PROACTIS: SKILLS TO LIVE BY

A. - PRODUCT: Proactis will transfer entrepreneurial knowledge thru distance learning. Knowledge will be accompanied by on-line advisory and coaching. Product aims to build capacity and management competences to small business. Proactis is innovative because combines both distance learning and on-line coaching. Product includes educational material plus other services aimed to assist customer in actual business management. Product includes features as follows:
1. - Access to distance learning platform comprised of eight courses displayed in PDF and MS Producer. 2. — On -line advisory and coaching services regarding courses material and real world problems.
3. - Evaluation and certification for approved courses. 4. - Commercial Web site design and hosting.
5. - Original Microsoft Windows software. 6. - Original Microsoft Office Tutors. 7.- Access to government Web sites related to small business activities. Price for one year subscription is US $ 120.00 making a cost of US $10.00 per month.
B. - TARGETED MARKET: All currently small business owners in Perú. National statistics show 502,076 existing small businesses. We plan to sale 3000 programs per year. By year 3 programs sold would be around 9,000 programs. This figure signifies less than 10% of whole potential market in Peru.
C. - PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS: They will buy Proactis because:
1. - It is practicable: What they learn is totally usable in business practices.
2. - It is direct: Customer’s relationship with Proactis is actual and immediate.
3. - It is personalized: Customer will accede to a personal relation with his/her coach.
4. - It is applicable: New knowledge acquired is totally applicable to actual business.
5. - It is different: There are not precedents of this kind of service in Peru.

A. - Accordingly with 2004 statistics the Peruvian small business sector composition is as follows:
1. - Sales. Under US $ 90,000 per year. 467,001 Units.
2. - Sales. Between US $ 90,000 and $ 900,000+ per year. 35,075 Units.
Total Small Business Sector: 502,076 Units.
MARKETING STRATEGIC PLAN: Immediately after launching Proactis will deploy an aggressive plan of marketing. Strategy aims to positioning Proactis within small business market within initial six months. Microsoft has committed to organize special events in the twelve largest cities. Simultaneously, Lumen Sapientiae NGO assisted by PC Performance will display massive mail to all potential customers within our existing data base. Public organisms related to small business will be named sponsors at no cost. Private entities working on social field will be invited to advertise with Proactis. Success of this strategy would be assessed due to sharing of prestige with Microsoft, PC Performance and Lumen NGO.
B. - There is no similar products being offered currently. We do not expect having any competitor by now.
C. — We don’t have business partners. Microsoft Peruvian Branch has furnished to Proactis with funds to pay for designing of courses and printed advertising. PC Performance has supplied Internet server and hosting for initial seven months. Lumen has provides Web designers and master.
D. — Under developed countries are places where getting working capital for this kind of social initiatives is almost impossible. Peru is not the exception. We tried to get financial support from local banks, however, Proactis do NOT qualify as credit individual due to lack of previous credit references. When we tried to introduce applications in our personal names they required physical guaranties such as our homes. They usually charge unaffordable rates of interest. Never the less, the whole human talent structure needed for launching and operation of Proactis is already built with our own contribution. We’ve gotten funds from our sponsors Microsoft and PC Performance however, these funds are still too short.

EMPLOYMENT:
Direct three years after:
4,500 Proactis customers allow 18,000 new permanent jobs with a monthly average salary of Euros 300.
Indirect three years after:
9,000 local suppliers are adding value to supply chain allowing 27,000 new jobs with a monthly average salary of Euros 300 by serving 4,500 businesses.
LIVING STANDARDS:
Small business sector is the most promissory and perhaps the unique chance for poor people to accede to a fairly good salary. Proactis works for leveraging the quality of current living standards by providing a real chance to a better life. Current national per capita earnings are Euros 720/year. Current official lowest salary is Euros 150 per month. Unemployment rate for 2005 was 42%. Our methods of Learning by doing and Training for life are proven tools for improving quality living standards within our communities.
BRIDGING DIVIDES:
Our methods for knowledge transferring help us bridging the most pernicious gaps in between developed and undeveloped nations. Our previous experiences have demonstrated how a well designed program can really meet those mayor needs that are currently affecting us. By bridging digital divide we learned how to build a road over knowledge divide. This goal was gotten because we were educated in English, so, language divide does not matter any more. When we jumped over this divide we approach to bridge technology divide understood as the lack of access to that simple technology that addresses small issues that generate big problems. We understood Corporate Social Responsibility as the most advisable strategy to be applied within all kind and size businesses. I teach this course at my university as a mean to promote knowledge regarding environmental issues that affect the whole world. One of the eight courses introduced by Proactis program explains the necessity of assuming responsible attitudes to protect our natural home.