Explore our case studies below
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Giving Voice Through Innovation: Creating a New initiative for a Media Non-Profit
A wise innovator once told us, “Finding product market fit solves 100 percent of 50 percent of the problem–you have to build something that fits the organization’s strengths.” We found this sagacious advice while working with the Munathara Initiative, an award-winning non-profit championing free speech in the Arab world. Recognizing that donor priorities change, and sometimes radically so, The Munathara Initiative wanted to diversify its funding streams to include impact and commercial sponsors. The firm’s executive director, however, needed help learning about, and developing a product to transition into the world of for-profit social enterprise. Through interviews, on-the-ground research, business modeling and financial forecasting, WhiteLabel was able to identify a niche that fit the market’s needs and the organization’s unique capabilities and resources: The Munathara Creative Labs, a studio dedicated to fostering creative businesses, fueling democracy, and empowering civil society across the MENA region.
Primer to Practice: Empowering Jordan’s Start-up Ecosystem
Like a lot of countries around the world, Jordan had caught the start-up bug. And, why not? It seems a powerful way to empower entrepreneurship and grow the economy. Jordan also wanted to attract investment. Looking to learn more about impact investment and private equity, the government turned to Expectation State, a development consulting firm, which turned to WhiteLabel. WhiteLabel launched a study, focusing on the intersection of private capital, impact investment and where investor wants might meet Jordan’s needs. WhiteLabel presented the findings to Jordan’s Ministry of Finance. As a follow-on activity, WhiteLabel was asked to lead an innovation sprint, working with first-time fund managers on developing investment theses and the operational skills needed to successfully raise capital and manage a fund. “WhiteLabel blends rich experience with an ability to deliver pragmatically in a consultancy setting, for a range of host government and international donor clients,” said Expectation State’s CEO Raymond Asfour. “And, they are a lot of fun to work with.”
Navigating Complexity: Designing a Roadmap for Middle East Startups
USAID was having trouble structuring an investment program to further entrepreneurial growth in the Middle East. Uncertain of fund structure, regulatory landscape, and the right folks to partner with to propel nascent entrepreneurial ecosystems in Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon, it turned to WhiteLabel. Starting in DC, we worked with senior members of the USAID team on correcting some issues in the initial structure. WhiteLabel then designed what became a much-replicated assessment framework. For more than three months in-country, WhiteLabel implemented the assessment, meeting with hundreds of companies, investors, government officials, mentors and managers of incubators, and legal and regulatory professionals. The team was able to broaden the initiative’s focus, define the investment terms and fund structure, and find the best-suited professionals for USAID to partner with, to make the initiative a success. As one senior USAID official said, “One of the best processes I have experienced at USAID, from design to execution–creative and professional. These folks are sharp.”