According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Chile 2023 report, women represent 35% of those who start a business. Initiatives such as Conectadas: TechEmpower Biobío are essential to help reduce the gender gap and allow more women to grow in the world of technology-based entrepreneurship.
By: IncubaUdeC Communications incuba@udec.cl | Images: Courtesy of IncubaUdeC
In 2024, the program led by IncubaUdeC and supported by Corfo Biobío through the Viraliza Formación funding line saw the second generation of technological women participants from Conectadas graduate. This was done in collaboration with the entrepreneurs who were part of the Colbún Entrepreneurship Center’s “Yo Puedo” program and Innwork’s “Disruptivas” program, initiatives that also had the support of the Corporation’s Regional Committee.
In total, more than 146 female entrepreneurs from the three provinces of Biobío had the opportunity to access training and personalized support to enhance their projects.
“The first thing I want to do is congratulate the three programs that sought to empower more women in entrepreneurship, each with its differences. We reached many women but also considered 13 communes in the Biobío Region, and that is unprecedented because we are making progress,” said Roberta Lama, executive director of Corfo Biobío.
Conectadas 360: The future is sustainable
In less than a year, 10 of the participants raised public financing for their projects. The success of the program, supported by Alumni UdeC and BCI Pyme, has led IncubaUdeC to plan a third version of Conectadas for 2025, this time with an emphasis on sustainability in a global context where technological solutions play a crucial role in the fight against climate change.
IU points out that through “Conectadas 360: Mapping out your roadmap to sustainability,” they will be able to continue providing training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for women in the region, specifically for those who are interested in improving the impact their products or services generate on society and the environment.
Beatriz Millán, executive director of the University of Concepción’s technological entrepreneurship support platform, emphasizes institutional commitment. “At IncubaUdeC, we are proud to have strengthened female technological entrepreneurs and provided them with tools that impact their businesses and environment. We are projecting toward 2025 with the third version of Conectadas, focused on sustainability. We invite more women to join and build a more equitable and sustainable future.”
Inspiring experiences
Beyond the figures that can be highlighted, for IncubaUdeC, the impact of Conectadas is strongly related to the stories of its protagonists, women whose testimonies reflect the program’s actual dimension.
“Conectadas for me meant a critical take-off moment in my application,” says Melissa Muñoz, founder of Autistapp. The programmer, recognized as part of the Innovators Under 35 by the MIT Technology Review, added: “Although I had a well-built solution, a demo that I launched the same day the program started allowed me to empower myself much more in what I was doing, believe in my project, sort out my business model, contact, meet and connect with very amazing people and that was also very significant for everything that I have been achieving throughout the year.”
For her part, Karla Cerda, CEO of Deep Hub, highlighted the value of networking with other female entrepreneurs from different programs: “The workshops not only trained us in fundamental areas such as business models or pitches, but connected us as a community. We supported each other to apply for funds and move forward together. I must thank everyone for this great opportunity we had, and I hope that new programs will come so that I can also allow more women to participate,” she said.
Marcela Lara, co-founder of Alcami Food, highlighted the opportunities she has taken advantage of during her time in the program. The entrepreneur from Los Angeles was one of the winners of the Growth Summit, an event created by Walmart to provide commercial and development opportunities through its different platforms and sales formats in Chile and 19 countries worldwide. “The literacy and marketing tools I learned allowed me to hold key meetings, like the one I had with Walmart. Thanks to this opportunity, in 2025, my products (black garlic) will be on shelves nationwide,” she said.
Last modified: 22 de febrero de 2025
