The Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG)’s “Semana Emprende” (Entrepreneurship Week) is an annual event consisting of a week-long set of workshops, lectures, and forums dedicated to celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation culture at UVG. During this year’s Semana Emprende, representatives from the ASPIRE Project hosted an event to launch a program entitled “El Camino del Emprendedor UVG” or “The Path of the UVG Entrepreneur”. During this event, presenters outlined a set of  pathways available to the UVG community meant to help them develop their business acumen and strengthen their entrepreneurial endeavors.

“El Camino del Emprendedor is a program that will provide information about activities that can help young entrepreneurs grow their business skills, seek support, and further promote their work. The launch event for this program also gave its participants an opportunity to connect with other actors in UVG’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

“El Camino del Emprendedor UVG” focuses on five components that, in no specific order, are designed to provide support to potential entrepreneurs at UVG:

• Inspiration: Activities that celebrate and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit within the UVG Community.
• Training: Entrepreneurship training programs and activities that expose entrepreneurs to the existing ecosystem.
• Communication: News stories and channels dedicated to entrepreneurship at UVG.
• Support: Support and mentoring services for entrepreneurs and ventures at all stages.
• Connection: Spaces to build alliances and connect with organizations within the local innovation ecosystem.

The “El Camino del Emprendedor” program seeks to host ongoing activities within the UVG community to strengthen an entrepreneurship culture within the university, and potentially make  an impact at a national and regional level. 

One example of the services this program will offer is the Entrepreneurial Growth Bootcamp. This initiative consists of a 4-day intensive training bootcamp for people who want to start their own business and develop a business model. Beyond the bootcamp, UVG will continue to host local networking, as well as other cultural activities. 

Another highlight of this launch event was the introduction of the UVG Entrepreneurial Mentoring Service (EMS). This free of charge, business mentoring program will support entrepreneurs of the UVG community and AGEXPORT. The innovative service uses the mentorship methodology of the MIT Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS). During “Semana Emprende” it was announced that the UVG-EMS pilot program will take place between October 2023 and August 2024, starting with 10 entrepreneurs and 20 mentors.

These are just a few of the many offerings planned for  “El Camino del Emprendedor UVG”. This program is supported by the ASPIRE project as part of their efforts to help strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at UVG. For more information about these programs and support to entrepreneurs, please reach out to Jorge Mario Garcia, Entrepreneurship Coordinator at ASPIRE: jmgarcia@uvg.edu.gt or to crea@uvg.edu.gt.

Jorge Marío Garcia during the presentation of “El Camino del Emprendedor”.

Students during the activities of the launch of “El Camino del Emprendedor”.

Members of Club Emprende and ASPIRE.

Students competing during activities at Semana Emprende.

About the ASPIRE Project

ASPIRE is a five-year, $15 million project, funded by USAID, and implemented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), and the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT). This partnership leverages existing assets and brings together new methods of expansion for the innovation, research, and entrepreneurship capacities of higher education institutions in Latin America. The project will create a replicable, world-class model for how higher education institutions and their collaborators in the private sector, government, and local communities can address local and regional development challenges.