The Journal - Fifth Issue by The Station Foundation for Entrepreneurship

THE JOURNALSTATION SEMI-ANNUAL JOURNAL ISSUED BY THE STATION FOUNDATION FIFTH ISSUE - 2021

Chief

Editor Rasha Albani Producer Mohammed Fox Editor Lubna Salam If you have any requests for articles involving entrepreneurship, please send your request to programs@the-station.iq and we will do our best to include them in our next issue.

4News and Updates about The Station

Index WELCOME ....................................................................................................................... 2 LET’S GO GREEN TOGETHER 4 THINK SMALL: .................................................................................................................... 8 IRAQ’S FIRST CREATIVE INCUBATOR ................................................................................. 10 A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL IN IRAQ..12 USING INFLUENCERS FOR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS ......................................................... 16 CREATING GOOD UI/UX FOR YOUR STARTUP .................................................................... 20 WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA IMPORTANT FOR 22 3 BOOKS .......................................................................................................................... 26 10,000 WAYS THAT WON`T WORK .................................................................................... 28 WHY ARE ENTREPRENEURS OUR MODERN-DAY HEROES? ............................................... 32 HOW IT ALL STARTED: A SHORT HISTORY OF MODERN START-UP CULTURE 34 BRIDGING GENDER DIVIDES............................................................................................. 36 A BASIC GUIDE TO THE LABOR MARKET 38 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS ........................................................................................................ 40 THE PUBLIC SECTOR OFFERS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY 42 COMING UP ..................................................................................................................... 46 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CROSSWORD 48

Have we forgotten something? An additional 10 startups have joined the previous 29 startups and certainly, the co-working space has become not only limited to startups, because we’ve created daily and weekly memberships that allow everyone who wants to work, study or get any task done within a quiet atmosphere to book a desk for very low fees. We also introduced new subscriptions to the Makerspace for everyone in need of equipment, guidance or materials in order to develop and implement their technical or innovative projects.

Wishing you a nice reading!

The most notable event of the year was the signing of a 3-year MOU with Zain Iraq in March, through which we will work to unify our efforts and vision and direct them towards supporting ambitious youth. The most exciting event was the opening of the creativeSpace in Baghdad and Mosul, which targets youth interested in art to enhance their skills, while highlighting Iraqi creatives and artists who need publicity and opportunities to present their artworks. In addition, a Mentorship Program for young entrepreneurs has also been launched, enabling people starting out in their industries to make use of the experience of seasoned entrepreneurs, businessmen, and domain experts.

the many obstacles we all know (such as the continued spread of COVID-19 and several economic issues), The Station, with its two branches in Baghdad and Mosul, is striding forward, surpassing the first half of 2021 with determination and confidence. The Station has always been present in the youth and entrepreneurship community, making it a trustworthy hub for youth and an effective player in the entrepreneurship environment.

In a first-of-its-kind precedent for The Station, and as part of its strategic partnership with Coursera, free courses were offered to more than 1200 trainees drawn from The Station’s audience and university students.

and trainings for youth preparing them to enter the workforce spanning many fields were also held, and we must not forget the lively concerts that were held in both branches.

This issue is a semi-annual one that includes articles, interviews and numerous other news about entrepreneurship, startups, economy and innovation in DespiteIraq.

Many of The Station’s significant projects included educational programs such as I3dad in Mosul, preincubation programs such as Yanhad in both branches and Winvestor in Baghdad, artistic projects such as Crossroad in Baghdad and NinevArt in Mosul, grants for SMEs such as Absher in Anbar, advocacy campaigns such as the Sada competition in both branches, and many thematic live streams such as Ramadan Meetups and theStream in both branches. Numerous seminars

Welcome to The Station’s 5th issue!

By Rasha Albani, featuring Mohammed Jamal Hamid

Today is 2nd July 2021, and as we speak, angry, tired and hopeless posts are swarming the internet. The south of the country is facing a total shutdown of electrical systems, with a number of electrical towers destroyed. Additionally, Baghdad is experiencing a broad-ranging cutout and water shortages are amplifying from north to south. Iraq’s unique vulnerability to climate change is familiar news, where weather conditions are reaching extreme heights and environmental dilapidation is spreading rampantly. We hear a lot about the government’s poor capacity, scarcity in resources, and inconsistent post-conflict reconstruction. However, to list and discuss the factors exasperating Iraq’s poor environmental conditions would make for a tiresome and time-consuming endeavor. Fortunately, our options for solutions aren’t scarce, and there is much to be done that does not necessarily depend on government support.

GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN IRAQ

his motivations can be defined along the lines of community support. Are these intentions consistent amongst entrepreneurs working in the field of green Inentrepreneurship?Mosul,wespoke

to 23-year-old Mohammed Jamal Hamid who recently founded a start-up called Golden Mushroom. Apart from being absolutely delicious, mushrooms have been hailed as a source of treatment for a variety of things, such as countering the sideeffects of chemotherapy in cancer patients, such as anemia and bone-marrow suppression. However, cultivating mushrooms has historically produced lots of waste, and managing this waste has proven to be difficult. The Station conducted a short interview with Mohammed to better understand his project.

In Iraq, green entrepreneurship has been propitiously on the rise as a result of activities such as the 2019 Iraq Innovation Hackathon, where we witnessed the launch of IPR ECO to the market. IPR ECO provides ecofriendly products made from sustainable materials with the core intention of spreading awareness on environmental sustainability across the country. In an interview with Fatimah Oleiwi, which can be found on www.iraqtech.io the founder, Abdulrahman Kareem, emphasized the need for his products “because we cannot feel the effects of pollution until it seeps into aquatic life”. Half his project focuses on raising awareness, a form of social entrepreneurship. Hence

Let’s go Green TOGETHER!

“Golden mushroom utilizes an unconventional farming method that depends chiefly on the process of recycling plant and animal waste to produce 100% organic mushrooms. Unlike other farms, we cultivate mushrooms in tightly-closed halls, where appropriate conditions have been created for mushroom cultivation throughout the entire year. In other words, it can be produced in 8 agricultural cycles, disparate from all agricultural crops, where there exists a maximum of only two cycles per year”.

WHAT EXACTLY MAKES GOLDEN MUSHROOMS A GREEN PROJECT?

WHAT WERE YOUR INTENTIONS WHEN FOUNDING GOLDEN MUSHROOM?

My intentions were and continue to be varied. Iraq imports 80% of its food products, leaving only 20% in local production. This is what initially caught my attention and had me driving to find a project that could contribute to local production. Iraq has a high agricultural potential, although it has degraded post2003 for reasons we do not need to note, I’m sure we are all very aware. I’m personally a huge fan of organic mushrooms, and have read many studies and papers exploring its health benefits. We are all always looking for cheap, easily available options for food consumption due to our very busy lifestyle. I am now offering a locally produced alternative for mushrooms that will not only improve your health, but will help support our struggling economy”.

WHY DO YOU CALL YOUR FARMING METHOD, “UNCONVENTIONAL” FOR IRAQ?

“We’re an agricultural project that turns harmful environmental pollutants into basic material for growing mushrooms. Usually, agricultural wastes are burned by farmers to get rid of them, which causes air pollution, not to mention the fires caused by these wastes. This has resulted in the loss of hundreds of hectares of grain crops. We do not want this; we are trying to serve a purpose for our community, not harm the place we all call home. So, we turned a risk into an opportunity; waste is taken and recycled into compost, an organic fertilizer. Once the process of cultivation is complete, the compost is then given to farmers free of charge for better and organic-friendly farming”. We were highly fascinated by Mohammed’s passion for his work and wanted to know how he understood the relationship between his entrepreneurial intentions and his project.

Our individual actions can collectively have an impact, and a huge one at that, either positively or negatively. This is even more true when we talk of the environment. If we simply adopt changes to daily behaviour by recycling plastic, limiting paper use and switching to eco-friendly products, we can collectively drive positive

A lack of motivation to improve anything at all, especially during difficult times.

Findingchange. the balance between individual-collective efficacy should find itself at the heart of our ecosystem’s priorities, and to re-quote Mohammed lets “serve our community, not harm the place we all call home”.

This begs the question, are entrepreneurial intentions important for Green Entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurial Intentions can be defined as the mental state before one embarks on entrepreneurial activities. In other words, EI is what drives a person to become an entrepreneur. Many people define themselves as entrepreneurs, but what characteristics and traits have been found to act as predictors for entrepreneurial behaviour?

WHAT WERE YOUR INTENTIONS WHEN FOUNDING GOLDEN MUSHROOM?

Researchers have increasingly emphasized the importance of exploring entrepreneurial intentions to better understand and further motivate development in this field. There have been studies by the likes of Jamali (2009), Giacomin et al. (2009), on entrepreneurial intentions by studying necessity/opportunity driven projects, as well as other theories that focus on personality traits and environmental triggers. Although results have largely been inconclusive, there exists an interesting study by Esfandiar et al. 2016 on the entrepreneurial intentions of tourism students in Iran.

