THE MINISTRY OF
ECONOMY OF THE
REPUBLIC OF
ARMENIA
Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP)
2015 “From Idea to Market” Competition
Announcement
I
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
Competition Snapshot
Background
Scope
Competition Timeline
Eligibility
Application Instructions
Selection Process
Phase 1. Project Submission
Phase 2. Review, Semifinalist Selection
Phase 3. Semifinalist Training
Phase 4. Executive Summary Submission
Phase 5. Technology Entrepreneurship
Training; Venture Forum and Award
Ceremony
Special Requirements
Conflict of Interest
Export Control
Human Subjects
Protection of Confidential Information
Intellectual Property Protection
Award Administration Terms and
Conditions
Definitive Version of this Announcement
Additional Information and Support
Checklist of Items Required for Project
Submission
1
2
2
3
5
5
6
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
10
10
10
11
11
I. Competition Snapshot
Competition Opens
June 8, 2015
Application Deadline
August 8 , 20155
(23:59 US Eastern Standard Time EST).
How to Apply
CRDF Global website
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/step_armenia
Email EIF at mari.barseghyan@eif.am
General Area
Technology with Commercial Potential
Basic Eligibility
Students, researchers, and technology
entrepreneurs who are citizens of Armenia.
Award Amounts
$6000 from CRDF Global; 2,800,000AMD from the
Ministry of Economy
Award Duration
Complete Competition
Announcement
12 months
http://www.crdfglobal.org/programareas/entrepreneurship-and-innovation/currentfunding-opportunities
2
II. Background
CRDF Global, in partnership with the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) and the Ministry of Economy
of the Republic of Armenia, invites all interested startup teams, innovators, scientists and technology
entrepreneurs to apply to the annual STEP “From Idea to Market” Competition. The competition is
designed to ignite the spark of technology entrepreneurship and to advance innovative technology-based
ideas to the market in the following areas critical to Armenia’s development:



ICT, Engineering and High Tech Innovations;
Clean Technologies;
Agriculture
CRDF Global is an independent, nonprofit organization offering comprehensive Entrepreneurship &
Innovation (E&I) focused programs designed to accelerate the growth of innovative early stage companies,
assist university-based teams in identifying and pursuing effective commercialization pathways, and build
innovation infrastructure through technical assistance and partnerships. These high impact customizable
programs in more than 46 countries are co-implemented with local partners, support local technologybased entrepreneurs and innovators and connect them with broader business and investment
communities.
Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) is one of the largest technology business incubators and
consulting companies in the region, operating in Yerevan, Armenia. The foundation supports the
development of the information and communication technology sector in Armenia by creating a productive
environment for innovation, technological advancement and company growth.
III. Scope
“From Idea to Market” competition is designed to identify and support the most promising technology
startups and emerging entrepreneurs in Armenia through virtual acceleration program, which provides:


Access to funding through linkages with potential investors and grants to competition winners
Mentorship, networking opportunities, and expertise in technology commercialization strategies
and business development
Critical Challenge
Areas

Agriculture
Sustainable Water and Soil
Management; Waste Recycling;
Biomass; Sustainable Crop Production
and Livestock

Clean Technologies
Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro,
Biofuels); Energy Efficiency (Buildings;
Mining; Transportation; Machinery);
Green Chemistry; Energy efficiency
3

ICT, Engineering and High Tech
Innovations
Software development; Web services
and digital media; Data treatment;
cloud, big data, Landline
telecommunications infrastructure and
solutions;
Mobile applications and services;
Semiconductors and hardware;
Industrial automation, robotics and
mechatronics; Optics and sensors
CRDF Global will contribute $6000 and the Ministry of the Economy will contribute 2,800,000 AMD to
each award (incl. all applicable taxes).
In addition to direct team support, winning teams will be paired with US mentors for business
development and coaching. Mentors will be pre-selected from CRDF Global business mentor network,
comprised of successful entrepreneurs, investors and technology experts, and the teams will have the
opportunity to choose among them to find the mentor with the best background to suit their project
goals.
Projects should be aimed at establishing and/or further developing the commercial viability of a
technology based product, process or service. Projects that focus on basic research, i.e. where commercial
application has not been established, are not eligible. Some of the activities that would be typically
covered by the grant are:






