RioVida Africa

Trestle Group Foundation

Introducing the Trestle Group Foundation Kenya Project

Founded in 2005 and based in Zurich, Trestle Group Foundation is an innovative, change-provoking, non-profit organization dedicated to creating and expanding sustainable economic opportunities in developing economies by directly supporting emerging entrepreneurs.

Developed by a dynamic team of entrepreneurs and international business professionals with the belief that entrepreneurship fuels the engine that drives economic and social change, the foundation mission is to empower entrepreneurs in developing economies by directly connecting them with established business professionals who provide critical “human capital” – coaching, mentoring, legal advice, marketing support, access to networks, resources and international markets – needed to fulfill potential and ensure long-term success.

New style
Non-traditional
Entrepreneurial in spirit and design
Businesslike approach
Responsive to challenges and needs
Passionate
Hands-on
Making a difference today
Programs are scalable
Opportunities are sustainable
Results are measurable
The Partnership Program

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

Trestle Group Foundation’s pioneering Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Partnership Program identifies qualified women entrepreneurs in developing economies and directly connects them with business professionals in developed countries who can help them build the network, business strategies and practices that will help them create new opportunities, fulfill their potential and achieve long-term success.

A one-on-one relationship-based approach is at the core of the Partnership Program’s philosophy – connecting women with women, and providing coaching, mentoring, support, and role models for the entrepreneurs.

Partnership Program Goals, Objectives and Key Components

Empower women entrepreneurs in developing economies by removing barriers and providing direct support to help them overcome challenges that limit their growth and opportunities.

Match qualified business professionals in developed countries with selected women entrepreneurs from developing economies for coaching and support.

Fulfill an unmet need by providing the critical “human capital” support required to transform budding enterprises into successful businesses.

Through coaching and mentoring, identify and address the core challenges that limit the woman entrepreneur’s ability to effectively grow her business opportunities.

Construct collaborative support teams to provide guidance, develop strategies and deliver customized support to address the women entrepreneur’s needs.

Build entrepreneurial partnerships, enriching cross cultural learning experiences and life-long relationships across the world.

Develop role models and mentors for other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Provoke change by supporting emerging entrepreneurs – a driving force for both economic and social change in developing economies.

Create sustainable opportunities, measurable results and replicable business models for future women entrepreneurs.

Deliver success that extends beyond the individual entrepreneurs by positively impacting the local community and country, as well as the organizations and individuals who participate in the program.

The Entrepreneur Empowerment Model

Trestle Group Foundation has developed an innovative Entrepreneur Empowerment Model designed to directly engage, connect and identify challenges and barriers that limit professional, cultural and personal performance. The model provides a unique blend of traditional coaching techniques combined with additional support methods including mentoring, consulting, advising, supervising, skill building and connecting people, resources and networks. Combining these techniques and methods delivers extraordinary results, accelerating professional and personal expansion to a level rarely found in the conventional coaching community.

Supporting Organizations

The Partnership Program provides a platform for companies and organizations, and their employees, to engage, give back and directly affect opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs in developing economies. By supporting these entrepreneurs, companies may gain insight, learn and address challenges within their own organizations, including:

Gender
Diversity
Corporate Social Responsibility/Citizenship
Executive Leadership Development
Attraction, Development and Retention of Talent

The Partnership Program provides an opportunity for companies and organizations to create an enriching experience and participate in an innovative program that benefits all who are involved.

As an innovative non-profit, the foundation is able to recruit and engage talented individuals in ways other organizations do not. Both the Partnership Program and the foundation story have captured the attention of innovative, forward-thinking individuals, global businesses and organizations including Addleshaw Goodard, Hexaware Technologies, World Conservation Union (IUCN), UBS, Delta Economics, IBM, Microsoft and Voices for Innovation, amongst others.

Return on Participation and Investment

In addition to the vital support provided to emerging entrepreneurs, supporters can benefit from the foundation’s proactive and coordinated awareness efforts that have included participation at key global events, creation of high-impact short-films and the development of effective communication strategies. Since its inception, Trestle Group Foundation estimates that nearly 600,000 people have been made aware of this innovative CSR initiative. More than two-thirds of those informed have been business professionals, decision-makers and other important stakeholders.

Benefits of Partnership Program Participation

Potential benefits to organizations for their support of, and participation in, the Partnership Program include:

An opportunity to demonstrate dedication to the advancement of women entrepreneurs in emerging economies.

An opportunity to demonstrate thought leadership, corporate social responsibility/citizenship and social commitment by supporting developing country entrepreneurs – a driving force behind social and economic change – and their communities.

An opportunity to demonstrate commitment to support innovative programs that reinforce and achieve corporate social responsibility/citizenship, diversity, human capital development and retention goals.

An opportunity to include other stakeholders/clients in a pioneering corporate citizenship initiative.

Creating Awareness and Communicating the Partnership Program Story

Directly connecting developing economy entrepreneurs with established business professionals in developed countries – who serve as coaches/mentors and provide critical support – creates a very enriching and compelling story. Trestle Group Foundation works directly with supporting organizations to identify their communication goals and objectives. Once determined, the foundation creates a tailored awareness strategy to demonstrate the power of the program, as well as highlight supporting organizations and participants.

Mediums that can be used to create awareness and demonstrate the goals and success of the program:

Web-based publications and broadcasts, online/interactive channels, digital cable and satellite TV (non-traditional media).

Print and electronic news coverage and feature publications (traditional media).

Events, conferences, meetings and forums. The Partnership Program has been featured at global events and forums including The United Nations, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Forum, Global Banking Alliance for Women World Summit and the Global Summit of Women.

High-impact short-film/DVDs that provide a visually compelling demonstration of the power of the Partnership Program and feature program participants and supporting organizations. Trestle Group Foundation has created two innovative short-films highlighting the program in both Bangladesh and Kenya.

Become a Partner in the Success of Emerging Entrepreneurs – and their Communities

Trestle Group Foundation has no endowment and the ability to accomplish this ambitious mission rests on the generosity – both through the gift of time and the financial donations – of those who support the foundation’s efforts. The foundation actively pursues alliances with like-minded organizations and relies on individual and business support and participation in foundation programs.

Ways to get involved and make a difference:

Give an individual financial gift.
Sponsor a Partnership Program through your business or organization.
Provide a business in-kind donation (at-cost services, consulting, design, printing, physical facilities, etc.) to support the foundation and Partnership Program.
Directly participate as a mentor, coach or support team member in the Partnership Program.
Champion, promote and create awareness about the foundation and Partnership Program within your local organization, city or community.

Your direct participation translates into critical support and services for women entrepreneurs in developing economies. The value of your investment multiplies as each community is positively impacted by entrepreneurial success.

Trestle Group Foundation is a registered tax-exempt 
(No. CH-440.018.28-4), non-profit, private Swiss foundation without any political or religious affiliations.

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