About AMIDEAST

America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc., or AMIDEAST is a private, nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to improve educational opportunities and quality, strengthen local institutions and develop language and professional skills for success in the global economy.

Founded in 1951, AMIDEAST is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a network of field offices in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen.

CISCO ENTREPRENEUR INSTITUTE at AMIDEAST/LEBANON

John’s Thoughts on the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute Program

The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute

• An initiative by Cisco as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, with involvement of leading business organizations, NGOs and local governments

• Goal: to help foster the creation and success of small and medium-sized business

• Training centers offer courses at

cost and do not profit from workshop delivery

The Cisco Entrepreneur InstituteWorkshops

• Content developed by Cisco, in collaboration with business experts from Stanford University, Cornell University, and My Own Business, Inc.

• Delivered in a blended learning approach, using a combination of in-class facilitated sessions and web delivered materials through an open-source Web-enabled platform using Web 2.0 technologies including innovative open platform tools

• Tailored to the Lebanese business environment

• Ranging from 50-70 hours of skills training

• Flexible training schedules

• Participants in each course receive a Cisco Entrepreneur Institute certificate

Blended Instruction WorkshopsStarting a Business

• Establishes a business plan for aspiring Entrepreneurs

Starting a Business

iExec Enterprise Essentials (for private sector & public sector)

• Teaches existing businesses to leverage IT and Internet strategies to improve their bottom line

Growing a Business

iExec

Growing a Business

• Improves and re-focuses business practices for business owners

Determine my product or service fee structure?

Incorporate my business?

Make sure my idea is marketable?

Go to Market?Supply?Production?Distribution?

Get a business license?

Create a Business Plan?

Decide if I need a location?Retail?Office Space?

Find investors/lenders?

How do I…

Starting a Business

A practical, comprehensive workshop on how to successfully start and operate a business in Lebanon. Upon completion, you should be able to:

• Evaluate business potential• Prepare a business plan• Determine the information and communication technologies needed• Decide on a business organization structure• Identify the appropriate licenses and permits needed• Determine the type of insurance needed• Select a business location and negotiate its lease• Manage business accounting activities and track cash flow• Finance the venture by acquiring startup capital• Set up an E-Commerce site to sell online• Buy an existing business or franchise• Recruit, hire, train, manage, and motivate employees• Develop a marketing plan and put it into action• Use the Internet for online marketing• Manage purchasing and inventory control• Prepare for opening the business• Expand the business and handle problems• Conduct trade outside Lebanon

Growing a Business

•A practical, comprehensive business course on how to successfully grow a business

•Successful business ownership requires not starting a business correctly, but continually seeking ways to upgrade and expand, whether this involves re-organization, outsourcing, franchising, merging, or forming partnerships

•Primary mission is to analyze your market and revise your business plan, pulling various components together to grow your business

iExec Enterprise EssentialsPrivate Sector / Public Sector

• A Cisco-branded leadership and management workshop developed by Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) for the Emerging Markets

• Designed to help learners examine their organization’s internal and external situation, identify and prioritize opportunities, and develop business cases to support process improvements using the Internet and IT

• Target audience are non-IT managers and organizational leaders of large enterprise businesses who need to technologically enable their business

• iExec for the public sector is now available

• iExec workshop for SMEs is currently being developed

On Demand Workshops

• Entrepreneurial Mindset

• SMART Technologyfor a Smarter Business

• Computer Literacy

• Career Essentials

Latest On Demand Workshop5 minute Articles

Video Resources - Cisco E-tube

Digital Media System (DMS) Application and Content Networking

Social Networking

How Can You Help?

– Participate

• Let us videotape an interview with you: it is important to localize Let us videotape an interview with you: it is important to localize content for Lebanon-specific business issuescontent for Lebanon-specific business issues

• Participate as a guest speaker or designate a representative Participate as a guest speaker or designate a representative from your companyfrom your company

• Serve as a mentor for new entrepreneursServe as a mentor for new entrepreneurs

– Support Outreach Initiatives

Your donation can help us reach Lebanese in all regions who want to start or grow a business

• Printed MaterialsPrinted Materials

• AdvertisingAdvertising

• Professional ExhibitsProfessional Exhibits

• Partnerships with other NGOsPartnerships with other NGOs

Benefits of Supporting AMIDEAST’s new initiative on Entrepreneurship in Lebanon

– Sustainable Development InitiativeSustainable Development Initiative

Once established, the combination of paid and sponsored enrollments serves to Once established, the combination of paid and sponsored enrollments serves to cover on-going operating costscover on-going operating costs

– Support continued Lebanese Support continued Lebanese

entrepreneurial success in a rapidlyentrepreneurial success in a rapidly

changing global environmentchanging global environment

– Expansion outside Beirut to reachExpansion outside Beirut to reach

underserved regions in Lebanon underserved regions in Lebanon

– Expand businesses, economy Expand businesses, economy

and jobs in Lebanonand jobs in Lebanon

– Create next leaders of the regionCreate next leaders of the region

Changing lives and making a difference in our communities