Prototype Development
Pilot Application
Market Testing
Production
Product Launch and Market Penetration
Business Development
IV. Competition Timeline
From Idea to Market
Competition
Starts
Ends
Announcement of the grants
Workshop on the online
platform (by CRDF
expert)
May 26, 2015
May 30, 2015
4
Phase 1. Submission
July 28, 2015 – Submission
of Applications to EIF for
Eligibility Check
August 8, 2015 – Final
Submission
June 8, 2015
Phase 1.1. Informational
Session for Interested
July 7, 2015
Applicants (hosted by
EIF)
Phase 2. Review,
Semifinalists’ Selection
August 9, 2015
September 10, 2015
Phase 3. Online training
through the platform (EIF September 7 , 2015
& CRDF Global)
Phase 4. Technology
Entrepreneurship
October, 2015
Bootcamp; Venture
Exact date TBD
Forum & Award
Ceremony
October 12 , 2015
V. Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the competition, applicants must clearly demonstrate plans to advance their
technology product/service towards a commercial application. Basic research projects will not be
considered. CRDF Global, the Ministry of Economy and EIF encourage participation of young scientists,
entrepreneurs and innovators. Projects that demonstrate potential to generate revenue and/or attract
additional sources of funding, especially from the industry, will be given priority consideration.
Competition applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate:
1. All applicants, including all members of a team, must be citizens or permanent residents of
Armenia residing in Armenia at the time of application.
2. All projects must be technology-based.
3. Teams should consist of two or more participants and must designate a team leader, who will be
the sole point-of-contact for the competition.
4. Teams with existing startup companies must have been in operation for no longer than three years
to qualify
5. Selected semifinalist teams must participate in online training session, Venture Forum and award
ceremony in person and need to be represented by a designated team leader.
6. Mentorship is crucial in a startup’s success. Therefore, օnly those teams committed to work with a
mentor are eligible to take part in the competition to receive CRDF Global awards.
7. All projects are required to be oriented toward commercial, non-military objectives and must be
carried out in a civilian research environment.
8. Eligible teams can include representatives of one or more organizations (non-profit or commercial).
9. Teams are required to provide a letter of support from the organization where the project work will
be performed if different from the principal institution (See Application Form, Appendix II. Letter
of Support template).
10. Each team can only enter the competition once
5
11. Team leads that held CRDF Global awards (including travel grants) twice or more are not eligible to
apply. Team members may have held CRDF Global grants in the past without restriction.
12. Team leads who received a STEP award in the past (no more than once), may apply with a new
project. In cases where the proposed project is a continuation of the previous grant, applicants must
clearly demonstrate how their past project helped advance their technology to the next level and
how the work proposed under the current project will build on previously achieved results. Such
applicants are required to submit CRDF Global Previous Award Description form (See Application
Form, Appendix I).
VI. Application Instructions
On July 2, 2015, EIF will offer an information session for interested applicants - to outline the submission
process and address questions regarding the application requirements.
Application submission will consist of a two-step process:
1)
Completed application forms should be submitted to EIF for pre-screening on eligibility and
completeness. EIF will provide feedback to each applicant regarding corrections to be made, if any.
Application forms must be submitted by e-mail to EIF by July 28, 2015, 18:00, Yerevan time at the
following e-mail address: mari.barseghyan@eif.am.
2)
Following EIF’s pre-screening, final application forms must be submitted electronically to CRDF
Global in English by August 8, 2015 23:59 EST at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/step_armenia and
resubmitted to EIF both in English and Armenian at mari.barseghyan@eif.am.
CRDF Global website will be open for submissions starting July 28, 2015. Proposals must be submitted
in English. The complete application form can be found at http://www.crdfglobal.org/programareas/entrepreneurship-and-innovation/current-funding-opportunities
Applications must include curriculum vitae for each of the core team members. Applications for continuing
