The overall objective of this assignment is to strengthen the institutional capacity and service quality of Moldovan entrepreneurial support organisations—particularly those involved in incubation, pre-acceleration, and acceleration—by equipping their managers with advanced skills and fostering long-term collaboration with international peers. All activities will be informed by a targeted needs assessment, ensuring that interventions are tailored to the specific gaps and priorities of the ecosystem and aligned with the principles of the EU Startup Nations Standards (SNS), which promote high-quality, inclusive, and innovation-driven startup support environments across Europe.
The assignment aims to achieve the following specific objectives:
- Identify and address capacity gaps in Moldovan startup support organisations through a structured needs assessment.
- Equip managers and staff with practical competencies in service design, organisational strategy, project management, fundraising, and mentorship network development.
- Deliver three rounds of tailored training programs across the ecosystem.
- Facilitate at least five international mentorship collaborations to promote knowledge exchange and long-term institutional learning.
- Support the integration of international practices and sustainable service models aligned with the EU Startup Nations Standards and adapted to Moldova’s local context
Planned activities and tasks
- Training Program Design and Delivery
In order to design the training program, the selected entity should conduct a targeted needs review – a focused assessment to identify the most relevant gaps, priorities, and opportunities within Moldova’s incubation, pre-acceleration, and acceleration programs. The review should concentrate on key areas such as service delivery, organisational structure, and strategic positioning, providing actionable insights to inform the design of the training curriculum and collaboration activities.
Based on the findings of the needs assessment, the entity should design the curriculum and propose the most suitable training format—either by repeating the same course three times with different participant groups, or by engaging the same cohort in a phased training program that builds progressively on earlier modules. The proposed approach should reflect the diversity of organisational maturity levels and learning needs across the ecosystem.
Further on, the selected entity will develop and deliver three rounds of training (12-15 participants per round) tailored to the identified needs. Training topics will include:
- Service design using methodologies such as design thinking or human-centred design
- Organisational strategy and differentiation
- Project management and internal process optimisation
- Fundraising strategies and access to finance
- Development and growth of mentorship networks
- Selection and onboarding of mentors and trainers.
It is preferred that the training is delivered in person, each round consisting of a 2–3 day intensive program, designed to be highly interactive and practice-oriented. The sessions should incorporate a mix of case studies, role-playing exercises, group work, and real-world examples to ensure experiential learning. Active involvement of EU experts is highly desirable, either through direct facilitation or guest contributions, to provide insights aligned with EU Startup Nations Standards and international best practices.
- International Collaboration Facilitation and Integration of International Practices
The entity is expected to facilitate at least five structured international mentorship collaborations aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of Moldovan entrepreneurial support organisations. These collaborations may take the form of:
- Direct partnerships between Moldovan organisations and the consulting entity executing this assignment.
- Collaborations initiated and supported by the consultant with relevant organisations from the EU, Eastern Partnership countries, or countries on the EU accession path.
- Support for the creation of local chapters or representations of reputable international organisations, where appropriate, to foster long-term institutional alignment and access to global networks.
These partnerships should promote knowledge exchange, co-development of services, and long-term institutional learning, tailored to the strategic positioning and maturity of each participating organisation.
In parallel, the entity will support Moldovan organisations in embedding international standards and sustainable service models, ensuring alignment with the EU Startup Nations Standards (SNS). This includes promoting practices that enhance transparency, inclusivity, scalability, and innovation-driven service delivery, while remaining adaptable to Moldova’s local context and ecosystem dynamics.