Early Stage Investment Readiness Programmes (“ESIRP”) is organized by the Brickstone Africa for project companies seeking to join Brickstone Infrastructure Accelerator Programme.

Program Details

The ESIR is a mix of virtual and in-person programming. There is an 5-8 weeks of virtual programming in each cohort, in addition to 1 day+ in-person sessions of connecting with your cohort and networking with our global community. The majority of virtual webinars will be held via Zoom. Upon acceptance into the program, we request full participation in our webinars, events and workshops held in in partnership with the African Catalyst InfraConnect

Register your interest by filling out this form at the bottom of this page, minimum requirments is 8 people per project development group. The programme’s session a paid programme, to be paid in full upon acceptance

Step 1: Capacity Building & Project Definition

We start with the Capacity Building & Project Definition Stage as there is need for training and capacity building programme that provides a solid grasp of basic project finance awareness in order to agree with other project stakeholders and appreciate project finance principles that affect the value of their large scale projects – This is called the Developing & Financing Infrastructure Projects

The Capacity Building & Project Definition is focused on building the frameworks for Project Bankability.

The Stage aims to equip sponsors and investors with the tools to understand project development and financing life cycles. The course is designed to assist sponsors to develop an understanding of the importance of linking financial, commercial and planning issues in developing large infrastructure projects. ( People who have completed Developing & Financing Infrastructure Projects)
Upon completion students must complete their Capstone Reports (1) Project Definition Report (2) Project Bankability Plan (3) Project Finance Roadmap.

Step 2: Early Stage Investment Preparation

The goal is to discuss the Issues the Project would require to attract Early Stage Investment

Achieving Predictable Cashflow

We develop strategies to ensure the Project can be characterized by a high degree of cashflow predictability under a (partial or full) Contracted Revenue Arrangement with a creditworthy counterparty

Design the Commercial Structure for the proposed Project to achieve bankability

Development of Risk Register

A Risk Register would be opened as a dashboard to manage the Key Project Risks

Description of key project risks (including underfunding, foreign exchange, contractual, marketing, administrative and other risks) and risk minimization options

We would provide Guidance on developing Risk Register by the Project Company

Preliminary Financial Appraisal

Preliminary Financial Model of project would be developed based on its anticipated Core Counter-Party Contract Arrangements (or Publicity Available Data) would developed as a Sponsor Based Financial Model

Much of this information would be dependent on various inputs and data received during the data gathering stage from the client,

Technical Appriasal

To review and design a Plan for Work required to produce quality process and engineering documentation for a Tender Process to engage the Main Contractor

We would also review and confirm if the project vehicle can perform the O&M itself; or can enter into an O&M agreement with an independent third party

Project Governance

We provide emphasis on corporate governance of the Project, the “G” in ESG. Corporate governance includes factors such as corporate structure, board composition, business ethics and anti-corruption.

We would design a Governance Plan for the project from Pre-Construction , Construction and Post Construction

Regulatory & Compliance Planning

Regulatory Requirements of the Project would look at documentations and regulatory approvals required to operate the Project Asset. We would also look at the SPV Formation issues such as the Shareholder’s Agreement and other Sponsor Compliance Issues

We would develop a Regulatory & SPV Compliance Plan for Project

ESG & Climate

Participants would be engaged and introduced to the Industry standards and guidelines which are often the foundation for investors’ ESG management systems and the possible Climate Issues the Project would deal with especially during the post-development phase.

A plan would be designed on how their project can comply with ESG and Climate Requirements

Updated Project Deck

Prepration of a startup Infrastructure Project Deck takes a different approach for SME or Tech Startups

We’ll dig deeply to determine the required technical, commercial, legal and environmental parameters to be included in the Project Deck and provide strategic advice to aimed at attracting Early Stage Financing

Step 3: Project Pitch Preparation

Upon Conclusion of the ESIR, InfraLAB startups would receive intensive pitch prep from a suite of Brickstone InfraLAB Programme Partners we would help to refine their stories, sharpen their decks, and challenge their most essential underlying assumptions.

After pitch prep, Infraprenuers go through demanding Mock Infrastructure type VC Meetings with experienced investors from the African Catalyst community.