The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority “Monsha’at” launched the Dates Business Accelerator program the day before yesterday in Al-Ahsa, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and Qassim.
The program aims to develop SMEs through the best local and global practices specialized in the agricultural sector, and to present products or services directly to investors during the program, which runs for 15 weeks.
The Deputy Governor of Monsha’at for Planning and Development, Sami Al Hussaini, explained that SAR 3 million has been allocated to 30 startups, at 10 companies in each region and governorate and SAR 100,000 for each company, to motivate and develop the companies during the accelerator program.
He noted that the program includes guidance and counseling sessions and meetings in the dates sector, and supports entrepreneurs and startups with market research in the dates sector by providing the necessary tools, such as marketing and financial plans, in addition to connecting them with data sources and helping them collect and understand data to determine their future direction, such as beneficiary statistics and user behavior studies.
Al Hussaini added that the accelerator focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and startups in developing team capabilities and building the organizational structure, building or developing the business plan, financing strategies and mechanisms, sales development strategy, intellectual property rights, legal consultation, raising awareness of the importance of activating public relations to spread brand awareness, and developing an integrated marketing plan.
Monsha’at is keen to support startups in the agricultural sector, provide investment opportunities for SMEs in the dates sector, and raise standards in the dates sector by developing high-potential startups, in addition to strengthening the business accelerator sector by attracting global best practices in the agricultural field.