The Global Access Program for Companies (GAP) is an initiative of the University of California Los Angeles, Anderson School of Management (UCLA) and Fundación Chile.
The program is designed to aid emerging and innovative companies, with an eye on globalization, with business plans and/or management growth strategy that is sufficiently attractive to draw local or international investors into participating in their growth.
Features of the GAP Program
The program aims to establish contacts with local companies that develop commercial products, preferably with high added value, and that are in the phase of globalizing their operations, to provide attractive investment opportunities.
Generally when rapid growth companies are in a full phase of expanding operations, they often face problems of management, lack of skills to reach outside markets and few contacts or accesses to sources of financing such as risk capital funds.
With the adoption of the GAP program, a team of MBA students from UCLA's Anderson School of Business will analyze them, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and identify the threats and opportunities for growth. All of this with the aim of finally developing a robust business model that the company can use to implement a growth strategy and present an attractive business plan to potential investors, in order to finance their expansion.
For six months the teams of students will work together to develop the project's objective. Since the companies' requirements are not the same, there are no identical projects. The work may include feasibility analysis, market evaluation, formulation of strategies and/or the development of business plans.
The program begins with a launching ceremony in June in the Anderson School of Business - in Los Angeles, CA - with professors from this university as well as professionals and investors attending. During this same weekend, the companies will begin working with the teams of students.
The program ends with the presentation of the work at the KNAPP forum for investors on December 8-9, a televised event that is held at the Anderson School of Management.
Program results
When the program ends the companies will have:
A business plan with a globalized concept of activities, prepared for presentation to investors.
A growth management strategy.
Contacts with the international investment community.
Requirements for participation and application process
Eligible companies
Technology-based companies of interest for the GAP program include those that offer some innovation or innovative product in the following areas:
a) Products or services where digital information is generated, managed or distributed. This includes software, e-business and communications. In general, innovations in the field of info-communications.
b) Biotechnology, drugs, medical devices or equipment.
c) Developments in materials, nanotechnology, composite materials, semiconductors, fuel cells, etc.
d) Entertainment products or multimedia creations, including films, music, television, video on demand, etc.
Selection criteria
The participants in the GAP program will be selected competitively according to the following criteria:
Technology: the company selected should have the technological foundation required for the product or service that is offered, employees, an ongoing business and high probability for growth. The technology must be innovative and tested.
Global market: the company should have the potential to sell its products in international markets.
Financial viability: able to sustain market growtho
Strategic position: should have a detailed strategy for the growth plan.
Marketability: the product to be offered should be technically ready for the market within a moderate risk and the company should have enough scientific and technical know-how for the product's development.
Commitment: the partners should show a long term commitment with the business.
Intellectual property: the procedures for the protection of intellectual property rights should be resolved. It should have international rights for the technology.
Management: information should be provided about the key upper management personnel and their management ability.
Ability to accept intervention: the management must be able to adopt new processes to develop strength in the business
Investment required: the need for capital has to be justified by providing the amounts of investment required and their purpose.
Exit strategy: there should be an exit strategy for the investors.
Application and selection process
Fundación Chile will invite the Chilean companies that meet the above-mentioned criteria to apply for the selection process, which will include two phases: National selection and selection of international companies that apply to the GAP.
Phase 1 (National)
Fundación Chile will pre-select each year at least 5 companies that meet the selection criteria and that in its opinion have good possibilities to be selected for Phase 2.
The companies pre-selected to formalize their application should:
Present the application for participation in the program by filling in the Application Form before March 30 of each year.
Present leaflets and/or material about the company and its product or specific service. This material should be preferably in English.
Undergo a pre-selection interview and receive an evaluation visit at the production installations.
All the information from the applicants is treated as confidential.
If necessary, Fundación Chile's pre-selection Committee may consider the participation and/or recommendations, among others, of: CORFO, FONDEF, ACTI, AIE and/or the investor community, depending on the kind of business that applies.
The application and pre-selection deadline for the candidates to the international program is: March of each year. The pre-selected companies must agree to actively participate and assume the costs involved by signing a written commitment.
Phase 2 (GAP)
In this phase, the pre-selected companies will be interviewed by the person in charge of the GAP-UCLA staff in Chile, who will present the Chilean companies to the selection Committee for the different international participants. This Committee will advise Fundación Chile about the final selection of the companies chosen to participate in the development of the business plans.
Costs for program participation
For the applicants accepted in the first phase:
Registration to participate in the program's international selection process US$ 200 in Fundación Chile's name
For the second and final phase of the 2005 UCLA GAP Program, the costs will be:
For final registration in GAP-UCLA Program, US$ 12,500. An installment will be paid in April after official acceptance and the remainder in July.
For successfully obtaining risk capital, 2% of the investment obtained as a result of Fundación Chile's support with investors, with a limit to be agreed.
Costs associated with travel and participants' stay in Los Angeles (UCLA) at the start and end of the program.
Institutions participating in the GAP Program
The University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA, is a global leader and real innovation agent in management education. The Anderson School of Management's "Venture Development" program has a specific mission: to create rapid growth companies, with world class investigators, using this faculty's entrepreneurial means.
Through the international field study program - that is recognized worldwide -, Fundación Chile expands its entrepreneurial support, that begins with the incubation of technology-based companies, with the help needed for their globalization.