The data found has been consistent with other studies in that it illustrated the lack of influence social norms has had on entrepreneurial intentions, highlighting the importance of individual efficacy amongst aspiring entrepreneurs. What is interesting about Iran, is that it has historically been defined as a collective society, yet this study found that (tourism) students exhibited individualistic behavioral activity, complimentary to entrepreneurial endeavours. Such studies convey the importance of research if development is to increase, especially in the case of Iraq. Not only do we need to understand how aspiring Iraqi entrepreneurs think about factors such as financial independence, taking risks, social norms and responsibilities, but we also need to understand their connection with social entrepreneurial intentions. Social entrepreneurship is highly dependent on collective efficacy.

It is what keeps our neighborhoods safe, clean and thriving. What happens when there exists a lack of collective efficacy?

Iraq is sorely desperate for social entrepreneurship. It is a popular opinion amongst many that it is the government’s sole responsibility to improve our environment, but that is far from the truth.

ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS

THINK SMALL

How Agri-Tech can bridge the gap between subsistence and commercial farming in Iraq?

Now, Covid-19 restrictions and impacts have brought farming to its knees. It contributes 5% of national GDP yet employs 20% of the population – the largest source of employment in the country; yet afflicted by low productivity and low incomes. As with other sectors of the Iraqi economy, agriculture has enjoyed only limited modernisation and automation.

Before I get into what might be possible - a little about me. I’ve been involved in ‘deep-tech’ for the last 10 years; basically a fancy word for ‘disruptive’. I’ve been involved in building two agri-tech businesses, Earth Rover and FLOX, the latter of which I am now CEO. I’ve seen firsthand how difficult agri-tech can be to commercialise and deploy, even in ‘easy’ markets. In this piece, I hope to identify some challenges in ‘digitalising’ Iraqi farming, and some solutions that are just as unique as its land, recent history and culture.

Several millennia ago, in the ‘Fertile Crescent’ that stretches in an arc from Mesopotamia in the East to Egypt in the West, humans took their first steps in seed cultivation and developed early farming techniques – making Iraq the birthplace of agriculture. The land produced a bountiful harvest of grains, pulses, dates and Today,vegetables.however, the land does not reflect its rich past. Plagued by war, Iraq’s agriculture and natural environment have been severely damaged. Since 1980, there has been continuous use of damaging military techniques that cause harm indiscriminately and degrade the environment entirely. Agriculture was further stifled by ISIS’s “scorched-earth tactics”. They devastated many rural communities by sabotaging irrigation wells, burning down orchards, laying landmines and destroying agricultural equipment and structures.

Iraq is not the only country stuck between this rock and hard place, but the risks of doing nothing – of not changing to meet this ‘new normal’ – are arguably the greatest. After decades of political conflict, violence, and economic disruption, food poverty is at an all-time high, and vulnerable to further volatility.

Yet, the global surge in agri-tech (or agricultural technology) inventions, innovations, and investment is immense. It’s no longer an emerging trend; companies such as AppHarvest and AeroFarms have gone public and received multi-million or -billion-dollar valuations. The efficacy, availability and affordability of agri-tech has never been greater – so why are Western countries reaping most of the benefits? Where, when and how will these new technologies be used to address the challenges faced by Iraqi farmers?

The Covid-19 pandemic shook many long-held complacencies – including proving that oil isn’t a panacea. Oil-rich yet import-heavy countries, such as Iraq, took a hit as wave after wave of global lockdowns led to reduced demand for oil, and a subsequent drop in oil prices and national income. Dips in global trade and supply also shone a light on the importance of food security and self-sufficiency.

By Imtiaz Shams, Edited by Skye Pathore

Iraq can follow in its footsteps by combining its tech talent with commoditised technologies already being used elsewhere for decades on farms, and directing them at problems faced by local Iraqi farmers. After all, it only takes one big (or many small) successes to build a sustainable ecosystem of agri-tech innovation.

The first issue is one of scope and scalability. Most agri-tech is designed (and priced) not for smallholders, but massive companies in developed countries with evolved agriculture sectors. Most venture capital funding is directed at the same. Developing nations like Iraq, with a mix of commercial and subsistence farming, are missing out on this boom. How can this be fixed? What could an Iraqi agritech revolution look like? And can it be homegrown –and not, like the food it’s supposed to produce for its own people, imported?

complexity and value of agri-tech product offerings. Thirdly, the improved technologies, while costing more than the first-generation technologies, deliver greater ROI over a longer period of time, and a feedback loop of further development and investment.

Secondly, Iraq’s lack of legacy infrastructure is both a blessing and a curse. While existing infrastructure makes it difficult and costly to bring agriculture from the industrial age to the digital one in the West, Iraq provides a ‘clean slate’. So much of its ag-infrastructure has been destroyed: the perfect opportunity to rebuild, and better.

The building blocks for an agri-tech revolution in Iraq are all there – a population of many skilled IT workers and programmers, and commoditised technologies (especially sensors) available from websites like AliExpress that are inexpensive and easy to deploy, use and maintain. This is key – countries like Iraq need to start small to create a positive feedback loop where agri-tech creates immediate value to farmers; before offerings get any more complex.

The key here is starting small, and ideally staying away from technologies with long research, development and sales cycles – such as custom hardware. And while commoditised technologies can be bought cheaply, they are incredibly valuable when built and deployed with the end user in mind. This is where a local’s knowledge of Iraqi history, culture and farming can give her or him a competitive edge.

For example, understanding how local weather affects harvests using a combination of sensors1 placed in the field, may give farmers more confidence about harvests and enable better planning. While these technologies are well-deployed in many developed countries, their relative lack in Iraq presents tremendous opportunities for local Successfullyentrepreneurs.deploying these ‘lowest hanging fruits’ achieves three things. Firstly, farmers can validate the impact of these low-cost first-generation technologies on their bottom line, which means the technologist can make early sales while convincing the farmers that agri-tech makes a tangible difference (in markets such as Iraq, word-of-mouth and social proof is paramount). Secondly, revenues give technologists the confidence to invest more money in product development, or convince investors to do so. This improves the variety,

All it takes is one success story to kickstart an innovation boom. Consider the growth and later sale of Skype (partly founded in Estonia), and what it did for Estonia’s startup scene – even with a population of just 1.3M.

of those international buzzwords flying around the ecosystem. To summarise, these organisations act as key spaces for entrepreneurs to develop ideas, work and collaborate with others, as they launch their start up. These spaces are hubs for innovation and creativity, providing a platform for those who identify viable solutions to local challenges whilst also potentially profiting from the idea. We have seen a huge rise in startups across Iraq over recent years, with founders launching their services across the country. This movement is amplified by international financial support from donors who believe that empowering the private sector is a crucial step in achieving stability in

the creative sector is often neglected and support for artists has been minimal, with funding opportunities coming from limited sources. The Ministry of Culture provides financial support where possible, whereas the entities such as the British Council, French Institute, the Goethe Institute deploy resources to support artists against the backdrop of shrinking budgets. UNESCO Iraq is now moving to support the creative sector too, challenging community perceptions that they are only focused on reconstruction and conservation.

Despite these efforts, there is little focus on the use of the creative industries as a tool for economic empowerment. The traditional mindset that art is solely of aesthetic value is the usual response when confronted with the potential for art as a means of income generation. Such attitudes are reinforced by the education system that does not believe in multidisciplinary approaches, limiting the way in which artists who do not train at the fine arts institutes can participate in the cultural scene. This disconnect causes a fragmentation of the culture scene, already stymied by the lack of physical spaces. It is within the context of these challenges that the Station, with the support of UNESCO and the EU, as well as the National Bank of Iraq, has introduced creativeSpace at both of its branches.

By Ashley Incubator’Barlowisone

creativeSpace

Iraq’s First Creative Incubator

However,Iraq.

We hope to draw attention to the potential for the creative industries in Iraq and galvanise the movement to ensure that this crucial sector is not left behind.

Asidedesired.from

creativeSpace is a unique concept in Iraq in that it is a physical space that combines the passion for the creative community with the experience of entrepreneurship. Through the support of organisations such as the British Council and UNESCO, activities aim to support the professional skills of young creatives to help them consider how they can utilise their talents as a business. As an example, through the British Council funded Takataa programme, participants are learning how to create mosaics thus keeping a dying tradition alive but applying it to potential product design. Through the NinevArt programme, our UNESCO funded programme in Mosul, the artists will learn the skills to design and manage art projects as well as pitch for international residencies. These programmes will enable participants to generate new product and project ideas that can also be taken into the mainstream entrepreneurship and ideation programmes that The Station offers. This funnel-like approach ensures that all members of the community have the option to develop ideas and prototypes, and take their ideas further into the business world if so

the activities, it is essential to build a community around the concept. These spaces will facilitate community building to ensure that those engaged in the creative industries can meet like minded individuals, with various backgrounds helping to drive innovation and creativity. Being close to the startup community, the creatives will also be engaged with their needs that could be needed such as photography or graphic design; and startups may be inspired to innovate their own work in collaboration with the creatives. Much like a startup incubator, creatives over time may be featured in other established galleries, accelerating their exposure.

