After the closing of the Impulso Chileno call for applications, to which more than 22,600 entrepreneurs applied, the Luksic Foundation held the Think Big meeting in the Metropolitan Region, an event that brought together more than 500 entrepreneurs and was designed to enable them to acquire new tools to boost the growth of their businesses and generate networks of contacts.
During the event, participants had access to personalized advice and informative modules on topics such as value proposition and business model, strategy, sales, finance, digitization, among others, provided by companies and institutions such as Mercado Libre, Cencosud, Starken, Transbank, Buk, and the Taxpayer Ombudsman’s Office, along with organizations such as Corporación Simón de Cirene, Nubox, Bsale, and Kodea, which offered practical tools and advice to attendees.
Natalia Duco and Stefan Kramer also participated, sharing their experiences and reflections with the entrepreneurs. The athlete, who is now also an entrepreneur, spoke about the value of learning from mistakes: “There will be setbacks and doubts, but the ability to tolerate failure is what makes you grow.” She also encouraged them to think big: “Chile has a lot of talent; we can contribute to the world.”
“It became clear to me that you always have to weigh up the numbers and keep costs under control. I also learned the importance of doing simple, low-cost, quick tests to find out what works,” said Romina Moya, entrepreneur behind the Dolce Mito bakery, with five years of experience and three years in business, who participated in the meeting.
More people are seeking independence and work- family balance
The unemployment rate currently stands at 8.6%, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises generate more than half of formal employment in Chile. According to data from the Ministry of Economy and the INE (Radiografía de los Microemprendedores, 2023), people in Chile mainly start businesses for reasons related to work flexibility. Among men, the main reasons are linked to lack of employment: 25.4% did so because they could not find work and 19.1% after being laid off. In the case of women, 39.7% decided to start a business in order to have flexibility and thus balance their business with caregiving tasks.
“Supporting entrepreneurship can not only drive the economy, it also strengthens the well-being of thousands of families in Chile. Behind every business there are people seeking stability, independence, or a way to balance work with caregiving roles. It is important that both the private and public sectors strengthen their efforts and resilience, because when an entrepreneur grows, they improve their family’s wellbeing and also energize their environment, creating opportunities and services that did not exist before,” explained Macarena Cea, general manager of the Luksic Foundation.
Cencosud pointed out that many entrepreneurs believed that getting into retail was impossible. They explained to the entrepreneurs that the first thing to do is to comply with basic health protocols and that, with the right support, their products could be sold in large stores.
For their part, the network of mentors from the Simón de Cirene organization worked with entrepreneurs to prioritize their goals and evaluate their business strategies: defining the right segment, planning how to scale the project, deciding when to charge for their services, and projecting growth to reach more users.
Inspiring stories
Paola González, an entrepreneur from Ovalle with an empanada business, shared how her family entrepreneurship became a driver of opportunities: “Since we started the business, we have been able to get ahead, improve our quality of life, and contribute to the city, so that people don’t have to leave Ovalle to access these types of services.”
After taking over her father’s business following his death, Paola kept the family recipe alive and now has plans to expand first regionally and later nationally. Today, thanks to her efforts, her daughter was able to study at university in Santiago, demonstrating how entrepreneurship can open doors for the whole family.
Alejandra Andrea Caliche decided to transform her passion into a business that is reaching an increasing number of people. After working for 20 years as a cleaning lady and watching her children grow up, she began to create rag dolls, inspired by the Christmas nights when her mother embroidered gifts for her siblings due to a lack of resources.
What began as a gesture of affection became a business that grows by word of mouth and now seeks to expand beyond its community.
Launch of the “Entrepreneur’s Compass”
During the meeting, the Entrepreneur’s Compass was officially unveiled. This new digital tool, developed by the Luksic Foundation, provides entrepreneurs with personalized information and content based on the stage of development of their business.
“Entrepreneurs are often so focused on day-to-day operations that they don’t have time to review the organization of their business. With the Entrepreneur’s Compass, we invite them to pause, plan, and think big again,” said Cristián Schalper, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Luksic Foundation.
Through a brief diagnostic form, individuals can learn which areas of their venture need strengthening, as well as access specific content and tools to enhance it.
The goal is to support entrepreneurs by providing useful guidance tailored to their current challenges. As the foundation explains, “there are no right or wrong answers: the more realistic the diagnosis, the greater the value of the support that the platform can offer.”