Fundación Chile is a non-profit, privately owned institution, created in 1976 by the Chilean Government and ITT Corporation of the United States.
Its mission is to increase the competitivity of human resources and productive and service sectors, by promoting and developing innovations, technology transfer and management that will have an impact on the country.
Centre for Innovation and Business Development (CIDEM)
The Centre for Innovation and Business Development is an agency of the Cataln Government's Ministry of Employment and Industry whose mission is to improve Catalonia's industrial community and increase its competitiveness.
Italy
Istituto Superiore Mario Boella (ISMB), Founded by Compagnia di San Paolo and Politecnico di Torino, it promotes info communications in the region of Turín, through synergies between University and industry.
New Zealand
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is a government agency that promotes trade. It also supports the international development of New Zealand businesses.
Ireland
Enterprise Ireland is a government agency responsible for the development of Irish industry
Chilean companies that have participated in the GAP Program
1998
ANDEAN MINING TECHNOLOGIES
Manufacturer of process control instruments. It participated in the first international version of UCLA's international program, Venture Program, that later gave rise to the GAP. The market strategy attracted the interest of investors, and financing for a new manufacturing plant was obtained. Its products and process control instruments are exported from its location on Américo Vespuccio Ave. in Santiago.
1999
AGROQUALITY
It has positioned itself in the market thanks to its technology based on ozone to protect fruit quality. As a result of the strategy designed in the GAP business plan, it opened a subsidiary in the United States.
GARDEN HOUSE
Pharmaceutical laboratory that produces drugs and food supplements based on natural products. The business plan strategy led to product diversification. Today the company has subsidiaries in Argentina, Chile, Spain, Paraguay and Peru. It also exports to other countries in Latin America.
2000
OPTIMISA
A company that develops integral IT solutions, creator of the on-line Internal Revenue Service system. Its vision was to offer similar developments in the North American market, but the Gap business plan strategy recommended other markets, such as Scandinavia.
CIMA
Cima is an organization that offers brand perception services through the Internet. Recently it has been working actively in expanding its activities throughout Latin America and soon it plans to enter North America.
2001
DIAGNOTEC
This biotechnology company has been implementing its strategy on sales and development of products for the aquaculture industry. Once this stage is consolidated it plans to capture support from risk capital.
KYBER
After participating in the GAP program this consulting company in Management of Technological Projects and Automation has focused on putting into practice a development strategy for the Latin American market as recommended and is looking for capital contributions.
ATCOM
A company that provides solutions to optimize the use of telephone systems for Latin American companies. It is now working on implementing the strategy recommended by the UCLA Business School.
2002
DEFONTANA
This firm increases productivity and competitivity by providing financial and management programs through the Internet.
IDT
A company that designs and produces cutting-edge electronic equipment.
BIOSONDA
Created a decade ago by Chilean scientists and businessmen, it provides services and products for developing research projects in biotechnology and biomedicine. It supports and fosters scientific research, establishes links with the university and productive sectors and supports the training of highly qualified human resources.
2003
GRANJAMAR S.A.
A Fundación Chile subsidiary created in 1990 for the production and sale of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), in its egg, larvae, juvenile and adult stages. It has a hatchery with a production of 160 thousand juveniles/year, a hatchery with conditioned broodstock, that allows it to produce eggs and larvae year around and an on-growing facility with a capacity of 40 tons/year of adult turbot, that is mostly sold as fresh whole gutted.
In order to diversify and thanks to its experience in fish farming, it has recently added the production and sale of juveniles of Chilean flounder (Paralichtys adpersus) and Japanese flounder or hirame (Paralichtys olivaceus).
2004
iUNO
iUn0 was created in 2001 and it offers consulting, development and implementation of business applications in Internet architecture. It is one of the Quintec Group companies, which is one of the biggest holding companies in the technology area in Chile.
TRAZACHILE
TRAZACHILE is the leader in traceability systems technology, that permits producers and exporters to implement follow-up on their products and to meet the new requirements that came into force as of January 1, 2005.
TRAZACHILE is a pioneer worldwide in the implementation of the first on-line Global Traceability System, through which suppliers, producers, exporters, certifying agencies and final consumers can store, connect and consult traceability records for food products on the Internet.
This international platform permits efficient access to traceable information about food products. TRAZACHILE also offers different traceability-related products and services from assistance, training, and information management to the implementation of computer systems, including the development and integration of software and hardware.
Companies participating in the 2005 GAP program
Australia: Tech Angels Australia and Australian Government Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) - 5 companies.
Barcelona, Centro para la Innovación y el desarrollo Empresarial (CIDEM), Programa Inova and La Salle University - 3 companies
Finland- National Technology Agency of Finland (TEKES)- 11 companies.
Ireland- Enterprise Ireland- 1 company.
Ireland- Enterprise Ireland- 1 company.
Italy - Istituto Superiore Mario Boella (ISMB), Torino Wireless and API Torino- 9 11 companies.
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) - 6 companies.
United States- 1 company.
Important dates: Phase 1
National selection of companies and application November 2005 - March 10, 2006
Phase 2: International selection of companies March 10 - April 15
Requirements for applying: see eligible companies, selection criteria and details of the GAP Program athttp://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x1294.xml