They will also function as platforms to help challenge the lens in which Iraq is viewed, moving away from the stereotypical narrative of conflict and trauma. As an accessible space, our audiences will be able to explore exhibitions that really promote the diversity and creativity of Iraqi art rather than fuel the consumption of negative imagery to other arts movements worldwide.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL IN IRAQ

The creative industries have often been ignored in Iraq, trapped between having an aesthetic value whilst its financial value is often misunderstood by both the consumer and the artist. It is also a concept that is ill defined, many presuming that art is to be displayed in galleries, collections or homes. Yet art is everywhere in the business world; logo design, visual identity, social media; it is in the packaging and the design of products, carefully planned by artists and designers. Architects design buildings and street planners consider the beauty and practicality of their design, just another part of the creative industry that we rarely take into consideration.

How can we support those working in branding or visual identity? Promoting the numerous startups already operating in this field and connecting them with businesses will help forge new and exciting brand identities that will resonate with the Iraqi community today.

DOMINANCE OF FOREIGN MARKETS

Without question, throughout the country, the wider market is dominated by Turkish or Iranian products which are supplied at a low price and attractively marketed. Iraqi brands therefore often seem less preferential, perhaps somewhat outdated, lacking the visual identity or marketing power that neighbouring countries have. This is where the role of the creative industries can come in. By rebranding Iraqi products to make them more appealing to the target audience, either through packaging, marketing, or an improved branding campaign, there is the potential to reach new customers. Combining the creative power of those young designers, with more traditional businesses, will not only help to improve the products themselves but also inject new energy to businesses that have perhaps lacked innovation for a long time.

Each country also has a unique style that is reflected in its creative traditions, continuously evolving and changing to adapt to modern tastes but reflect a familiarity and a certain sense of nostalgia. Iraq is no different. The prevalence of motifs from ancient Mesopotamia is apparent in logos and branding, many companies directly taking their names from this period. The legacy of amazing architects continues to influence those ambitious designers today.

By Ashley Barlow

With the recent changes in visa regulations by the Iraqi federal government to attract international investors, it is highly likely that Iraq may also see an increase in the number of international tourists that can access the country much easier than before. The recent visit of Pope Francis brought international attention to the country, particularly his visit to the ancient Ziggurat of Ur, with many outside seeing it as a positive reflection of Iraq. The renovation of the royal mausoleum in Adhamiyah, and ongoing restorative work at the nearby Adhamiyah Palace is a clear indication that tourism may be back on the agenda. The upcoming visit of King Abdullah II is likely to also raise the profile of such important monuments. If tourism is to increase, a new gap in the market is likely to open up that creatives can easily fill.

Tourists are more likely to purchase souvenirs of the country that they visit rather than the local community, and having a wide variety of products available to them will offer new sources of income for the creative sector. If we take Egypt as an example, where the economy is heavily reliant on tourism, there is a huge array of souvenirs and objects for the visitor. This may be from simple models of monuments made in China, but equally so may be local work that offers a unique touch. Organisations around the country are using the tourism market as a means to provide sustainable incomes for many creatives, marketed in a way that reflects their understanding of different tourist groups.

It allows the producer to also define their country to tourists, giving artists and creatives a voice through their work that may not necessarily be heard through mainstream media, or even drowned out in the online world. Artists have a unique ability to influence the way that we perceive a place, space or period, and therefore they can be a powerful asset as Iraq aims to challenge the existing narrative of conflict and crisis.

CULTURAL NARRATIVES AND LENSES

This can only be developed through support from the Ministry of Culture due to the bureaucratic processes involved in providing permits to film. If successfully managed, we could see a flourishing of IraqiInternational Film Partnerships that will give a voice to Iraqi film-makers and provide opportunity for them to grow.

It will be an opportunity for tourist sites and official institutions to also increase their sales by taking innovative and interesting products rather than outdated books, ancient postcards or Chinese made replicas.

Film and Television also has a similar potential. The recent Netflix drama “Mosul”, and Channel 4 UK’s “Baghdad Central”, highlight how international audiences are exposed to themes centred around war and conflict, and is indicative of the perception of Iraq from foreign eyes. Such themes are replicated by Iraqi producers who see that market as they attempt to provide their own narratives to similar events. This should be seen as a positive step, Iraqi representation in TV and Film should be supported considering the international interest in Iraq.

This reimagining is not limited to calligraphy, older music is being reintroduced to a younger generation through more popular, current styles. Project Suli blends traditional Kurdish music with techno beats whilst Tribe of Monsters mashes up old Iraqi songs with American Hip Hop. Iraqi and Kurdish rappers can be found in unexpected cities like Mosul and Ranya, Frank Flo rapping in English, reaching new audiences and providing a unique insight into contemporary rap culture to non-Arabic or Kurdish. There is a growing music community that is innovating and exciting but fragmented and under-supported. Supporting this generation of musicians will empower them financially whilst they help to challenge stereotypes of Iraq abroad. The provision of recording studios, production training as well as platforms to share their work will only embolden this creative sector.

TRADITIONAL PRACTICES REIMAGINED FOR NEW MARKETS

calligraphy as an example, an age-old practice that features as an important part of the literary identity of many cultures, it is finding a new life in a digital format. Versatile yet beautiful, the essence of calligraphy has found a new home in visual identity, printed on clothes and accessories, as well as featured in posters and other artworks. Therefore there is clearly a demand for this cultural legacy to continue to exist, and a new generation of tech-savvy calligraphers and graphic designers will be able to ensure that it thrives, not within the pages of a book but on pin badges, clothes and stickers. Startups such as XO, a resident business in our co-working space, bring together graphic designers to create innovative representations of Iraq that can be sold as a variety of products.

Local traditions and practices have disappeared over centuries and we continue to witness this to this day. Technological advances replace outdated techniques thus losing century or millennia old solutions to continual problems. The period that we live in has seen this process speed up as technology evolves quicker than ever. Despite that, new life can be found for these practitioners who continue to take up the ways of our Ifforefathers.wetake

NEW SPACES AND NEW PARTNERS

new hubs arriving into the Iraqi entrepreneurial ecosystem, dedicated to supporting the creative industries. Karge Kulture in Sulaymaniyah Cigarette Factory is host to multiple organisations, independent businesses and exciting arts projects. X-Line is just one of those whose exciting concept blends arts and culture with inclusivity and community

has opened new spaces in Baghdad and Mosul that will provide training opportunities, exhibition space as well as community studios that will help address this issue. We believe that we are well suited to apply our experience in entrepreneurship to the creative sector to help foster new start-ups, freelancers as well as support artists in generating revenue or building their portfolio. Keep following for updates about exciting new programmes, culture clubs, studio memberships and events!

Onbar - A music production startup

Tricot - Traditional carpets with modern geometric designs from the Hawraman district of Sulaymaniyah.

Theownership.Station

Mankousha - A startup selling Mosul inspired products

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE STARTUPS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE STATION COMMUNITY AND IN OUR MADE IN IRAQ CORNER:

Urbilium - Board Games based on the diverse heritage of Iraq

Bil Weekend - Tours across Iraq to promote the value of Iraqi heritage

It is an exciting time as cultural stakeholders such as the British Council, UNESCO and the Goethe Institute all begin to lend their support to the creative industries in Iraq. With new spaces and new partners on the scene, and with concerted efforts between all parties to make true success stories, we can highlight the potential of the creative sector as a source of economic independence that could encourage wider changes in attitude - at a community and governmental level. This in turn will challenge perceptions of Iraq and contribute to a more confident and innovative youth.

XO - A creative agency using innovative graphic art

Ishtar Film - A leading Baghdad Film production company

The limitations of having spaces is not limited to the music industry. Many young creatives find it difficult to find spaces to work outside of their home, and are therefore fragmented and disconnected from other members of the creative community. They have limited access to exhibition spaces and little opportunity to highlight their work to other communities due to stateled Thatbureaucracy.said,wesee

USING INFLUENCERS FOR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS:

Think of an influencer as a tool to grow your business. Not every influencer has a background in marketing, a lot of the time, it is something they have grown to learn through experience; a lot of trial and

However,error.

WHAT FACTORS TO LOOK FOR?

A PRO OR CON. FOR BUSINESSES?

By Rasha Albani & Aymen Salman , Featuring Masa Thaer

Marketing in general can be overwhelming even for an experienced entrepreneur. Understanding different factors such as what platforms best suit your business, how to produce content in a language that speaks to your target audience and deciding how to brand yourself isn’t an easy endeavour. However, when done right, influencer marketing could really help you expand your outreach and in turn, your marketing ROI.

there are many means of choosing the right person to advertise your business and it does take a lot of hard work and research. You might have assumed at some point that a high following is the first thing to look for, but you’d be surprised to know that this doesn’t equate a good influencer. An influencer may have over a million followers, but his/her outreach doesn’t go beyond 30,000 people. Consider thoroughly studying their page, the feedback they recieve from their audience and what their level of interaction with their audience is. The right influencer is one that dedicates most of their effort in building relationships not only with clients, but with their audience. In other

words, having credibility should be a mandatory factor to qualify as an effective influencer and that’s the tool you want to utilize to serve your business endeavours.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS INVOLVED WHEN RUNNING AN INFLUENCER MARKETING CAMPAIGN?