projects must include Previous CRDF Global Award Project Description form found at Appendix I of the
application. All applications must be signed by the team lead.
CRDF Global reviewers will evaluate applications using the following criteria:
1) Market Relevance and Compelling Value Proposition: Does the technology-based product/service
address real market pain/need and if so – does it offer an effective solution? Is the value proposition
clearly articulated relative to a well-defined customer?
2) Business Model: Is the business model clearly defined and addresses specifics of the target market,
customer segment, monetization scheme, key partners and resources related to manufacturing (if
applicable), distribution, customer acquisition and other core business aspects, marketing and
fundraising strategy..
3) Market Opportunity Assessment. Is the target market clearly defined? Does it represent a compelling
opportunity? Might there be an opportunity to scale the business?
4) Competitive Advantage. Is there a clear and sustainable competitive advantage in the proposed
solution vis-à-vis the competition?
6
5) Team. Does the team have the skillset and experience to develop/test the product and execute the
business model?
VII. Selection Process
Phase 1: Submission: June 18 – August 8, 2015
Application forms must be submitted by e-mail by 18:00 Yerevan time on July 28 to EIF for eligibility
check to the following e-mail address: mari.barseghyan@eif.am. Final applications must be submitted
electronically to CRDF Global in English by August 8, 2015, 23:59 EST at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/step_armenia and resubmitted to EIF both in English and Armenian
at mari.barseghyan@eif.am by 18:00 Yerevan time. All applicants will receive a confirmation email
following the submission.
Phase 2: Review/Semifinalist Selection: August 8 – September 22, 2015
By September 22, 2015, experts will select semi-finalist teams based on the evaluation criteria outlined
in Section VI. Applicants will be notified of the results via email.
Phase 3: STEP Commercialization Pathfinder Online Training: September 71, 2015 – October 12,
2015
STEP Technology Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is an intensive interactive two-day program of training and
one-on-one mentoring by US serial entrepreneurs and business development experts to spark innovative
thinking and trigger the creation of new startup ideas among aspiring technology entrepreneurs. It is
designed to provide participants with the tools and techniques required to formulate and articulate a new
venture or product or grow an existing one.
The bootcamp will be conducted by top notch US serial entrepreneurs and recognized business
development experts who have broad experience in consulting early stage technology startups to prepare
them for the first round of investment.
The participants will be coached on how to select the best strategy for taking their technologies to market,
for gaining customers and how to raise funds for their ventures. Through team work, interactive sessions
and group assignments, the bootcamp will provide a creative and informal working environment where
the participants will brainstorm with the US mentors and their peers to validate their potential and existing
products and gain a better grasp of their niche market and appropriate business strategy.
Along with US experts, prominent representatives of Armenian technology private sector will also deliver
mentoring and consultations to the participants.
Besides, all teams will be enrolled into the “Commercialization pathfinder” online course, which will:
b) Enable program participants to identify market opportunity, create or refine business model and market
access strategy for their technology-based product or service.
c) Increase the chances of the participants’ entrepreneurial success by sharing practical
knowledge/experience and providing personalized mentorship by serial entrepreneurs and practicing
early-stage investors.
d) Provide program participants with an opportunity to leap forward in their entrepreneurial pursuit by
introducing them to potential strategic partners, investors and business collaborators.
7
e) Facilitate creative process, transfer of knowledge/experience and formation of business linkages
through peer-to-peer communication and networking.
.
Phase 5: Technology Entrepreneurship Training; Venture Forum and Award Ceremony, October 1618 2015
The teams will be asked to participate in additional face to face mentorship sessions followed by the
Venture Forum. At the Forum, the teams will be asked to pitch their technology product ideas before a USArmenian panel of judges.
Award winners will be decided based on the highest combined score:



