Smart X, an accelerator from Ben Da

Ben Da Innovation Center is one of the centers that specializes in the field of innovation and technology these days and helps the growth of the ecosystem in its specialized fields. In order to introduce the accelerator Smart X We had an interview with Dr. Nick, the name of the director of this collection, so follow this conversation:

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your work history:

I am Zahra Niknam. I have a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Tabriz and also a Senior Business Management course from the University of Tehran. In 1995, after graduating, I entered the startup ecosystem due to my interest in business and entrepreneurship. My first formal experience in this ecosystem began with entering an accelerator in the field of convergent technologies. In those days, I was working as an acceleration program manager with several startups active in the field of health, and during this experience, I was well faced with the challenges and problems that startups faced from the design and product development stage to entering the market. During the following years, I collaborated with several startup collections and was a judge of startup evaluators in several different collections. In early 1999, I became acquainted with the Smart X Accelerator and the Ben Da Innovation Center. My collaboration with this collection began as a director of research and development. My work experience at Smart X Accelerator has led me to serve as the CEO of this collection over the past few months.

Tell us about the Smart X accelerator and the Ben Da series:

Smart X Accelerator started its activities in the beginning of 1999 in two specialized fields of health and smart agriculture. This accelerator is a subset of the Ben Da Innovation Center. Bonda Development Group is a group that has been active for more than two decades in areas such as new energy, power plants, oil and gas and petrochemicals, rail transport, biotechnology, agriculture and water. The aim of this collection is sustainable development and making positive changes in its areas of activity. Building on Ben Da’s long history of business development, the Bonda Innovation Center has been active since late 1998 with the goal of developing innovation, creating value and supporting start-ups, and now has three accelerators, including Smart Has sponsored X.

Smart شد How was X born and what activities is he currently pursuing?

Smart X accelerator started its work in the beginning of 1999 with the aim of supporting entrepreneurial and innovative teams and solving some of the challenges and problems that exist in the two fields of health and agriculture in the country. This group is active in two specialized fields of smart health and smart agriculture. In the health sector, we have entered areas such as healthy lifestyles, distance health, the use of artificial intelligence in health, health gadgets, children’s health, supply chain, medical equipment, and more. Promoting a healthy lifestyle in the community, increasing the quality of medical services, increasing accuracy in diagnosing the disease, as well as helping to automate and increase the speed of treatment processes are our priorities, and the ultimate goal is to help improve health in the community. In the agricultural sector, due to challenges and problems such as lack of water resources, excessive water consumption and traditional processes, Smart X accelerator to areas such as vertical cultivation and hydroponic cultivation, technology application Internet of Things In agriculture, intelligent agricultural systems, application of artificial intelligence in agriculture, precision agriculture, online markets and supply chain have been introduced.

What is the process of recruiting a team in Smart X? Given the specialization of the fields, is there a connection with the university?

Yes there is a connection. But we are in accelerator Smart ما We have opened the way for all technology teams and creative people. The entry of startups into Smart X is not just from universities. Admission to Smart X, in addition to universities and research centers, is open to anyone with an idea or interest in entrepreneurship. Anyone who is interested in business development or has an idea in the field Health And be smart farmer can submit his application through our website and according to the structure we have already planned for this issue, when the application for admission is sent to us, a comprehensive review in terms of compliance with the market and technology approach on The received idea is done. The basic criteria for accepting an idea are considered. If the idea meets those criteria, it enters the final evaluation process. The entrepreneurial team can enter the Smart X acceleration process if the final evaluation reveals that the idea has the implications of forming a business.

What are the specifications of Smart X entry teams?

Entrepreneurship path is very difficult and challenging. Therefore, the most important feature in our opinion is the team’s enthusiasm and interest in starting a business and innovation, as well as the coordination of team members with each other. In the best case scenario, the team structure should be such that all the expertise they need to start their business Team Be available. If there are deficiencies in terms of manpower required in the team, we have the capacity and networks that can help shape the final structure of the team if necessary. In addition to the structural characteristics of the team, the idea must be tailored to the needs of the market and be reasonable in terms of business model and revenue stream. Also, in terms of compliance with the technology approach, the idea should have a good position.

What services does Smart X provide to the teams it supports?