There are a variety of influencers, and you can make use of many of them for different purposes. For example, you have influencers with a particular expertise and working in a very specific field, meaning they most likely have prior-gained expertise in their field. You have macro influencers – those with a huge following, usually over a million. Their focus is usually vague, nothing in specific and they can be beneficial for expanding your audience outreach. Or you could opt for bloggers with a small, but very active following. These influencers have integrity with their communities and they usually do not accept to market products they do not have faith in, making them a popular choice with small businesses. We have featured a well-known local influencer, Masa Thaer who has provided us with some rich insight into what it is like working as an influencer in Iraq, especially as a woman.

Iraq is still relatively new to the influencer scene. We still do not have a great number of bloggers and influencers, and maneuvering through the market has been a struggle, especially since it is still not considered a profession. But, it really is a profession in itself and the income is relatively high compared to other professions in the same field of marketing. Fees are negotiated based on the company requesting a marketing campaign. The bigger the brand, the higher the fee and vice versa.

WHAT IS THE MARKET LIKE FOR AN INFLUENCER IN IRAQ?

Well, your page as an influencer is step one and most primary. The first impression in this case counts, and every time. The way your profile is structured and the type of content, down to the colours predominantly used are imperative to think carefully about. Once you have defined what is technically the branding of your profile, you need to think about the audience your campaign is targetting. For example, if you’ve been asked to promote a women’s fragrance, your target audience is mostly going to be women and you need to evaluate what posts have attracted most activity from your female followers. Is it your photographic content, reviews in the form of videos or something else entirely? Frequent analysis of your insights will help you determine how to well plan your campaign.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFLUENCERS

Influencers have more of an impact because they have a human touch. Sponsored advertisement for example, is a lot more forced. Influencers have an audience that have actively chosen to connect with them and therefore your campaign is more likely to be effective by making use of them. Also, in Iraq, social media has taken over with pretty much everything. We are turning to it for all kinds of things, even consumerism. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to buy products, so it makes sense to market your products using social media. The first thing everyone does in the morning is open social media and we turn to it for all sources of information.

When I first started out as an influencer, I was still in the process of learning how to form and navigate the relationships I make professionally to ensure both parties are happy. I wasn’t as decisive as I am now and that led to working with clients that I didn’t have a shared vision with and that’s really important. But with anything we start out with is going to have a trial and error process and I’ve learnt that having a shared vision, trust and communication with your clients as an influencer is just as important as everything else.

BUT BREAKING SOCIAL BARRIERS NEVER IS. MY FAMILY WERE QUITE WORRIED ABOUT ME PURUSING THIS PROFESSION BUT WITH TIME, THEIR CONCERNS EASED A LITTLE AND THAT HELPED ME WITH MY CONFIDENCE.

HAVING FAMILIAL SUPPORT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY SUCCESS AND I’LL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR SUPPORTING MY DECISION. I TOOK A RISK AND, SIMILARLY TO THE FIELD OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MOST SUCCESSES ARE BORN OUT OF RISKS AND I CAN TRULY SAY MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN NO LESS DIFFERENT. I WAS TAUNTED ONLINE AND THAT HAPPENS EVEN TODAY, BUT IT DOESN’T AFFECT ME NEARLY AS MUCH AS IT DID IN THE BEGINNING. BUT I HAVE ALSO RECIEVED LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OTHER WOMEN. MORE WOMEN ARE HAVING THE COURAGE TO FIND THEIR PLATFORM ONLINE AND PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE AND THIS IS A NEW PHENOMENA IN IRAQ. PHOTOSHOOTS WEREN’T A THING FOR WOMEN, ESPECIALLY ON PUBLIC PLATFORMS, BUT NOW YOU CAN SEE THEM EVERYWHERE. THIS ALSO IMPLIES THAT FAMILIES ARE GRADUALLY CHANGING AND OPENING UP. I HOPE IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE WITH TIME.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD AND THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. NAVIGATING THROUGH OUR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS WASN’T AN EASY EXPERIENCE,

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST FAILURE AS AN INFLUENCER AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?

WHY SHOULD I MAKE USE OF INFLUENCER MARKETING INSTEAD OF PAID ADS OR OTHER FORMS OF MARKETING?

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE WORKING AS AN INFLUENCER IN IRAQ AS A WOMAN?

By Jameel Amir

CREATING GOOD UI/UX FOR YOUR STARTUP

We see new startups in tech pop up everyday in Iraq, with varying business models and targeted audiences. This growth is certainly promising and is a sign of an active and growing ecosystem. The problem is that a large portion of them (whether apps or websites) can have a user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) that are quite unpleasant to look at & use.

More often than not, tech entrepreneurs don’t tend to focus on UI/UX as much as other aspects of their products. This definitely comes from a good place as founders are constantly working on what their product could do and spending their time on improving its functionality, not how it looks or the user experience. But few realize that unless the product presented is really groundbreaking, users expect to have a pleasant experience using it and not get confused searching for a button or a page.

What is meant by “user interface” is the look and style of your app/website, the consistency of it, and how pleasing it looks to the human eye. “User experience” is the general experience a user has with the product. We have to make the distinction between the two, as UI is only one of many contributing factors to a good UX, but its importance can’t be denied.

Good UI/UX can be extremely beneficial to startups, it can inspire the trust of users, increase conversions, retention rates, user engagement, and brand loyalty; make marketing campaigns more effective and increase ROAS (return on ad spend), and optimize development time and cost in the long run.

Talented and experienced UI/UX engineers are difficult to find in Iraq and it can be quite costly for startups/ small businesses to have them working as dedicated employees as the process of engineering a good UI/UX requires constantly studying data and communicating with other parts of the team.

Collect feedback and data. Make it easy for users to share their opinions and suggestions. A user’s feedback can be one of the most valuable sources of insight. Especially when A/B tests and data measurement tools are correctly utilized to affirm the collected feedback.

THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF REASONS WHY FOUNDERS MAY

Keep it simple. Avoid unnecessary elements and be clear with language on the labels and the messaging. In other words, don’t make the user think.

Founders often prioritize functionality and expect users to do the same.

Keep it consistent. Use common UI elements, it will help users feel more comfortable and enable them to get things done more quickly.

HERE ARE SOME BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING A PLEASANT UI & UX:

NOT PUT A HUGE EMPHASIS ON UI/UX:

Finally, as more startups spring up in Iraq, providing customers with a pleasant experience is ever-increasingly important. UI/UX will be crucial in that process as its role gets amplified by the rapidly-advancing ecosystem of Iraq in the coming years.

Founders focus on launching the product as soon as possible, dismissing the UI/UX, and making for more inefficient high-maintenance code and design.

Know your users. The UI/UX should cater to your target user and adapt to their needs and preferences. Different use cases might have different design patterns, try to stick to those as much as possible.

WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA IMPORTANT FOR BUSINESS GROWTH?

to the target audience, which may be accomplished through the usage of social media.

By Lubna Salam

First, I may describe social media marketing as: “the process of producing tailored content for each social media platform in order to share the business’s product, promote its products and services, and encourage potential clients to become clients’’. This is because you’re running a business, you can take advantage of online marketing to achieve the goals of the project you are advertising.

Social media has become an essential element of business growth plans because it can have a social effect as well as generate emotional connections and loyalty that connect you with your target audience and clients. Social media has been around for a while, but many businesses still don’t know how to use it. On the other side, there are many businesses who utilize social media in a variety of productive ways, including some that use it to learn about people’s thoughts and feedback, or to evaluate their reach and audience engagement, or to target a certain portion of the audience through paid advertisements to market their products.

HOW CAN YOU USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE?

The modern generation of business experts believe in technologically sophisticated tools, such as social media, which has the potential to change the way businesses operate. Regardless of how creative a new business model is, it must still send the correct message

Despite the fact that the term “Social Media Marketing” has spread and been discussed in a variety of fields, there still remains a number of businesses that are struggling to understand the methods of social media marketing, as well as how to apply them. In this article, I’ll maneuver through the different forms of social media marketing, as well as the procedures required to implement effective marketing plans.

To enhance sales, details about the store’s items and services must be provided on a frequent basis.

Listen to the audience to gauge brand sympathy.

Profitable Business: Assume you operate a store that offers locally made clothing, and the store is highly successful, so people follow its social media platforms, but you’re unconcerned about your activity on these platforms. In this situation, you may use some of the following suggestions to improve your marketing plan in order to increase online interaction and sales while also meeting your objectives:

Creating interactive communities.

Boost brand awareness.

The larger and more interactive your social media audience, the easier it will be to reach all of your marketing objectives.

We recommend that you begin by identifying the goals of your business and then create a list of social media goals, since the technique and goals of marketing are heavily influenced by the type, objectives, and vision of the business.

Advertise and sell products and services to the target audience.

Create special content for existing followers, such as information or tips, to keep them engaged and interested.

