Pacific Islands Investor Readiness Startup Training

This program is designed for startups at the following stage in their startup journey:

• Team identified and startup formed – Founders with a management team and key roles identified.
• High-impact interventions – Innovation solves a real problem felt by the customer, and has a compelling value proposition.
• Early Market Validation – Validated customer segments and initial evidence of product-market fit. Articulation of economic value proposition and evidence of customer buy-in.
• Novel Technology – A fundamentally new scientific or technology breakthrough being used for the first time in your setting.  If appropriate, provisional patents(s) filed.
• Beyond Proof of Concept – Initial prototype developed and pilot studies/field trials underway.
• Ready to fundraise – Preparing for a round of equity investment within 12 months.

Selected participants will be eligible to attend the 3-day, in-person workshop in Nadi, Fiji. Only one founder will be eligible to attend per team. The program will be taught by US and regional professionals with significant interaction with regional investors.

During the 3-day intensive training program you will learn about and simulate due diligence conversations, integrating feedback into deal room materials in real time. By the end of the program, startups will be able to clearly articulate their investment needs, including the investment ask and milestones they hope to achieve for the round. They will take part in deep-dive conversations with investors and participate in a mock board meeting with money awarded to top performers.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for participation in this program:
  • Be a citizen of: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, or Vanuatu.
  • Startups led by individuals residing in eligible countries and/or with businesses based in eligible countries are particularly encouraged to apply.
  • Be the founder of a science/technology company. Although companies in all science and technology industries are eligible to apply, they especially encourage applications from ag tech, climate tech, health tech, deep tech, ICT and STEM sectors. They also encourage women, LGBTQ+ and indigenous founders to apply.
  • Be between the age of 18-40 years old, and must be able to both read and speak English proficiently.
  • Submit a complete application.
  • All materials submitted must be the original work of the applicants.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Applications that fall under the following categories will not be accepted:
  • Research projects with no demonstrable commercial potential
  • Startups in the ideation or concept phase
  • Teams based at a charity or foundation (not-for-profit) organization
  • Teams based at organizations that buy and resell technologies and other goods.

For more information, visit GIST.