Proposition: 80% (market understanding, value proposition)
Presentation Skills: 10% (professional look and feel to presentation)
Q & A Skills: 10% (ability to understand panel questions, substantive answers)
VIII. Special Requirements
Conflict of Interest
CRDF Global requires that all Team Leads/Principal Investigators adhere to highest ethical standards in all
matters related to CRDF Global awards. To avoid any conflict of interest, team leaders are prohibited from
including family members on the team. For more guidelines on CRDF Policy on Grantee Conflict of Interest:
CRDF Global reserves the right to restrict the participation of any individual or institution in its programs.
CRDF Global complies with all U.S. laws and regulations pertaining to export control and the participation
of foreign nationals or institutions in its activities. It is the policy of CRDF Global not to conduct any
transactions with U.S. restricted entities without appropriate authorization from the U.S. Government.
Export Control
CRDF Global complies with all U.S. laws and regulations and applicable international law pertaining to
export controls and to the participation of foreign nationals or institutions in its activities. It is CRDF
Global’s policy not to conduct any transactions with U.S. restricted entities without appropriate
authorization from the U.S. government, including licenses and other permits and restrictions. CRDF Global
reserves the right to restrict the participation of any individual or institution in its programs.
Human Subjects
Any proposal involving clinical trials or testing of human subjects must include an IRB Protocol Summary
Form that must be submitted along with the Application Form and the Budget Form. For more information
on the CRDF Global Policy for projects involving human subjects, please see the General Terms and
Conditions of CRDF Funding of Research Involving Human Subjects.
Protection of Confidential Information
8
Applicants are responsible for identifying any written business confidential information contained in their
application materials. CRDF Global assumes that no business confidential information will be disclosed by
an applicant including: a) initial application form; b) business pitch presentation. If there is a valid need to
provide any business confidential information after selection as a semi-finalist, such written information
shall be clearly marked so that CRDF Global can, to the degree reasonably possible, protect it by restricting
its exposure to authorized staff of CRDF Global, its funding and oversight agencies, and external U.S. and
international business reviewers and judges retained by CRDF Global. Independent U.S. and international
business reviewers and judges retained by CRDF Global, as well as all personnel of CRDF Global and its
partner organizations, are required to adhere to strict standards of confidentiality in the handling of all
business confidential information contained in any written materials.
Any written materials containing business confidential materials should be clearly labeled “Business
Confidential.” Reviewers and judges will be required to sign a standard and legally-binding non-disclosure
agreement prior to receipt of any business confidential materials from an applicant or team. A copy of the
template for this agreement is available on request by corresponding to: amirzoyan@crdf.org. Applicants
may request that particular organizations or individuals, whose access to their proposals would
compromise business confidential information, not be selected as reviewers. Such information must be
disclosed to CRDF Global at the time any Business Confidential information is disclosed to CRDF Global
during the competition.
Intellectual Property
CRDF Global makes no claim to any intellectual property rights under any award made under this
program. Applicants are solely liable for any violations of applicable intellectual property rights laws and
regulation and in submitting an application to CRDF Global hereby represent and warrant that all claims
made therein related to the disposition and ownership of intellectual property rights utilized in the
execution of any project that may be supported by CRDF Global under this program are true and accurate.
Award Administration Terms and Conditions
All competition winners will receive the US portion of their awards in the form of CRDF Global grants or
travel grants and will be subject to CRDF Global’s award and grant reporting requirements. Applicants
may refer to the CRDF Global website for guidance on CRDF Global policies and procedures relating to the
financial and contractual management of CRDF Global grants, including conflict of interest guidelines. An
online library of resources and reference documents maybe viewed at the following location:
http://www.crdfglobal.org/program-areas/entrepreneurship-and-innovation/current-fundingopportunities
IX. Definitive Version of this Announcement
For explanatory purposes or for clarification, this competition announcement and associated documents
may be translated into the Armenian language. In the event of the existence of such a translation, the
English language version shall serve as the definitive version determining the interpretation of any
provision contained herein. In the case the CRDF Global has to amend or make corrections and
clarifications to this announcement, applicants will be notified as soon as possible.
X. Additional Information and Support
9
Questions and correspondence regarding this competition announcement should be directed to Science
and Technology Entrepreneurship Program representatives (please see addresses below). Applicants are
requested to identify themselves or their team leader in all correspondence and put the phrase “From Idea
to Market” in the email subject line. CRDF Global at its sole discretion may choose not to disclose certain
information in a response to any question or query, if in our view such details would affect the fairness or
transparency of the competition or convey an undue advantage to an applicant. CRDF Global also reserves
the right to disclose to all other applicants an answer or clarification to a question from an applicant in the
interest of fairness, objectivity, and transparency of this competition.
ARMENIA
Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF)
Attn: Mari Barseghyan
123 Hovsep Emin Street
Yerevan 0051, Republic of Armenia
Tel: +374 10 21 97 97
Fax: +374 10 21 97 77
Email: mari.barseghyan@eif.am
UNITED STATES
CRDF Global
Attn: Irina Mitchell
Program Manager, Entrepreneurship &
Innovation
1776 Wilson Boulevard,
Suite 300Arlington, VA 22209
Tel: 703-526-6757
XI. Checklist of Items Required for Project Submission




Application Form
Curricula vita for all team members
Letter of Support from organizations where project work is to be performed
Previous CRDF Global Award Description for continuation projects
10