I’LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES

The first stage in developing an effective strategy is to identify your objectives. You have no means of measuring the success and return on investment (ROI) of your business if you don’t set goals. Each of your goals should be S.M.A.R.T. : Specific \ Measurable \ Attainable \ Relevant / TimeBound

Make sponsored promos to boost your following, engagement, and sales.

Create some teaser posts or competitions, as well as unique offers, to help you attract a large number of people and improve the page’s reach and activity.

YOU NOW HAVE A CRUCIAL QUESTION: WHERE DO I START?

BUSINESSES CAN BENEFIT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

Customer service using social media channels.

6. Create a content calendar: These tools enable you to make content, prepare images and videos, and schedule postings in advance. There are several tools available to help you share your content automatically and track all post interactions, for example: (Hootsuite, Sprout social, Hubspot).

Create sponsored advertisements for promotional purposes.

I didn’t include all of the strategies or methods that you may use, because there are many tricks and tips in social media marketing, and they’re continuously expanding with the rise of apps and platforms used.

7. Find inspiration: You may obtain ideas from other excellent businesses on social media.

5. Create unique and engaging content: Consider what material your audience are posting and how you can advertise your business in a unique way to help you get creative.

Social media marketing postings may be used to raise awareness of important topics, promote activities and events, or bring more interested and relevant individuals to fund or support.

Create and market social media platforms using phone numbers, relevant posts, emails, and websites, as well as appearing on television through related shows or promotions.

3. Collect data: Social media analytics gives you a wealth of information on who your followers are, where they reside, and how they engage with your

HOWEVER, HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING:

Non-profit business: We’re talking about a community initiative or a charity organisation that requires numerous relations and campaigns, as well as the ability to schedule television interviews. If you haven’t yet activated social media platforms, now is the time to do so by following the procedures outlined below:

To raise the number of followers and interaction on the platforms, create re-shareable content and acquire audience compassion.

1. Identify buyer and audience personas: Analyzing your buyer and audience persona will allow you to decide what content will attract the sort of followers and customers you want to obtain, as well as how to develop compelling content to keep your followers engaged, for example: (age, location, income, career, interests, social status, etc).

4. Learn about your competitors: Learn about what they do by conducting analysis that allows you to understand what expected to do in the field your business is in.

2. Choose the major social media marketing platforms: this is determined by the demands of your target audience and where they spend their time.

8. Analyze your impact and results: Track all of your postings on each platform, which you can accomplish by analyzing and controlling your social media stats.

business on social media, allowing you to refine your approach and better target your audience.

SOCIAL MEDIA METRICS

Engagement: Clicks, comments, likes, and reactions to your social media postings are all included in this Reach:category.Number of people that saw any content linked with your Page.

Followers: Number of people that clicked the “Follow” button on your Page.

Creating a social media marketing plan is one of the most challenging tasks since it needs you to evaluate, study, and consider the larger picture. However, it’s critical to have a social media marketing plan in place where you don’t just post content for the sake of posting, but also to achieve your business goals.

Impressions: Number of times a post on your Page has been Views:seen.Videos on Facebook, Instagram, and other Visits:platforms.Number of people that opened your page.

CONCLUSION

Mentions: How many times people mentioned your Page in their posts.

Tags: When people tag your Page name in another post. Re-post: Number of people that shared your content on their profile, this is referred to as a repost. Share: Content that your fans and audience take from your page and post on their public or private pages

ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD READ

Reading this book is an eye-opening experience; asking why things catch on? Why do people share or care about some news or posts while ignoring others? The writer identifies six elements that would help you make your product or idea viral. With a lot of real-life examples this book will help you understand a lot about how people think and how to generate word-of-mouth about your business.

I’m an expert and trainer of business innovation and behavioral change, have worked with several national and international organizations and was the manager of innovation for development project with UNDP over 7 years. I have been extremely passionate about business development and pursued it with everything I had, eventually becoming a leading player in Iraq’s intrapreneurial eco-system.

With anything we choose to learn, I truly believe there are several ways to approach educating ourselves and we do not necessarily have to choose one of the other. It’s important to have the right mentors, those who have the right experience and can pass on that experience to you through practical approaches. However, there are means of learning that we can do ourselves and with minimal external help. Below I list three books that have proven to be invaluable to me throughout my career, and believe any promising entrepreneur can benefit from.

3 EVERYBOOKSPROMISING

Contagious

By Dhafer Hasan - Entrepreneurship Consultant

By Jonah Berger

You may know that many institutions and individuals around the world use Design Thinking methodology to design their business, startup, products, services…etc. But this book argues that you can use Design Thinking to design your life, your personal and professional life. Based on their experience at Stanford University, the authors have developed this book to take you through a process to design or redesign your life using a set of tools to understand the problem, find solutions

By Bill Burnett & Dave Evans

By Martin Lindstrom

Buyology

Design Your Life

A very interesting book that addresses the “truth and lies about why we buy”. The Author reviews and explains a lot of studies and examples about how we react to advertisements. It is a psychology book focusing on consumer behaviors. This book is important because it is important for businesses to understand how they can influence customers to buy their products and services.

Bezos’ creative strategy started right at the beginning of his startup by selecting the name, as he believed to be the most important thing in an industry. He selected the name after looking through a dictionary, he settled for the word Amazon because it was a place that is “exotic and different”. Additionally, a name that begins with “A” was preferred because it would probably be at the top of the alphabetized list. Bezos focused on building a strong brand and told a reporter, “there’s nothing about our model that can’t be copied over time. But you know, McDonald’s got copied. And it’s still built into a huge, multibillion-dollar company. A lot of it comes down to the brand name. Brand names are more important online than they are in the physical world.”

Amazon started on July 5, 1994 by Jeff Bezos who founded the company from the garage of his house in Washington with the name Cadabra, which has changed to amazon.com after a few months because a lawyer misheard its original name as “cadaver”.

10,000WAYSTHATWON`TWORK

We might all know the story of how Amazon started but it might not be popular knowledge that Amazon needed almost 7 years to reach the point of being a profitable company, as it got its first profit in the fourth quarter of 2001 on revenues of more than 1 billion dollars. Success takes time, it’s not something that you can reach between day and night.

“Success is not about delivering a feature; success is learning how to solve customers’ problems.” – Eric Rise

By Sarah Dhafer

Reading this quote, you might be led into a journey of ideas. You can`t deny that you have always related success with getting positive results from the first try and this might work with certain things, however, the entrepreneurship world is a world that is full of surprises and to fail doesn’t necessarily mean that you must give up. Today, the most amazing startups have come from failing at first. For this reason, I`m going to share a few stories with you to dive deep in the experiences and strategies of the world of successes, failures, and reaching the top by finding problems and fixing them.

WHO OF US DOESN’T KNOW THE STARTUP THAT TURNED INTO A LARGE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY, “AMAZON”?

The last and final subject of discussion is “Nokia”, once upon a time ago, the most prominent name in the phone industry.

Nokia did not adapt to change; when original phones had turned into smartphones however, Nokia was one of the creators of early smartphones. Yet the company could not manage with the pace of technological innovation.

The device was launched to the market to be sold with a price of $699. In addition to that, it forced the customers to buy the packs of juice only from the company itself as it will only work after matching the QR code of the device with the pack, the company has failed to analyze the customer need, prices, market study and feedback. Customers found that the packs are easily juiced by hand without using the highly priced device, the company decreased the price of the device until it reached $399 before the company failed due to focusing on financial profits instead of focusing on finding a problem to solve and customer service.

Nokia`s experience teaches us that initial success is not a guarantor of anything. Innovation is and will always be our best friend when thinking about startups. But with every failure we learn more, solve more and grow bigger. I’ll end this article with a few famous words of Thomas Edison: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won`t work.”

Juicero is a project that had a head start in Silicon Valley when it raised 120 million from investors to create a device that was marketed as a fruit and vegetable juicer but was revealed to extract juice from pre-processed packets. The company’s product was called the Juicero Press, a Wi-Fi connected device that used singleserving packets of pre-juiced fruits and vegetables sold exclusively by the company by subscription.

Other mobile phones used the failure of Nokia`s smartphones to create something that’s more required and user friendly for customers and as a result, Nokia had high competition in the market with a lack of strategic planning, lack of vision and lack of innovation all of which account for its failure. What is important to note here is that Nokia’s failure was not the result of its own mistakes, as other competitors have used some strategies correctly, most notably Samsung. Therefore, Nokia’s failure is a combination of the mistakes made by Nokia and the successful strategies used by other brands in the market.

On the other side is a start-up that had been launched to the market but failed. This project was called “Juicero”.

WHY DID NOKIA FAIL?

Juicero has since become a symbol of the absurd Silicon Valley startup industry that raises huge sums of money for non-problem problems.

As a result, emphasis was placed on promoting and strengthening the private sector to support recovery and reconstruction. Various entrepreneurship programs were launched by local and international private companies, donor agencies, local non-governmental organizations, and even by corporate social responsibility departments in Iraq to support and cultivate young entrepreneurs and equip them with important skills to turn ideas into action.

