Introduction & Awareness

Introducing business opportunities, pros and cons of small business, keys to success how to avoid pitfalls; and what ACE offers in ways of help. During this process, candidates are informed, inspired and leaders are identified to guide along.

Counselling & developing a business plan

Once a new businesses is identified and planned to start, the business owners are paired with experienced business people; (young or old, active or retired, in Iran or abroad); to be their mentor and to help them develop a simple business plan and to guide them through the business development & growth, to improve their chance of success.

Business loan

The LEAD program also provides a limited number of loans per year, with minimal interest rate to qualified entrepreneurs whose business plans are approved and are pre-qualified to receive loan. (A small percentage of funds raised will be set aside to fund business loans. Additionally, we are approaching sponsors, private citizens, banks and government resources for further funding to expand this offering to the extent possible).

Marketing using “ACE cc” Brand

The LEAD program also helps new business owners with product development, packaging and marketing.

Each community Center is equipped with a coffee shop/gift shop to help subsidize each center’s expenses. However, most importantly the shop is to be used as a means to train people and to merchandize products produced locally.The program offers new and improved marketing techniques, and the opportunity to business owners to show case their products at Community Center’s Gift shop. Once products reach certain level of maturity and acceptance, they will be awarded the “ACE” brand, as outlined below.

We have created the “ACE cc” brand, to certify products and services developed through ACE program; that have reached certain level of maturity and growth and that meet ACE’s approval. The products and services branded with ACE, will be marketed through a network of national and international distributors, marketers and retailers. The ACE brand serves the following purposes:

• Provide an incentive for new business owners to improve their products to qualify and receive the ACE brand designation.

• To assure distributors, marketers, retailers that the products offered comply with an established standards, with respect to quality, packaging, and reliability.

• To award ACE cc certificate to marketers, retailers marketing ACE branded products; and to inform public that these businesses support ACE cc cause.

ACE will seek marketing relationship with national and international marketers interested in supporting ACE cause. ACE branded products will also be marketed through ACE cc website, nationally and internationally.

Supporting New Technologies and Inventors

The LEAD program also supports entrepreneurs and inventors who are in forefront of leading technologies, and are in need funding, business planning/development and marketing.