CSA · Vocational · 4 months
Entrepreneurship
Turn local problems and resources into businesses you can plan, price, and present with confidence.
Vocational
Entrepreneurship
Turn local problems and resources into businesses you can plan, price, and present with confidence.
4 months16 weeks · 17 modules · Chitral-focused
Programme preview: overview card
Overview
About this programme
This programme is built for aspiring entrepreneurs in Chitral who want practical skills, not abstract theory. You will learn what a business is, how to spot opportunities in dry fruit, tourism, handicrafts, farming, and more, and how to validate ideas by talking to real customers.
Across four months you will write a one-page business plan, track money, price products correctly, use free digital tools to sell online, build a brand, and prepare for setbacks. A bonus module on sustainability helps you grow responsibly using Chitral's natural and community strengths.
The course ends with Business Presentation Day: a complete, launchable plan you pitch to classmates, mentors, and guests — with next steps to SMEDA, local chambers, and ongoing support.
Market demand
Local enterprise needs founders who can plan and execute
Chitral's economy runs on trade, crafts, tourism, and agriculture. Families and young people increasingly want formal, scalable ventures — but need help with registration, pricing, digital sales, and resilience. Programmes that connect ideas to SMEDA, microfinance, and real customers fill a clear gap.
Growing interest in tourism, homestays, and online craft sales
Government and NGO schemes for youth entrepreneurship (Kamyab Jawan, SMEDA)
Communities rewarding businesses that hire locally and sell beyond the district
What you will learn
Learning modules
What is Business & Entrepreneurship?
Jobs, trades, and businesses; product vs service models; formal vs informal — with Chitral examples.
- Identify business types and link them to local opportunities
Entrepreneurial Mindset & Local Opportunities
Growth mindset, local problem-solving, and validating ideas by talking to ten people.
- Generate at least three business ideas from local problems or resources
Understanding Your Customer
Local vs outside buyers, simple interviews, customer profiles, and seasonal demand in Chitral.
- Build a simple customer profile for your business idea
Basic Business Structure & Registration
Sole proprietorship, partnership, company; SECP, SMEDA, NTN; brand vs legal name.
- Choose a structure and know the registration steps for your idea
Simple Business Plan Writing
One-page lean plan: problem, solution, customer, revenue — with a guided workshop.
- Written one-page business plan for your idea
Basic Finance & Bookkeeping
Revenue, costs, profit, fixed vs variable costs, cash book, and separating personal money.
- Two-week expense and income record (real or simulated business)
Pricing & Profitability
True product cost, margins, competitive and value-based pricing for crafts and tourism.
- Full cost + margin pricing breakdown for your product or service
Funding & Microfinance Options
Bootstrapping, community funding, SMEDA, Akhuwat, Khushhali Bank, Kamyab Jawan.
- Know at least three funding options and basic eligibility
Building a Sustainable Business
Financial, social, and environmental sustainability; green tourism; buy local, sell local.
- Sustainability self-assessment with at least two improvements for your venture
Social Media for Business
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Business — pages, content, catalogs, and online trust.
- WhatsApp Business profile set up with first product content posted
Selling Online — E-Commerce Basics
Daraz, COD vs JazzCash/EasyPaisa, shipping from Chitral, returns and complaints.
- Product listed on Daraz or WhatsApp with a simulated complete sale
Free Digital Tools for Running a Business
Canva, Google Sheets, Maps, AI captions, and Google Forms for feedback.
- Business poster in Canva and Google Maps listing started
Tourism & Hospitality as a Business
Homestays, guided tours, local food; Airbnb, Booking.com; professional guest communication.
- Simple listing or profile for a tourism offering (where applicable)
Branding & Business Identity
Logo, name, colours, brand story, packaging, and consistent look across channels.
- Final brand name, logo, and consistent visual identity
Sales Skills & Customer Communication
60-second pitch, objections, repeat customers, WhatsApp professionalism, negotiation.
- Deliver a 60-second pitch to the class
Operations, Supply & Quality
Inventory, suppliers, quality standards, order-to-delivery workflow, and growth decisions.
- Full operational flow mapped for your specific business
Problem-Solving & Business Resilience
Low sales, reviews, cash gaps, pivoting, emergency savings, burnout, and recovery stories.
- One-page "what if" plan for your top two business risks
Final Project — Business Presentation Day
Compile idea, customer, plan, pricing, branding, and digital presence; present to mentors.
- Complete launchable business plan presented; certificate and next-step connections
Structure
Curriculum
Month 1
Business foundation & mindset
- M1 — What is business & entrepreneurship? (dry fruit, tourism, crafts, farming examples)
- M2 — Entrepreneurial mindset & local opportunities (validate with 10 conversations)
- M3 — Understanding your customer (profiles, seasonal demand)
- M4 — Business structure & registration in Pakistan (SECP, SMEDA, NTN)
Month 2
Business planning & finance basics
- M5 — One-page business plan workshop (lean canvas simplified)
- M6 — Finance & bookkeeping (cash book, personal vs business money)
- M7 — Pricing & profitability (cost + margin, crafts & tourism)
- M8 — Funding & microfinance (bootstrapping, Kamyab Jawan, Akhuwat)
- Bonus — Building a sustainable business (environment, community, circular economy)
Month 3
Technology, marketing & digital tools
- M9 — Social media for business (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Business)
- M10 — Selling online & e-commerce (Daraz, COD, JazzCash, shipping from Chitral)
- M11 — Free digital tools (Canva, Sheets, Maps, AI captions, Forms)
- M12 — Tourism & hospitality (homestays, listings, photography for guests)
Month 4
Sales, branding & business launch
- M13 — Branding & identity (logo, story, packaging, consistent channels)
- M14 — Sales skills & customer communication (pitch, objections, negotiation)
- M15 — Operations, supply & quality (inventory, suppliers, workflow)
- M16 — Problem-solving & resilience (pivot, savings buffer, stress management)
- M17 — Business Presentation Day (peer feedback, certificates, SMEDA & mentor next steps)
Next step
Ready to join Entrepreneurship?
Join the waitlist for Entrepreneurshipand we'll contact you when intake opens with start dates, fees, and prerequisites.