Part of our services is in the form of allocating cash capital up to 500 million Tomans, which will be determined during the initial agreement with the startup team, according to the conditions of the team and the idea of ​​entering the accelerator. Other Smart X services include delivery Mentoring Business and technical, technical or software services, business workshops, financial and legal advice on a case-by-case basis, laboratory or workshop space as needed, and basic office infrastructure and equipment. We are also with the teams we support, from the idea stage to entering the market, due to the support of the Ben Da Development Group and the large network of investors and industry activists available to us. We also have the venture capital arm of the Bunda complex next to the Benda Innovation Center.

Is there a pre-acceleration stage in Smart X?

Teams entering the Smart X-Accelerator first complete a pre-acceleration period of approximately two months, which is adjusted according to the team’s circumstances. In this course, if the idea needs to be nurtured to reach a level of maturity that is ready to enter the acceleration, it will receive the services and training it needs. Key performance indicators are identified for these teams. If these indicators are met, the team can move from the pre-acceleration period to the acceleration period.

After accelerating, how do you help the teams invest next?

Once the acceleration is complete, startup teams will be able to raise the next series of capital for the start-up teams, depending on the needs of the team, through the network available to us, the Benda Venture Fund and other venture capital funds. Of course, the cooperation and efforts of the team itself in this direction is undeniable. Investment by the venture capital arm of the collection can be done according to the conditions of the team and at the discretion of the collection. However, given the network we have available, we allow teams to enter into negotiations with other venture capital funds as well as industries related to their field of activity and eventually receive the necessary capital to develop their business.

Given your background in this field, how do you evaluate the country’s startup ecosystem?

We face many challenges in the field of health. These challenges include disease prevention, a healthy lifestyle, managing diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, automating processes and reducing the cost of health coverage, children’s health and the health of the elderly. It is better for start-ups and start-ups to see such challenges, and their goal is to address such challenges. In the field of agriculture, startup teams must consider the idea of ​​adapting the idea well to our agricultural community, its problems and the culture that governs it. In our startup ecosystem, a large number of ideas that are formed are a kind of copy of ideas that have been formed and worked abroad. Some of them have been successful, but entrepreneurs and people who want to start a business or startup must keep in mind that the ideas they want to be inspired and implemented abroad must be in line with the conditions of our society and the so-called needs and pain of society. Be. And there is a purchase for this idea or business. I think that if these cases are considered, it will greatly lead to solving challenges and forming successful businesses.

Given your development research activity, how do you assess the status of teams over time?

In the current startup ecosystem of our country, naturally, like all countries, startups have a high failure rate, and this is undeniable. In my experience in the startup ecosystem, especially in the health sector, startups that have been considered advanced in the sense that they have considered adapting the idea to the market and technology approach, and at the same time have a strong and specialized team in terms of business and technology. These startups have usually had a good direction and have been successful. At the Smart X Accelerator in the R&D unit, we review technology and market trends abroad and at home. Because we can evaluate the startups and the ideas that come to us with sufficient knowledge and knowledge. Last year, more than 500 startup idea teams came to us, of which about 130-140 were able to enter the serious evaluation process. We have a strict and rigorous recruitment and acceptance process to increase the success rate of our startups. To date, we have had eight startups accepted.

In this way, what was the biggest challenge you faced and managed to solve?

The most important problem I have faced with startup teams is not considering the fit of the selected idea to the needs and direction of the market. To exist in exchange for the idea of ​​a real buyer or customer. A major part of the accelerators’ problems lies in the fact that startups refer to or have been accepted, and certainly the success of the accelerator depends on the success of the startup teams they enter.

Did you have a case where the idea changed after research?

Yes, like other accelerators, we have. We had a case where, over time, we realized that, for example, there had to be a change in a startup’s revenue model, and that happened, and the team itself was fully aligned with that.

And has the team resisted the change or accepted it easily?

No, we have been with the teams step by step from the beginning and this empathy has existed until today. The activities in the accelerator platform are carried out in groups and collectively, and so far the startup teams we have worked with have worked very well and there has been no problem in cases where there is a need to change the business or technical discussion.

A word of advice for startup ecosystem newcomers:

People who want to start a business should make sure that their business is based on an idea that is based on a real need. Introduce a product or service to the community that cures the pain of the customer. An idea that is simply attractive and does not solve a need or a problem will not lead to a successful business. So before spending time and money, we need to assess the needs well and be sure of the effectiveness of the idea. Also, creating a startup is by no means a one-man activity. As soon as the idea is formed, a strong team must be formed that is coordinated and empathetic. This path is very difficult and those who enter this path must have high patience. I think putting these together can lead to a successful business.