La IDEA Wrap-Up and Infographic

Here is a wrap up of LA IDEA business competition which just finished up in December 2103: 883 submissions, 15 countries represented, 60 semi-finalists, 16 partnerships advanced to the finals, and three winners. We congratulate the winners representing partnerships of entrepreneurs from Costa Rica/Florida, California/Colombia, and Colorado /Chile. ¡Felicitaciones & Adelante!

Overall Winner – Natural Sins

Business Partners: Andrés Domínguez of Florida & Iván Sosa of Costa Rica. Natural Sins is a company dedicated to the development, manufacturing and commercialization of healthy food products in where high quality, freshness and innovation are the common denominators. Their crispy fruit thins are carefully sliced and baked in a special way to preserve its original shape and flavor. Natural Sins has a diverse product line of fruits and vegetables, such as: pineapple, mango, orange, coconut, apple and beets.

Best Existing Business Winner – Kahai

Business Partners: Pablo Sierra of California & Camilo Jaramillo of Colombia. Kahai is the first company in the world to industrialize the “Cacay,” an Amazon tree that produces highly nutritious nuts, from which a precious oil is extracted for skin and hair care. Its mission is to establish the Cacay as a sustainable economic development alternative for Colombia, integrating its whole value chain.

Best New Venture – Agronometrics Inc.

Business Partners: Colin Falin of Colorado & Claudio Riquelme of Chile. Agronometrics helps importers and exporters save time and effort by collecting, organizing and presenting the world’s agricultural data all in one place so that businesses can optimizing their decision making and increasing profitability.

These winners will receive up to $50,000 in grant awards from USAID and business support services valued at over $100,000. The sponsors of the La Idea award package include: Goodwin Procter, Capital One, NCR Corporation, .CO, Starfish Global, Dell, and Matiz Architecture and Design.

We thank ACCION, LA IDEA sponsors and supporters, judges and mentors, and all the participants from all over the USA and Latin America who demonstrated their business innovation and professionalism. We are all winners!

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