POPULATION PROJECTIONS AND EMPLOYMENT IN IRAQ

In the past, not much emphasis was placed on driving Iraqi private sector growth, as much of the working population preferred the security and safety net of the public sector, which drains the Iraqi budget to pay bloated salaries. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 led to a massive drop in oil demand, which prompted OPEC to reach an agreement to cut oil production. This led to a decline in oil prices and ultimately Iraq’s national budget, and prompted the Iraqi government to find solutions.

Entrepreneurs, while truly deserving of the various descriptions accorded them, do not receive the recognition and rewards that come with the role they play in the family, in small communities, in their countries, or on a global scale. They are assets that should be nurtured, cultivated and rewarded for the innovation, creativity and change they bring. This is because they not only successfully create employment opportunities for themselves, but are also drivers of social and economic growth for the entire world. Entrepreneurship, by definition, is seen as the ability to develop, organize, and manage a business while accepting any risk involved in order to make a profit. Entrepreneurs, then, are people who are willing to take that risk; they are innovators and creators of new ideas in already saturated markets. Entrepreneurship is rightly the engine of the economy, and entrepreneurs are its drivers, but the myriad obstacles entrepreneurs face cannot be ignored. If getting the proverbial foot in the door is difficult in economically stable countries that have easier access to the resources they need, one can only imagine the challenges that developing countries like Iraq face.

Iraq’s population is one of the youngest in the world, with an average age of 21. Nearly two-thirds of Iraqis are under the age of 25, and many are internally displaced or refugees from neighboring countries. Employment opportunities are scarce in this hemorrhaging economy, with an unemployment rate of 35.66% in 2020, of which 25.17% is accounted for by youth alone. According to

current projections, Iraq’s population will exceed 100 million by the end of 2085, with an estimated 107.33 million people by the end of the century. With little hope of economic recovery, entrepreneurship is no longer a choice, but a purely survival requirement.

OUR MODERN-DAY HEROES?

WHY ARE ENTREPRENEURS

By Maryam Allami - Startup Entrepreneurship Consultant

IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Economies are driven by innovation, much of which comes from people with the ability, skill and drive to turn an idea into action. These are the people who transform industries and create new markets. These are the entrepreneurs, and their role in Iraq’s economic growth is explicitly pivotal. Entrepreneurs positively impact their communities by introducing unique goods and services, reducing dependence on external systems. This is a viable solution to salvage the Iraqi economy and diversify income opportunities while reducing dependence on unreliable oil exports.

SOCIAL IMPACT - IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

THEY DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

efforts to support entrepreneurs and provide tools to effectively work toward sustainable climate and environmental protection. This is quite an eye-opener in a country like Iraq with limited access to resources; it is clear that while the opportunity exists, resources are scarce and success in entrepreneurship is quite underappreciated. Entrepreneurs are undoubtedly the unsung heroes of economic freedom, and it is through them that Iraq can achieve stability and contribute to themsustainability.thatIraq can achieve stability and contribute to sustainability.

It is a given that entrepreneurship creates employment opportunities. However, the first and most important impact of entrepreneurship in Iraq is its contribution to the country’s stability, which was especially evident during the October 2019 demonstrations that took place due to a lack of employment opportunities and increased poverty rates. Not to mention the large role entrepreneurs play in fostering innovation and technological change.

Community development is enhanced by investing in local community projects, creating even greater opportunities and boosting morale. In addition, the successful innovations of entrepreneurs have the power to provide solutions to the country’s most pressing problems and turn challenges into opportunities, with the overall goal of improving living standards and creating wealth.

Entrepreneurs can provide solutions to the countries’ and the world’s environmental challenges by addressing issues such as pollution and climate change, thereby addressing one of the United Nations’ key Millennium Development Goals. Many actors, including innovation centers like The Station in Baghdad, are stepping up

BENEFITS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR THE STABILITY OF IRAQ

A SHORT HISTORY OF MODERN START-UP CULTURE

While both of these terms might seem to overlap in certain cases, there exists a distinct factor that differentiates between start-ups and small businesses; disruptive innovations. Start-ups work to create new markets while disrupting old markets. An example of that is what ride-sharing services have done to revolutionize the transportation industry. We can use that factor to try and pinpoint the first start-up in modern history.

To understand that shift, and what it means for the future of the business world, we have to define two important key terms. The first is small medium enterprises (SMEs), and they are privately owned and operated companies that are limited in size and revenue. The second is startups, which are companies or projects undertaken usually by entrepreneurs to seek, develop and validate a scalable economic model.

HOW IT ALL STARTED?

Silicon Valley became a hub for innovation, often technological. More and more start-ups were launched there, among them Amazon and eBaby, and they found success. Innovation became synonymous with Silicon Valley. The word businessman started to evoke images of a tech start-up founder in a grey hoodie instead of a college graduate in a suit and tie.

Last year, over 4 million businesses were started in the United States alone. Compared to 2010’s 2 million figure, there is a monumental increase. This isn’t exclusive to America but is happening globally. It seems like everyone is launching a new start-up or opening up a small business. There has been a shift in the workplace and more and more people are ditching the traditional path in favor of a more exciting and volatile one.

From that point of time, many start-ups began popping up, one notable example is HP. Based in Palo Alto, HP became the first (but certainly not last) Silicon Valley based start-up. The history of Silicon Valley and start-up culture is interwoven and begins at the dawn of a new industrial revolution. Industrial revolutions are pretty self-explanatory, they revolutionize industries and create massive change in economic and social structures. The first was the invention of the steam engine, the second was the utilization of gas and oil as fuel sources, the third was the use of nuclear energy, and now we are in the fourth internet age.

Popularized in the late 90s and early 00s, the internet has taken over the entire world and disrupted countless industries. Companies like Microsoft and Google, which began as start-ups, saw an opportunity for creating new markets on the internet. They were right, and many others followed suit when evidence of the success appeared.

By Adam Hasan

There is debate among scholars but the majority will agree that Ford Motor Company is the first startup in modern history. Back in the 19th century, cars were luxury items and used as status symbols. The invention of the Ford assembly line in 1913 disrupted the automobile industry by utilizing new technological advances to manufacture affordable cars for the common man in an efficient and fast manner.

The future has already arrived with renewable energy, advanced artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency taking over entire industries and this has been further proven by the COVID-19 pandemic which showed how traditional workplaces and jobs are becoming relics of the past.

1. Find a problem.

The internet accelerated that process by streamlining every step of the process of launching a start-up. From using social media to market your business to using crowdfunding platforms in lieu of traditional banking loans. The glass ceiling has been shattered. Innovation leads to more innovation. We are witnessing technological advancement at an unprecedented rate, each one bringing its own mini-industrial revolution that will accelerate innovation even further.

The Silicon Valley start-ups followed a simple formula:

4. If your product/service is viable, then aim for rapid growth. If not, repeat steps 1 to 3. With each news article about another start-up founder who launched his business in a garage becoming a millionaire, the public shifts their image of start-ups from being “risky ventures” to “the new mainstream”.

3. Market that solution.

To thrive and succeed, one must learn from the past. The people who oppose change and pretend it isn’t happening are always proven wrong. The best time to create a start-up was twenty years ago. The secondbest time is now.

2. Figure out a solution for said problem.

Start-ups didn’t just affect industry, they invaded popular culture.

stated: “I believe women need a safe space to meet together, a space where they can share their ideas, support each other and get the practical help they need to get to the next step.” In conclusion, the evident gender-gap in the entrepreneurial ecosystem could be bridged only by collaborative efforts starting with more female risktakers creating a demand, to enhancing the gendercapacity of the already existing support bodies, to finally having a strong female network that is able to advocate for policy reforms and a true change.

Nonetheless, the effort of the currently existing support mechanisms has also been recognised by the interviewees, as a female entrepreneur said: “One of the well-known technical support bodies in Iraq is The Station, which is based in Baghdad, and there are other special organizations that provide programs about women empowerment and Entrepreneurship”, Although, Identifying the numerous issues was an easy task due to the practical experience of the research participants, the process of determining possible solutions was more challenging. Yet, the research participants made some insightful recommendations on the current issues that could lead to a possible break in the clouds.

As a male supporter advocated for promoting entrepreneurship as a valid career choice for young people stating: “We are taking the first steps toward, an entrepreneurial culture and providing youth with alternatives for public sector jobs and even more sometimes for private-sector jobs with changing their mindset”, While a female entrepreneur demonstrated her interest in having a strong female voice in the economy: “We lack an official entity whose purpose is to focus on successful ladies, such as women

One female entrepreneur confirmed the genderstereotype by noting: “As a woman who owns a handmade jewellery business, a business that is related to art, creativity, and fashion, I am not sure whether I would be taken as seriously as other entrepreneurial businesses such as technical projects or any other businesses with a male majority, although accessories and jewellery in Iraq are consumed by the majority of people, males or females.”

Anotherentrepreneurs”.femalefounder

It is not only about what you are passionate about, but where you can have the most impact on a long-term basis. In this case, internships are highly recommended and could be an enjoyable experience.

The more you diversify your knowledge, languages and practical experience, the more aware you become of what your strengths and weaknesses are. Defining your strengths is imperative when choosing a career path.

