The Inter-American Development Bank, through the IDB Lab and ConnectAmericas, has joined forces with the Latin American Angel Investment Association (XCALA) to launch Venture Academy, a virtual and live training program on issues of entrepreneurship and capital raising for technology-based startups, small and medium-sized companies, and investors in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through the Venture Academy, IDB Lab, ConnectAmericas and XCALA seek to strengthen the knowledge of entrepreneurs in the region about the options and conditions for raising capital and developing new business, topics that are particularly critical in the current economic situation.
The final objective of the program is to improve the conditions of access to financing for companies in the region, thus boosting them to their next levels of development.
Venture Academy will be available from April 15 and will feature the participation of top-level international presenters who will develop webinars on specific topics in their areas of expertise. The invitation to the program is open to investors, tech-based startup entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs from all sectors, as well as those interested in acquiring knowledge and tools based on entrepreneurship good practices and current trends.
As part of the program, participating startups that have had previous financing rounds and are in search of new capital, will be able to apply to participate in pitch sessions where they will have the opportunity to present themselves to a network of more than 4,000 associated investors.
“Acquiring new knowledge encourages innovation and the development of new business. In the context that we are living, it is key to be creative to give continuity to the promotion of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. For this reason, at XCALA, we take this challenge as our own and create Venture Academy”, said Marcelo Roca, Executive Director at XCALA.
For more information, and to register, click here.
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.
XCALA is an initiative supported by the IDB Lab that aims to increase the number of high impact companies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), stimulating economic growth, competitiveness and employment. To do this, it works to improve the conditions of access to financing for entrepreneurs throughout the region, using its angel investment network, and thus accelerate the development and growth of companies. This alliance will be developed through XCALA Academy, the XCALA unit that is responsible for generating training content.
IDB Lab is the innovation laboratory of the IDB Group, and it has the purpose of driving innovation for inclusion in the region, by mobilizing financing, knowledge, and connections to co-create solutions capable of transforming the lives of vulnerable populations affected by economic, social or environmental factors.
ConnectAmericas is an online business platform created by the IDB with the support of Google, Mastercard, Sealand, DHL and Facebook to help small and medium enterprises from Latin America and the Caribbean internationalize their business by connecting them to more than 360,000 users from 110 countries to explore business opportunities, and by offering them training tools that enhance their ability to secure this new business.
