Based on our expertise in due diligence and institutional assessments, we have developed SOFI-ESO Diagnosis, a unique methodology for diagnosing the performance of business incubators, accelerators, or other Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESO), enabling a comprehensive and consistent technical assistance plan.
The business incubation industry is growing but has yet to define performance standards. This results in disparate methods and incongruent results from one initiative to another.
To date, evaluations of donor-funded projects designed to promote entrepreneurship, ESOs or other BDS providers, often focus on the impact, i.e., the number of businesses and jobs created. Governance, the business model, and the operational performance are only partially assessed.
Based on 78 control items, SOFI-ESO Diagnosis allows ESOs to have a comprehensive diagnosis of their organization, their operational, financial, and social performance, the quality of HR and the ability to grow operations. It allows incubators to canvass partners and confirm technical assistance needs.
Donors typically use SOFI-ESO Diagnosis as a tool for identifying partner incubators, understand their performance level, challenges, and TA needs. The tool also makes it possible to design relevant donor-funded projects, based on the realities on the ground.
