Shekra Investors Network
Shekra Network is a closed investors network. Investors join the network based on recommendations from existing members. For more information on the Shekra Network please contact us.
Since crowd funding is a new concept in Africa and the MENA region, a closed investor network is crucial to ensure the seriousness and reliability of the investors.
Shekra Network will have full access to the startup ideas on the platform and are bound by the Shekra Investors Terms and Conditions, which prohibits them from:
Since crowd funding is a new concept in Africa and the MENA region, a closed investor network is crucial to ensure the seriousness and reliability of the investors.
Shekra Network will have full access to the startup ideas on the platform and are bound by the Shekra Investors Terms and Conditions, which prohibits them from:
- Disclosing, copying, or redistributing any content published on the closed Shekra Network to any person outside the Shekra Network
- Approaching startups featured on the Shekra portal outside the Shekra Network
Shekra Startups Reach Program
Shekra is focused on reaching out to young entrepreneurs and provide them with the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to the Shekra Network.
Shekra Startups Reach Program aims at identifying entrepreneurs through various methods including:
Shekra Startups Reach Program aims at identifying entrepreneurs through various methods including:
- Initial registration on shekra.com
- Organizing Shekra startup events
- Social network reach out
The Shekra Startups Score
Potential startups submitted to or identified by Shekra are assessed based on a sophisticated internal screening process. The Shekra team and network of external consultants evaluate the potential startups and give them an appropriate Shekra Score.
Aspects considered in the Shekra score include:
Startups have to reach a minimum Shekra score in order to be considered eligible for the Shekra Network. Part of our responsibility towards the entrepreneurs and the investors is not only to identify solid businesses, but also to encourage startups not achieving the minimum Shekra score to improve their scoring or rethink their startup structure to qualify for future consideration.
Startups which pass the screening phase will sign an Entrepreneur Agreement with Shekra to ensure that their ideas and intellectual properties are protected and not made public without prior authorization by the respective startup team. Additionally, the Entrepreneur Agreement will ensure that during the screening and funding process the startup entity will deal with Shekra on an exclusive basis and refrain from approaching any funding sources or raising any capital outside the Shekra Network.
Aspects considered in the Shekra score include:
- Clarity of purpose
- Market potential and reach
- Startup stage
- Current investors / previous incubators
- Business model
- Fair valuation
- Team structure, track record, capabilities and experience
Startups have to reach a minimum Shekra score in order to be considered eligible for the Shekra Network. Part of our responsibility towards the entrepreneurs and the investors is not only to identify solid businesses, but also to encourage startups not achieving the minimum Shekra score to improve their scoring or rethink their startup structure to qualify for future consideration.
Startups which pass the screening phase will sign an Entrepreneur Agreement with Shekra to ensure that their ideas and intellectual properties are protected and not made public without prior authorization by the respective startup team. Additionally, the Entrepreneur Agreement will ensure that during the screening and funding process the startup entity will deal with Shekra on an exclusive basis and refrain from approaching any funding sources or raising any capital outside the Shekra Network.
Preparing Startups for the Investors
Startups meeting the minimal Shekra Score, but missing essential skills or requirements, will be supported to become Shekra-eligible. This might include supporting them in developing their business plan and providing them with crucial basic business training through a crash course provided by our educational partners and / or our in-house experts.
Succeeding to get adequate funding requires more than just having a solid idea and business model. The fundraising campaign and the ability to represent an idea in an attractive, exciting and comprehensive form is crucial. Therefore, Shekra strongly encourages startups to use videos, images, bilingual business plans in both Arabic and English and straight to the point business descriptions to promote their business and make it attractive for investors. Once all these requirements are met, the startup is ready for the crowd.
Succeeding to get adequate funding requires more than just having a solid idea and business model. The fundraising campaign and the ability to represent an idea in an attractive, exciting and comprehensive form is crucial. Therefore, Shekra strongly encourages startups to use videos, images, bilingual business plans in both Arabic and English and straight to the point business descriptions to promote their business and make it attractive for investors. Once all these requirements are met, the startup is ready for the crowd.
Starting Fund Raising and Social Media Campaign
As soon as the startup becomes ready for the crowd, it will be posted on the Shekra Portal and promoted through our social media network services. A short summary and the current funding status are public, and thus, social media is used to promote the business idea to a wider audience spectrum, which can start to comment or "like" the idea. The more social media impact and footprint the respective startup has, the more support it can get from the Shekra Network, as well as, more requests from new investors outside the Shekra Network who want to become involved.
However, access to details of the startup and its underlying concepts and ideas will only be available to investors within the Shekra Network.
The Shekra Network will have exclusive access to:
The Shekra Network will be able to interact through:
However, access to details of the startup and its underlying concepts and ideas will only be available to investors within the Shekra Network.
The Shekra Network will have exclusive access to:
- The startup description, video, and additional material
- Business plan
- Equity offered for proposed capital
- Investment exit strategy
The Shekra Network will be able to interact through:
- Posting questions directly to the entrepreneurs and receiving respective answers
- Identifying other network members who invest in or follow a specific startup
- Interacting directly with “co-investors” to exchange information and opinions
Funding Completion
Funding is considered successfully completed when the target fund of a company is fully attained within the specified timeline.
Legal Agreements
Shekra will undertake the legal process required to document the transfer of the shares in the startups to the investors upon the completion of the funding process. In addition, the entrepreneurs and investors will sign a Shareholder Agreement, which will govern their relationship and will define their rights and obligations.
Milestone Protection, Reporting, Mentorship and Monitoring
Startups are considered a very high risk investment and thus to protect investors, minimize risk, and guide entrepreneurs to prospective success, Shekra has defined a set of protective procedures such as milestone protection measures, periodic reporting by the entrepreneurs, assigning mentors to the startups in addition to adhoc monitoring conducted by Shekra.
How Does Shekra Make Money?
Shekra strongly believes in the concept of sharing the risk with both entrepreneurs and investors. Therefore, the main compensation of Shekra is through in-kind equity rather than charging a fixed percentage of the capital raised as is the common practice of conventional crowd funding platforms. This ensures profit and loss sharing among all stakeholders and increase the confidence in Shekra as a partner whose interests of selecting successful startups are aligned with those of entrepreneurs and investors . A minimum fee is charged to the startups to provide services including business plan support, due diligence, and monitoring.