As the UVG Entrepreneurial Mentoring Service (EMS) concludes its inaugural pilot phase, the program, designed to support entrepreneurial growth within the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) community, has already demonstrated remarkable success. Participants like Alfredo Zayas, a graduate of UVG’s Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Composition and Production and founder of the audio-branding companyUpper Sound, have benefitted from the program’s structured mentorship and expert guidance. Implemented by the ASPIRE Project through UVG’s CREA Entrepreneurship Center, the program was developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT), USAID, and the MIT Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS). Now that the pilot phase has come to an end, UVG EMS will be expanded to serve the entire UVG community, offering invaluable support to entrepreneurs seeking professional growth and success.

Through mentorship with business experts, the UVG EMS program helped Alfredo “get his house in order,” giving his venture a more professional structure and identifying growth opportunities for his company. For Alfredo, the mentors’ knowledge was invaluable, and they are “the central point” of the UVG EMS program. “I would set up the toys, and they would tell me how to assemble them,” Alfredo explained, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in his development as an entrepreneur.

Another positive aspect Alfredo highlighted was the structure of the mentorship sessions. These sessions occurred every three months, during which Alfredo met simultaneously with three mentors.

Alfredo’s consistency and perseverance played a key role in his success in the program and his growth as an entrepreneur. “We supported an entrepreneur who was disciplined,” said Juan Zauner, one of Alfredo’s mentors during the pilot phase.

For Alfredo, the operational, financial, and strategic lessons learned during the program were among the most valuable takeaways. He recalled that during his first mentoring session, the experts told him, “You don’t have a company; you have a store.” This honest and constructive feedback motivated Alfredo to better define his company’s structure and proved to be one of the program’s most impactful lessons.

Alfredo Zayas during the closing of the UVG EMS pilot program. Photo: ASPIRE

Alfredo’s experience with UVG EMS has inspired him to participate in additional entrepreneurial learning opportunities. He is currently enrolled in the D-Risking program, an initiative by UVG’s Technology Transfer Office (OTT) that prepares entrepreneurs to secure their first round of investment capital.

More recently, Alfredo encouraged fellow entrepreneurs and UVG students to “take advantage of the tools offered by the University,” emphasizing that there are few places with such valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs. He also highlighted that UVG “offers a comprehensive process” for entrepreneurial growth. Beyond teaching theoretical concepts in the classroom, UVG provides hands-on programs like UVG EMS and D-Risking that support entrepreneurs at every stage of their development.

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.