

SEAF believes that the simple provision of capital to SMEs operating in previously non-commercial and difficult environments can oftentimes be insufficient. In many cases, the management of these enterprises needs training and assistance as much as the business needs capital. Through SEAF’s Post Investment Assistance, the emphasis placed on exiting is tempered by the benefits of the partnership with SEAF during the investment period. The entrepreneur can appreciate that, with SEAF’s help, his or her business will grow more rapidly, thereby ultimately benefiting the owner, SEAF, and SEAF’s investors.

Investment support can be provided by the Washington DC and Netherlands based Business Support Units, local investment officers, and outside specialists.

Investment Support is provided by the three channels:

I. Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance consists of advice that will help the investee company grow. This advice is sourced from three primary groups of people:

(1) Internal Assistance from the local SEAF Fund:

SEAF's internal assistance would be provided by the staff within the local SEAF office. This assistance might involve implementing budget and accounting management, cost controls, improvements in operational management, inventory management, or management accounting. Providing advice on an appropriate business strategy, new initiative plans, and marketing plan would be included within the scope of this work.

(2) Assistance through the Business Support Units (BSUs) based in      Washington DC and in the Netherlands:

The BSU provides more globally oriented support and perspective that reaches outside the fund's local marketplace. Support would include market research and global trend analyses, or supporting the development of a regional and/or global market strategy that requires insights that go well beyond the local market. Services could include help in identifying sources of new and used equipment.

Typically, the BSU offers strategy development services to all investees who require additional assistance. For certain investees who have demonstrated a readiness for export, either regionally or internationally, the BSU can provide ‘incubation services' through its export assistance program, which help investee companies gain access to western buyers. In isolated instances, the BSU will also execute the business strategy until an effective pass-off can be achieved. While basic strategy and research services are provided at no additional cost, incubation and execution of strategy are fee-based.

(3) Technical Assistance via experienced and specialized industry consultants:

SEAF organizes external technical assistance, utilizing the extensive experience of a range of volunteer consultancy organizations, to advise on technical aspects of a business. Consultants come from such organizations as the Citizens Democracy Corps (CGC), Fundes, the Netherlands Management Cooperation Programme (NMCP), the German Senioren Experten Service, the EBRD's Turn Around Management (TAM) program, the International Executive Services Corps (IESC), the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), the British Executive Service Organisation (BESO), and ECTI, the French senior volunteer consultant service.

II. Network Development

Designed to foster relationships between investees and other groups or organizations that can help them grow, customers, suppliers, etc

The Washington DC and Netherlands based BSU organizations are well placed to provide networking support for investee companies. These efforts could consist of organizing visits to Western companies in the appropriate industries, directing investees to appropriate brokerage services, or to help investee companies navigate the entry paths into corporate supply chains.

III. Education and Training

SEAF has always provided, either via its local office of investment officers or Business Support Unit, appropriate in-house and 'on-the-job' training required to strengthen local management. It has however become increasingly clear that company entrepreneurs - as well as their executive level management - are in need of a more robust training particularly in light of globalization and the increased demands of corporations' supply chains.

SEAF encourages all of its investee owners and managers to pursue executive management training where available. However, due to time constraints and the length of such programs, participation is oftentimes low. SEAF is thus driving the establishment of 'The Center for Entrepreneurial and Executive Development' which will be focused on short-term practical training within a peer learning environment. A pilot program is underway in Bulgaria (initiated September, 2005). Expansion to other countries in the region will be funding dependent.