The labor market is facing great challenges in terms of the increase in the number of graduates and job seekers, and in return an increase in selection criteria for candidates and the specifications required by employers, obtaining a university degree only is not sufficient to qualify you to find vacancies in light of this development.

WHAT DOES THE LABOR MARKET MEAN?

KEEP LEARNING

You have to expand your education away from the traditional learning experience and continue developing your special skill sets and gaining new experiences.

The competition in the labor market today, and in light of the openness in which we live now, does not depend only on obtaining good education and training programs. It may not be enough to satisfy your desire to earn the job of your dreams in today’s competitive job market; you will need a mixture of good, quality education, experience and a myriad of skills - including languages and technical skills to highlight your capabilities and eligibility to land a decent opportunity that not only satisfies your ambition but builds a blueprint for a respectable and pursuable career. Otherwise, the alternative is a constant struggle to compete in the market, experiencing difficulties in building that future without said skills.

By Rawan Salah - Human Resources Management Expert

In this case, internships are highly recommended and could be an enjoyable experience.

A MARKETTHEGUIDEBASICTOLABOR

It is an economic market, which works with a supply and demand mechanism, in which we can find job seekers and company owners who are requesting candidates to fill vacancies available in their companies.

What prompts us to learn more about the labor market; what is it and how does it work? How do we prepare ourselves to work in it? Below is a quick guide for beginners.

about the public and private sectors arise, one key point is often repeated: People seek jobs in the public sector because it’s more secure. But is that actually true?

We decided to get in touch with Mr. Aws Fawzi, one of the most known HR experts in the field and one of 1200 people worldwide certified Senior Professional Human Resources International. He is currently serving as the head of Human Resources at Earthlink Telecommunications. Below are the professional and legal rights he highlighted:

There is a lot of misinformation being spread on the job security of employees in the private sector and their rights. Many employees aren’t fully aware of their rights in the workplace and the laws set in place to protect them. Understanding employment laws, for both employers and employees, is crucial for building a healthy and productive work field.

Furthermore, all employees are entitled to paid vacation days with a specific number of days depending on the employee’s years of service with the employer.

If working overtime during the period between 6 AM to 9 PM, employees will be compensated by 1.5 their regular hourly wage.

If working overtime during the period between 9 PM to 6 AM, employees will be compensated by double their regular hourly wage.

WORK HOURS AND OVERTIME Under the Iraqi Labour Laws, full-time employees are expected to work 48 hours a week with no more than 8 working hours a day. In the case of employees working overtime, the procedure is as follows:

JOB CLARITY From day one, employees have the right to be fully aware of what is expected from them. They should have a complete understanding of their tasks and responsibilities. All of this should be agreed upon before the employee starts working.

Brief Overview of Legal and Professional Rights for Private Sector Workers

In addition to that, any and all verbal agreements should be stated on a legal contract to protect both the employee and employer from any legal disputes that may surface.

WORKPLACE SAFETY From providing safety gears and tools (such as hardhats) to establishing and following clear safety guidelines, employers have the responsibility for creating a safe work environment for all their Employersworkers.arealso responsible for equipping their employees with the tools and resources needed to do the work effectively.

By Adam WheneverHasandebates

If said overtime work occurred on an employee’s vacation day, they are entitled to both financial compensation and more days off to substitute for the used ones. That being said, overtime work should not be more than 120 hours a year.

This is not to say that the state of the private sector in Iraq is perfect. A lot of the laws are unclear and often don’t reflect the current state of the Iraqi workforce. Companies sometimes try to find workarounds to registering their employees to avoid paying their percent.

After one year of employment, employees can choose to quit work and withdraw 9% of the fund. If an employee moves from one company to another, their social security fund will be transferred with them and the process will continue seamlessly.

Male employees who are over 60 years old and have 30 years of service, as well as female employees who are over 55 years old and have 25 years of service, will receive continuous welfare support from the government after retiring.

However, by staying informed and advocating for policy change, you can help create a work environment that’s productive and secure for both the employers and the employees.

EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS Employees have the right to receive equal pay for equal work regardless of their religion, gender, age, ethnicity, and political and social Thisbackgrounds.lawalsoprohibits sexual harassment and any other behavior that leads to the creation of an intimidating, hostile or humiliating work environment for employees. Workers have the right to resort to the court to file a complaint when they are exposed to any form of discrimination or harassment in employment their work.

SOCIAL SECURITY Employees will have 5% of their monthly salary deducted, coupled with a 12% paid for by the employer. This monthly 17% will serve as a social net for employees in case of unemployment, or eventually retirement. The fund can also be utilized for healthcare in case any work-related injuries occur.

TERMINATION Workers whose service has been terminated are entitled to an end-of-service bonus pay in the amount of two weeks’ wages for each year of service provided to the employer.

A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH THE STATION AND SPECIFICALLY WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE STATION?

It was an opportunity to reinforce my passion for training and building up the youth’s capabilities. I am someone who dislikes public sector jobs so this was a great opportunity to manage an institute that focuses on swaying youth away from governmental jobs.

Without the trust of our donors and partners, Al-Handal Group specifically, we couldn’t have persisted.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR OFFERS

Executive Director of The Station, Ammar Al-Khatib

I have been familiar with The Station since its launch in 2018. I visited on multiple occasions whenever I had meetings with friends and acquaintances. I also helped

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE FACED IN YOUR WORK WITH THE STATION SO FAR? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?

“The Station’s goal will always be to support youth and to further develop their capabilities,” Ammar AlKhatib, Executive Director at The Station, explained in an interview with Iraq 24. “Whether they are affiliated with The Station or not, we want to help them.” It is a saying that perfectly encapsulates Al-Khatib’s attitude towards his work. The root can be found in his career preceding The Station where the bulk of his job centered around training sessions and workshops which culminated in him becoming a Microsoft Certified HeTrainer.spoke

By Adam Hasan

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND CAREER BEFORE THE STATION AND IS THERE AN ACHIEVEMENT OR CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?

facilitate several workshops and training sessions within the programs implemented by TheStation.

I started my position while the October protests took place so a majority of the youth were too preoccupied which affected the number of people who attended workshops and visited The Station. After that came a period of political instability which affected public safety and the presence of donors in Iraq. Further more, Covid-19 completely halted life as we knew it for over five months and even when things started to return to something akin to normal, lockdown restrictions were still put in place.

further about his work before and with The Station, the recent partnership with Zain IQ, and his hopes for the future. Below are excerpts of Iraq 24’s conversation with him.

The biggest challenge so far has been the organization’s sustainability. There is always pressure to find solutions to that problem and make The Station able to withstand times of adversity.

Yes, being a trainer, specifically a Microsoft Certified Trainer is something I’m particularly proud of. It has allowed me to share my knowledge of these programs that I hold dear to my heart to over a hundred people. People’s use of the applications has fundamentally changed because of me and many of them received job offers due to the skills they acquired during the training.

A position opened up during one of my training sessions and the Human Resources manager at The Station was present and she offered me the position of Program Manager. When the interview was conducted, an internal decision was made to offer me the role of Executive Director.

The Station’s goal will always be to support youth and to further develop their capabilities,

Ammar Al-Khatib EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATI ON

The blame falls on many parties. Firstly, on the institution of academia itself. From elementary school to the end of college, a large portion of these institutes make the end goal of studying the exams and not gaining knowledge. Students are graduating from prestigious colleges without actually learning critical thinking. When these students learn a new piece of information, they won’t engage with it or try to understand the logic behind it, they will just take it like it is. This creates a docile and uncreative person which is very suitable for a government job. Secondly, the blame also falls on the government. The state hasn’t provided adequate support to the private sector to revitalize it and encourage it to hire these young people. Support doesn’t necessarily have to be financial; it could mean legislating laws to protect

It’s definitely something that The Station aspires to do. We want to expand and reach further cities, especially places where such presence is unheard of and we seek to become pioneers in helping the youth utilize their energy. Such endeavors require the possible partners to believe in our cause.

A SECOND BRANCH OF THE STATION WAS OPENED IN MOSUL LAST YEAR. DO YOU THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR FURTHER EXPANSION INTO OTHER CITIES IN THE FUTURE?

Three years ago the majority of large companies in Iraq, with a few notable exceptions like Zain IQ, didn’t know or understand the concept of entrepreneurship. Whenever we discussed start-up culture with them they replied with: “Why should I support their start-up when I could just hire them in my company?”

Weopportunities.havetoplant the seed of entrepreneurship in new cities and while we are still looking for the most suitable one, we are confident that by mid 2022 we would have started our foray into one of those cities.

The public sector offers a false sense of security. The proof is what happened a couple of months ago with the salary situation. Many people had their salary arrive late, or had it deducted, or their currency value dropped. Some even started receiving their paycheck every 40 days which amounted to them getting paid for only eleven months of the year. Unfortunately, working in the public sector won’t help you learn any new skills or gain new experience. There are ten people doing the work of one, it’s disguised unemployment.

