By José Barillas

“Demo Day” on the first day of the 4D Fest. Photo: ASPIRE

During the week of February 12th to the 16th, the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) became a center of innovative energy with the inaugural 4D Fest. Supported by the ASPIRE project, and organized through the UVG entrepreneurship center UVG CREA and Club Emprende, the festival highlighted the entrepreneurial and innovative culture at UVG, tailored for its newest freshmen students.

Over a three-day period, 4D Fest showcased an array of entrepreneurship opportunities and programs available to UVG students. The first day, titled “Demo Day,” featured different student groups associated with UVG CREA, such as Club Emprende, Hult Prize On-Campus, and representatives of the extracurricular program CREA Training. The second day, “Know Day,” featured entrepreneurship idea pitches from students who participated in CREA Training, with several entrepreneurial students displaying their innovative projects to the public.

Juan Carlos Prera, CEO and founder of InCubre, on the last day of the 4D Fest. Photo: ASPIRE

On the final day, known as “Elevate Day,” Juan Carlos Prera, CEO and founder of InCube, led a presentation on purpose-driven entrepreneurship. In his talk, Prera emphasized the importance of the entrepreneurial spirit and highlighted the diversity of profiles in today’s entrepreneurial landscape. These profiles include Controllers, who show resistance to innovation and seek a high degree of control; the Interconnected, balancing professional success with an enriching personal life, while remaining strongly linked to their social environment; the Makers of Memories, who prioritize creating memorable moments over structure and connectivity; and the Technological Optimists, who adopt the latest technological trends with enthusiasm and stay abreast of the most recent innovations.

Prera stated that while anyone can embark on entrepreneurship, it’s crucial to acknowledge the challenges inherent in the initial founding phases. One such challenge entrepreneurs face is establishing their personal brand, one that should be both disruptive and original. In today’s landscape, social networks serve as invaluable tools to both learn about entrepreneurship, as well as feature the entrepreneur behind the business. Harnessing tools like social media to not only showcase achievements but also the skills that set entrepreneurs apart from their competition, plays a key role in establishing a new personal brand.

Student showing how her innovative Product Design project works. Photo: ASPIRE

Prera concluded with advice on continuing one’s training and the importance of the entrepreneur’s own mindset and mental health. He noted that when young individuals start a business, they must employ key skills, such as adaptability, effective communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Just as important is the prioritization of their mental health, as they navigate the many challenges that mark the early stages of their entrepreneurial career. Furthermore, it is important to understand that these challenges do not indicate failure but rather serve as integral parts of the learning and growth process. Prera ​​recommends young entrepreneurs continually engage in training and development, in order to foster the successful growth of their business.

UVG CREA’s 4D Fest provided an unforgettable opportunity to experience the culture of UVG entrepreneurship and innovation, inviting all attendees to actively engage and contribute to UVG’s dynamic atmosphere of creativity.

About ASPIRE

The 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 Latin American 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 to research, teaching, innovation, entrepreneurship, and tech transfer, based on the combination of local assets and knowledge with MIT’s experience in the innovation ecosystem.