In collaboration with leading organizations in the ecosystem, Endeavor Saudi Arabia launched the 2017 Fast Forward Program, dedicated to driving high-growth businesses to achieve sustainable levels of progress through boot camp training and discussions with industry experts in the growth capital and investments.
The program, held March 19-21, launched with a Boot Camp where Endeavor Saudi screened and selected a group of entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies to join the “CEO Global Business Accelerator Program,” which is designed specifically for high growth businesses striving to achieve solid, sustainable levels of growth for long-term success. The program will help participants define important strategic and tactical actions to create powerful, ready-to-implement plan to positively impact the individual companies’ revenue and profitability. The boot camp includes six dynamic and interactive sessions to impact the growth of the business and decision making in real time, offering a step-by-step process where participants will continually learn and act throughout the ongoing program.
“The best way to drive GDP out of Small and Medium Enterprises is to scout for the high-impact companies with the potential to scale,” said Endeavor Saudi Arabia Managing Director Bader Alzahrani. “It may take almost half a million micro firms to raise the GDP by one percent, on the other hand, 85 scale-up companies will do the same effect if the right support is provided.”
During the boot camp, the Fast Forward Investor Day on March 22 brought together investors, entrepreneurs and policy makers to share the best practices, address challenges, and to facilitate a great platform to invest in scalable SMEs. The event aimed to extend the global reach of leading investment firms by providing access to high-growth companies and local investment partner, as well as to expose high-potential companies to the financial capital available in the region. The event convened more than 260 entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and business leaders globally and regionally, and 25 companies were selected to pitch their business on stage.
“At Endeavor, we aim to support entrepreneurs and scale-up their businesses,” remarked Endeavor Saudi Arabia Chairman Rami Alturki during the event’s opening. “The success of these entrepreneurs could help attract the smart venture capital needed to spur the inception of new companies with potential high-impact leaders creating high-quality jobs.”
Read more about the Fast Forward program, and its partners and sponsors, on Endeavor Saudi Arabia’s website.
View more pictures of the Boot Camp here, and the Investor Day here.