CREAción, an extracurricular course supported by the ASPIRE project through the UVG CREA Entrepreneurship Center of Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), allowed 20 participants to develop their entrepreneurial ideas through an intensive program focused on creating and validating prototypes of innovative products or services.  Throughout eight modules of the program, key aspects of product development were addressed, from reviewing value propositions to final validation through prototypes.

Marlon Gonzalez, a Mechanical Engineering student, highlighted: “Learning to transform ideas into tangible and functional models was key for me. This course not only strengthened my skills in design and prototyping, but also taught me to think strategically about how my products can be useful in real life.”

From the first session, participants were immersed in a dynamic environment where theoretical learning was integrated with experimentation. The first stage of the course focused on market segmentation, an essential skill for any entrepreneur. Learning to identify a target audience, understand its needs, and adapt solutions, allowed them to detect real business opportunities and adapt their proposals to specific problems.

Course participant showing his prototype. Image: ASPIRE

The creation process continued with the prototyping phase, where students developed preliminary product designs. This step presented a creative and technical challenge: determining the best way to transform ideas into tangible forms. Constant experimentation and collaboration with professionals from different disciplines—designers, engineers, and Design Thinking experts— provided essential support to refine their designs and generate more robust solutions.

Edgar Chen, a Mechatronics Engineering student at UVG, described CREAción as: “an enriching experience; the participatory and dynamic environment allowed me to expand my ideas thanks to the feedback and comments from the workshop leaders and participants, which were very useful in identifying details and making adjustments that improved our prototype.”

Student with a tea-based beverage that he developed. Image: ASPIRE

Innovating Through Collaboration Across Disciplines

One of the most valuable aspects of CREAción was its interdisciplinary teams. Students from various majors collaborated with professors and experts from fields such as engineering, chemistry, marketing, and product design. This diversity fostered the development of innovative projects, such as the production of macadamia flour, 3D-printed prostheses, and nanoparticles for water purification. These projects not only reflect the participants’ creativity but also their commitment to creating sustainable and socially impactful solutions.

CREAción provided students with a platform to tackle real-world challenges, ranging from food and health to environmental issues. Throughout the course, each participant focused their efforts on devising solutions that addressed specific needs. During the validation phase, students received feedback from potential customers and users, which was essential for refining and optimizing their prototypes.

Paulina Leal, a Chemistry student, said: “The course exceeded my expectations and fulfilled my main objective: learning from multiple perspectives. Not only was the content excellent, but it also left me with the motivation to want to apply everything I learned. Furthermore, getting out of my usual circle and meeting colleagues from other disciplines further enriched the experience; both the exhibitors and the participants were friendly and willing to share ideas. I am very grateful for everyone’s support, the refreshments, and the positive attitude. It was definitely the best course I took this semester, and I know I will miss this experience.”

This course underscores the UVG CREA Entrepreneurship Center’s dedication to equipping entrepreneurs with the skills and mindset to innovate and create meaningful change in their communities. It also leaves behind a valuable resource for future students: a detailed guide outlining goals, materials, and step-by-step instructions for each module. This ensures the course can be easily replicated and scaled to reach more young people, inspiring them to turn transformative ideas into reality.

About the ASPIRE Project

The Achieving Sustainable Partnerships for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) Project is a five-year, $15 million project funded by USAID and implemented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), and the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT), with the goal of creating a world-class replicable model for how universities, in collaboration with the private sector, government, and local communities, can respond to local and regional development needs. The project implements a collaborative approach, based on MIT’s experience in the innovation ecosystem.