THE STATION RECENTLY SIGNED A THREE-YEAR STANDING MOU AGREEMENT WITH ZAIN. HOW WILL THE STATE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR CHANGE AFTER THESE THREE YEARS?

in three years the amount of support and investment these companies offer is only going to get larger. Programs created by organizations like The Station helped introduce people to start-up culture and the business world which caused a shift that forced these large corporations to reconsider the position.

Things have changed. Nowadays, these companies understand the need for entrepreneurship and believe in the importance of supporting them. I believe that

WE OFTEN HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT COLLEGE GRADUATES CHOOSE GOVERNMENT JOBS OVER THE PRIVATE SECTOR SINCE THE FORMER OFFERS MORE SOCIAL SECURITY. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

Many mentioned Basra since it’s a major city in the south but The Station believes that Basra shouldn’t get all the attention and support when there are other southern cities that have youth in need of economic

THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING INTEREST IN PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS. DO YOU THINK THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE YOUTH THEMSELVES OR THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ACTIONS AND LAWS?

Of course, it’s not going to be easy, you won’t have a highly successful business in a year’s time and there will be many challenges and difficulties. That being said, the smart and creative person will endure and turn the obstacles into an advantage.

them from foreign competition, fighting corruption, and providing benefits. A lot of young people working in the private sector aren’t aware of the rights they have; they don’t know about social security laws and the fact that employees in the private sector are eligible for retirement pension under certain circumstances.

Many companies avoid registering with the government because of how long and complicated the procedure is, in addition to that rampant corruption. The government has to make an effort to change this.

I highly encourage young people to start their own businesses and to turn an idea in their heads to a source of revenue.

WE ARE SEEING A SMALL RESURGENCE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS OR ADVICE TO GIVE TO THE PEOPLE CONTEMPLATING SWITCHING TO A MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL LINE OF WORK?

ANY FINAL WORDS?

I would like to thank the people who are in this ecosystem of entrepreneurship. Thank you for not thinking of government jobs. Thank you for not waiting for opportunities but creating ones yourself.

Starting your own business would mean an opportunity for learning and growth. Furthermore, it would be a revenue source not just for you but for all the people who are going to work with you, this would greatly help our local economy.

One of the best places to kickstart your own business is your graduation project in the final year of college. Students will have to think and plan for their project or code and it’s a great opportunity to turn that into a business. Unfortunately, we all know how weak and underwhelming the state of these projects are currently.

Of course, companies in the private sector are also afraid of spending time, money, and effort on training an employee only for said employee to leave them for a different company. There has to be laws that protect both the employee and the employer.

business, new products and highlight the diversity of Iraq’s art Meanwhilescene.inMosul, we launched NinevArt, funded by UNESCO and the European Union. This programme has seen the creation of our second creativeSpace in addition to many activities. If you are a young creative in Mosul and would like to develop your professional skills join us and compete in a pitch battle to win the opportunity to have your project funded in Mosul, or abroad. Other activities will include documentary making workshops, art therapy, as well as numerous other activities throughout the year.

theStream will resume after Ramadan with more live sessions that will focus on key areas of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Previous discussion points this year have related to the devaluation of the dinar and the opportunities that may arise; environmental entrepreneurship and its role in the climate crisis; and women in the creative industries. In July, expect our first sessions related to the video game industry in Iraq as well as an upcoming session on marketing. In August, we will turn our attention to architecture and the creative scene. Don’t forget to tune in online, or join us in our event hall.

By Ashley Barlow

Whilst we will have many events at both creativeSpace, one of the first regular groups will be our film club This will be an opportunity for individuals to meet and discuss the themes and ideas about international and national film. Our concerts are back, with new and exciting artists bringing you evenings of music. Come and get involved!

Once again we find ourselves in uncertain times, but don’t worry! The Station still has an exciting year ahead, delivering new and exciting programmes and Weopportunities.aredelighted

to announce a major new development at The Station, designed to support the creative industries in Baghdad! We recently opened our creativeSpace branches in Baghdad and Mosul, a new and exciting co-working space dedicated for artists, designers and the artistic community! The creativeSpace Baghdad will be a hub for Iraqis working in the cultural sector. Generously supported by the National Bank of Iraq, we will be hosting 15 creatives who will benefit from the use of the space to do their work, access mentors and exhibit their work. We will also be bringing exciting new programmes for those who want to enhance their skills or try something different! In addition, we will have new training rooms, with two dedicated for music rehearsal space so we can continue to support those who want to build up their musical expertise. Stay tuned to see what is coming up with new events, exhibitions, and Asprogrammes!weopen the creativeSpace, we are excited to launch our first programme dedicated to supporting the artist community here in Baghdad! Crossroads is The Station’s project in collaboration with the British Council’s Masarat initiative. We will be inviting participants to join one of four different workshops: photography, calligraphy, mosaic making, and collage. Participants will learn new skills, enhance their abilities and have the opportunity to pitch for a residency in the creativeSpace where they will also benefit from mentorship. This will culminate in a final exhibition to be held later this year. This programme is a celebration of Iraqi artistic traditions that can be applied to

This year, The Station has been selected to hold the license for the Global Entrepreneurship Network in Iraq, generously supported by the US Embassy. We will be hosting monthly get togethers, Startup Huddle, for entrepreneurs to share their experiences, stories and challenges. These meet-ups will also have activities to help get you thinking creatively before finishing with a coffee break whilst networking with the community. The GEN will also be supporting those startups with exciting opportunities over the year to network, attend physical and online events, as well as gain international exposure for their project.

Our mentorship services, as part of our wider Yanhad programme, are underway and it is an opportunity for you to also request support from our mentors. These services are available to startups and SMES from within our cowering space, or from outside. Contact us to find out more.

Coursera Learning programme, through the support of the Central Bank of Iraq and the Iraqi Private Banks League, has allowed us to provide certified courses to hundreds of people across Iraq. Currently, many participants who have signed up are studying with major international universities in fields relating to business development, English, creativity and programming! We will be announcing periodic opportunities to sign up for new pathways and have even more people join the programme to enhance their CV. If you have not received your license just yet, we aim to continue delivering them as soon as more spaces are available, keep an eye on your email inbox!

Raidaat is back for 2021 and if there are any female entrepreneurs in Mosul, Baghdad or Karbala looking to develop their ideas, look out for opportunities. This programme, sponsored by the Embassy of France, will train you on how to develop your ideas, gain key insights from the business world and pitch in local and national

The Station is always keen to extend its services to other parts of the country, and is cooking something up for the community in Basra, Amara and Nasiriyah. We can’t say much right now, but keep your eyes peeled for something coming soon!

Our flagship Yanhad programme continues in both Baghdad and Mosul with exciting opportunities to get involved. Over the next few months our preincubation projects will be continuing to support those entrepreneurs in the areas to develop their ideas into viable business ideas. From May, we will also be looking for new participants to join our ideation programme in Mosul - if you have an idea, keep your eyes open! In addition, we have coding bootcamps underway in Baghdad and Mosul. A new group will be opening in Mosul in May, so if you have an interest in developing your programming skills, be prepared to sign up.

As always, follow our social media to see what we have coming up and how you can get involved, our team is always working tirelessly to bring fresh ideas for the community so stay tuned for even more updates!

Our friends in the Himma Project will be launching new exciting opportunities to get involved with their activities as they start their 2021 project. Debates, exhibitions, campaigning and an upcoming play!

Ourcompetitions.

7- The process of coming up with innovative ideas that solve specific problems and turning them into a profitable venture or startup while involving some risk.

How Fast Can You Solve this Puzzle?

3- A space where humans work close-by, usually entrepreneurs, startups, and freelancers to save costs and establish communities.

1-Across

5- How a business plans to generate revenue.

C R O WS ROS D

10- A newly-established business built on a unique idea/service

2-Down

9- A firm specialized in injecting capital to scalable startups after due diligence on behalf of its members, usually run by a partner.

4- The ideal group of individuals a business aims their resources at to target and serve.

Individuals who contribute capital for startups and small businesses.

6- Anytime money is raised from one or more investors, usually denoted by a letter.

ENTREPRENEURSHIPLet’sMake Business Fun

Co-edited by Fatima Saadoon

8- Programs offering training, networking, and mentoring to startups in early/ideation/pre-ideation stages to help them launch and overcome challenges during establishment.

Programs that offer training, networking, and mentoring to startups in middle/late-stages.

The Journal - Fifth Issue

Articles inside

COMING UP

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

THE PUBLIC SECTOR OFFERS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY

A BASIC GUIDE TO THE LABOR MARKET

3 BOOKS

10,000 WAYS THAT WON`T WORK

WHY ARE ENTREPRENEURS OUR MODERN-DAY HEROES?

HOW IT ALL STARTED: A SHORT HISTORY OF MODERN START-UP CULTURE

BRIDGING GENDER DIVIDES

THINK SMALL

WELCOME

LET’S GO GREEN TOGETHER

WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA IMPORTANT FOR

CREATING GOOD UI/UX FOR YOUR STARTUP

IRAQ’S FIRST CREATIVE INCUBATOR

USING INFLUENCERS FOR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL IN IRAQ