Turning refugee entrepreneurs into online store owners.
SPARK needed a curriculum that produced working businesses, not certificates. Ten weeks of design, thirteen modules in two languages, and 381 live storefronts later.
Why do most entrepreneurship programmes fail to produce businesses?
Because they teach theory and measure attendance.
Conflict-affected regions are not short of entrepreneurial ambition. What they lack is specific operational knowledge: how to select a platform, connect a payment gateway that works in your country, reach buyers across a border, and comply with e-commerce law in your jurisdiction.
A programme that stops at business-plan writing produces business plans. A programme that ends with a live storefront taking payment produces businesses. The gap between the two is entirely operational — and it is where curricula usually stop.
What did SPARK need?
A turn-key curriculum that could take refugee-led micro-businesses in Türkiye from ambition to revenue: delivered bilingually, replicable across locations, and rigorous enough to stand behind.
Three specific gaps to close — specialised e-commerce know-how, practical digital marketing skills, and cross-border market access, particularly into Saudi Arabia.
How was the curriculum built?
- Discover & DesignNeeds analysis, learner personas and KPI definition, with three workshops alongside SPARK and local mentors.2 weeks
- Develop & ValidateTen core modules, 42 micro-videos, quizzes and templates, with weekly sprint reviews.6 weeks
- Deploy & SupportTrainer guide, LMS upload, live Q&A and a structured feedback loop.2 weeks
What does the curriculum cover?
Thirteen modular chapters, bilingual in Arabic and Turkish, mixable to fit local programme needs:
- 01Introduction to e-commerceOpportunities, challenges, business models
- 02Planning your ventureMarket research, product strategy, revenue models
- 03Building the online storePlatform selection, setup, management
- 04User experienceDesign fundamentals and usability testing
- 05Privacy and cybersecuritySSL, data protection, PCI compliance
- 06Digital marketingSEO, SEM, social and content
- 07AI productivity toolsUsing AI to scale workflows
- 08Customer serviceSatisfaction measurement and retention
- 09Payments and logisticsGateways, shipping partners, fulfilment
- 10Legal and regulatoryTürkiye e-commerce law, GDPR, IP
- 11Growth, funding and cross-border exportKPIs, investor readiness, Saudi market entry
- 12E-commerce careers and team roles
- 13Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Every module includes quizzes, downloadable templates and KPI trackers.
What were the results?
Certified, and trading
381 of 1,315 certified entrepreneurs finished the programme with a storefront trading — the measure the curriculum was designed around.
Per store, per month
Average monthly sales per live store. Real revenue reaching a refugee-led micro-business every month, from a standing start.
Why did SPARK choose Umbrella500?
Most training providers offer one of three things: business management expertise, entrepreneurship training experience, or hands-on e-commerce operations. SPARK needed all three in the same team.
Our people have launched e-commerce operations, designed digital sales strategies, managed marketplace logistics and supported entrepreneurs in real-world conditions — not just taught about them.
Umbrella500 is the only partner we found that blended business strategy, e-commerce execution, and not-for-profit empathy.
Throughout the collaborative process, Umbrella500 has demonstrated a keen understanding of the unique needs and requirements of SPARK's young entrepreneurs. Their receptiveness to feedback and their proactive approach to incorporating suggestions have been instrumental in refining the curriculum to align perfectly with the goals and objectives of our programme.
Halil Can EmreProject Manager, SPARK Türkiye Office
